Earth Systems Science Exam
Questions
Course Introduction
Earth Systems Science is an interdisciplinary course that explores the dynamic interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and human systems that shape our planet. Students will examine the physical and chemical processes governing Earth's structure, weather, climate, and natural cycles, as well as the impact of human activity on these systems. Through integrated observation, analysis, and modeling, learners gain a comprehensive understanding of Earth's complex environment, feedback mechanisms, and the importance of sustainable management of natural resources. This course provides foundational knowledge essential for careers in environmental science, geology, meteorology, and related fields.
Recommended Textbook
Sustaining the Earth 10th Edition by G. Tyler Miller
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
14 Chapters
1846 Verified Questions
1846 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/2132 Page 2
Chapter 1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
101 Verified Questions
101 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42453
Sample Questions
Q1) An environmental worldview that holds that we can and should manage the Earth for our benefit,but that we have an ethical responsibility to be caring and responsible managers of the Earth,is
A) planetary management.
B) stewardship.
C) environmental wisdom.
D) national origin.
E) technological.
Answer: B
Q2) Environmental science is the same as environmentalism.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Of the following actions,the one that does the least to sustain the Earth is
A) protecting Earth's biodiversity.
B) controlling human population growth.
C) utilizing renewable resources wherever possible.
D) increasing our dependence on nonrenewable resources.
E) decreasing our dependence on nonrenewable resources.
Answer: D
Page 3
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 2: Science, Matter, Energy, and Systems
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
162 Verified Questions
162 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42454
Sample Questions
Q1) The temperature in a certain area can be an abiotic ____________________ for the population size of migratory birds.
Answer: limiting factor
Q2) All of the following are consumers except A) herbivores.
B) carnivores.
C) omnivores.
D) autotrophs.
E) decomposers.
Answer: D
Q3) A factor present in concentrations too much or too little to support population growth,even if all the other factors are in optimal range is known as the A) trophic level.
B) range of tolerance.
C) biotic factor.
D) abiotic factor.
E) limiting factor.
Answer: E
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 4
Chapter 3: Biodiversity and Evolution
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
104 Verified Questions
104 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42455
Sample Questions
Q1) All of the following are marine life zones except
A) euphotic zone.
B) bathyal zone.
C) abyssal zone.
D) coastal zone.
E) source zone.
Answer: E
Q2) When local environmental conditions change,species may become extinct through background extinction.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Biodiversity is a renewable resource.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q4) Distinguish genetic engineering from artificial selection.
Answer: Artificial selection is when humans intentionally cross-breed among species within a population,while genetic engineering allows for cross-breeding between populations of different species.
Page 5
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 4: Community Ecology, Population Ecology, and the Human Population
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
117 Verified Questions
117 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42456
Sample Questions
Q1) Highly developed countries have high population growth rates because birth rates are high.
A)True
B)False
Q2) If total fertility rates are decreasing,why is the world's human population still increasing?
Q3) How do keystone species differ from foundation species?
Q4) On the population size as a function of time figure,choose the letter that represents a population's capacity for growth.
Q5) Two important roles of keystone species are pollination and predation.
A)True
B)False
Q6) Carrying capacity is the population size (or density)at which the environment is stable.
A)True
B)False
Q7) Whales are examples of ____________________ because they reproduce slowly and produce few,well nurtured offspring to ensure survival of the species.
Q8) Which age-structure diagram represents a population expanding slowly? Page 6
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 7
Chapter 5: Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
114 Verified Questions
114 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42457
Sample Questions
Q1) The best way to deal with harmful invasive species is to prevent them from becoming established in an area.
A)True
B)False
Q2) ____ occurs when one or more populations of a species is no longer found in an area it once inhabited,but is found elsewhere.
A) Ecological extinction.
B) Local extinction.
C) Biological extinction.
D) Natural selection.
E) Speciation.
Q3) ____________________ are used to compromise between extreme environmentalists and private investors to find a medium between economic growth and biodiversity.
Q4) To control nonnative species that have no natural competitors,scientists must remove the species from the ecosystem.
A)True
B)False
Q5) List 4 ways we can protect wild species from human caused extinctions.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 8
Chapter 6: Sustaining Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
142 Verified Questions
142 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42458
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following statements about tropical forests is false?
A) They cover about 6% of Earth's land area.
B) They grow near the equator.
C) Over half of the world's tropical forests have already been cleared or degraded.
D) Reforestation is ensuring that tropical forests are being used on a sustainable-yield basis.
E) They are a primary storehouse for carbon.
Q2) The difference between a nature reserve and a wilderness area is that people are allowed to visit nature reserves.
A)True
B)False
Q3) A well-designed biosphere reserve is composed of all but A) a transition zone.
B) a buffer zone.
C) a core area.
D) a recreation center.
E) partnerships between invested parties.
Q4) Name the type of harvesting method that has been employed in the area shown in the figure.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 9
Chapter 7: Food,Soil,and Pest Management
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
151 Verified Questions
151 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42459
Sample Questions
Q1) Name three problems associated with synthetic pesticide use in large scale agriculture.
Q2) ____________________ is the movement of surface litter and topsoil.
Q3) Problems associated with feedlots include all of the following except
A) higher water consumption.
B) increased use of energy and fossil fuels.
C) overgrazing.
D) higher waste output.
E) increased need for grain and fish feed.
Q4) The first green revolution included
A) increasing the intensity and frequency of cropping.
B) increasing the use of fertilizer and pesticides.
C) developing and planting high-yield crop varieties.
D) all of these answers
E) none of these answers
Q5) ____________________ is a worldwide problem that is particularly serious in semi-arid irrigated areas with poor drainage,and results in lower yields and potential death of crops.
Q6) What can individuals do to reduce exposure to pesticides?
