Question 1

In chemical terms, water (H2O) would best be described as a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  Element 
B)  Atom 
C)  Ion 
D)  Compound 
E)  Isotope 
A)  Element 
B)  Atom 
C)  Ion 
D)  Compound 
E)  Isotope

Question 2

The smallest particle that exhibits the characteristics of a chemical element is known as a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  Molecule 
B)  Microorganism 
C)  Atom 
D)  Phase of matter 
E)  Isotope 
A)  Molecule 
B)  Microorganism 
C)  Atom 
D)  Phase of matter 
E)  Isotope

Question 3

Productivity in an ecosystem has to do with:

Accepted Answer

A)  The efficiency of its primary producers 
B)  The number of different species living in the ecosystem 
C)  Its longevity 
D)  The combined metabolic rate of the biological communities 
E)  Its rate of producing biomass 
A)  The efficiency of its primary producers 
B)  The number of different species living in the ecosystem 
C)  Its longevity 
D)  The combined metabolic rate of the biological communities 
E)  Its rate of producing biomass

Question 4

Potential energy is _______ energy.

Accepted Answer

A)  Electrical 
B)  Motion 
C)  Stored 
D)  Heat 
E)  Latent 
A)  Electrical 
B)  Motion 
C)  Stored 
D)  Heat 
E)  Latent

Question 5

Living vegetation and the ocean are known as "carbon sinks" because:

Accepted Answer

A)  They are made of carbon. 
B)  They create carbon. 
C)  They destroy carbon. 
D)  They store carbon. 
E)  Due to gravity, carbon is found closer to the ground. 
A)  They are made of carbon. 
B)  They create carbon. 
C)  They destroy carbon. 
D)  They store carbon. 
E)  Due to gravity, carbon is found closer to the ground.

Question 6

Organic compounds are those substances

Accepted Answer

A)  found only in living organisms. 
B)  containing chains and rings of carbon atoms. 
C)  composed of atoms of a single element. 
D)  exhibiting radioactive decay. 
A)  found only in living organisms. 
B)  containing chains and rings of carbon atoms. 
C)  composed of atoms of a single element. 
D)  exhibiting radioactive decay.

Question 7

What implication(s) does the second law of thermodynamics have for biological systems regarding entropy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Systems cannot create energy because it is neither created nor destroyed. 
B)  With each transformation, less energy is available to do work, so older systems have less energy. 
C)  A constant supply of energy is necessary for maintenance of biological systems. 
D)  Energy is unlimited because it is used and reused by living organisms. 
E)  None of these is an implication of the second law of thermodynamics. 
A)  Systems cannot create energy because it is neither created nor destroyed. 
B)  With each transformation, less energy is available to do work, so older systems have less energy. 
C)  A constant supply of energy is necessary for maintenance of biological systems. 
D)  Energy is unlimited because it is used and reused by living organisms. 
E)  None of these is an implication of the second law of thermodynamics.

Question 8

The second law of thermodynamics states that

Accepted Answer

A)  whenever energy is used, some becomes converted to a form difficult to use to do work. 
B)  energy cannot be shifted from one form to another. 
C)  life forms cannot survive without energy. 
D)  energy exists in both potential and kinetic form. 
A)  whenever energy is used, some becomes converted to a form difficult to use to do work. 
B)  energy cannot be shifted from one form to another. 
C)  life forms cannot survive without energy. 
D)  energy exists in both potential and kinetic form.

Question 9

Which of the following biogeochemical cycles does not have an atmospheric phase?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hydrologic cycle 
B)  Nitrogen cycle 
C)  Sulfur cycle 
D)  Carbon cycle 
E)  Phosphorous cycle 
A)  Hydrologic cycle 
B)  Nitrogen cycle 
C)  Sulfur cycle 
D)  Carbon cycle 
E)  Phosphorous cycle

Question 10

The law of conservation of matter tells us that matter:

Accepted Answer

A)  Can never be reused 
B)  Needs to be conserved or it will not be available for future generations 
C)  Can be destroyed 
D)  Can be conserved by some adaptive strategies 
E)  Is used repeatedly 
A)  Can never be reused 
B)  Needs to be conserved or it will not be available for future generations 
C)  Can be destroyed 
D)  Can be conserved by some adaptive strategies 
E)  Is used repeatedly

