Question 1

Which term encompasses all the others?

Accepted Answer

A) climate change 
B) global warming 
C) greenhouse effect 
D) weather patterns 
A) climate change 
B) global warming 
C) greenhouse effect 
D) weather patterns

Question 2

Match the term to the correct example.
-a single storm

Accepted Answer

A) biotic 
B) abiotic 
C) biosphere 
D) weather 
E) climate 
A) biotic 
B) abiotic 
C) biosphere 
D) weather 
E) climate

Question 3

Which of the following terms describes all organisms on Earth plus their environments?

Accepted Answer

A) biosphere 
B) ecosystem 
C) habitat 
D) species 
A) biosphere 
B) ecosystem 
C) habitat 
D) species

Question 4

Nonliving factors in the biosphere are called ________ factors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nonliving factors in the biosphere are called...

Question 5

Describe how burning fossil fuels can warm the planet.

Accepted Answer

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dio

Question 6

As a group, the ________ gases allow light energy to pass through the atmosphere but absorb heat energy as it passes through the atmosphere to outer space.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As a group, the ________ gases allow...

Question 7

The single most significant human-caused contribution (about 75 percent) to the worldwide increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is

Accepted Answer

A) acid rain and the subsequent chemical reactions that release carbon dioxide from the soil. 
B) nitrogen supplements that accelerate decompositional activity and recycle carbon before it can become sequestered in the soil. 
C) the burning of fossil fuels and the subsequent emission of carbon dioxide. 
D) deforestation and the subsequent decline in photosynthesis. 
A) acid rain and the subsequent chemical reactions that release carbon dioxide from the soil. 
B) nitrogen supplements that accelerate decompositional activity and recycle carbon before it can become sequestered in the soil. 
C) the burning of fossil fuels and the subsequent emission of carbon dioxide. 
D) deforestation and the subsequent decline in photosynthesis.

Question 8

What causes the movement of warm air at the equator?

Accepted Answer

A) Warm air is less dense than cool air. 
B) Warm air is denser than cool air. 
C) Warm air is able to hold less water than cool air. 
D) Warm air is able to hold more water than cool air. 
A) Warm air is less dense than cool air. 
B) Warm air is denser than cool air. 
C) Warm air is able to hold less water than cool air. 
D) Warm air is able to hold more water than cool air.

Question 9

Increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have contributed to acidification of the oceans. This change of the water's pH due to a change in CO₂ concentrations is an example of

Accepted Answer

A) how global warming has affected a biotic factor in the biosphere. 
B) how global warming has affected an abiotic factor in the biosphere. 
C) how human activities have affected a biotic factor in the biosphere. 
D) how human activities have affected an abiotic factor in the biosphere. 
A) how global warming has affected a biotic factor in the biosphere. 
B) how global warming has affected an abiotic factor in the biosphere. 
C) how human activities have affected a biotic factor in the biosphere. 
D) how human activities have affected an abiotic factor in the biosphere.

Question 10

The levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Accepted Answer

A) peaked around 1950 and have begun slowly decreasing since then. 
B) are high but not higher than the highest estimated levels in the last 420,000 years. 
C) are estimated to be higher than at any time in the past 420,000 years. 
D) began decreasing when the burning of fossil fuels increased. 
A) peaked around 1950 and have begun slowly decreasing since then. 
B) are high but not higher than the highest estimated levels in the last 420,000 years. 
C) are estimated to be higher than at any time in the past 420,000 years. 
D) began decreasing when the burning of fossil fuels increased.

Question 11

Increasing carbon sinks will

Accepted Answer

A) increase global warming and decrease climate change. 
B) increase global warming and increase climate change. 
C) decrease global warming and increase climate change. 
D) decrease global warming and decrease climate change. 
A) increase global warming and decrease climate change. 
B) increase global warming and increase climate change. 
C) decrease global warming and increase climate change. 
D) decrease global warming and decrease climate change.

Question 12

A skeptic states that climate change may affect polar bears and other organisms, but not humans. Evaluate the validity of this statement.

Accepted Answer

Some organisms may be affected more dram

Question 13

Climate change will affect

Accepted Answer

A) animals but not plants. 
B) all organisms in the biosphere. 
C) natural organisms but not humans. 
D) weak organisms but not strong organisms. 
A) animals but not plants. 
B) all organisms in the biosphere. 
C) natural organisms but not humans. 
D) weak organisms but not strong organisms.

Question 14

The biosphere is defined as all the living organisms on Earth along with the ________ in which they live.

