Advanced Ecology Air Pollution TestName: ______
1. Which of the following is NOT a natural source of pollution?
a. volcanoes
b. automobile emissions
c. cow farts
d. forest fires
2. Choose the correct make-up of the atmosphere
a. 90.5% oxygen gas; 9.5% ozone
b. 79.2% oxygen; 19.2 % nitrogen; 1.6 % sulfur oxide
c. 78% nitrogen; 20.6% oxygen; 1.4 % others
3. A particulate is a type of pollution which
a. increases the temperature of the Earth
b. decreases visibility
c. increases the chance of skin cancer
d. is produced by cows
e. reacts with ozone and causes the thinning of the ozone layer
4. Pollutants are harmful to ______AND the ______.
a. human health; environment
b. cars; ozone layer
c. amphibians; reptiles
d. industry; environment
e. air quality; ozone layer
5. A ______population with ______energy use has the smallest impact on the environment.
a. large; low
b. large; high
c. small; low
d. small; high
6. Acid rain forms when it reacts with certain ______, especially _____ in the air.
a. UV rays; ozone
b. ozone molecules; CFCs
c. greenhouse gases; carbon dioxide
d. pollutants; SOx
7. The ozone layer absorbs
a. carbon dioxide
b. oxygen
c. the sun’s UV rays
d. methane
8. The trapping of radiated heat by gases in the atmosphere is called
a. global warming
b. glacial melt
c. greenhouse effect
d. ozone depletion
9. The increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature is called
a. global warming
b. global climate change
c. greenhouse effect
d. ozone depletion
10. Which of the following is responsible for ozone depletion?
a. carbon dioxide
b. methane
c. water vapor
d. CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
e. carbon monoxide
11. Pollution produced in a city stays contained in that area.
a. trueb. false
12. Deaths have been attributed to air pollution
a. trueb. false
Matching:
13. radonba. five major types of materials are released
directly into the atmosphere in their
14. primary pollutantsaunmodified forms in sufficient quantities to
pose a health risk
15. secondary pollutantsd
b. a colorless, radioactive gas that is a source
16. oxidescof indoor air pollution
17. hydrocarbons ec. compounds of oxygen and another
element
d. pollutants that are produced by reactions
with sunlight and other pollutants
e. a group of organic compounds consisting
of carbon & hydrogen atoms. Released by
automobiles.
18. carcinogenicaa. a cancer-causing agent
19. particulates cb. rain or snow with a pH of about 4.3
20. photochemical smog dc. tiny solid or liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere
21. acid precipitation (acid rain) b
d. a yellow-brown haze that forms when car
22. Volatile Organic Compoundsepollutants react with sunlight
e. A class of hydrocarbon pollutants which
are released mainly from vehicles
(evaporation from gas tanks).
23. According to the National Geographic video, how much could the Earth’s temperature to rise in the next century?
a. 5 degrees Celcius
b. 6 degrees Celcius
c. 10 degrees Celcius
d. 11 degrees Celcius
24. Which of the following would NOT be considered a primary pollutant?
a. carbon monoxide
b. carbon dioxide
c. ozone
d. methane
e. sulfur dioxide
25. We are currently closest to what degree of change?
a. 1b. 2c. 3d. 4e. 6
26. Most mass extinctions in the past have been associated with ______degrees of change.
a. 1b. 2c. 3d. 4e. 6
27. Which greenhouse gas (which has a greater impact per unit than carbon dioxide) is generated by cows’ digestive systems?
a. carbon dioxide
b. methane
c. water vapor
d. CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
28. What did 14,000 people die from in Paris during 2 weeks in 2003?
a. emphysema
b. fires
c. wide-spread flooding
d. heat stroke
e. a massive hurricane
29. Why are plants the first line of defense against global warming?
a. they release carbon dioxide
b. they absorb carbon dioxide
c. they generate ozone to fill in ozone holes
d. they reflect the sun’s heat rays
30. The Amazon rainforest is so important because it generates a large portion of the Earth’s
a. ozone
b. oxygen
c. carbon dioxide
d. sunlight
31. Why might the Ganges & other important rivers which supply fresh water to billions of people be in danger?
a. the ice sheets and glaciers that feed these rivers are melting
b. they are being overused by human populations
c. they are being polluted by industry
d. they are affected by acid rain
32. Which countries would likely experience the effects of climate change the most quickly?
a. North American countries
b. island nations such as Australia
c. European countries
d. the poorest countries
33. ______may be the key to global climate change, starting in homes.
