Mid-term Review
The following questions deal with the general concepts of each unit. You should be able
to answer each of these questions. In addition to this, I recommend that you create a
vocabulary list for each unit using your notebook and text. From these terms create a
concept map for each unit by linking and defining them.
Introduction and general chemistry (Chapters 1, 2.1, 2.2, and 8 in Earth Science text)
- List the three phases of matter.
- Draw and label the parts of an atom.
- Explain the two main types of chemical bonds. Explain the numerical concept of
electron energy levels.
- Explain all the steps of the scientific method.
- Explain the significance of the big bang, and meteorite impact theories.
- Explain the relationship between the Doppler effect and red shift.
- State what Eratosthenes discovered and how.
- Describe how the earth moves and is positioned as a planet.
- List appropriate units for types of measurements such as mass, distance, volume, and
temperature. Be able to convert units within the metric system.
Ecology ( Unit 1 in Environmental Science text, handouts and laboratory manuals)
- Explain the concept of ecology using the terms environment and ecosystem.
- Explain what abiotic and biotic factors are, and list five examples of each.
- Explain the difference between habitat and niche.
- Explain how abiotic factors affect organisms in a forest, grassland, and stream.
- Explain the concept of biodiversity, and its relationship to tropical rain-forests.
- Explain population dynamics by using the terms population, population density, census,
limiting factor and carrying capacity.
- Order the four layers of a forest by giving two characteristics for each layer.
- List 4 dominant tree, shrub, and animal species in our area.
- List all the parts of a food web.
- Explain the energy pyramid and how energy moves through an ecosystem.
- Give several examples of limiting factors
- List several introduced species and explain why they are a problem.
- List several reasons why species have become endangered.
- List pros and cons to timber harvesting.
- Explain two types of timber harvesting techniques.
- Be able to diagram the nitrogen, and carbon-oxygen cycles.
Energy and natural resources (Unit 5 in Environmental text, laboratory manual and
chapter 11 in earth Science text)
- State the two laws of energy.
- Give an example of potential and kinetic energy, and relate the definition of energy to
work and force.
- List three examples of renewable and non-renewable resources.
- Define the process of how fossil fuels formed. Describe the four stages of coal
formation.
- Describe three ways oil, natural gas, and coal are both similar and different as energy
sources.