Rio Assessment Unit 5
Air Quality/Environmental Issues Name ________________________________
1. Ozone is a molecule that contains
three atoms of oxygen. High up
in the atmosphere, ozone helps
block harmful radiation from the
sun. But when ozone forms from
different kinds of pollutants low
in the atmosphere, it can be
dangerous to human health.
What can breathing ozone cause?
a. Allergies
b. Asthma
c. Cancer
d. The flu
2. Which two air pollutants are used
to predict air quality?
a. Carbon monoxide and
sulfuric acid
b. Ground level ozone and
particulate matter
c. Nitrogen and ground
level ozone
d. Chlorofluorocarbons and
carbon monoxide
Use the paragraph below to answer
questions three and four
Scientists believe that we are
creating air pollution, causing
increase in some gases, such as
carbon dioxide. Such increases
make it difficult for the atmosphere
to stay in balance and heat radiating
from the Earth is being trapped. The
trapped heat can have some longterm affects
3. What term refers to the sun’s
energy being trapped in our
atmosphere?
a. Greenhouse effect
b. Global Warming
c. Conduction
d. Convection
4. What term refers to the problem
caused by these increased level
of gases in our atmosphere?
a. Asthma effect
b. Greenhouse effect
c. Global Warming
d. Ozone effect
5. What is one consequence of
global warming?
a. Rising sea levels
b. Lowering sea levels
c. Increasing the size of the
Antarctic ice caps
d. Decreased number of
hurricanes
6. The location of ozone in the
atmosphere determines whether
it is “good” (beneficial) or “bad”
(harmful). Which of the
statements is true about the
location of ozone?
a. Ozone in both the
troposphere and the
stratosphere is beneficial.
b. Ozone in the troposphere
is harmful, and ozone in
the stratosphere is
beneficial
c. Ozone in the stratosphere
is harmful, and ozone in
the troposphere is
beneficial.
d. Ozone in both the
troposphere and the
stratosphere is harmful.
7. The ozone layer protects us from
which danger?
a. Too much ultraviolet
radiation
b. Carbon monoxide
poisoning
c. The effects of radon
d. Meteors
8. Which group of gases is
responsible for destroying the
ozone layer?
a. Car exhaust fumes
b. CFC’s
c. Greenhouse gases
d. Carbon monoxide and
carbon dioxide
9. Which source produces most of
our air pollution?
a. Burning fossil fuels
b. Pollen
c. Forest fires
d. Volcanic eruptions
10. What is one thing that people in
the United States could do to
reduce air pollution?
a. Burn more fossil fuels
b. Build more factories
c. Drive their cars more
d. Use more public
transportation
11. Which particular human activity
affects the increased carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere?
a. Reusing water bottles
b. Bringing reusable bags to
the grocery store
c. Driving a hybrid car
d. Riding a bike instead of
driving