Global Environmental Change Exam Practice Tests
Course Introduction
Global Environmental Change examines the complex interactions between natural systems and human activities that drive shifts in the Earth's environment at local, regional, and global scales. This course explores key topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, land-use transformation, and pollution, assessing their causes, consequences, and feedback mechanisms. Students will analyze scientific evidence, evaluate policy responses, and consider the social, economic, and ethical dimensions of environmental change. Emphasis is placed on understanding both historical trends and future scenarios, equipping students with the knowledge to critically assess and address pressing environmental challenges.
Recommended Textbook
Principles of Environmental Science 8th Edition by William P Cunningham Prof
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16 Chapters
564 Verified Questions
564 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: Understanding Our Environment
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic to compare quality of life in different places. Examine the figure in the "Exploring Science" box. Based on this information why do you think some countries have low HDI values compared to others?
A) People live longer and have greater incomes in these locations.
B) Poverty, hunger, and health problems are greater in these places.
C) The majority of the data is collected by U.S. agencies and is biased.
D) Literacy and education is higher in these locations compared to others.
E) The quality of life in these places in high
Answer: B
Q2) Which of the following was key to the recovery of the Apo Island's reef fish population?
A) The establishment of a small marine sanctuary
B) A complete ban on all fishing
C) Importation of fish from other islands
D) Heavy government investment in alternative food sources
E) None of these are correct.
Answer: A
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Chapter 2: Environmental Systems: Matter and Energy of Life
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Sample Questions
Q1) The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are similar in that
A) under normal circumstances neither energy nor matter is created nor destroyed.
B) both energy and matter are recycled through biological systems.
C) both energy and matter flow in a one-way path through biological systems.
D) under normal circumstances energy and matter are destroyed as they pass through biological systems.
E) The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are not similar.
Answer: A
Q2) The length and complexity of a food web in the Arctic would be ____________ when compared to one in the tropical rainforest.
A) short and less complex
B) short and more complex
C) long and less complex
D) long and more complex
E) about the same
Answer: A
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Chapter 3: Evolution, Species Interactions, and Biological Communities
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34 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Two unpalatable or dangerous species which have warning patterns or colors and appear similar are an example of _________________.
A) symbiosis
B) competitive exclusion
C) mutualism
D) Batesian mimicry
E) Mullerian mimicry
Answer: E
Q2) An organism's biotic potential is the maximum number of offspring
A) that it can produce.
B) that survive to adulthood.
C) its habitat can support.
D) it produces at one time.
E) it actually produces over its lifetime.
Answer: A
Q3) In general species diversity is higher near the poles than near the equator.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Page 5
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Chapter 4: Human Populations
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Sample Questions
Q1) The annual percentage rate of this population is A) 0.02%.
B) 2.0%.
C) 20%.
D) -0.02%.
E) -2%.
Q2) One of the _________ effective ways to stabilize populations is to _________.
A) most; provide free contraceptives
B) least; provide free contraceptives
C) least; decrease child mortality
D) most; decrease child mortality
E) most; expect mandatory sterilization
Q3) According to Joel Cohen, the maximum human population that Earth can support is
A) 7-8 billion
B) 10-12 billion
C) 15-18 billion
D) 20-22 billion
E) more than 26 billion
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6
Chapter 5: Biomes and Biodiversity
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Sample Questions
Q1) In general, funding for recovery programs is given to species that are
A) in the most danger.
B) the most important.
C) most well known.
D) most numerous.
E) keystone species.
Q2) The base of the marine food web is
A) phytoplankton.
B) sharks.
C) sea stars.
D) coral reef organisms.
Q3) Which of the following statements about trade in endangered species is False ?
A) The principal importers of endangered species are developed countries.
B) Overharvesting affects animals more than plants.
C) People who say they are animal lovers are the main contributors to the trade.
D) The principal exporters of endangered species are developing countries.
E) Endangered species are listed globally by the IUCN.
