Climate Change – Middle School
1. Who studies the role of the ocean in shaping the earth's climate?
A. oceanographers
B. smoke jumpers
C. climate change analysts
D. HVAC technicians
2. Who studies the possible effects of climate change on people, businesses and natural systems?
A. climate change analysts
B. smoke Jumpers
C. oceanographers
D. HVAC technicians
3. Who upgrades heating and cooling systems to make them more efficient?
A. HVAC technicians
B. smoke jumpers
C. oceanographers
D. climate change analysts
4. Who fights wildland fires by parachuting into remote areas?
A. smoke jumpers
B. oceanographers
C. climate change analysts
D. HVAC technicians
5. A car that gets 20 miles per gallon (mpg) emits one lb of carbon dioxide per mile. A car that gets 40 mpg emits 1/2 a lb
of carbon dioxide per mile. How many more lbs of CO2 would the 20 mpg car give off than the 40 mpg car on a 100 mile
trip?
A. 50 more lbs
B. 20 more lbs
C. 40 more lbs
D. the same amount
6. Since 1750, humans have released 2040 GT of CO2 to the atmosphere. The ocean has absorbed 30% of that CO2.
How much has the ocean absorbed in GT? (a GT is a gigaton or gigatonne, equal to 1 billion metric tons)
A. 612 GT
B. 1428 GT
C. 2040 GT
D. 1020 GT
Correct Answer - A
Climate Change – Middle School
7. Since 1750, humans have released 2040 GT of CO2 into the atmosphere. The oceanand plants have absorbed 1224
GT. What percentage remains in the atmsphere? (a GT is a gigaton or gigatonne, equal to 1 billion metric tons)
A. about 40%
B. about 60%
C. about 90%
D. none
8. Sea level has gone up about 20 cm in the last 100 years mainly due to thermal expansion of water. Assuming no
change in these trends, how much will it go up in the next 50 years?
A. another 10 cm
B. another 20 cm
C. another 5 cm
D. it won't go up any more
9. What is the geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the earth's surface called?
A. latitude
B. longitude
C. global warming
D. greenhouse effect
10. What is the geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the earth's surface called?
A. longitude
B. latitude
C. greenhouse effect
D. climate change
11. What is an increase in the average global surface temperature called?
A. global warming
B. latitude
C. greenhouse gas
D. acidification
12. What is the mechanism that traps heat radiating from the surface in the atmosphere called?
A. greenhouse effect
B. acidification
C. global warming
D. climate change
13. What are the regional and global effects of an increase in average global surface temperature called?
A. climate change
B. greenhouse gas
C. acidification
D. longitude
Correct Answer - A
Climate Change – Middle School
14. What is the deflection of global air masses from a straight line called?
A. the coriolis effect
B. a front
C. albedo
D. a jet stream
15. What are the narrow bands of strong winds in the upper atmosphere called?
A. jet streams
B. albedo
C. the coriolis effect
D. fronts
16. What is the location where two air masses meet called?
A. a front
B. albedo
C. the coriolis effect
D. a jet stream
17. Which of these gases can cause the greenhouse effect?
A. carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide
B. nitrogen, oxygen and argon
C. chlorine, fluorine and iodine
D. sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and helium
18. What is the reflectance of the earth's surface called?
A. albedo
B. the coriolis effect
C. a front
D. jet streams
19. Which thing or things increase the albedo of the earth?
A. ice and snow
B. open ocean
C. conifer forests
D. deciduous forests
20. Which thing or things decrease the albedo of the earth?
A. open ocean
B. ice and snow
C. white-painted roofs
D. clouds
Correct Answer - A
Climate Change – Middle School
21. What effect would increasing the earth's albedo have on global warming?
A. it would reduce it
B. it would increase it
C. it would have no effect
D. it is impossible to tell
22. How could albedo cause a change in global warming?
A. by reflecting sunlight before it could be converted to heat
B. by absorbing sunlight before it could be converted to heat
C. by increasing conversion of sunlight to heat
D. by abosorbing sunlight and storing it as heat
23. Why do scientists think greenhouse gases (ghgs) are causing this episode of global warming?
A. the positive correlation in rising ghgs and rising temperatures
B. the negative correlation in rising ghgs and falling temperatures
C. the negative correlation between falling ghgs and rising temperatures
D. the positive correlation in falling ghgs and falling temperatures
24. Which part of the globe is experiencing the greatest warming?
A. the poles
B. the mid-latitudes
C. the equator
D. all parts are equally affected
25. If ice and snow at the poles melts, warming will increase more quickly. Why?
A. because of decreased albedo
B. because of increased albedo
C. because of sea level rise
D. because of increased CO2 absorption
26. Which of these consequences of warming has a positive feedback effect?
A. the melting of snow and ice
B. increased plant growth
C. loss of coral reefs
D. higher night time temperatures
27. Which of these meals contributes the most to increasing methane in the atmosphere?
A. a hamburger
B. a chicken salad sandwich
C. a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
D. a fish sandwich
Correct Answer - A
Climate Change – Middle School
28. Which of these ways of getting around contributes the most to increasing carbon dixoide in the atmosphere?
A. driving a car
B. walking
C. riding a bike
D. taking a bus
29. Which of these contributes the most to increasing nitrous oxide in the atmosphere?
A. using nitrogen fertilizer
B. composting
C. mulching
D. watering
30. Which of these actions would reduce the amount of methane a person's behavior contributes to the atmosphere?
A. eating less meat
B. watching less tv
C. walking instead of driving
D. taking shorter showers
31. What effect would painting roofs white have on global albedo?
A. it would increase
B. it would decrease
C. it would stay the same
D. it would vary depending on time of year
32. Since 1750, humans have released 2040 gigatons (GT) of CO2 to the atmosphere. Plants have absorbed 612 GT.
What percent have plants absorbed?
A. 30%
B. 10%
C. 60%
D. 100%
Correct Answer - A