Question 1

The most recently discovered air pollutant that is a stratospheric ozone destroying molecule is

Accepted Answer

A) CO. 
B) sulfur oxides. 
C) VOCs. 
D) nitrous oxide (N₂O). 
A) CO. 
B) sulfur oxides. 
C) VOCs. 
D) nitrous oxide (N₂O). D

Question 2

Crop damage from ozone formation is most likely to occur

Accepted Answer

A) downwind of a large urban center in the summer. 
B) upwind of large polluting regions in the spring. 
C) next to busy major highways in the winter 
D) downwind from an ocean shoreline in the spring. 
A) downwind of a large urban center in the summer. 
B) upwind of large polluting regions in the spring. 
C) next to busy major highways in the winter 
D) downwind from an ocean shoreline in the spring. A

Question 3

Acid rain concentrated in the eastern portions of the United States is primarily the result of

Accepted Answer

A) nuclear power plants in the region. 
B) coal-burning power plants in the Midwest. 
C) coal-burning power plants in northeastern Canada. 
D) off-shore oil drilling rigs along the east coast of the United States. 
A) nuclear power plants in the region. 
B) coal-burning power plants in the Midwest. 
C) coal-burning power plants in northeastern Canada. 
D) off-shore oil drilling rigs along the east coast of the United States. B

Question 4

In 1948 in Donora,Pennsylvania,the routine release of toxins into the air became a deadly fog because of

Accepted Answer

A) a chemical spill in the nearby Monongahela River. 
B) greatly increased activity of the nearby industries. 
C) a thermal inversion and stagnant weather conditions. 
D) the failure of the chemical scrubbing systems on smokestacks. 
A) a chemical spill in the nearby Monongahela River. 
B) greatly increased activity of the nearby industries. 
C) a thermal inversion and stagnant weather conditions. 
D) the failure of the chemical scrubbing systems on smokestacks.

Question 5

As demonstrated during the high oil prices of 2008,when gasoline prices skyrocket,hybrid vehicle sales

Accepted Answer

A) decrease and more people use public transportation. 
B) increase and fewer people use public transportation. 
C) decrease and fewer people use public transportation. 
D) increase and more people use public transportation. 
A) decrease and more people use public transportation. 
B) increase and fewer people use public transportation. 
C) decrease and fewer people use public transportation. 
D) increase and more people use public transportation.

Question 6

Which of the following is a secondary pollutant in the troposphere but a beneficial component in the stratosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) ozone 
B) nitrogen oxides 
C) carbon monoxide 
D) volatile organic compounds 
A) ozone 
B) nitrogen oxides 
C) carbon monoxide 
D) volatile organic compounds

Question 7

-The conditions represented in this figure illustrate

Accepted Answer

A) a temperature inversion. 
B) stratospheric smog. 
C) the greenhouse effect. 
D) how high levels of ozone affect climate near the ground. 
A) a temperature inversion. 
B) stratospheric smog. 
C) the greenhouse effect. 
D) how high levels of ozone affect climate near the ground.

Question 8

Most of the public health impacts from air pollution are the result of

Accepted Answer

A) acute exposure to a single pollutant. 
B) acute exposure to many pollutants. 
C) chronic exposure to a single pollutant. 
D) chronic exposure to many pollutants. 
A) acute exposure to a single pollutant. 
B) acute exposure to many pollutants. 
C) chronic exposure to a single pollutant. 
D) chronic exposure to many pollutants.

Question 9

Which of the following are primary pollutants that frequently occur undetected in homes?

Accepted Answer

A) radon and carbon monoxide 
B) soot,smoke,and salt aerosols 
C) peroxyacetyl nitrate and sulfur dioxide 
D) volatile organic compounds and peroxyacetyl nitrate 
A) radon and carbon monoxide 
B) soot,smoke,and salt aerosols 
C) peroxyacetyl nitrate and sulfur dioxide 
D) volatile organic compounds and peroxyacetyl nitrate

Question 10

Assuming that these people do not use tobacco products,a person in which of the following professions would most likely have the highest exposure to benzene,a known carcinogen?

Accepted Answer

A) a truck driver or pharmaceutical company worker 
B) a cashier at a grocery store 
C) an accountant working in a large office building 
D) a psychology professor 
A) a truck driver or pharmaceutical company worker 
B) a cashier at a grocery store 
C) an accountant working in a large office building 
D) a psychology professor

Question 11

A temperature inversion occurs when

Accepted Answer

A) high levels of sunshine burn off a fog. 
B) regions experience high winds and intense sunshine. 
C) the air near the ground is cooler than the air directly above it. 
D) the air near the ground is warmer than the air at higher altitudes. 
A) high levels of sunshine burn off a fog. 
B) regions experience high winds and intense sunshine. 
C) the air near the ground is cooler than the air directly above it. 
D) the air near the ground is warmer than the air at higher altitudes.

Question 12

Asthma is a serious and widespread disease related to air pollution.Symptoms of asthma include impaired breathing resulting from constricted air passages,a disorder of the

Accepted Answer

A) digestive system. 
B) cardiovascular system. 
C) endocrine system. 
D) immune system. 
A) digestive system. 
B) cardiovascular system. 
C) endocrine system. 
D) immune system.

