Question 1
The __________ harbors the largest tropical forest on the planet.
A. Amazon basin
B. Indian subcontinent
C. Congo basin
D. Indonesian archipelago
Question 2
Which of these planets is in the so-called "Goldilocks Zone"?
A. Earth
B. Mars
C. Jupiter
D. Venus
Question 3
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the main culprit in the depletion of atmospheric ozone, are being replaced with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), thus greatly reducing ozone layer depletion. What is the only drawback to this strategy?
A. HFCs give off an unpleasant odor.
B. HFCs are potent greenhouse gases.
C. HFCs are more expensive to produce than CFCs.
D. HFCs are toxic to wildlife.
Question 4
The taiga ecoregions make up the largest contiguous forests on the planet and constitute __________ percent of all of Earth's forests.
A. 50
B. 40
C. 30
D. 20
Question 5
Ecologists who study the way many species interact with each other in a specified area are focused on:
A. habitats.
B. communities.
C. niches.
D. biomes.
Question 6
On the pH scale ranging from 1 to 14, 7 is neutral. Any number greater than 7 is alkaline; any number lower than 7 is acidic. With that in mind, in turns out that the oceans are serving as a carbon sink. About __________ percent of current carbon dioxide emissions have been absorbed into the oceans.
A. 30
B. 40
C. 50
D. 60
Question 7
__________ experts maintain that there is still time to address environmental problems and change our course toward a sustainable future.
A. All
B. Some
C. Most
D. Very few
Question 8
According to the EPA, the second most significant factor in human-caused global warming and climate change is:
A. deforestation.
B. the burning of fossil fuels.
C. desertification.
D. that species die off.
Question 9
All of the following have been linked to damage caused by UVB radiation EXCEPT:
A. destruction of DNA.
B. melanoma and premature aging.
C. basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.
D. severe sunburn.
Question 10
When carbon dioxide is dissolved in water it produces __________ acid.
A. carbolic
B. carbonaceous
C. carbonic
D. corrosive
Question 11
The actual location of some natural space inhabited by particular flora and fauna is called a/an:
A. habitat.
B. ecoregion.
C. community.
D. ecosystem.
Question 12
The ozone layer contains about __________ percent of atmospheric ozone.
A. 60
B. 75
C. 90
D. 99
Question 13
Of the four modes of species interaction, trophic interactions are associated with:
A. parasitism.
B. competition.
C. mutualism.
D. predation.
Question 14
Discussing causes of desertification in semi-arid locales, Allen maintains that overcultivation of soils depletes them of vital nutrients. Audrey argues that stripping away vegetation through overgrazing leads to soil erosion and deforestation. Who is correct?
A. Neither Allen nor Audrey is correct.
B. Both are correct.
C. Only Allen is correct.
D. Only Audrey is correct.
Question 15
In which of these semi-arid grasslands did people first domesticate horses?
A. The American high plains
B. The Asian steppes
C. The African Veld
D. The Argentine pampas
Question 16
Which of these atmospheric layers enables radio transmissions?
A. Troposphere
B. Stratosphere
C. Ionosphere
D. Thermosphere
Question 17
Among the types of desert biomes, where would you find a cold desert?
A. Along the coast of Chile
B. Along the coast of Morocco
C. Utah or Montana
D. Greenland
Question 18
Which of the following statements characterizes temperate grasslands?
A. The rainy season lasts for six to eight months.
B. During the parched dry season, fires, intended and natural, turn vegetation to ash.
C. We find perennial grasses as well as flowering plants called forbs.
D. We find stands of trees separated by grasses.
Question 19
Extinctions are not rare. Over an extended period of time, based for example on fossil evidence, a certain number of species will become extinct each year. Thus, experts can estimate a background rate of species extinction. Using that estimate, researchers can compare it to the current extinction rate over, for example, the last two decades. What they have found is startling. According to cautious estimates, the current extinction rate is __________ times greater than the background rate.
A. 20
B. 50
C. 100
D. 300
Question 20
Most of our weather takes place in the:
A. geosphere.
B. mesosphere.
C. troposphere.
D. thermosphere.
Question 21
Biological demographers have determined that, under ideal conditions, life span can average __________ years.
