Question 1

The temperatures at the equator remain warm year round because

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's natural curvature places the equator nearer to the sun. 
B)  the sun shines longer over the equator than it does over other parts of Earth. 
C)  sunlight strikes the equator relatively directly with little seasonal variation. 
D)  there are large oceans near the equator that absorb large amounts of heat. 
E)  Earth's rotation on a tilted axis creates more atmospheric friction at the equator. 
A)  Earth's natural curvature places the equator nearer to the sun. 
B)  the sun shines longer over the equator than it does over other parts of Earth. 
C)  sunlight strikes the equator relatively directly with little seasonal variation. 
D)  there are large oceans near the equator that absorb large amounts of heat. 
E)  Earth's rotation on a tilted axis creates more atmospheric friction at the equator.

Question 2

Why do most of the flowers in a temperate deciduous forest bloom in the spring?

Accepted Answer

A)  The largest number of insect pollinators is available in the spring. 
B)  The spring is the dry season; most of the rain falls during the cool, wet winters. 
C)  Nutrients are most available in the spring. 
D)  The leaves of deciduous trees do not block the light in the spring; therefore, sunlight reaches the forest floor. 
E)  In the spring, the trees do not block the wind and thus do not prevent wind pollination. 
A)  The largest number of insect pollinators is available in the spring. 
B)  The spring is the dry season; most of the rain falls during the cool, wet winters. 
C)  Nutrients are most available in the spring. 
D)  The leaves of deciduous trees do not block the light in the spring; therefore, sunlight reaches the forest floor. 
E)  In the spring, the trees do not block the wind and thus do not prevent wind pollination.

Question 3

A rain shadow is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  warm, moist air that cools as it moves down over a mountain, releasing moisture. 
B)  large mountain masses in the center of continents that restrict air flow. 
C)  ocean currents that heat and cool more slowly than do air or landmasses. 
D)  ocean currents that heat and cool more quickly than do air or landmasses. 
E)  cool, dry air that warms as it moves down over a mountain, picking up moisture. 
A)  warm, moist air that cools as it moves down over a mountain, releasing moisture. 
B)  large mountain masses in the center of continents that restrict air flow. 
C)  ocean currents that heat and cool more slowly than do air or landmasses. 
D)  ocean currents that heat and cool more quickly than do air or landmasses. 
E)  cool, dry air that warms as it moves down over a mountain, picking up moisture.

Question 4

What is the ecological significance of shallow bays and coastal wetlands such as estuaries and salt marshes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Coral reefs occur in these areas. 
B)  They are safe from most human impact because humans do not live there. 
C)  They are the breeding grounds for a wide variety of sea- dwelling animals. 
D)  They serve as the habitat for many endangered species. 
E)  They are an important source of crude oil. 
A)  Coral reefs occur in these areas. 
B)  They are safe from most human impact because humans do not live there. 
C)  They are the breeding grounds for a wide variety of sea- dwelling animals. 
D)  They serve as the habitat for many endangered species. 
E)  They are an important source of crude oil.

Question 5

Why do higher- latitude ecosystems experience more pronounced seasons than ecosystems at equatorial latitudes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth is tilted on its axis as it orbits the sun annually. 
B)  Ocean currents moderate near- shore environments. 
C)  Air currents generated by Earth's rotation have stronger effects at higher latitudes. 
D)  The mass of the continents is greater at the equator, which evens out temperature variations in ocean circulation. 
E)  Heated air rises at the equator and falls at mid- latitudes. 
A)  Earth is tilted on its axis as it orbits the sun annually. 
B)  Ocean currents moderate near- shore environments. 
C)  Air currents generated by Earth's rotation have stronger effects at higher latitudes. 
D)  The mass of the continents is greater at the equator, which evens out temperature variations in ocean circulation. 
E)  Heated air rises at the equator and falls at mid- latitudes.

Question 6

A _ is a circular ocean current caused by wind and the presence of continents.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A _ is a circular ocean current...

Question 7

The ozone hole over Antarctica and the general lowering of ozone levels elsewhere in the stratosphere have been attributed to the ozone- destroying properties of

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide and methane. 
B)  endocrine- disrupting chemicals. 
C)  chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). 
D)  sulfur dioxide. 
E)  nitrogen oxides. 
A)  carbon dioxide and methane. 
B)  endocrine- disrupting chemicals. 
C)  chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). 
D)  sulfur dioxide. 
E)  nitrogen oxides.

Question 8

In aquatic ecosystems, the highest nutrients levels are found in areas that have the

Accepted Answer

A)  fewest sediments. 
B)  highest elevation. 
C)  lowest light levels. 
D)  highest light levels. 
E)  highest temperatures. 
A)  fewest sediments. 
B)  highest elevation. 
C)  lowest light levels. 
D)  highest light levels. 
E)  highest temperatures.

Question 9

If global warming makes the southeastern United States warmer but does not change the amount of rainfall, we might expect to see a shift from the present temperate deciduous forest biome to

Accepted Answer

A)  chaparral. 
B)  northern coniferous forest. 
C)  tropical deciduous forest. 
D)  tropical rain forest. 
E)  alpine tundra. 
A)  chaparral. 
B)  northern coniferous forest. 
C)  tropical deciduous forest. 
D)  tropical rain forest. 
E)  alpine tundra.

Question 10

Which zone is inhabited by bottom- feeding catfish, crayfish, aquatic worms, clams, and bacteria?