Accepted Answer

physical e

Question 15

Biodiesel fuel is produced from oils synthesized by and harvested from living plants. How does the use of biodiesel fuel compare to the use of fossil fuels with respect to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) There is no difference; the combustion of the fuel produces carbon dioxide regardless of its source. 
B) It is beneficial; converting plant material to biodiesel permanently traps carbon dioxide and prevents its entry to the atmosphere. 
C) It is detrimental; because biodiesel produces lower mileage, more must be burned, causing a proportional increase in carbon dioxide release. 
D) It is beneficial; because living plants are the source of the biodiesel, burning it simply represents nutrient recycling. 
A) There is no difference; the combustion of the fuel produces carbon dioxide regardless of its source. 
B) It is beneficial; converting plant material to biodiesel permanently traps carbon dioxide and prevents its entry to the atmosphere. 
C) It is detrimental; because biodiesel produces lower mileage, more must be burned, causing a proportional increase in carbon dioxide release. 
D) It is beneficial; because living plants are the source of the biodiesel, burning it simply represents nutrient recycling.

Question 16

Why are there many deserts at 30° latitude?

Accepted Answer

A) Dry air rises at this latitude. 
B) Dry air sinks at this latitude. 
C) Dry air cools at this latitude. 
D) Dry air warms at this latitude. 
A) Dry air rises at this latitude. 
B) Dry air sinks at this latitude. 
C) Dry air cools at this latitude. 
D) Dry air warms at this latitude.

Question 17

Carbon dioxide makes up approximately ________ percent of Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) 94 
B) 44 
C) 4 
D) 0.04 
A) 94 
B) 44 
C) 4 
D) 0.04

Question 18

Historically, an unusual aspect of the recent rise in CO₂ levels is that

Accepted Answer

A) there is no known mechanism for its occurrence. 
B) CO₂ reacts so quickly with other compounds that it should not be occurring. 
C) it has occurred relatively slowly. 
D) it has occurred relatively rapidly. 
A) there is no known mechanism for its occurrence. 
B) CO₂ reacts so quickly with other compounds that it should not be occurring. 
C) it has occurred relatively slowly. 
D) it has occurred relatively rapidly.

Question 19

In comparison to past estimates, extinction rates are currently high. Which of the following is the most plausible explanation?

Accepted Answer

A) Natural fluctuations in climate causes extinctions. 
B) Continental drift is causing rapid changes in climate, which, in turn, causes extinctions. 
C) Previous extinctions make survival of contemporary species more difficult. 
D) Humans are affecting many aspects of the global environment. 
A) Natural fluctuations in climate causes extinctions. 
B) Continental drift is causing rapid changes in climate, which, in turn, causes extinctions. 
C) Previous extinctions make survival of contemporary species more difficult. 
D) Humans are affecting many aspects of the global environment.

Question 20

A friend notes that this winter was a particularly cold one and states that this is evidence that global warming is not occurring. Evaluate the validity of this statement.

Accepted Answer

Global warming refers to increased avera

Exam 15: General Principles of Ecology

Which term encompasses all the others?

Match the term to the correct example. -a single storm

Which of the following terms describes all organisms on Earth plus their environments?

Nonliving factors in the biosphere are called ________ factors.

Describe how burning fossil fuels can warm the planet.

As a group, the ________ gases allow light energy to pass through the atmosphere but absorb heat energy as it passes through the atmosphere to outer space.

The single most significant human-caused contribution (about 75 percent) to the worldwide increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is

What causes the movement of warm air at the equator?

Increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have contributed to acidification of the oceans. This change of the water's pH due to a change in CO₂ concentrations is an example of

The levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Increasing carbon sinks will

A skeptic states that climate change may affect polar bears and other organisms, but not humans. Evaluate the validity of this statement.

Climate change will affect

The biosphere is defined as all the living organisms on Earth along with the ________ in which they live.

Biodiesel fuel is produced from oils synthesized by and harvested from living plants. How does the use of biodiesel fuel compare to the use of fossil fuels with respect to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere?

Why are there many deserts at 30° latitude?

Carbon dioxide makes up approximately ________ percent of Earth's atmosphere.

Historically, an unusual aspect of the recent rise in CO₂ levels is that

In comparison to past estimates, extinction rates are currently high. Which of the following is the most plausible explanation?

A friend notes that this winter was a particularly cold one and states that this is evidence that global warming is not occurring. Evaluate the validity of this statement.

The Nature of Science

Chemistry of Life

Life Is Cellular

How Cells Work

Cell Division

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

What Genes Are

How Genes Work

Evidence for Evolution

Mechanisms of Evolution

Adaptation and Species

The History of Life

Human Evolution

Growth of Populations

Communities of Organisms

Ecosystems

Homeostasis, Reproduction, and Development

Digestive, Muscular, and Skeletal Systems

Circulatory, Respiratory, Urinary, and Nervous Systems

Endocrine and Immune Systems

Plant Physiology

Applying the Science

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