Question 1

Which of the following is a form of energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Electricity 
B)  Food 
C)  Heat 
D)  Light 
E)  All of these are forms of energy 
A)  Electricity 
B)  Food 
C)  Heat 
D)  Light 
E)  All of these are forms of energy

Question 2

Many ecologists think of ecosystems and even the Earth as a superorganism because its systems appear to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  Unregulated 
B)  Self-regulating and self-stabilizing 
C)  Completely unpredictable 
D)  Unchangeable 
E)  Hierarchical 
A)  Unregulated 
B)  Self-regulating and self-stabilizing 
C)  Completely unpredictable 
D)  Unchangeable 
E)  Hierarchical

Question 3

On the electromagnetic spectrum of energy wavelengths, visible light falls nearest to:

Accepted Answer

A)  Gamma radiation 
B)  Radio waves 
C)  Infrared radiation 
D)  X-rays 
E)  Microwaves 
A)  Gamma radiation 
B)  Radio waves 
C)  Infrared radiation 
D)  X-rays 
E)  Microwaves

Question 4

The second law of thermodynamics states that as energy moves through different forms and systems, it gradually:

Accepted Answer

A)  Becomes more concentrated 
B)  Dissipates and becomes unavailable 
C)  Disappears and is lost 
D)  Accumulates in the form of electricity 
E)  Changes from kinetic to potential energy 
A)  Becomes more concentrated 
B)  Dissipates and becomes unavailable 
C)  Disappears and is lost 
D)  Accumulates in the form of electricity 
E)  Changes from kinetic to potential energy

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a type of organic molecule?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lipids 
B)  Proteins 
C)  Carbohydrates 
D)  Nucleic Acids 
E)  Salts 
A)  Lipids 
B)  Proteins 
C)  Carbohydrates 
D)  Nucleic Acids 
E)  Salts

Question 6

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contains billions of atoms and is very large. It would be considered a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  Element 
B)  Enzyme 
C)  Compound 
D)  Mega-atom 
E)  Isotope 
A)  Element 
B)  Enzyme 
C)  Compound 
D)  Mega-atom 
E)  Isotope

Question 7

A carbon sink is a place where carbon

Accepted Answer

A)  atoms wash up for supper. 
B)  is stored after removal from the atmosphere. 
C)  is released after cellular respiration. 
D)  is the carbon released by combustion. 
A)  atoms wash up for supper. 
B)  is stored after removal from the atmosphere. 
C)  is released after cellular respiration. 
D)  is the carbon released by combustion.

Question 8

Which of the following has the highest quality energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  A warm brick 
B)  An intense fire 
C)  A flowing stream 
D)  A rock rolling downhill 
E)  Hot air 
A)  A warm brick 
B)  An intense fire 
C)  A flowing stream 
D)  A rock rolling downhill 
E)  Hot air

Question 9

A cell is:

Accepted Answer

A)  The smallest molecule exhibiting organic characteristics 
B)  A building block for DNA 
C)  A small organic compound made of carbon, water, and nitrogen 
D)  Made up of DNA 
E)  The smallest unit in which life processes go on 
A)  The smallest molecule exhibiting organic characteristics 
B)  A building block for DNA 
C)  A small organic compound made of carbon, water, and nitrogen 
D)  Made up of DNA 
E)  The smallest unit in which life processes go on

Question 10

Photosynthesis produces sugars from

Accepted Answer

A)  Water, carbon dioxide, and solar energy 
B)  Water, other sugars, and oxygen 
C)  Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water 
D)  Carbon dioxide, enzymes, and solar energy 
E)  Oxygen, water, and solar energy 
A)  Water, carbon dioxide, and solar energy 
B)  Water, other sugars, and oxygen 
C)  Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water 
D)  Carbon dioxide, enzymes, and solar energy 
E)  Oxygen, water, and solar energy

Question 11

What implication(s) does the law of conservation of matter have for humans?

Accepted Answer

A)  We cannot create energy because it is neither created nor destroyed. 
B)  As matter is recycled, it loses some of its integrity, so we need to be careful when we dispose of goods. 
C)  Natural resources are unlimited because they are used and reused by living organisms. 
D)  Disposable goods are not going "away" when we throw them out. 
E)  All of these are implications of the law of conservation of matter. 
A)  We cannot create energy because it is neither created nor destroyed. 
B)  As matter is recycled, it loses some of its integrity, so we need to be careful when we dispose of goods. 
C)  Natural resources are unlimited because they are used and reused by living organisms. 
D)  Disposable goods are not going "away" when we throw them out. 
E)  All of these are implications of the law of conservation of matter.

Question 12

Energy enters a system as sunlight and a producer is able to produce 10 kilograms of tissue. If eaten, the producer would produce about ______ kilogram(s) of consumer tissue that would provide about __________ kilogram(s) of tissue for a secondary consumer.

Accepted Answer

A)  100; 10 
B)  10; 1 
C)  100; 1 
D)  1; 0.1 
E)  10; 0.1 
A)  100; 10 
B)  10; 1 
C)  100; 1 
D)  1; 0.1 
E)  10; 0.1

Question 13

The distinction between an organic compound and an inorganic compound is that organic compounds contain:

Accepted Answer

A)  Carbon-Oxygen bonds 
B)  Water 
C)  Carbon-Carbon bonds 
D)  Nitrogen-Carbon bonds 
A)  Carbon-Oxygen bonds 
B)  Water 
C)  Carbon-Carbon bonds 
D)  Nitrogen-Carbon bonds

Question 14

Which have the most diverse diet?

