Deck 48: The Biosphere

Question 1

The trade winds in the zone from 0 to 30 degrees north latitude are generally from the

A)north.
B)northwest.
C)northeast.
D)southeast.
E)southwest.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The ozone layer is known to thin above what region(s)?

A)Antarctica
B)the equator
C)60 degrees north and south latitudes
D)30 degrees north and south latitudes
E)all of these

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The 1997-1998 El Niño resulted in all of the following EXCEPT

A)crop failures and wildfires in Australia and Indonesia.
B)the death of many seals and sea lions.
C)massive flooding and landslides.
D)a massive ice storm in the southwestern United States.
E)massive flooding in California and Peru

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Deserts typically form at __________ latitude where __________.

A)30 degrees; warm dry air descends
B)60 degrees; warm dry air descends
C)0 degrees; there is intense sunlight
D)60 degrees; warm dry air ascends
E)75 degrees; rising air picks up moisture

Question 5

To be a part of the biosphere any particular region must

A)be close to the earth's surface.
B)include sources of water.
C)support life.
D)include oxygen.
E)be exposed to sunlight.

Question 6

Both the large waves and starvation of marine mammals was caused by

A)El Niño.
B)El Diablo.
C)El Minator.
D)El Laborador.
E)none of these.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a correct match?

A)hydrosphere; ice caps
B)lithosphere; airborne particles
C)atmosphere; gases
D)hydrosphere; rivers
E)lithosphere; Earth's crust

Question 8

The amount of solar energy that any spot on the surface of the earth receives is affected by

A)the particulate matter and pollution in the air
B)the angle at which the sun strikes the earth.
C)the amount of atmosphere above the spot.
D)all of these
E)none of these.

Question 9

Every year, incoming solar energy is __________ the energy that is stored in all known fossil reserves.

A)half
B)one-fourth
C)twice
D)five times
E)ten times

Question 10

The global pattern of air circulation begins at

A)the equator.
B)30 degrees north latitude.
C)30 degrees south latitude.
D)60 degrees north latitude.
E)60 degrees south latitude.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a factor involved in the concept of climate?

A)wind speed
B)humidity
C)temperature
D)soil composition
E)cloud cover

Question 12

Which factor has the least effect on the amount of incoming light that strikes an area?

A)latitude
B)temperature
C)the slope of the land that is exposed to the incoming light
D)the amount of cloud cover
E)season

Question 13

El Niño is a recurring weather phenomenon that

A)increases global warming.
B)stabilizes world climates.
C)produces a fluctuation in global climates.
D)depletes the ozone layer.
E)increases oceanic productivity.

Question 14

A "solar-hydrogen age" has the possibility of ending

A)smog.
B)oil spills.
C)acid rain.
D)a reliance on nuclear energy.
E)all of these.

Question 15

The earth spins

A)fastest at 60 degrees latitude.
B)fastest at the equator.
C)fastest at 90 degrees latitude.
D)fastest at 30 degrees latitude.
E)at an equal speed at all points.

Question 16

Which factor has the greatest effect on the amount of incoming light that strikes an area?

A)latitude
B)temperature
C)humidity
D)the ozone layer
E)wind pattern

Question 17

The primary reason for climatic differences from one part of the world to another is

A)differences in atmospheric pressures.
B)differential absorption of solar energy.
C)prevailing wind currents.
D)differences in humidity.
E)variation in cloud cover.

Question 18

The portion of the biosphere that is composed of any form of water is the

A)atmosphere.
B)lithosphere.
C)geosphere.
D)hydrosphere.
E)thermosphere.

Question 19

Winds of North and South Dakota might generate enough power to meet __________ percent of the current energy needs of the United States.

A)1
B)10
C)50
D)80
E)90

Question 20

At how many degrees north and south latitude from the equator does air rise as a result of differential heating and cooling?

A)10
B)30
C)40
D)60
E)75

Question 21

Thermal inversions

A)enhance the movement of pollutants into the upper reaches of the atmosphere.
B)are characteristic of the atmosphere over extensive stretches of land, such as prairies.
C)occur as temperature changes between daytime and nighttime.
D)occur when warm air is trapped between layers of cool air.
E)occur when warm air rises through layers of cooler air.

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT true regarding acid rain?

A)It is related to the disappearance of fish populations in more than 200 lakes in the Adirondack Mountains.
B)Highly alkaline soils neutralize the acids in acid rain.
C)Acid deposition does NOT occur in dry weather.
D)It contributes to the decline of forests.
E)Its pH can be as potent as that of lemon juice.

Question 23

A thermal inversion refers to

A)a layer of cool air trapped underneath a warm-air layer.
B)the temperature of the atmosphere above land as opposed to the temperature of the atmosphere above bodies of water.
C)a temperature-induced change in weather patterns.
D)the cooling of the atmosphere at night.
E)abnormal temperature changes in a season.

Question 24

Which is NOT a biogeographic realm?

A)Palearctic
B)Ethiopian
C)Equatorial
D)Oriental
E)Australian

Question 25

Sea surface water moves in response to gravity mostly from the

A)north pole to the south pole.
B)equator to the poles.
C)poles to the equator.
D)south pole to the north pole.
E)poles to the equator and back again.

Question 26

London has milder winters than British Columbia due to the warm water picked up by the __________ from the __________.