Question 11

The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are similar in that

Accepted Answer

A)  Under normal circumstances neither energy nor matter is created nor destroyed. 
B)  Both energy and matter flow in a one-way path through biological systems. 
C)  Under normal circumstances energy and matter are created as they pass through biological systems. 
D)  The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are not similar. 
A)  Under normal circumstances neither energy nor matter is created nor destroyed. 
B)  Both energy and matter flow in a one-way path through biological systems. 
C)  Under normal circumstances energy and matter are created as they pass through biological systems. 
D)  The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are not similar.

Question 12

A population

Accepted Answer

A)  consists of all the plants and animals in a given region. 
B)  consists of all individuals of a given species living in the same area. 
C)  consists of all species on Earth. 
D)  consists of a given species and all of the other species it consumes. 
A)  consists of all the plants and animals in a given region. 
B)  consists of all individuals of a given species living in the same area. 
C)  consists of all species on Earth. 
D)  consists of a given species and all of the other species it consumes.

Question 13

The productivity of an ecosystem refers to the

Accepted Answer

A)  amount of food consumed by the organisms per unit space. 
B)  average number of offspring produced per adult female per unit time. 
C)  amount of biological material produced during a certain period of time. 
D)  reproductive output. 
A)  amount of food consumed by the organisms per unit space. 
B)  average number of offspring produced per adult female per unit time. 
C)  amount of biological material produced during a certain period of time. 
D)  reproductive output.

Question 14

Approximately one-half of the energy available in an organism is transferred to the consumer that eats it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Omnivores eat mainly:

Accepted Answer

A)  Detritivores 
B)  Plants 
C)  Animals 
D)  Dead plants and animals 
E)  Plants and animals 
A)  Detritivores 
B)  Plants 
C)  Animals 
D)  Dead plants and animals 
E)  Plants and animals

Question 16

The amount of energy in the universe is believed to be the same as it was billions of years ago.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Molecules which regulate chemical processes without being used up are called

Accepted Answer

A)  acids. 
B)  bases. 
C)  catalysts. 
D)  nucleotides. 
A)  acids. 
B)  bases. 
C)  catalysts. 
D)  nucleotides.

Question 18

An ecosystem consists of:

Accepted Answer

A)  A physical environment within which a biological community lives 
B)  The species with which a biological community interacts 
C)  A biological community and its physical environment 
D)  The primary producers within a biological community 
E)  All the species in a biological community 
A)  A physical environment within which a biological community lives 
B)  The species with which a biological community interacts 
C)  A biological community and its physical environment 
D)  The primary producers within a biological community 
E)  All the species in a biological community

Question 19

A simple linked feeding series such as grass-rabbit-wolf is known as a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  Energy cycle 
B)  Food web 
C)  Carbon cycle 
D)  Food chain 
E)  Food cycle 
A)  Energy cycle 
B)  Food web 
C)  Carbon cycle 
D)  Food chain 
E)  Food cycle

Exam 3: Matter, Energy, and Life

In chemical terms, water (H2O) would best be described as a(n):

The smallest particle that exhibits the characteristics of a chemical element is known as a(n):

Productivity in an ecosystem has to do with:

Potential energy is _______ energy.

Living vegetation and the ocean are known as "carbon sinks" because:

Organic compounds are those substances

What implication(s) does the second law of thermodynamics have for biological systems regarding entropy?

The second law of thermodynamics states that

Which of the following biogeochemical cycles does not have an atmospheric phase?

The law of conservation of matter tells us that matter:

The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are similar in that

A population

The productivity of an ecosystem refers to the

Approximately one-half of the energy available in an organism is transferred to the consumer that eats it.

Omnivores eat mainly:

The amount of energy in the universe is believed to be the same as it was billions of years ago.

Molecules which regulate chemical processes without being used up are called

An ecosystem consists of:

A simple linked feeding series such as grass-rabbit-wolf is known as a(n):

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

In chemical terms, water (H₂O) would best be described as a(n):