Deck 17: The Atmosphere

Question 1

The most abundant constituent of our atmosphere is __________.

A) nitrogen
B) oxygen
C) helium
D) ozone

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A/an __________ compound is one that evaporates readily and therefore easily escapes into the atmosphere.

Answer 2

volatile

Question 3

When coal burns, some minerals escape from the chimney as __________ __________, which settles as gritty dust.

Answer 3

fly ash

Question 4

The Earth's atmosphere 4.6 billion years ago was mainly composed of __________ and __________.

A) hydrogen, helium
B) helium, carbon dioxide
C) carbon dioxide, oxygen
D) nitrogen, helium

Question 5

The ozone hole occurs in the layer of the atmosphere known as the __________.

Question 6

__________ were the earliest photosynthetic life-forms on Earth.

Question 7

As early multicellular organisms evolved, they released more __________ into the atmosphere.

A) hydrogen
B) oxygen
C) nitrogen
D) argon

Question 8

The pressure exerted by air is the __________ __________.

Question 9

__________ __________ reacts in moist air to produce sulfuric acid.

Question 10

During the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere, when enough oxygen had accumulated in seawater, iron-rich minerals precipitated on the sea floor and became the __________ __________ formations that are mined for iron today.

Question 11

The layer of air closest to the Earth, the layer we live in, is the __________.

Question 12

__________ are particles that are suspended in air.

Question 13

Little radiation is absorbed in the __________ (between about 55 and 80 kilometers above Earth's surface), and the thin air is extremely cold.

Question 14

A second rapid increase of oxygen in the atmosphere (the Second Great Oxidation Event) started about __________ years ago.

A) 3 billion
B) 600 million
C) 60 million
D) 6 million

Question 15

Smog is produced when automobile exhaust is exposed to __________.

Question 16

__________ in the stratosphere absorbs ultraviolet radiation.

Question 17

Acidity is expressed on the __________ scale.

Question 18

The major legislation that dictates federal air pollution policy is the __________ __________ __________.

Question 19

During the __________ __________ __________ __________, about 2.4 billion years ago, oxygen concentration in the atmosphere increased to appreciable quantities.

Question 20

A first rapid increase of oxygen in the atmosphere (the First Great Oxidation Event) occurred about __________ years ago.

A) 4.4 billion
B) 2.4 billion
C) 1 billion
D) 600 million

Question 21

The Earth's primordial atmosphere:

A) contained no oxygen.
B) was an effective filter that absorbed high-energy ultraviolet rays.
C) was mainly oxygen.
D) was formed by biological processes.

Question 22

The layer of air closest to the Earth is the __________.

A) tropopause
B) troposphere
C) mesosphere
D) stratosphere

Question 23

The largest source of air pollutants in the United States is/are __________.

A) power plants
B) transportation
C) factories
D) wood-burning stoves

Question 24

James Lovelock used the term __________ to refer to the Earth, comparing it to a living creature due to the interconnectivity of all of its systems.

A) Gaia
B) Pangea
C) Venus
D) Hydra

Question 25

The Earth's modern atmosphere:

A) is composed of 78 percent nitrogen.
B) does not filter high-energy ultraviolet rays.
C) is similar to that found on Venus.
D) is composed of 80 percent oxygen.

Question 26

The highest portion of the atmosphere that absorbs high-energy radiation is the:

A) hydrosphere.
B) troposphere.
C) mesosphere.
D) thermosphere.

Question 27

During photosynthesis:

A) chlorophyll-bearing plants convert oxygen and water to organic sugars and release carbon dioxide.
B) chlorophyll-bearing plants convert carbon dioxide and water to organic sugars and release oxygen.
C) primitive bacteria convert hydrogen and oxygen into water.
D) primitive bacteria obtain energy from reactions with minerals.

Question 28

In the __________, temperature increases with altitude, because ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation.

A) troposphere
B) stratosphere
C) mesosphere
D) thermosphere

Question 29

__________ is the release of volatiles from Earth's mantle in volcanic eruptions.

A) Intrusion
B) Oxidation
C) Outgassing
D) Photosynthesis

Question 30

__________ were among the earliest photosynthetic life-forms on Earth.

A) Multicellular plants
B) Lichens
C) Trilobites
D) Cyanobacteria

Question 31

Atmospheric pressure is measured in __________.

A) degrees centigrade
B) bar
C) Beaufort
D) psu

Question 32

The atmosphere:

A) becomes less dense with increasing altitude.
B) becomes more dense with increasing altitude.
C) remains at constant density with increasing altitude.
D) becomes less dense throughout the troposphere and then more dense in the stratosphere.