Question 13

The complete combustion of fossil fuels and refuse produces

Accepted Answer

A) radon and carbon monoxide. 
B) volatile organic compounds. 
C) sulfuric acid and nitric acid. 
D) carbon dioxide and water vapor. 
A) radon and carbon monoxide. 
B) volatile organic compounds. 
C) sulfuric acid and nitric acid. 
D) carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Question 14

On May 18,1980,a massive eruption of Mt.St.Helens in Washington State sent a huge plume of ash high into the air.Over the next two weeks,the ash traveled around the world.To move that far,the ash would have to

Accepted Answer

A) dissolve in the nitrogen of the air. 
B) combine with moisture in the troposphere. 
C) bind to aerosols in the lithosphere. 
D) reach into the stratosphere. 
A) dissolve in the nitrogen of the air. 
B) combine with moisture in the troposphere. 
C) bind to aerosols in the lithosphere. 
D) reach into the stratosphere.

Question 15

Ozone levels can increase in the troposphere when

Accepted Answer

A) VOCs are present. 
B) PANs react with atmospheric nitrogen to form ozone. 
C) VOCs release ozone when they are broken apart by solar energy. 
D) more carbon dioxide is available to contribute additional oxygen for ozone formation. 
A) VOCs are present. 
B) PANs react with atmospheric nitrogen to form ozone. 
C) VOCs release ozone when they are broken apart by solar energy. 
D) more carbon dioxide is available to contribute additional oxygen for ozone formation.

Question 16

Atmospheric scientists often measure gases in parts per million by weight (ppm).If CO₂ is currently 0.04% of the atmosphere,the level expressed in ppm is

Accepted Answer

A) 4 ppm. 
B) 4000 ppm. 
C) 400 ppm. 
D) 0.004 ppm. 
A) 4 ppm. 
B) 4000 ppm. 
C) 400 ppm. 
D) 0.004 ppm.

Question 17

Air pollution in a heavily industrialized region would be reduced and the air would be healthier if that region

Accepted Answer

A) received more rain. 
B) received less sunshine. 
C) were at least 200 miles from an ocean. 
D) used more coal to generate electricity. 
A) received more rain. 
B) received less sunshine. 
C) were at least 200 miles from an ocean. 
D) used more coal to generate electricity.

Question 18

Which of the following is a major anthropogenic source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?

Accepted Answer

A) coal-fired electrical generating plants 
B) agricultural fertilizers 
C) incompletely combusted fossil fuels from vehicle exhaust 
D) nuclear power plants 
A) coal-fired electrical generating plants 
B) agricultural fertilizers 
C) incompletely combusted fossil fuels from vehicle exhaust 
D) nuclear power plants

Question 19

Nearly 300 million years ago,dragonflies existed that were the size of large hawks today.Some scientists believe that these giants could fly then,but not today,because oxygen in the atmosphere was much higher.If oxygen levels 300 million years ago were 50% higher than today,what percentage of the atmosphere would have consisted of oxygen for these giant dragonflies?

Accepted Answer

A) 30% 
B) 20% 
C) 10% 
D) 2% 
A) 30% 
B) 20% 
C) 10% 
D) 2%

Question 20

Reading through the long list of health effects of smoking tobacco,a student is shocked to find that smokers are inhaling carbon monoxide.Which of the following symptoms is most related to this particular component of tobacco smoke?

Accepted Answer

A) shortness of breath 
B) fibrosis of the lungs 
C) chronic bronchitis 
D) suppressed immune functions 
A) shortness of breath 
B) fibrosis of the lungs 
C) chronic bronchitis 
D) suppressed immune functions

Exam 19: Atmospheric Pollution

The most recently discovered air pollutant that is a stratospheric ozone destroying molecule is

Crop damage from ozone formation is most likely to occur

Acid rain concentrated in the eastern portions of the United States is primarily the result of

In 1948 in Donora,Pennsylvania,the routine release of toxins into the air became a deadly fog because of

As demonstrated during the high oil prices of 2008,when gasoline prices skyrocket,hybrid vehicle sales

Which of the following is a secondary pollutant in the troposphere but a beneficial component in the stratosphere?

-The conditions represented in this figure illustrate

Most of the public health impacts from air pollution are the result of

Which of the following are primary pollutants that frequently occur undetected in homes?

Assuming that these people do not use tobacco products,a person in which of the following professions would most likely have the highest exposure to benzene,a known carcinogen?

A temperature inversion occurs when

Asthma is a serious and widespread disease related to air pollution.Symptoms of asthma include impaired breathing resulting from constricted air passages,a disorder of the

The complete combustion of fossil fuels and refuse produces

On May 18,1980,a massive eruption of Mt.St.Helens in Washington State sent a huge plume of ash high into the air.Over the next two weeks,the ash traveled around the world.To move that far,the ash would have to

Ozone levels can increase in the troposphere when

Atmospheric scientists often measure gases in parts per million by weight (ppm).If CO₂ is currently 0.04% of the atmosphere,the level expressed in ppm is

Air pollution in a heavily industrialized region would be reduced and the air would be healthier if that region

Which of the following is a major anthropogenic source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?

Reading through the long list of health effects of smoking tobacco,a student is shocked to find that smokers are inhaling carbon monoxide.Which of the following symptoms is most related to this particular component of tobacco smoke?

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