Multiple Choice
Identify the
letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.
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All
of the following illustrate exponential growth except a. | the king who
promised to double the number of grains of wheat he put on each successive square of a
checkerboard. | b. | human population growth. | c. | driving 10 mph
for one minute; then 20 mph for one minute; then 30 mph for one minute; then 40 mph for one
minute. | d. | money in a savings account. | | |
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2.
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The
market value in current dollars of all goods and services produced within a country for final use
during a year is the a. | gross national product. | b. | gross domestic
product. | c. | per capital GNP. | d. | per capita
GDP. | | |
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3.
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Which
of the following generalizations about developing countries is true? a. | They make up
about one-tenth of the world's population. | b. | They have high average GNPs per
person. | c. | They include the United States, Canada, Japan, the former
Soviet Union, and European countries. | d. | They use about 12% of the world's
resources. | | |
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4.
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Three
countries which together account for more than half of the world's economic output include all of the
following except a. | the United States. | b. | the former
Soviet Union. | c. | Japan. | d. | Germany. | | |
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5.
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You
are visiting a developing country. Compared to a developed country, you would expect to find
a a. | higher
percentage of the population with safe drinking water. | b. | higher
percentage of the population under age 15. | c. | higher average life expectancy. | d. | more urban
population. | | |
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6.
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At
least ten million people die annually from a. | cancer and diabetes. | b. | heart attacks
and strokes. | c. | malnutrition, related diseases, and contaminated drinking
water. | d. | accidents. | | |
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7.
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Peter
awoke to the early morning alarm clock. He jumped out of bed and quickly ran through a morning
shower. He happily consumed two eggs, orange juice, a tall glass of milk, and toast. Flipping on the
television, his ears tuned to CNN while his eyes scanned the morning headlines. He ran for the train
and started his morning work an hour later. Peter was using a. | both ecological
and economic resources. | b. | ecological but not economic
resources. | c. | economic but not ecological
resources. | d. | neither economic nor ecological
resources. | | |
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8.
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Which
of the following best describes the concept of environmental degradation? a. | using solar
power at a rapid rate | b. | using oil | c. | cutting trees
for wood products | d. | letting agricultural runoff cause oxygen depletion and fish
kills downstream | | |
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9.
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Which
of the following statements best illustrates the tragedy of the commons? a. | A factory
pollutes a river as much as the law allows. | b. | Some levels of
pollution are life threatening. | c. | Some activities harm the environment, but others do
not. | d. | Irrigated
cropland can be ruined by salinization. | | |
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10.
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You
generally buy and eat microwave dinners. After dinner, cardboard tops and plastic trays remain. The
least effective way to deal with this type of solid-waste problem would be to a. | collect the
components and incinerate them so they don't take up landfill space. | b. | prepare large
quantities of food and divide it into your own reusable microwave
containers. | c. | donate the plastic containers to the local nursery schools to
use with preschoolers. | d. | recycle the components. | | |
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11.
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Which
of the following statements does not characterize relationships between hunter-gatherers and
the environment? a. | They used
potentially renewable resources. | b. | They exploited their environment for food and other
resources. | c. | They caused major environmental
impacts. | d. | Population size was low. | | |
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12.
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All
of the following probably characterized the first agricultural communities
except a. | slash-and-burn
cultivation. | b. | specialized farming of one crop. | c. | shifting
cultivation. | d. | subsistence agriculture. | | |
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13.
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Slash-and-burn cultivation a. | leaves ashes from burned vegetation, which add plant nutrients
to the soil. | b. | contours and terraces the land. | c. | ultimately leads
to desertification. | d. | rotates crops yearly. | | |
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14.
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Which
of the following human-resource relationships does not characterize a shift from
hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies? a. | Use of domesticated animals increased average energy use per
person. | b. | Population increased with the increased food
supply. | c. | People used muscle, sun, and coal as energy
sources. | d. | People began accumulating material
goods. | | |
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15.
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A
major stimulus for the Industrial Revolution was a. | the bubonic plague. | b. | European
wars. | c. | a shortage of wood. | d. | poverty. | | |
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16.
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The
decade ____ is considered the golden age of conservation. a. | 1890-1900 | b. | 1900-1910 | c. | 1910-1920 | d. | 1920-1930 | | |
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17.
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Gifford Pinchot used ____ principles to manage America's renewable forest
resources. a. | sustainable-yield and multiple use | b. | sustainable-yield and reserved-use | c. | multiple-use and
highest-use | d. | multiple-use and maximum-yield | | |
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18.
