Question 1

The seafloor drops sharply to a depth of about 6,000 meters where the ____________________ ends.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The seafloor drops sharply to a depth...

Question 2

Chemicals used by humans have reduced the concentration of ozone (O₃)in the stratosphere over both the North and South poles. Why is the reduction of ozone dangerous to humans?

Accepted Answer

A) Localized changes in the Earth's atmosphere can alter the general global circulation and rainfall patterns. 
B) The ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet light, a known mutagen; if it is reduced, the UV exposure at ground level will significantly increase. 
C) Ozone is critical for the recycling of oxygen from carbon dioxide. 
D) With reduced ozone concentrations the fixation of nitrogen gas to nitrate (NO3) will occur too slowly. 
A) Localized changes in the Earth's atmosphere can alter the general global circulation and rainfall patterns. 
B) The ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet light, a known mutagen; if it is reduced, the UV exposure at ground level will significantly increase. 
C) Ozone is critical for the recycling of oxygen from carbon dioxide. 
D) With reduced ozone concentrations the fixation of nitrogen gas to nitrate (NO3) will occur too slowly.

Question 3

Why does the zebra mussel cause more trouble in North America than in its original home?

Accepted Answer

A) In North America, the zebra mussel has a more suitable climate. 
B) In North America, the zebra mussel has a better food supply. 
C) In its native Eurasia, the zebra mussel has many parasites and predators that keep its population in check. 
D) In North America, people cultivate zebra mussels and protect them from predators. 
A) In North America, the zebra mussel has a more suitable climate. 
B) In North America, the zebra mussel has a better food supply. 
C) In its native Eurasia, the zebra mussel has many parasites and predators that keep its population in check. 
D) In North America, people cultivate zebra mussels and protect them from predators.

Question 4

Understanding plate tectonics has helped ecologists make sense of ancient biomes; when landmasses move in elevation or to different regions of the globe they experience climatic change.  
Use the figure above to predict the change for a temperate deciduous forest as it moves south and elevates by 5,000 feet.

Accepted Answer

A) It becomes a tropical forest. 
B) It becomes a grassland. 
C) It becomes chaparral. 
D) It becomes a boreal forest. 
A) It becomes a tropical forest. 
B) It becomes a grassland. 
C) It becomes chaparral. 
D) It becomes a boreal forest.

Question 5

Many of the consumers in the benthic zone feed on dead organisms that drift down from the photic zone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In which of the following would oxygen-rich surface water be most likely to sink seasonally to replenish deeper waters?

Accepted Answer

A) near the shores of the Atlantic Ocean 
B) in Lake Superior 
C) in a shallow lake near Miami, Florida 
D) in the Tennessee River 
A) near the shores of the Atlantic Ocean 
B) in Lake Superior 
C) in a shallow lake near Miami, Florida 
D) in the Tennessee River

Question 7

Although the terms climate and weather are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing; climate differs from weather in that

Accepted Answer

A) weather includes amount of rainfall per year and climate does not. 
B) climate is based on biomes, whereas weather is not. 
C) climate describes long-term patterns, whereas weather describes short-term fluctuations. 
D) climates are described in terms of long-term average temperature, and weather is described by other factors, such as prevailing winds. 
A) weather includes amount of rainfall per year and climate does not. 
B) climate is based on biomes, whereas weather is not. 
C) climate describes long-term patterns, whereas weather describes short-term fluctuations. 
D) climates are described in terms of long-term average temperature, and weather is described by other factors, such as prevailing winds.

Question 8

Hawaii is positioned near the center of the north Pacific current system; the general flow of ocean water to the south of Hawaii would be to the

Accepted Answer

A) east. 
B) north. 
C) south. 
D) west. 
A) east. 
B) north. 
C) south. 
D) west.

Question 9

Which of the following features is not a defining characteristic of aquatic biomes?

Accepted Answer

A) the dominant plants that live there 
B) salt content 
C) temperature 
D) water depth 
A) the dominant plants that live there 
B) salt content 
C) temperature 
D) water depth

Question 10

The biosphere is considered to consist of all living things and the physical environments where they live. To more conveniently characterize it, the biosphere is subdivided into

Accepted Answer

A) ecosystems. 
B) biomes. 
C) populations. 
D) habitats. 
A) ecosystems. 
B) biomes. 
C) populations. 
D) habitats.

Question 11

In the tundra, the layers of soil beneath the surface are permanently frozen in a layer called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the tundra, the layers of soil...

Question 12

In the Northern Hemisphere most ocean currents run clockwise.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Dumping ballast water, such as this ship is doing, has the potential to introduce new organisms to aquatic environments far from their native habitats, but no organisms have been transferred this way so far.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Once released into the atmosphere, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Accepted Answer

A) are quickly destroyed by ultraviolet light and are not a cause for environmental concern. 
B) reduce the amount of ultraviolet light reaching Earth and negatively impact photosynthesis. 
C) react with ozone to form carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas. 
D) catalyze the conversion of ozone into molecular oxygen. 
A) are quickly destroyed by ultraviolet light and are not a cause for environmental concern. 
B) reduce the amount of ultraviolet light reaching Earth and negatively impact photosynthesis. 
C) react with ozone to form carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas. 
D) catalyze the conversion of ozone into molecular oxygen.