a. Not using energy
b. Electricity
c. Efficiency
d. Fuel cells
34. Global climate change is most related to the
a. nitrogen cycle
b. phosphorus cycle
c. carbon cycle
d. water cycle
35. Which of the following is not a possible alternative (alternative to fossil fuels) energy source?
a. solar
b. wind
c. biomass
d. geothermal
e. natural gas
36. What is the agency in Virginia which regulates air pollution?
a. The Environmental Protection Agency
b. The Department of Environmental Quality
c. The state legislature
d. UVa
e. The Department of Natural Resources
37. What is the United States federal agency which regulates air pollution?
a. The Environmental Protection Agency
b. The Department of Environmental Quality
c. The Department of Agriculture
d. Congress
e. The Department of Natural Resources
38. Name a potentially deadly source of indoor air pollution that binds to hemoglobin. It
is also released from cigarettes and you should have a detector for it in your
home.
a. carbon monoxide
b. carbon dioxide
c. methane
d. ozone
39. What was the earliest environmental legislation?
a. The Clean Air Act
b. The Stamp Act
c. A ban on the burning of sea coles
d. The Kyoto protocol
40. NOxis a combination of
a. nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide
b. methane and ozone
c. nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide
d. particulates and greenhouse gases
41. Why is ozone particularly harmful?
a. it destroys mitochondria in aquatic organisms
b. it is damaging to cars and houses
c. it starts fires in Australia
d. is destroys chlorophyll in plants and damages lung tissue in animals
42. Photochemical smog may become worse in certain locations due to
a. vegetation type
b. soil type
c. climate & geographic features
d. humidity
43. Sulfur dioxide is produced primarily by
a. cars
b. electric power generating plants
c. deforestation
d. hamburger consumption
e. burning natural gas
44. When was the Clean Air Act enacted?
a. 1902
b. 1955
c. 1967
d. 1981
45. Which pollutant was very recently added as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act but is only being monitored (not regulated) at this time?
a. sulfur dioxide
b. carbon dioxide
c. nitrogen oxides
d. particulates
e. carbon monoxide
46. Where has acid rain been reported to be a problem?
a. Canada
b. Scandinavia
c. United States
d. Germany
e. all of the above
47. Acid rain has a concentration of acid ______times greater than regular rain.
a. 20
b. 50
c. 100
d. 1000
e. 1,000,000
48. What is the formula of the ozone molecule?
a. O2
b. Ox
c. NO
d. O3
e. O
49. Which of the following is a common indoor air pollutant?
a. asbestos
b. carbon dioxide
c. methane
d. water vapor
50. Photochemical smog is a secondary pollutant
a. trueb. false
51. Shorter smokestacks are better than higher smokestacks in terms of air pollution.
a. trueb. false
SHORT Answers.
52-54. List 3 greenhouse gases.
Methane
Carbon dioxide
CFCs
NOx
Carbon monoxide
55-56. Why does carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles remain a problem even after fuel efficiency & catalytic converters have reduced emissions per kilometer?
# of cars increasing
57-58. Why do scientists expect ozone depletion to be a problem for the next century even though we have drastically reduced the use of ozone-depleting pollutants?
It takes many years (about 20) for CFCs to reach the ozone layer (stratosphere), and it
can react for up to 150 years.
59-60. Name a way that the release of sulfur dioxide from the burning of coal can be reduced by coal-burning industries.
Use lower sulfur coal
61-62.
Ground level ozone is dangerous to living organisms—damages chlorophyll &
affects photosynthesis and damages lung cells of animals
The ozone layer is found in the stratosphere where it protects us & other organisms
against harmful UV rays
Longer Free Response questions. ANSWER All!
1. Describe what you think is the BEST way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in general. Make sure that you describe how it will work and why you think it is the best way. You may want to take into account cost.
2. Describe 3 possible effects of global warming described in the video, and how they will affect human health and/or society.
3.What is the greenhouse effect, what is global warming, and how are the two related?
*Greenhouse effect—greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere
*Global warming—increase in average temp of the Earth
*Global warming is a result of the increased temp of the Earth due to
increased emissions of greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide)
4. When and where is ozone beneficial and detrimental? Make sure you state the specific benefits and harmful effects of ozone in both cases.
BONUS:
1. Name a city where air pollution is especially a problem and WHY.
2. What solution to global warming involves mirrors in space? How does it work? Explain it!
3. Which US city has seen the greatest reduction of smog days?
Denver
4. One scientist analyzed the carbon impact of each hamburger that each American consumes. (From the National Geographic video).
5. What are you doing over spring break? (Nothing, sleeping or I don’t know will not get you points).