Content Benchmark E.12.A.3
Students understand the role of the atmosphere in Earth’s greenhouse effect. E/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Explain how the proportions of gases in the atmosphere affect
weather and climate.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. Which of the following pairs of gases are the most abundant in Earth’s atmosphere?
A. Nitrogen (N2) and Oxygen (O2).
B. Methane (CH4) and Nitrogen (N2).
C. Water Vapor (H20) and Oxygen (O2).
D. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO).
2. If the percentage of sulfate aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere were to increase, Earth’s
temperature would likely
A. remain the same.
B. become slightly warmer.
C. drastically increase.
D. begin to decrease.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
3. Use the diagram to answer the following question.
(From Hyperphysics, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/grnhse.html#c3)
Atmospheric concentrations have been given for three greenhouse gases. If the
concentration of each were raised by 1.0 ppm, which gas would cause the greatest global
temperature increase?
A. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
B. Methane (CH4)
C. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)
D. Each gas would have an equal effect.
4. Some environmentalists have suggested that we plant as many trees and other perennial
green plants as possible to help reduce the quantity of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Which of the following could be an unintended consequence of such a practice?
A. Earth might get even warmer due to the increased humidity from plants.
B. Animals would suffer from oxygen depletion due to all the O2 plants consume.
C. Earth’s temperature will stop increasing since less CO2 is in the atmosphere.
D. The Earth might start to cool down a little since less heat is retained.
2nd Item Specification: Identify sources of greenhouse gases.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
5. Which of the following gases, released by ruminant animals and termites as a waste product
of digestion, can add to global warming?
A. Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
B. Methane (CH4).
C. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC).
D. Nitrogen (N2).
6. In the past, refrigerators, aerosol spray propellants and cleaning solvents were all sources of a
greenhouse gas known as
A. carbon dioxide (CO2).
B. methane (CH4).
C. chlorofluorocarbon (CFC).
D. nitrous oxide (NO2).
7. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is added to the atmosphere by each of the following EXCEPT
A. burning fossil fuels.
B. decay of organic matter.
C. hydrogen fuel cells
D. eruption of volcanoes.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
8. Use the table to answer the following question.
(From http://www.livinglandscapes.bc.ca/thomp-ok/env-changes/atmos/ch3.html)
Which of the following is NOT a methane source mainly attributable to human population
and activity?
A. Wetlands areas
B. Refuse landfills
C. Cattle farming
D. Rice cultivation
9. Wood and fossil fuels each release carbon dioxide (CO2) when they are burned, yet
environmental scientists are more concerned about the carbon dioxide added to the
atmosphere during the combustion of fossil fuels. Why?
A. Wood is burned in the open, so the CO2 is less concentrated.
B. CO2 released from fossil fuels cannot be utilized during photosynthesis.
C. Burning wood releases a gas which reduces the residence time of CO2 in the lower
and middle atmosphere.
D. Fossil fuels release CO2 which had been locked out of the atmosphere for millions
of years.
3rd Item Specification: Explain why a certain level of greenhouse effect is essential for life
on Earth.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
10. If scientists found a way to completely eliminate the greenhouse effect, what would be the
likely effect?
A. Earth would become extremely hot.
B. Earth would become extremely cold.
C. Earth would have moderate, Spring-like temperatures.
D. Earth would have moderate, Autumn-like temperatures.
11. Greenhouse gases help keep Earth at a habitable temperature by
A. blocking the cold winds and ices originating in outer space.
B. serving as essential nutrients for atmospheric phytoplankton.
C. allowing only infrared light to reach Earth’ surface.
D. retaining some of the Sun’s energy in our lower atmosphere.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
12. Use the diagram to answer the following question.
(From http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmuseum/climatechange1/02_1.shtml)
Which of the following best explains the temperatures observed at Earth’s surface?
A. Without a greenhouse effect, energy absorbed at Earth’s surface is lost to space.
B. With a greenhouse effect, the upper atmosphere reflects away all the Sun’s energy.
C. Without a greenhouse effect, all the Sun’s energy is absorbed deep into Earth’s crust.
D. With a greenhouse effect, heat flows from the cold atmosphere to the warm surface.
13. Without a greenhouse effect, it would have been more difficult for life to have become
established on Earth. Which of the following is a reasonable explanation why?
A. Warmer global temperatures would have made Earth too warm for life.
B. Life originated in liquid water but Earth’s water would have been frozen.
C. With no carbon dioxide, plants would have used oxygen needed by animals.
D. The extra ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth would have melted the crust.
Content Benchmark E.12.A.3
Students understand the role of the atmosphere in Earth’s greenhouse effect. E/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. A, DOK level 1
2. D, DOK level 1
3. C, DOK level 2
4. A, DOK level 2
5. B, DOK level 1
6. C, DOK level 1
7. C, DOK level 1
8. A, DOK level 2
9. D, DOK level 2
10. B, DOK level 1
11. D, DOK level 1
12. A, DOK level 2
13. B, DOK level 2