Question 15

____________________ biomes are characterized by slowly flowing shallow water on lands that border larger bodies of water.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ biomes are characterized by slowly flowing...

Question 16

Some floating plastic toys were released accidently in the Pacific Ocean in 1992 and were seen in the North Atlantic in 2000 near where the Titanic sank off Newfoundland. Given the general ocean currents in the Atlantic, where would you most likely expect these toys to appear next?

Accepted Answer

A) on the east coast of South America 
B) on the west coast of southern Africa 
C) on the west coast of Britain 
D) in the Caribbean Ocean 
A) on the east coast of South America 
B) on the west coast of southern Africa 
C) on the west coast of Britain 
D) in the Caribbean Ocean

Question 17

Deserts form only near the equator.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The deep waters of tropical lakes are home to very few life forms. What best explains the low number of organisms in deep water?

Accepted Answer

A) Sunlight is unable to penetrate deeply into the water column. 
B) Deep-water organisms are secondary consumers, but in tropical lakes there is very little primary production. 
C) Rapid nutrient recycling in the warm upper layers of the lake use nutrients before they reach deeper waters. 
D) The warm surface water is too buoyant to permit mixing with cooler, heavier water at depth, and results in low oxygen levels in deep water. 
A) Sunlight is unable to penetrate deeply into the water column. 
B) Deep-water organisms are secondary consumers, but in tropical lakes there is very little primary production. 
C) Rapid nutrient recycling in the warm upper layers of the lake use nutrients before they reach deeper waters. 
D) The warm surface water is too buoyant to permit mixing with cooler, heavier water at depth, and results in low oxygen levels in deep water.

Question 19

Rain shadows often form on the side of a mountain that is away from the prevailing winds (leeward side). Rain falls on the windward side due to the air rising and cooling, causing the air to lose water as rain.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The Gulf Stream moves about as much water as the average large river on land does.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 21: The Biosphere

The seafloor drops sharply to a depth of about 6,000 meters where the ____________________ ends.

Chemicals used by humans have reduced the concentration of ozone (O₃)in the stratosphere over both the North and South poles. Why is the reduction of ozone dangerous to humans?

Why does the zebra mussel cause more trouble in North America than in its original home?

Many of the consumers in the benthic zone feed on dead organisms that drift down from the photic zone.

In which of the following would oxygen-rich surface water be most likely to sink seasonally to replenish deeper waters?

Although the terms climate and weather are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing; climate differs from weather in that

Hawaii is positioned near the center of the north Pacific current system; the general flow of ocean water to the south of Hawaii would be to the

Which of the following features is not a defining characteristic of aquatic biomes?

The biosphere is considered to consist of all living things and the physical environments where they live. To more conveniently characterize it, the biosphere is subdivided into

In the tundra, the layers of soil beneath the surface are permanently frozen in a layer called ____________________.

In the Northern Hemisphere most ocean currents run clockwise.

Dumping ballast water, such as this ship is doing, has the potential to introduce new organisms to aquatic environments far from their native habitats, but no organisms have been transferred this way so far.

Once released into the atmosphere, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

____________________ biomes are characterized by slowly flowing shallow water on lands that border larger bodies of water.

Some floating plastic toys were released accidently in the Pacific Ocean in 1992 and were seen in the North Atlantic in 2000 near where the Titanic sank off Newfoundland. Given the general ocean currents in the Atlantic, where would you most likely expect these toys to appear next?

Deserts form only near the equator.

The deep waters of tropical lakes are home to very few life forms. What best explains the low number of organisms in deep water?

Rain shadows often form on the side of a mountain that is away from the prevailing winds (leeward side). Rain falls on the windward side due to the air rising and cooling, causing the air to lose water as rain.

The Gulf Stream moves about as much water as the average large river on land does.

The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

Biological Diversity, Bacteria, and Archaea

Protista, Plantae, and Fungi

Animalia

The Chemistry of Life

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy, Metabolism, and Enzymes

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Stem Cells, Cancer, and Human Health

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

Dna and Genes

From Gene to Protein

Dna Technology

How Evolution Works

Evolution of Populations

Speciation and the Origins of Biological Diversity

The Evolutionary History of Life

Growth of Populations

Ecological Communities

Ecosystems

Global Change

Internal Organization and Homeostasis

Nutrition and Digestion

Circulation and Gas Exchange

Animal Hormones

Nervous and Sensory Systems

Skeletons, Muscles, and Movement

Defenses Against Disease

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Plant Structure, Nutrition, and Transport

Plant Growth and Reproduction

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