Environmental Science Final Exam- Study Guide
This test consists of 145 multiple- choice questions. You will have 2 hours to take the test.
BRING A #2 PENCIL!
Chapter 1: Intro to Environmental Science
Vocabulary:
 Environment
 Environmental Science
 Environmentalism
 Renewable Resource (know examples)
 Nonrenewable Resource (know examples)
 Sustainable
 Ecological Footprint
 Hypothesis
 Independent Variable
 Dependent Variable
 Theory
 Ethics
Why is environmental science considered interdisciplinary?
is a combination of various other subjects (i.e. ecology, biology, economics, history, ethics, etc.)
In an experiment, a scientist adds Vitamin B to his sunflower plants that he exposed to a plant
carcinogen. The Vitamin B is a known anti-cancer treatment in plants. He then observed the tumor
growth on the sunflowers. What is the dependent variable? Independent variable? What would be
a control for his experiment?
Dependent- Tumor growth
Independent- Vitamin B amt.
Control- Plants not given vitamin B
What characterizes biocentrism, ecocentrism, and anthropocentrism?
Bio- every living thing has value, just some more than others
Eco- every living thing has equal value; the system is more important than the individual
Anthro- humans are the most important species
What makes a theory different than a hypothesis?
Theory is made from many supported hypothesis conclusions. It is more general. Hypothesis is a
testable prediction that is very specific.
What is the relationship between population & resource consumption?
increase in population; increase in resource consumption
What does “tragedy of the commons” mean? Be able to identify an example.
unregulated use of resources until the resource no longer exist
Chapter 2: Economics and Environmental Policy
Vocabulary:
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Supply and Demand
Cost-benefit analysis (be able to identify given an example)
Economics
Non-market value
Eco-label (know common examples)
Green Tax (be able to identify given an example)
Command-and-Control (be able to identify given an example)
Cap-and-Trade (be able to identify given an example)
Subsidy taxes
EPA
Who is responsible for making environmental policy in the United States? all 3 branches of gov’t
What is the relationship between economics and the environment?
a good economy stems from a healthy environment; bad environment = bad economy
In what time period where most major laws in modern US environmental policy enacted? 1960s1970s
What led to the changes in environmental policy in the mid to late 1900’s?
air pollution, water pollution, health issues, Silent Spring
Who do governments interact with in order to create policies?
lobbyists, environmentalists, businessmen, scientists, citizens, etc.
Chapter 3: Earth’s Systems and Biogeochemical Cycles
Vocabulary:
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Feedback Loop- Positive & Negative (be able to identify given an example)
Lithosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Crust
Core
Tectonic Plate
Nutrient
Biogeochemical Cycle
Primary Producer
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
Eutrophication
Nitrogen Fixation
Which sphere are humans a part of? biosphere
What is the relationship between carbon dioxide and its role in the atmosphere?
CO2 is a greenhouse gas and helps keep Earth warm through Greenhouse Effect
What are common sources of phosphorus? What does phosphorus do to water as pollution?
detergents & fertilizers; causes eutrophication
Know the basic process of nitrogen fixation. (Nitrogen get changed to what? What does the
changing?) Nitrogen Ammonia
Bacteria does the changing
What is the human impact on the carbon cycle? cutting down trees releases stored carbon into cycle
& burning fossil fuels releases carbon= putting too much into cycle and knocking it out of balance
Know the difference between the 3 plate boundaries.
Convergent- push together
Divergent- pull apart
Transform- brush against each other
Chapter 5: Energy Flow and Ecosystems
Vocabulary:
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Herbivore
Carnivore
Omnivore
Producer
Predation
Decomposers
Trophic levels
Biomass (know where there is the greatest biomass in a food chain)
Keystone species
What is the source of all energy on earth? the sun
Know the difference between primary succession and secondary succession. The goal of all
succession is to reach what type of community? Primary- bare rock Secondary- topsoil left
Goal- climax community
What is an invasive species? What aspects of an environment will keep a species from being
invasive? A species not native to the habitat that has a negative effect on the habitat or an
organisms in the habitat that is native; predators, no food, wrong climate, etc.
Be able to read and understand food chains and food webs.
What is a pioneer species? Give an example.
1st species the come back to an environment after a disturbance. ex. lichen & grasses
Chapter 12: Soil and Agriculture
Vocabulary:
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Soil
Parent Material
Clay
Silt
Sand
Loam
Soil Degradation
Overgrazing
Pesticides
Pollinator
Food Security
Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs)
Malnutrition
Feed lot
Aquaculture
Green Revolution
What are the five (5) factors that influence soil formation?
climate, organisms, landforms, parent material, time
Soil texture is based on…. particle size
What is the particle of sand, silt, and clay with respect to one another?
sand (largest), silt, clay (smallest)
How is soil classified?
color, texture, structure, pH
How/When/Why did the Dust Bowl occur?