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The
Sierra Club was developed by ____ in 1892. a. | Theodore Roosevelt | b. | John
Muir | c. | Gifford
Pinchot | d. | Aldo Leopold | | |
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19.
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The
colored bars showing kilocalories used per person per day in different societies through the course
of history form a a. | mathematical
model. | b. | mental model. | c. | conceptual
model. | d. | graphic model. | | |
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20.
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Human
events which affect the environment are generally characterized by a. | predictability
in what happens because the environment is diverse. | b. | many experiences
upon which to base our generalizations. | c. | long delays between events and
responses. | d. | immediate feedback. | | |
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21.
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The
atomic number is the number of a. | atoms in a molecule. | b. | protons in an
atom. | c. | neutrons in a molecule. | d. | electrons in an
atom. | | |
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22.
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The
most common form of energy released from radioisotopes is a. | gamma
rays. | b. | cosmic rays. | c. | X
rays. | d. | ultraviolet rays. | | |
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23.
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Which
of the following is a likely product of a fusion reaction? a. | alpha
particles | b. | deuterium | c. | tritium | d. | helium | | |
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24.
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Biodiversity emerges from a. | mutations. | b. | natural
selection. | c. | extinction. | d. | all of these
answers. | | |
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25.
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When
incoming solar radiation is converted to heat, it is least likely to be trapped in the
atmosphere by a. | water
vapor. | b. | carbon dioxide. | c. | methane. | d. | nitrogen gas. | | |
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26.
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All
of the following are consumers except a. | herbivores. | b. | carnivores. | c. | omnivores. | d. | autotrophs. | | |
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27.
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Organisms that feed on dead organisms are called a. | producers. | b. | carnivores. | c. | autotrophs. | d. | scavengers. | | |
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28.
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The
ecological efficiency at each trophic level of a particular ecosystem is 20%. If the green plants of
the ecosystem capture 100 units of energy, about _____ units of energy will be available to support
herbivores, and about _____ units of energy will be available to support carnivores. a. | 120;
140 | b. | 120;
240 | c. | 20;
2 | d. | 20;
4 | | |
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29.
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The
amount of water vapor found in a certain mass of air is the a. | relative
humidity. | b. | absolute humidity. | c. | average
humidity. | d. | air pressure. | | |
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30.
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Water
covers about ____% of Earth's surface.
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31.
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Which
element could be called the "currency for energy exchange in living
systems?" a. | nitrogen | b. | oxygen | c. | carbon | d. | sulfur | | |
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32.
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The
nitrogen cycle is considered to be a a. | gaseous cycle. | b. | sedimentary
cycle. | c. | hydrologic cycle. | d. | double
cycle. | | |
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33.
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Which
of the following statements about human alteration of the nitrogen cycle is
false? a. | Large quantities
of nitric oxide are released into the atmosphere when fuel is burned. | b. | Nitric oxide can
be converted in the atmosphere to nitric acid, which contributes to acid
deposition. | c. | Eating protein puts "dead ends" in the nitrogen
cycle. | d. | Soil can be depleted of nitrate and ammonium ions by harvesting
nitrogen-rich crops. | | |
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34.
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To
which of the following cycles is guano an important component? a. | phosphorous | b. | carbon | c. | hydrologic | d. | sulfur | | |
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35.
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Ecosystem services include a. | provision of energy and food sources. | b. | detoxification
of pollutants. | c. | population control of pests. | d. | all of these
answers. | | |
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36.
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Evidence for the evolution of life comes from a. | chemical
experiments. | b. | fossils. | c. | chemical
analysis of ancient rocks and core samples. | d. | all of these
answers. | | |
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37.
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The
source of energy that probably contributed least to the synthesis of biological chemicals on
primitive Earth is a. | ultraviolet light. | b. | hydropower. | c. | radioactivity. | d. | lightning. | | |
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38.
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The
most likely sequence for the biological evolution of life is a. | aerobic
prokaryotes-photosynthetic prokaryotes-anaerobic prokaryotes-eukaryotes-multicellular
organisms. | b. | photosynthetic prokaryotes-anaerobic prokaryotes-aerobic
prokaryotes-eukaryotes-multicellular organisms. | c. | anaerobic
prokaryotes-photosynthetic prokaryotes-aerobic prokaryotes-eukaryotes-multicellular
organisms. | d. | eukaryotes-anaerobic prokaryotes-photosynthetic
prokaryotes-aerobic prokaryotes-multicellular organisms. | | |
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39.