Accepted Answer

A)  Limnetic 
B)  Benthic 
C)  Pelagic 
D)  Intertidal 
E)  Profundal 
A)  Limnetic 
B)  Benthic 
C)  Pelagic 
D)  Intertidal 
E)  Profundal

Question 11

The Atlantic Ocean gyre moderates the climate of the eastern coast of North America by bringing in warm currents from the equator.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which biome receives the lowest annual rainfall?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chaparral 
B)  Savanna 
C)  Tropical deciduous forest 
D)  Desert 
E)  Tropical rain forest 
A)  Chaparral 
B)  Savanna 
C)  Tropical deciduous forest 
D)  Desert 
E)  Tropical rain forest

Question 13

The defining characteristic of a desert is the high temperature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

What is the dominant vegetation of the savanna?

Accepted Answer

A)  Trees that lose their leaves 
B)  Grasses 
C)  Lichens and scrub willows 
D)  Trees with waxy needles 
E)  Cocoa 
A)  Trees that lose their leaves 
B)  Grasses 
C)  Lichens and scrub willows 
D)  Trees with waxy needles 
E)  Cocoa

Question 15

In what biome do plants tend to be evenly spaced with large, shallow root systems? Why?

Accepted Answer

In deserts, water is very scarce, and in

Question 16

The weather at the equator is both fairly constant seasonally and quite warm. What physical factors of Earth's position relative to the sun are responsible for these characteristics?

Accepted Answer

At the equator, sunlight hits Earth's su

Question 17

What is the role of the ozone layer?

Accepted Answer

A)  It increases the gyres. 
B)  It reduces the amount of UV light that reaches Earth's surface. 
C)  It increases the amount of sunlight that reaches the poles. 
D)  It increases the levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the upper atmosphere. 
E)  It increases photosynthesis in Antarctic phytoplankton. 
A)  It increases the gyres. 
B)  It reduces the amount of UV light that reaches Earth's surface. 
C)  It increases the amount of sunlight that reaches the poles. 
D)  It increases the levels of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the upper atmosphere. 
E)  It increases photosynthesis in Antarctic phytoplankton.

Question 18

Every year certain parts of California have fires that sweep rapidly through the area, burning or endangering homes. What type of biome is found there, and why does it burn so frequently?

Accepted Answer

This biome is chaparral. The p

Question 19

The vast treeless region near the Arctic Ocean is the

Accepted Answer

A)  tundra. 
B)  grassland. 
C)  permafrost. 
D)  savanna. 
E)  northern coniferous forest. 
A)  tundra. 
B)  grassland. 
C)  permafrost. 
D)  savanna. 
E)  northern coniferous forest.

Question 20

Western Oregon generally has cooler summer temperatures and warmer winter temperatures than do
same- latitude states that are inland; similarly, Cape Cod (a coastal peninsula southeast of Boston) generally has a more moderate climate than interior Massachusetts does. Why?

Accepted Answer

Because water both heats and cools more

Exam 30: Earths Diverse Ecosystems

The temperatures at the equator remain warm year round because

Why do most of the flowers in a temperate deciduous forest bloom in the spring?

A rain shadow is caused by

What is the ecological significance of shallow bays and coastal wetlands such as estuaries and salt marshes?

Why do higher- latitude ecosystems experience more pronounced seasons than ecosystems at equatorial latitudes?

A _ is a circular ocean current caused by wind and the presence of continents.

The ozone hole over Antarctica and the general lowering of ozone levels elsewhere in the stratosphere have been attributed to the ozone- destroying properties of

In aquatic ecosystems, the highest nutrients levels are found in areas that have the

If global warming makes the southeastern United States warmer but does not change the amount of rainfall, we might expect to see a shift from the present temperate deciduous forest biome to

Which zone is inhabited by bottom- feeding catfish, crayfish, aquatic worms, clams, and bacteria?

The Atlantic Ocean gyre moderates the climate of the eastern coast of North America by bringing in warm currents from the equator.

Which biome receives the lowest annual rainfall?

The defining characteristic of a desert is the high temperature.

What is the dominant vegetation of the savanna?

In what biome do plants tend to be evenly spaced with large, shallow root systems? Why?

The weather at the equator is both fairly constant seasonally and quite warm. What physical factors of Earth's position relative to the sun are responsible for these characteristics?

What is the role of the ozone layer?

Every year certain parts of California have fires that sweep rapidly through the area, burning or endangering homes. What type of biome is found there, and why does it burn so frequently?

The vast treeless region near the Arctic Ocean is the

Western Oregon generally has cooler summer temperatures and warmer winter temperatures than do same- latitude states that are inland; similarly, Cape Cod (a coastal peninsula southeast of Boston) generally has a more moderate climate than interior Massachusetts does. Why?

An Introduction to Life on Earth

Atoms, Molecules, and Life

Biological Molecules

Cell Structure and Function

Cell Membrane Structure and Function

Energy Flow in the Life of a Cell

Capturing Solar Energy: Photosynthesis

Harvesting Energy: Glycolysis and Cellular Respiration

Cellular Reproduction

Meiosis: the Basis of Sexual Reproduction

Patterns of Inheritance

Dna: the Molecule of Heredity

Gene Expression and Regulation

Biotechnology

Principles of Evolution

How Populations Evolve

The Origin of Species

The History of Life

Systematics: Seeking Order Amid Diversity

The Diversity of Prokaryotes and Viruses

The Diversity of Protists

The Diversity of Plants

The Diversity of Fungi

Animal Diversity I: Invertebrates

Animal Diversity II: Vertebrates

Animal Behavior

Population Growth and Regulation

Community Interactions

Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems

Conserving Earths Biodiversity

Homeostasis and the Organization of the Animal Body

Circulation

Respiration

Nutrition and Digestion

The Urinary System

Defenses Against Disease

Chemical Control of the Animal Body: the Endocrine System

The Nervous System

The Senses

Action and Support: the Muscles and Skeleton

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Plant Anatomy and Nutrient Transport

Plant Reproduction and Development

Plant Responses to the Environment

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