Q4) Estuaries contain a mix of fresh and salt water.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 6: Environmental Conservation: Forests,
Grasslands, Parks, and Nature
Preserves
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Sample Questions
Q1) Marine reserves are more common and easier to manage than terrestrial reserves. A)True
B)False
Q2) The most sustainable land use in tropical forests is probably
A) logging.
B) cattle grazing.
C) monoculture agroforestry.
D) intensive, efficient modern row cropping.
E) milpa farming.
Q3) Which of the following statements regarding wildlife refuges is True?
A) While they may face other obstacles, wildlife refuges rarely have notable pollution problems.
B) Hunting is not allowed in wildlife refuges.
C) The Bureau of Land Management has made it a priority to expand designated wilderness areas on their lands.
D) Wildlife refuges are managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
E) The size and number of refuges are increasing globally.
Q4) The loss of forests can affect rainfall patterns.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 7: Food and Agriculture
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Sample Questions
Q1) The approximate energy yield of carbohydrates is 4 calories/gram; fats yield about 9 calories/gram, and proteins about 4 calories/gram. Jack and Sarah consumed the following for lunch:
Jack-100 grams protein, 20 grams fat, 75 grams carbohydrates; Sarah- 75 grams protein, 10 grams fats, 75 grams carbohydrates. How many Calories each did Jack and Sarah consume?
A) Jack: 890 Calories, Sarah: 670 Calories
B) Jack: 880 Calories, Sarah: 680 Calories
C) Jack: 900 Calories, Sarah: 650 Calories
D) Jack: 900 Calories, Sarah: 680 Calories
E) Jack: 880 Calories, Sarah: 690 Calories
Q2) Vitamin A deficiencies are associated with A) anemia.
B) weak bones.
C) a lack of energy, or listlessness.
D) poorly developed neural systems in embryos.
E) dry eyes and retinal degeneration.
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9
Chapter 8: Environmental Health and Toxicology
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Sample Questions
Q1) An advantage of testing for toxicity by exposing animals to chemicals is that using animals is
A) cheaper than other methods.
B) faster than other methods.
C) usually quite humane.
D) easier than using computer models.
E) a trusted and usually reliable way to get results.
Q2) Which of the following is an example of a neurotoxin?
A) Malaria
B) Formaldehyde
C) Mercury
D) DDT
Q3) A chemical that causes abnormalities in a growing fetus is called a(n)
A) teratogen.
B) mutagen.
C) carcinogen.
D) endocrine disruptor.
Q4) In 1918 a flu pandemic killed more than 50 million people.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 9: Climate
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Sample Questions
Q1) When cool, dry air sinks from the upper atmosphere toward the Earth's surface, it is
A) compressed and cooled further.
B) allowed to expand and become warmer.
C) compressed and becomes warmer.
D) forced to release any remaining moisture.
E) going to hold more water because there is more water vapor closer to the Earth's surface.
Q2) What are the ecological implications of global warming?
A) Plants and animals that are residing in fragmented habitats may not be able to move to a suitable habitat.
B) In general, plants and animals will probably benefit from warmer temperatures.
C) Since farmland may be lost, the habitats for plants and animals will increase in area.
D) Since biodiversity is usually higher in warmer, milder climates, it will probably be increased.
E) Tropical ecosystems will become dramatically warmer than they are now.
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11
Chapter 10: Air Pollution
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Sample Questions
Q1) Wind currents
A) send air pollution from one continent to the next.
B) keep CFCs from reaching the ozone hole.
C) eliminate the movement of dust particles from watershed to watershed.
D) circulate global carbon dioxide to regions with more vegetation for photosynthesis.
Q2) ___________ ozone is harmful, damaging plants and human health while ozone at the _________ level screens out mutagenic ultraviolet radiation.
A) Stratospheric; troposphere
B) Thermospheric; mesosphere
C) Tropospheric; stratosphere
D) Mesospheric; thermosphere
E) Stratospheric; mesosphere
Q3) _________ interacts with __________ to produce photochemical oxidants in smog.
A) VOCs, Nitrous Oxides
B) Particulate matter, O3
C) VOCs. O3
D) HAPs, VOCs
E) Aerosols, VOCs
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Page 12
Chapter 11: Water: Resources and Pollution
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Sample Questions
Q1) On the graph of clean drinking water per person, each letter represents a country. Which of the following is most likely?