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You
are a fossil hunter. Which of the following are you least likely to find in a
fossil? a. | bone | b. | leaves | c. | teeth | d. | muscle | | |
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40.
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A
change in the genetic composition of a population over successive generations is
called a. | emigration. | b. | mutation. | c. | natural
selection. | d. | evolution. | | |
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41.
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The
term used to describe the long-term, large-scale evolutionary changes among groups of species
is a. | coevolution. | b. | microevolution. | c. | convergent
evolution. | d. | macroevolution. | | |
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42.
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Which
of the following is false? Coevolution a. | occurs when interacting species exert selective pressures on
each other. | b. | occurs between plants and the herbivores that eat
them. | c. | may play a role in the evolution of
camouflage. | d. | leads to competitive relationships. | | |
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43.
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Patterns of speciation and extinction are least likely to be affected
by a. | climatic
changes. | b. | continental drift. | c. | meteorites
crashing into the earth. | d. | changes in the weather. | | |
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44.
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Biologists estimate that over ____% of the species that have ever lived are now
extinct.
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45.
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Which
of the following statements about extinctions is false? a. | Biologists
estimate that 99% of all the species that have ever existed are now
extinct. | b. | Mass extinctions raise the extinction rate above the background
extinction rate. | c. | Most mass extinctions are believed to be due to global climatic
changes. | d. | Earth has experienced over a dozen great mass
extinctions. | | |
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46.
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Climate is influenced by a. | the amount of incoming solar
radiation. | b. | Earth's rotation. | c. | the tilt of
Earth's axis. | d. | all of these answers. | | |
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47.
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Which
of the following are examples of evergreen plants? a. | maples and
oaks | b. | algae and
seaweed | c. | bacteria | d. | pines and
cedars | | |
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48.
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Succulent plants are most likely to be found in a. | aquatic
habitats. | b. | cold ecosystems. | c. | high
altitudes. | d. | deserts. | | |
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49.
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Nights in deserts are cold because a. | winds originate at the North and South
Poles. | b. | the relative humidity is very high. | c. | there is a poor
insulating effect from the desert's dry air. | d. | nights are very
cloudy. | | |
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50.
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Desert ecosystems are threatened least by a. | groundwater
depletion. | b. | overgrazing. | c. | a nomadic
lifestyle. | d. | irrigation and salinization. | | |
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51.
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You
read the data records of a field ecologist who reports the following varieties of species: beetles,
spiders, grasshoppers, many insects and invertebrates, earthworms, prairie dogs, rabbits, squirrels,
meadowlarks, coyotes, foxes, hawks. You conclude that the field ecologist is located in
a a. | desert. | b. | tropical grassland. | c. | temperate
grassland. | d. | Arctic tundra. | | |
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52.
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If
you were to make a census in a temperate deciduous forest in the United States, the most likely
dominant mammal species would be a. | deer. | b. | bears. | c. | foxes. | d. | wildcats. | | |
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53.
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There
are fewer species in the coniferous forests than in the deciduous forests because few species can
survive the a. | bright
sunlight. | b. | excessive moisture. | c. | alkaline
soils. | d. | winters, when soil moisture is
frozen. | | |
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54.
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Humans effect mountain biomes by a. | expanding populations who may use the land in an unsustainable
way. | b. | ecotourism and
recreation. | c. | increase air pollution from urban
areas. | d. | all of these answers. | | |
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55.
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The
most probable chain of cause and effect contributing to patterns of earth's biomes
is a. | Incoming solar
energy and the earth's geometry create climate patterns which create air and ocean currents which
create biome patterns. | b. | Incoming solar energy and the earth's geometry create air and
ocean currents which create climate patterns which create biome patterns. | c. | Incoming solar
energy and the earth's geometry create climate patterns which create biome patterns which create air
and ocean currents. | d. | Air and ocean currents determine incoming solar energy and the
earth's geometry which create climate patterns which create biome patterns. | | |
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56.
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Thriving coral reefs require a. | cloudy water. | b. | cool
water. | c. | dissolved oxygen and nutrients. | d. | salinity that
fluctuates with the tides. | | |
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57.
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All
of the following threaten the survival of coral reefs except a. | increased
ultraviolet light from stratospheric ozone depletion. | b. | eroded soil from
deforestation and poor land management. | c. | chemical pollution. | d. | predation by
sharks. | | |
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58.
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Which
of the following ecosystems is least likely found in a temperate coastal
wetland? a. | bay | b. | salt flat | c. | mud
flat | d. | mangrove
swamp | | |
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59.