A)North Atlantic Current; Gulf Stream
B)Gulf Stream; North Atlantic Current
C)North Atlantic Current; Labrador Current
D)Labrador Current; North Atlantic Current
E)Labrador Current; Gulf Stream

Question 27

In general, communities that characterize a biome are arrays of species that are adapted to

A)specific temperatures.
B)patterns of rainfall.
C)soil type.
D)each other.
E)all of these.

Question 28

Acid rain occurs when

A)carbon dioxide combines with water in the atmosphere.
B)phosphorus-rich water in lakes evaporates to form phosphoric acid.
C)sulfur released in burning fossil fuels combines with water in the atmosphere.
D)excess hydrogen is released into the atmosphere where ozone is formed.
E)bacteria in the soil break down nitrates to nitrogen gas, which then combines with moisture in the atmosphere to form nitric acid.

Question 29

Which of the following is the correct sequence in terms of increasing size?

A)ecosystem >>> biogeographic realm >>> biome >>> biosphere
B)ecosystem >>> biome >>> biosphere >>> biogeographic realm
C)biome >>> ecosystem >>> biogeographic realm >>> biosphere
D)ecosystem >>> biome >>> biogeographic realm >>> biosphere
E)biogeographic realm >>> biome >>> ecosystem >>> biosphere

Question 30

The adaptations of species involve

A)form.
B)function.
C)behavior.
D)life history patterns.
E)all of these.

Question 31

A mountain rain shadow is the

A)arid area on the windward slope.
B)wet area on the windward slope.
C)arid area on the leeward slope.
D)wet area on the leeward slope.
E)arid area on either slope.

Question 32

Mountains produce

A)rain shadows on the windward sides.
B)precipitation on the leeward sides.
C)deserts on the leeward sides.
D)extensive grasslands in the upper elevations on the windward sides.
E)any of these.

Question 33

The windward side of a mountain range

A)supports arid types of vegetation typical of a desert.
B)has high rates of precipitation.
C)is located in a rain shadow.
D)faces away from the ocean.
E)has essentially identical weather conditions as deserts.

Question 34

What results when nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons react in the presence of sunlight?

A)photochemical smog
B)industrial smog
C)a thermal inversion
D)depletions of the ozone layer
E)any of these

Question 35

The two elements associated with acid deposition are

A)nitrogen and oxygen.
B)sulfur and oxygen.
C)nitrogen and sulfur.
D)carbon and oxygen.
E)nitrogen and carbon.

Question 36

What is NOT true regarding chlorofluorocarbons?

A)They are major destroyers of ozone.
B)They release oxygen when they absorb UV light.
C)They have been used as coolants and in solvents.
D)They release chlorine radicals
E)One of their chlorine atoms can degrade thousands of ozone molecules.

Question 37

Uses of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) include all EXCEPT which of the following?

A)gasoline additives
B)aerosol propellants
C)refrigeration coolants
D)manufacture of plastic foam
E)components of solvents

Question 38

Oceans cover what portion of the earth's surface?

A)less than 10 percent
B)more than 80 percent
C)about 50 percent
D)approximately 70 percent
E)barely 20 percent

Question 39

A wind system that influences large climatic regions and reverses direction seasonally, producing dry and wet seasons, is referred to as

A)a thermal current.
B)an atmospheric upwelling.
C)the jet stream.
D)a monsoon.
E)a cyclonic disturbance.

Question 40

Ocean currents flow in response to __________; their direction is an outcome of the earth's rotation and __________, causing a __________ rotation in the Northern Hemisphere and a __________ rotation in the Southern Hemisphere.

A)gravity; topography; counterclockwise; clockwise
B)topography; gravity; clockwise; counterclockwise
C)temperature; topography; clockwise; counterclockwise
D)gravity; topography; clockwise; counterclockwise
E)winds; gravity; clockwise; counterclockwise

Question 41

Which soil type is the most poorly drained?

A)gravel
B)sand
C)clay
D)humus
E)silt

Question 42

Questions refer to the figure above illustrating the earth's biogeographic realms.

The Ethiopian realm is designated by

A)A.
B)B.
C)C.
D)D.
E)E.

Question 43

Questions refer to the figure above illustrating the earth's biogeographic realms.

The Oriental realm is designated by

A)A.
B)B.
C)C.
D)D.
E)E.

Question 44

Which soil type is the most prone to leaching?

A)gravel or sand
B)silt
C)clay
D)humus
E)none of these

Question 45

Which soil type has the most minerals?

A)gravel
B)sand
C)clay
D)humus
E)silt

Question 46

Questions refer to the figure above illustrating the earth's biogeographic realms.

The Australian realm is designated by

A)A.
B)B.
C)C.
D)D.
E)E.

Question 47

Which of the following factors is most important in determining the type of biomes found in a particular region?

A)soil type
B)light intensity
C)temperature
D)type of animals in the region
E)wind patterns

Question 48

Questions refer to the figure above illustrating the earth's biogeographic realms.

The Palearctic realm is designated by

A)A.
B)B.
C)C.
D)D.
E)E.

Question 49

Questions refer to the figure above illustrating the earth's biogeographic realms.

The Nearctic realm is designated by

A)A.
B)B.
C)C.
D)D.
E)E.

Question 50

Topsoil is richest in

A)minerals
B)sand.
C)clay.
D)organic matter
E)none of these

Question 51

Naturalists originally divided the earth into __________ biogeographic realms.

A)3
B)4
C)5
D)6
E)8