Q7) List three ways in which governments can assist in providing food security.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 8: Water Resources and Water Pollution
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
147 Verified Questions
147 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42460
Sample Questions
Q1) Large dams and reservoirs
A) reduce danger of flooding upstream.
B) are inexpensive to build.
C) cannot be used for outdoor recreation.
D) can be used to provide electric power.
E) all of these answers
Q2) Eutrophic lakes have murky,highly productive waters located closest to the wetland status in which many clear water species cannot survive.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Heat,organic wastes,and inorganic plant nutrients may all deplete dissolved ____ from water.
A) nitrogen
B) oxygen
C) particulate matter
D) minerals
E) hydrogen
Q4) On the groundwater system figure,choose the letter that represents an area that replenishes an aquifer by surface runoff and infiltration.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 11
Chapter 9: Nonrenewable Energy Resources
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
100 Verified Questions
100 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42461
Sample Questions
Q1) Currently,spent fuel rods used to power nuclear reactors are
A) stored on site outside of the reactor in steel-lined casks or water-filled pools.
B) sent to a national repository.
C) placed in metal drums and dumped deep in the ocean.
D) loaded into rockets and shot into space.
E) treated chemically to speed up the progression of half lives.
Q2) ____________________ are man-made fuels made through the extraction and liquefaction of coal.
Q3) Natural gas consists of all but A) methane. B) ethanol.
C) propane.
D) butane. E) ethane.
Q4) ____________________ has hundreds of different types of hydrocarbons that must be separated in order to be used.
Q5) ____________________ can happen very quickly as in an atomic bomb,or in a more controlled manner which allows the energy to be captured for useful purposes.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 12
Chapter 10: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
114 Verified Questions
114 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42462
Sample Questions
Q1) Provide one example of an environmental cost and one environmental benefit associated with using geothermal energy,solar energy,wind power,and hydro power.
Q2) If you were to make home renovations with the intention of reducing energy loss,you would do all of the following except
A) install a blue roof.
B) landscape the yard to maximize heat trapping and cooling.
C) upgrade to energy efficient appliances.
D) install a tankless hot water heater and compost toilet.
E) install superinsulation in walls and the attic.
Q3) Reducing energy use and waste does all of the following except
A) extend the length of time that fossil fuels will last.
B) ease international tensions.
C) improve global military security.
D) cause an economic recession.
E) protect the environment.
Q4) ____________________ absorbs the sun's heat and stores it (in a structure)without the use of fans or pumps.
Q5) What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using biomass as fuel?
Q6) Energy conservation is best achieved through ____________________.
Page 13
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 11: Environmental Hazards and Human Health
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
116 Verified Questions
116 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42463
Sample Questions
Q1) At low toxin dosages,scientist often choose the no-threshold dose response model.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The principal types of chemical hazards include all of the following except A) carcinogens.
B) mutagens.
C) teratogens.
D) zymogens.
E) toxic and hazardous substances.
Q3) According to the diagram,how does the life expectancy for males with AIDS change? How does the life expectancy with AIDS compare between males and females?
Q4) Malignant tumors may take years to detect if they travel via the blood to various parts of the body.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Natural chemicals are safe,and synthetic materials are harmful.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 14
Chapter 12: Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Ozone
Depletion
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
148 Verified Questions
148 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42464
Sample Questions
Q1) The world's economies are not affected by the climate change.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Government strategies to reduce the threat of climate change include all of the following except
A) introduce an energy tax on each unit of fossil fuel burned.
B) place caps and issue permits on greenhouse gas emissions in a particular region.
C) increase subsides for energy efficiency and greener technologies.
D) increase taxes on income and profits.
E) facility green technology transfers to less developed countries.
Q3) All industrial countries now use modern technologies to prevent industrial smog. A)True
B)False
Q4) Which is false?
A) CFCs are persistent chemicals.
B) Ozone depletion is worst in Antarctica.
C) There are substitutes to CFCs.
D) Ozone thinning is a permanent problem.
E) CFCs contribute to global warming.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 15
Chapter 13: Urbanization and Solid and Hazardous Waste
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
189 Verified Questions
189 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42465
Sample Questions
Q1) ____________________ is a form of urban growth planning that recognizes that urban growth will occur but uses laws and other tools to slow the resulting resource degradation.
Q2) The United States has 4.6% of the world's population,yet it has about ____ of the world's 900 million passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
A) one-eighth
B) one-quarter
C) one-half
D) one-third
E) all
Q3) Recycling plastic materials are a problem because
A) many plastics are mixed with other wastes and are difficult to isolate
B) plastics may contain stabilizers that must be removed prior to recycling
C) virgin plastic resin is artificially cheaper than recycled resin
D) they are unnecessarily and excessively used as single-use and throw-away packaging.
E) all of these answers
Q4) On the waste-to-energy incinerator figure,choose the letter that identifies the Waste pit.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 16
Chapter 14: Economics, Politics, Worldviews, and Sustainability
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
141 Verified Questions
141 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/42466
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following statements is false?
A) Internalizing external costs would make pollution prevention more profitable.
B) Internalizing external costs makes consumers more aware of the true cost of goods and services.
C) Real market prices would not always be cheaper if external costs were internalized.
D) Fuel-inefficient cars would still have competitive prices if their external costs were internalized.
E) Many costs and benefits cannot be labeled with a price tag.
Q2) The foundation of environmental literacy is based on the understanding that A) natural capital is important because it supports earth's ecosystems and human economies.
B) our ecological footprints are immense and expanding rapidly
C) ecological tipping points are reversible
D) a and b
E) a, b and c
Q3) ____________________ is a common pitfall because people feel that there are no perfect solutions to environmental problems therefore they do not act.
Q4) An example of an incentive-based regulation system is ____________________.
Page 17
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.