A. 90
B. 95
C. 110
D. 120
Question 22
Thomas Malthus proposed a list of preventive and positive measures in order to control population growth. Which of the following would Malthus call a positive check?
A. Refrain from sexual intercourse on a regular basis.
B. Postpone marriage until later on in life.
C. Plan on having smaller families.
D. Be prepared to cope with inevitable extreme poverty and malnutrition.
Question 23
In a growing population, the rate of natural increase equals the birth rate minus the death rate in addition to net:
A. migration.
B. immigration.
C. emigration.
D. immigration plus net emigration.
Question 24
In the context of transition theory, the main factor in the reduction of death rates is:
A. expanded access to education.
B. preventive health care.
C. accessible pediatric care.
D. improved technologies in food production.
Question 25
Today, respecting transition theory, how many countries are considered to be in Stage 1?
A. Fewer than 20
B. Between 30 and 40
C. Fewer than 10
D. Zero
Question 26
Our brief discussion of China during Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward in 1959 to 1960 was meant to illustrate the:
A. fact that population growth does not necessarily proceed at a steady rate.
B. importance of economic policies in sustaining population growth.
C. irrelevance of political and economic factors in regard to population growth.
D. ever-present danger of unrestrained population growth.
Question 27
In the 13th and 14th centuries, Europe's population was decimated by:
A. famine.
B. constant wars.
C. the Plague.
D. an unexplained rise in infant mortality.
Question 28
An age pyramid provides historical information about a population. That information includes all of the following EXCEPT:
A. ethnicity.
B. fertility.
C. mortality.
D. migration.
Question 29
In the four-stage model of transition theory, where do we find declining death rates and continuing high birth rates?
A. Stage 1
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 4
Question 30
Marge maintains that there is no direct correlation between population density and poverty. Mason argues that population density is normally associated with poverty and political instability. Who is correct?
A. Marge and Mason are both incorrect.
B. Marge and Mason are both partially correct.
C. Marge is correct.
D. Mason is correct.
Question 31
The standard symbol for carrying capacity is:
A. C.
B. K.
C. J.
D. S.
Question 32
The global region or country with the highest population growth rate is:
A. China.
B. Africa.
C. Mideast.
D. Mexico.
Question 33
In the context of evaluating Malthus' theory, it turns out that as the standard of living increases:
A. the birth rate remains stable.
B. birth rates fluctuate between increasing and decreasing birth rates.
C. birth rates decline for females and increase for males.
D. the birthrate decreases.
Question 34
Which of the new five stages of transition theory are usually quite brief?
A. Stage 2
B. Stage 3
C. Stage 4
D. Stage 5
Question 35
Paul Ehrlich has had to modify his prognostications due to underestimating human resilience. However, all of the following have drifted toward basic agreement with neo-Malthusian conclusions EXCEPT:
A. NSA scientists.
B. EPA and NOAA scientists.
C. economist Julian Simon.
D. the Department of Defens
Question 36
As a demographer, you'll know that the __________ death rate equals the total deaths per year divided by the midyear population, which is normally expressed as the number of deaths per 1,000 people per year.
A. estimated
B. projected
C. approximate
D. crude
Question 37
In the United States, in the decades following World War II, birth rates increased enormously. This is an example of __________ effects that may impact population growth.
A. periodic
B. short-term
C. period
D. long-term
Question 38
Regarding global population growth trends, which statement is TRUE?
A. Over the last 10,000 years, the human population climbed steadily but slowly.
B. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by the year 2010, then total human population was just short of 9 billion people.
C. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by the year 2010, the growth rate percentage was just slightly over 1 percent.
D. By the year 1,000 CE, Earth's total human population had nearly doubled.
Question 39
In developed countries, if we find a fertility rate of 2.1 live births per 1000 births per year, we are witnessing __________ fertility.
A. stabilized
B. replacement
C. declining
D. increasing
Question 40
According to your reading, factors bearing on population dynamics that may be at the root of social problems include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. economic.
B. spiritual.
C. cultural.
D. political.