A) A is the United States; B is India.
B) A is India; B is the United States.
C) A is the United States; B is Canada.
D) A is China; B is India.
E) A is India; B is Canada.
Q2) A country's renewable water supplies are generally made up of
A) surface runoff and infiltration into accessible aquifers.
B) seasonal flooding and infiltration into accessible aquifers.
C) seasonal flooding.
D) rivers running through the country.
E) water used from an aquifer.
Q3) Which would not be a principal problem that has resulted from the construction of large dams?
A) evaporation and siltation.
B) leakage and weakening of bedrock.
C) mercury poisoning.
D) the relocation of people.
E) salinization of water bodies and surrounding soil.
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Chapter 12: Environmental Geology and Earth Resources
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Sample Questions
Q1) The "ring of fire" is the source of more earthquakes and volcanic activity than any other place on earth. What causes the ring of fire?
A) the subduction of Pacific plates under continental plates
B) the drift of Europe and Africa away from the Americas
C) the collision of two continental plates
D) mid-oceanic ridges
E) Earthquakes.
Q2) A giant sea swell known as a tsunami is caused by A) typhoons.
B) earthquakes.
C) lunar gravity.
D) unusual tides combined with seasonal storms.
E) a strong wave during an exceptionally high tide.
Q3) Which is not a major category of economic minerals?
A) bauxite
B) metal ores
C) sand and gravel
D) evaporated salt flats
E) none of these
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Page 14
Chapter 13: Energy
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Sample Questions
Q1) _________ is derived from ancient swamps and bogs, where standing water prevented decay and allowed plant matter to accumulate and _________ is derived from plankton and algae, mixed with mud and sand on ancient sea beds.
A) Oil, Coal
B) Methane, Oil
C) Natural Gas, Coal
D) Coal, Oil
E) Methane, Natural Gas
Q2) Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland have higher standards of living by most measures than Americans or Canadians
A) because their energy consumption is much greater.
B) because they are closer to energy supplies.
C) even though their energy use is about equal to ours.
D) even though their energy use is much less than ours.
E) Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland do not have higher standards of living compared to Americans or Canadians.
Q3) A geyser is an example of geothermal energy.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 14: Solid and Hazardous Waste
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Sample Questions
Q1) Photodegradable plastics can breakdown in a landfill.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Secure landfills are usually sealed with gravel.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Toxic landfills are frequently located in ________ areas.
A) wilderness
B) urban
C) rural
D) nonpopulated
E) suburban
Q4) A single PVC bottle in a truckload of PET plastic could make the PET useless for recycling.
A)True
B)False
Q5) The US stopped all dumping of municipal refuse into oceans in 1958.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 15: Economics and Urbanization
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Sample Questions
Q1) Reflects the local economy by accounting for only those goods and services bought and sold locally
A) GPI
B) GPD
C) GPA
D) GNP
E) HDI
Q2) Environmental protection has been proven to __________ the number of available jobs because __________.
A) decrease; it limits the use of nonrenewable resources (as in the case of the logging industry)
B) increase; labor is usually substituted for natural resources (as in the case of recycling)
C) stabilize; the use of nonrenewable resources is stabilized and jobs are scarce anyway
D) decrease; it negatively affects economic growth
E) stabilize; it limits the use of nonrenewable resources (as in the case of the logging industry)
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Chapter 16: Environmental Policy and Sustainability
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Sample Questions
Q1) All of the following are examples of major international environmental agreements except
A) Montreal Protocol (1987)
B) National Environmental Policy Act (1970)
C) Kyoto Protocol (1997)
D) Basel Convention (1992)
E) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (1973)
Q2) After a problem is identified, the next step in the policy cycle is to
A) build support for the problem.
B) develop proposals.
C) set an agenda.
D) suggest changes.
E) implement policy.
Q3) As of 2007, what percentage of individuals polled were willing to make personal sacrifices to protect the environment?
A) 20%
B) 50%
C) 30%
D) 70%
E) 90%
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