1930s, overgrazing, cutting down too much grass, too much agriculture, wind storms
What are three (3) differences between traditional and industrial agriculture?
Traditional- uses animals to do the work, organic fertilizer, no pollution through fossil fuels
Industrial- machines doing the work, synthetic fertilizers, pollution due to use of fossil fuels
Who is Norman Borlaug? Father of Green Revolution
How do pollinators help agriculture? What are examples of pollinators? Pollinate necessary food.
ex. bats, birds, insects
Chapter 14.3: Water Pollution
Vocabulary:
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Point-source pollution
Non-point source pollution
Wastewater
Algal bloom
Pathogen
Red Tide
What are the main differences between point source and nonpoint source water pollution?
point source- specific site doing polluting
non-point- large site over an area doing polluting
List and describe different types of water pollution.
Sedimentary
Toxic Chemical
Thermal
Biological
Nutrient
What did the Clean Water Act make it illegal to do? pollute water
Chapter 15: Atmosphere
Vocabulary:
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acid deposition
temperature inversion
scrubber
catalytic converter
pH scale
emissions
What are the layers of the atmosphere in order? troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere,
thermosphere
What is the benefit of the ozone layer on living things on Earth?
blocks harmful UV rays from reaching Earth
What are the affects of acid rain on green plants & buildings? browns and kills plants; deteriorates
buildings
What are radiation, conduction and convection main methods of? heat transfer
Chapter 16: Global Climate Change
Vocabulary:
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Global warming
Greenhouse gases (know examples)
Topography
Carbon sequestration
What happens to the oceans when they absorb a lot of carbon dioxide? has a cooling effect & acidic
effect
How do scientists determine ancient climate conditions? current climate conditions?
ancient- proxy indicators (ex. ice & tree rings) current- direct measurements over time
Why are people in coastal areas concerned with global climate change?
flooding
What has happened to global precipitation patterns during the last 100 years?
some places seeing much more while others seeing drastically less
What are the affects of global warming on polar bears?
not able to rest on icebergs when finding food= drowings
Chapter 17: Non-Renewable resources
Vocabulary:
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Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fusion
Energy: mechanical, chemical, thermal, potential, kinetic
Acid drainage
Sulfur dioxide
Strip Mining
Petrochemical
Which fossil fuel will run out first? oil
How do we use most of the oil in this country? transportation
Which country or region is considered coal-rich and oil-poor?
USA, China
In what type of rock are oil deposits found? sandstone and limestone
What do we make from oil? plastic
How do we use coal in this country? running industries & half electricity of USA
What is a problem of strip mining? habitat destruction; acid drainage
Of the fossil fuels, which is the least polluting? natural gas
When burned which pollutant causes smog? CO2
Describe nuclear power – what is the fuel? What is the process? What is the particle? What is the
problem? uranium-235, neutron particle, process- neutron strikes uranium-235 and makes the
uranium divide into 2 smaller atoms. when uranium splits it releases energy
Chapter 18: Renewable Energy
Vocabulary:
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Ground source heat pump
Hydrogen fuel
Biomass energy
Geothermal energy
Solar energy
Wind energy
Which renewable energy source is growing the fastest? wind
What are pros and cons of the following renewable energy sources…
Wind – pro- doesn’t cause pollution, highly efficient, less expensive when wind farms up and
running
con- no control over when wind will come, farms clutter landscape, noisy, birds & bats
killed
Hydropower – pro- natural motion generates energy, no pollution, relatively inexpensive
con- drastically change ecosystems when dams or reservoirs put in, can prevent
nutrients from traveling down stream
How is hydrogen fuel produced? electrolysis- water molecules broken down into Hydrogen and
Oxygen
How is electricity generated in geothermal power plants?
steam turns turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity
What fuel comes from decomposing waste? methane gas
Chapter 19: Waste Management
Vocabulary:
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biodegradable
sanitary landfill
waste: municipal, hazardous, industrial
source reduction
waste recovery
What measures are taken to ensure groundwater is not contaminated when designing/building a
sanitary landfill? plastic & clay layer, gravel layer & water monitoring system
What are 3 compostable items? 2 non-compostable?
fruits, veggies, lawn clippings; meat & plastic
List the methods of disposal for solid waste.
Recovery & Reduction
When landfills are closed they can be converted into what? recreational facilities
What are practices for waste recovery and reduction?
Recovery- recycle & compost
Reduction- “bottle bills” and “pay as you throw” programs