Deck 6: Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Question 1

On average, how many tornadoes can you expect in Canada per annum?

A)30
B)80
C)200
D)over 1,000

Answer 1

B

Question 2

How many separate belts of moving air or prevailing winds are there?

A)2
B)4
C)6
D)8

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What happens during an El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)?

A)surface water along the South and North American coasts becomes cooler
B)prevailing easterly winds weaken
C)upwelling's of warm, nutrient-poor water are suppressed
D)upwelling's of cold, nutrient-rich water are suppressed

Answer 3

D

Question 4

What is upwelling?

A)movement of cool, nutrient-rich water from the bottom to the surface
B)movement of cool water from the Arctic toward the equator
C)movement of warm water to replace cool water
D)movement of warm surface water

Question 5

What could be a possible outcome of the rain shadow effect?

A)desert
B)tundra
C)prairie
D)rainforest

Question 6

Which of the following is a feature of weather?

A)ozone concentration
B)acid rain
C)salt concentration
D)barometric pressure

Question 7

What influences average precipitation and average temperature?

A)nuclear fission
B)acid deposition
C)ocean currents
D)acid rain

Question 8

Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?

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

Question 9

What would a meteorologist most likely use to collect data in the field?

A)ethyl alcohol
B)a radioactive isotope
C)an aircraft
D)a computer model

Question 10

What are the two most important factors in climate?

A)temperature and precipitation
B)temperature and insulation
C)precipitation and pressure
D)clouds and wind

Question 11

What is the rain shadow effect?

A)more light on the windward side of mountain ranges
B)drier conditions on the leeward side of mountain ranges
C)more light on the leeward side of mountain ranges
D)drier conditions on the windward side of mountain ranges

Question 12

What is the average person most likely to do in response to a summer weather report that forecasts a high-pressure mass?

A)put on sunscreen when going outdoors
B)put on a down jacket, a hat, and mittens when going outdoors
C)stay indoors
D)wear a raincoat and boots when going outdoors

Question 13

What often arrives after a thunderhead appears in the sky?

A)a high pressure system
B)a stationary front
C)a warm front
D)a cold front

Question 14

Which statement explains what determines global circulation patterns?

A)The amount of solar energy reaching the Earth's surface depends on latitude.
B)Hot air sinks.
C)Air at the lower latitudes tends to cool and fall or sink downward.
D)Warm air is denser than cool air.

Question 15

What is an effect of upwelling?

A)It results in small populations of seabirds.
B)It causes the death of phytoplankton.
C)It creates a highly productive area.
D)It produces conditions that kill a large number of fish.

Question 16

What best explains the term greenhouse effect?

A)The greenhouse effect refers to the occupational diseases of florists.
B)The greenhouse effect refers to the trapping of heat energy in the troposphere by certain gaseous molecules.
C)The greenhouse effect refers to the efforts by the White House to support environmental legislation.
D)The greenhouse effect refers to the trapping of heat energy in the stratosphere by nitrogen.

Question 17

Where does an upwelling usually occur?

A)on the east side of a continent
B)on the steep western side of a continent
C)near a coral reef
D)in the open ocean

Question 18

Which term includes the others?

A)cyclone
B)weather extreme
C)hurricane
D)tornado

Question 19

Which factor plays a role in determining global air circulation?

A)lack of movement of the Earth on its axis
B)seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation
C)no crustal displacement
D)continuous, even heating of the Earth's surface

Question 20

What is a meteorologist most likely to rely on to make the best weather forecasts?

A)lab experiments and field observations
B)field observations and computer models
C)computer models alone
D)field observations alone

Question 21

Which microclimate effect is incorrectly described?

A)The leeward side of a high mountain tends to show relatively dry conditions.
B)A forest has fewer temperature extremes and lower wind speeds than nearby open land.
C)Oceans and lakes modify temperature extremes.
D)A city tends to have lower temperatures and higher wind speeds than the surrounding countryside.

Question 22

Which of the following are evergreen plants?

A)algae
B)bacteria
C)maples and oaks
D)pines and cedars

Question 23

Which of the following are deciduous plants?

A)algae and seaweeds
B)maples and oaks
C)bacteria
D)pines and cedars

Question 24

Which biome is most likely to be found on the top of a very tall mountain in a tropical zone?

A)a temperate deciduous forest
B)a grassland
C)a desert
D)a tundra

Question 25

Where are succulent plants most likely to be found?

A)at a high altitude
B)in a cold ecosystem
C)in a desert
D)in an aquatic habitat

Question 26

What best explains why a desert is cold at night?

A)because the relative humidity of the desert is very high
B)because the insulating effect of the desert's dry air is poor
C)because nights in the desert are very cloudy
D)because winds in the desert originate at the north and south poles

Question 27

Which limiting factor is the one that generally controls the vegetative character of a biome?

A)soil type
B)nutrients
C)light
D)precipitation

Question 28

What type of trees tend to be found in wet tropical rain forests?

A)They are coniferous evergreen plants.
B)They are broadleaf deciduous plants.
C)They are succulent plants.
D)They are broadleaf evergreen plants.

Question 29

How many different biomes are found in Canada?