Question 33

Which of the following orders of the layers of the atmosphere is correct? (Start with the lowest layer.)

A) thermosphere < stratosphere < troposphere < mesosphere
B) troposphere < mesosphere < stratosphere < thermosphere
C) stratosphere < troposphere < mesosphere < thermosphere
D) troposphere < stratosphere < mesosphere < thermosphere

Question 34

During photosynthesis, plants convert __________ and __________ to organic sugars and oxygen.

A) carbon dioxide, water
B) nitrogen, water
C) methane, carbon dioxide
D) nitrogen, methane

Question 35

A/an __________ is used to measure air pressure.

A) anemometer
B) thermometer
C) compass
D) barometer

Question 36

The modern concentration of 21 percent molecular oxygen in our atmosphere resulted largely from:

A) meteorite impacts.
B) non-biological activity.
C) biologic activity.
D) the big bang theory.

Question 37

At the time of the First Great Oxidation Event, the oxygen concentration in Earth's atmosphere increased:

A) from 15 to 21 percent.
B) due to oxygen production by zooplankton.
C) from trace amounts to appreciable quantities.
D) due to accelerated weathering caused by lichens.

Question 38

If pure coal burned completely, it would produce:

A) carbon dioxide and water.
B) benzene and toxic volatiles.
C) carbon dioxide, soot, and fly ash.
D) oxygen and water.

Question 39

Solar energy breaks oxygen molecules apart in the stratosphere, releasing __________, which combine(s) with additional oxygen molecules to form __________.

A) oxygen atoms, carbon dioxide
B) ozone, CFCs
C) ozone, oxygen atoms
D) oxygen atoms, ozone
Multiple Choice

Question 40

The primary source of sulfur oxide pollution is/are:

A) automobile exhaust.
B) coal-fired electric generators.
C) nuclear power plants.
D) chemical manufacturing.

Question 41

Ozone is both a pollutant and a beneficial component of the atmosphere, depending on elevation.

Question 42

Which of the following statements about dioxin is true?

A) Dioxin concentrates and accumulates in human muscle tissue.
B) Scientists have proven that vary small doses of dioxin in the environment are carcinogenic.
C) Large amounts of dioxin are intentionally manufactured in the United States.
D) The EPA has argued that dioxin is the most toxic chemical known.

Question 43

The Clean Air Act has not led to a decrease in the total pollution level or improved air quality in the United States in the past 30 years.

Question 44

Acid precipitation forms when sulfur dioxide reacts with ozone in the stratosphere.

Question 45

Twenty people died, and half the people in Donora, Pennsylvania, were seriously ill from the effects of air pollution in 1948.

Question 46

Incompletely burned gasoline in automobile exhaust reacts to deplete ozone in the troposphere.

Question 47

If the oxygen level in the atmosphere were to rise significantly, fires would burn uncontrollably across the planet.

Question 48

Chlorofluorocarbons and halons destroy ozone in the stratosphere.

Question 49

If all life on Earth were to cease, the atmosphere would revert to its primitive, oxygen-poor composition and become poisonous to modern plants and animals.

Question 50

Fly ash is a particulate air pollutant released when coal is burned.

Question 51

Chlorofluorocarbons:

A) are beneficial for the environment.
B) combine with dust particles to form aerosols that cool the Earth.
C) react to destroy ozone.
D) react to produce ozone.
True/False

Question 52

The ozone in the upper atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing much of the high-energy radiation before it reaches Earth's surface.

Question 53

Most iron is mined from banded iron formations.

Question 54

An aerosol is any small piece of solid material that pollutes air.

Question 55

Acidic precipitation is produced:

A) when sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen dissolve in water droplets in the atmosphere.
B) by nuclear fission reactors.
C) by atmospheric inversion.
D) when sunlight reacts with automobile exhaust.

Question 56

In the United States, the cost of deterioration of buildings and materials from acid precipitation:

A) is a minor problem.
B) is estimated at several million dollars per year.
C) is estimated at several billion dollars per year.
D) was high a decade ago but is now minimal due to the implementation of the Clean Air Act.

Question 57

Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless, odorless, and toxic.

Question 58

Smog is produced:

A) when sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen dissolve in water droplets in the atmosphere.
B) by nuclear fission reactors.
C) by atmospheric inversion.
D) when sunlight reacts with automobile exhaust.

Question 59

As early organisms evolved and multiplied, they depleted oxygen from the atmosphere.

Question 60

Atmospheric temperature decreases continuously with altitude in all layers.