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Organisms of the intertidal zone a. | are constantly being swept away. | b. | are exposed to
constant salinity levels. | c. | are exposed to both air and underwater
conditions. | d. | must avoid drowning at high tide. | | |
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60.
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An
ecologist would expect a temperate lake to demonstrate overturns in a. | spring and
summer. | b. | spring and fall. | c. | spring and
winter. | d. | fall and summer. | | |
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61.
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An
ecologist would expect to find a thermocline in a temperate lake in a. | spring and
summer. | b. | spring and fall. | c. | summer and
winter. | d. | fall and summer. | | |
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62.
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Most
of the wetlands that are lost are used for a. | mining. | b. | urban
development. | c. | agriculture. | d. | forestry. | | |
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63.
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Flying foxes are now listed as endangered because a. | they congregate
and are easy targets. | b. | they are hunted. | c. | of
deforestation. | d. | of all of these answers. | | |
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64.
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Flying foxes are recognized as a a. | thriving species. | b. | alien
species. | c. | native species. | d. | keystone
species. | | |
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65.
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Where
is most of the world's biodiversity? a. | high-latitude forests | b. | middle-latitude
grasslands | c. | low-latitude forests | d. | polar
grasslands | | |
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66.
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The
giant panda is an endangered species because a. | it is a specialized species, eating mostly bamboo, which has
periodic diebacks. | b. | the pandas are separated into small, isolated
populations. | c. | of low birth rate and litter size. | d. | all of these
answers. | | |
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67.
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Species that normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem are known
as a. | nonnative
species. | b. | native species. | c. | keystone
species. | d. | specialist species. | | |
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68.
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Sea
otters, dung beetles, and gopher tortoises are generally considered to be a. | nonnative
species. | b. | native species. | c. | keystone
species. | d. | specialist species. | | |
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69.
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Interspecific competition can be avoided by a. | eating at
different times. | b. | resource partitioning. | c. | character
displacement. | d. | all of these answers. | | |
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70.
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Prey
are least likely to defend themselves against predators by a. | camouflage. | b. | acute senses of sight and smell. | c. | protective
shells. | d. | pursuit and ambush. | | |
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71.
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Of
the following relationships, the one most likely to be described as a positive feedback loop
is a. | competition. | b. | predation. | c. | mutualism. | d. | parasitism. | | |
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72.
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All
of the following illustrate the relationship of mutualism except a. | lichens. | b. | epiphytes. | c. | ants and
acacias. | d. | Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules of
legumes. | | |
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73.
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The
relationship between clownfish and sea anemones is a. | competition. | b. | predation. | c. | parasitism. | d. | mutualism. | | |
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74.
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Which
of the following statements about primary succession is false? a. | It is initiated
by pioneer species. | b. | It often involves species changing the environment so that they
can no longer thrive and must be replaced by other species. | c. | It generally
results in more complex, more self-sustaining stages than the preceding
ones. | d. | It is an orderly progression from pioneer species to climax
species indicative of the region being studied. | | |
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75.
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Emigration a. | is one-way movement of individuals into the area of an
established population. | b. | is one-way movement of individuals into an uninhabited
area. | c. | is one-way movement of individuals out of a particular
population to another area. | d. | is the repeated departure and return of individuals to and from
a population area. | | |
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76.
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Biotic potential is determined by a. | reproductive age span. | b. | litter
size. | c. | how many offspring survive to reproductive
age. | d. | all of these
answers. | | |
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77.
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A
population will increase if a. | natality decreases. | b. | mortality
increases. | c. | the biotic potential increases. | d. | the
environmental resistance increases. | | |
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78.
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Humans have extended Earth's carrying capacity for the human species
by a. | controlling many
diseases. | b. | using energy resources at a rapid
rate. | c. | using material resources at a rapid
rate. | d. | all of these answers. | | |
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79.
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Carrying capacity is determined by a. | climatic changes. | b. | predation. | c. | interspecific competition. | d. | all of these
answers. | | |
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80.
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Wolves controlling deer populations are an example of a. | bottom-up
population control | b. | top-down population control | c. | producer-level
control | d. | predator control | | |
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81.
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Which
of the following connections among population cycle, survival strategies, and survivorship curves
would you most expect to see? a. | boom-and-bust; K-strategist;
early-loss | b. | boom-and-bust; r-strategist;
early-loss | c. | stable; r-strategist; early-loss | d. | stable;
K-strategist; early-loss | | |
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82.