Accepted Answer

A)  Photosynthetic plants 
B)  Herbivores 
C)  Omnivores 
D)  Carnivores 
A)  Photosynthetic plants 
B)  Herbivores 
C)  Omnivores 
D)  Carnivores

Question 15

Human activities such as the ____________ release large quantities of sulfur.

Accepted Answer

A)  Burning of fossil fuels 
B)  Burning of wood 
C)  Use of synthetic fertilizers 
D)  Use of detergents 
E)  Cultivation of sulfur-fixing crops 
A)  Burning of fossil fuels 
B)  Burning of wood 
C)  Use of synthetic fertilizers 
D)  Use of detergents 
E)  Cultivation of sulfur-fixing crops

Question 16

The process of __________ allows organisms to use inorganic molecules as an energy source.

Accepted Answer

A)  photosynthesis 
B)  phosphorylation 
C)  cellular respiration 
D)  chemosynthesis 
A)  photosynthesis 
B)  phosphorylation 
C)  cellular respiration 
D)  chemosynthesis

Question 17

Photosynthesis is the process of converting __________ into __________ energy.

Accepted Answer

A)  Chemical bond energy; kinetic 
B)  Sunlight; chemical bond 
C)  Solar energy; kinetic 
D)  Solar electrical energy; heat 
E)  Chemical bond energy; potential 
A)  Chemical bond energy; kinetic 
B)  Sunlight; chemical bond 
C)  Solar energy; kinetic 
D)  Solar electrical energy; heat 
E)  Chemical bond energy; potential

Question 18

The _________ cycle is most dependent on a variety of types of bacteria that shift the element among several different chemical forms.

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  sulfur 
D)  phosphorus 
A)  nitrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  sulfur 
D)  phosphorus

Question 19

As energy is used and transformed, it gradually becomes _______ quality and _______ concentrated.

Accepted Answer

A)  Higher; more 
B)  Lower; more 
C)  Higher; less 
D)  Lower; less 
E)  As energy is used, it does not become transformed; there is no change in quality, and it stays the same concentration 
A)  Higher; more 
B)  Lower; more 
C)  Higher; less 
D)  Lower; less 
E)  As energy is used, it does not become transformed; there is no change in quality, and it stays the same concentration

Question 20

Nitrogen is an essential component of:

Accepted Answer

A)  Amino acids and proteins 
B)  Organic molecules 
C)  Sugars, the product of photosynthesis 
D)  The hydrologic cycle 
E)  Carbohydrates 
A)  Amino acids and proteins 
B)  Organic molecules 
C)  Sugars, the product of photosynthesis 
D)  The hydrologic cycle 
E)  Carbohydrates

Exam 3: Matter, Energy, and Life

Which of the following is a form of energy?

Many ecologists think of ecosystems and even the Earth as a superorganism because its systems appear to be:

On the electromagnetic spectrum of energy wavelengths, visible light falls nearest to:

The second law of thermodynamics states that as energy moves through different forms and systems, it gradually:

Which of the following is NOT a type of organic molecule?

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contains billions of atoms and is very large. It would be considered a(n):

A carbon sink is a place where carbon

Which of the following has the highest quality energy?

A cell is:

Photosynthesis produces sugars from

What implication(s) does the law of conservation of matter have for humans?

Energy enters a system as sunlight and a producer is able to produce 10 kilograms of tissue. If eaten, the producer would produce about ______ kilogram(s) of consumer tissue that would provide about __________ kilogram(s) of tissue for a secondary consumer.

The distinction between an organic compound and an inorganic compound is that organic compounds contain:

Which have the most diverse diet?

Human activities such as the ____________ release large quantities of sulfur.

The process of __________ allows organisms to use inorganic molecules as an energy source.

Photosynthesis is the process of converting __________ into __________ energy.

The _________ cycle is most dependent on a variety of types of bacteria that shift the element among several different chemical forms.

As energy is used and transformed, it gradually becomes _______ quality and _______ concentrated.

Nitrogen is an essential component of:

Understanding Our Environment

Principles of Science and Systems

Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions

Biomes: Global Patterns of Life

Population Biology

Human Populations

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Food and Hunger

Farming: Conventional and Sustainable Practices

Biodiversity: Preserving Species

Biodiversity: Preserving Landscapes

Restoration Ecology

Geology and Earth Resources

Climate Change

Air Pollution

Water Use and Management

Water Pollution

Conventional Energy

Sustainable Energy

Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste

Urbanization and Sustainable Cities

Ecological Economics

Environmental Policy, Law, and Planning

What Then Shall We Do

Filters

Energy enters a system as sunlight and a producer is able to produce 10 kilograms of tissue. If eaten, the producer would produce about kilogram(s) of consumer tissue that would provide about ____ kilogram(s) of tissue for a secondary consumer.

Photosynthesis is the process of converting into energy.

As energy is used and transformed, it gradually becomes _ quality and _ concentrated.