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Which
of the following questions is a conservation biologist least likely to ask? a. | How can
ecosystem integrity be maintained? | b. | How does sulfur cycle in this
ecosystem? | c. | What is the status of the natural populations in this
ecosystem? | d. | What ecosystem services are we in danger of losing in this
ecosystem? | | |
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83.
|
The
World Health Organization controlled sylvatic plague in Borneo (Brunei) by a. | spraying with
pesticide. | b. | parachuting healthy cats into the
area. | c. | introducing lizards. | d. | burning all the
huts that housed infected people. | | |
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84.
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Which
of the following is not one of the basic lessons from nature? a. | Sunlight is the
source of energy which sustains ecosystems. | b. | Soil, water,
air, and organisms are renewed through natural processes. | c. | All populations
of organisms except humans are kept in check by natural means. | d. | Energy is
required to maintain energy flow and recycle chemicals. | | |
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85.
|
Which
of the following principles would most environmentalists not want to see being a guide to
governance of public lands? a. | All users of public lands should be responsible for correcting
any environmental damage they cause. | b. | Protection of biodiversity and ecological integrity should be
the most important goal. | c. | Public lands should be used to enrich individual citizens to
make a strong U.S. economy. | d. | No one should be given subsidies or tax breaks for extracting
resources on public lands. | | |
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86.
|
The
takings/property rights movement a. | gives local zoning, land-use, and environmental plans
precedence over federal laws. | b. | requires the federal government to compensate landowners for
property values diminished because of regulations. | c. | greatly weakens
federal environmental legislation. | d. | is described by all of these answers. | | |
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87.
|
The
sagebrush rebellion was led by a. | politicians wanting pork-barrel
legislation. | b. | ranchers wanting unrestricted grazing on federal
rangeland. | c. | shepherds and cattlemen wanting bounties and other legislation
that would reduce the populations of coyotes, mountain lions, and eagles. | d. | conservationists
wanting some governmental controls over erosion. | | |
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88.
|
Clear-cutting a. | reduces biodiversity. | b. | makes trees
bordering the clear-cut area more vulnerable to being blown down by
windstorms. | c. | increases the size of a harvest. | d. | all of these
answers. | | |
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89.
|
_____
percent of the world's people belong to indigenous cultures. a. | One | b. | Five | c. | Ten | d. | Fifteen | | |
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90.
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Japan
has a good environmental record on all of the following except a. | air pollution
controls. | b. | high energy efficiency and recycling
rates. | c. | protecting endangered species and tropical
forests. | d. | donating aid to developing countries. | | |
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91.
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Currently, there are about _____ established biosphere reserves.
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92.
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Good
wilderness management would do all of the following except a. | extensively
patrol the accessible, popular areas. | b. | offer permits to selected areas for those who have demonstrated
wilderness skills. | c. | leave some areas undisturbed by
humans. | d. | allow citizens to camp anywhere at their own
risk. | | |
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93.
|
How
much does it cost the global fishing industry each year to catch $70 billion worth of
fish? a. | $50
billion | b. | $75 billion | c. | $100
billion | d. | $125 billion | | |
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94.
|
Which
of the following devices has saved many thousands of sea turtles from shrimp
trawlers? a. | gill
nets | b. | shrimp
rakers | c. | turtle exclusion devices | d. | sonic devices
that scare turtles away | | |
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95.
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Under
the International Whaling Commission's ban on whaling, who is still allowed to harvest
whales? a. | Japanese | b. | Russians | c. | Eskimos | d. | Irish | | |
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96.
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The
best long-range strategy to reduce beach erosion is a. | building groins
and seawalls. | b. | preventing development on beach areas or allowing development
only behind protective dunes. | c. | importing sand. | d. | extensive
building on barrier beaches. | | |
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97.
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What
are the high seas? a. | tidal waves generated by earthquakes | b. | large
storm-generated waves | c. | ocean areas beyond any country's legal
jurisdiction | d. | ocean areas policed by international
forces | | |
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98.
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What
is the largest wetlands restoration project? a. | the Okeefenokee | b. | the
Everglades | c. | Dismal Swamp | d. | Chesapeake
Bay | | |
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99.
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Activities allowed in the national Wild and Scenic Rivers System include all of the
following except a. | camping. | b. | canoeing. | c. | motor
boating. | d. | fishing. | | |
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100.
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Which
of the following do we know the least about? a. | deep
space | b. | deep ocean basins | c. | tropical
rainforests | d. | Antarctica | | |
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