A)4
B)6
C)8
D)10

Question 30

Which term refers to a large ecological region with characteristic types of natural, undisturbed ecological communities?

A)a community
B)a population
C)a biome
D)an ecosystem

Question 31

Which adaptation would you least expect to find in desert animals?

A)They drink and store large amounts of water.
B)They live underground during the heat of the day.
C)They have thick outer coverings to minimize water loss.
D)They become dormant during periods of extreme heat or drought.

Question 32

Variation in which of the following lead(s) to variations in climate and vegetation?

A)latitude and altitude
B)altitude only
C)latitude and longitude
D)latitude only

Question 33

What best characterizes a desert?

A)It is an area where average annual precipitation is less than 25 cm.
B)It is an area where most organisms are active during the day.
C)It is an area where most vegetation consists of grass.
D)It is an area where evaporation is slow.

Question 34

Where would the driest place on Earth most likely be found?

A)tropical desert
B)savanna
C)tundra
D)temperate desert

Question 35

What is characteristic of desert plants?

A)They have succulent leaves or stems.
B)They have deep root systems.
C)They have large leaves that droop in the bright sunlight.
D)They have widespread, shallow root systems.

Question 36

Suppose that you are travelling from the equator to the North Pole.After leaving the coniferous forest, what would you encounter next?

A)deciduous forest
B)evergreen forest
C)polar ice and snow
D)tundra

Question 37

In which location is a microclimate least likely to occur?

A)on a mountain
B)on a flat plain
C)in a body of water
D)in a city

Question 38

What is most likely to produce a rain shadow?

A)an ocean
B)a mountain
C)a sand dune
D)a forest

Question 39

What are the two most important factors determining the climate of an area?

A)ocean currents and light
B)temperature and precipitation
C)precipitation and light
D)temperature and ocean currents

Question 40

What is the most important factor in determining which biome is found in a particular area?

A)sunlight
B)climate
C)soil type
D)topography

Question 41

Which biome is characterized by thorn trees and shrubs that are adapted to long dry spells followed by brief, sometimes heavy rains?

A)cold desert
B)tropical desert
C)grasslands
D)semidesert

Question 42

What can lead to grasslands being converted to desert?

A)occasional short droughts
B)barbed-wire fencing
C)overgrazing
D)urban sprawl

Question 43

What conditions are plants of the arctic tundra adapted to?

A)freezing temperatures, lack of water, and bright sunlight
B)moderate temperatures, lack of sunlight, and constant high winds
C)freezing temperatures, lack of sunlight, and constant high winds
D)freezing temperatures, lack of water, and variable winds

Question 44

In which biome would a small burrow-dwelling animal with thick fur live?

A)desert
B)arctic tundra
C)tropical forest
D)temperate grassland

Question 45

In which biome are large herds of grazing herbivores found?

A)tropical forest
B)savanna
C)arctic tundra
D)deciduous forest

Question 46

What would NOT be considered a type of temperate grassland?

A)tundra
B)steppe
C)pampas
D)taiga

Question 47

What has led to the disappearance of many of the world's natural temperate grasslands?

A)Increased wind and dust storms
B)Increased fires
C)Increased pests like locusts
D)Increased human agriculture

Question 48

In which biome would permafrost be a typical characteristic?

A)coniferous forest
B)desert
C)taiga
D)arctic tundra

Question 49

Why can many species of hoofed animals live together in the African tropical savannas?

A)their specialized eating habits maximize competition for resources
B)their specialized eating habits minimize competition for resources
C)their generalized eating habits minimize competition for resources
D)their generalized eating habits maximize competition for resources

Question 50

What are deserts used for?

A)water storage
B)grazing
C)irrigation
D)storage of toxic and radioactive wastes

Question 51

Where would a natural grassland most likely be found?

A)where annual precipitation exceeds 115 cm
B)in the zone lying between a forest and a desert
C)in places that are suitable for forests
D)where drought and fire are very rare

Question 52

What is an indicator of the desert ecosystem's fragility?

A)The species diversity of desert plants is high.
B)Succulent plants are present in the desert.
C)Desert plants grow at a rapid rate.
D)Damaged and destroyed desert vegetation requires a long time to regenerate.

Question 53

What species would you least expect to find if you were exploring a desert ecosystem?

A)prickly pear
B)saguaro cactus
C)maple tree
D)creosote bush

Question 54

What is NOT characteristic of a chaparral?

A)very wet winters
B)evergreen shrubs
C)scrub oak
D)fires

Question 55

Of the biomes listed below, in which would all the following species be found: beetles, spiders, grasshoppers, many insects and invertebrates, earthworms, prairie dogs, rabbits, squirrels, meadowlarks, coyotes, foxes, and hawks?

A)temperate grassland
B)tropical grassland
C)desert
D)arctic tundra

Question 56

What poses the least threat to desert ecosystems?

A)groundwater depletion
B)overgrazing
C)a nomadic lifestyle
D)irrigation and salinization

Question 57

What is the term for a tropical grassland with scattered shrubs and stunted trees?

A)steppe
B)veld
C)pampas
D)savanna

Question 58

In which biome would thick, spongy mats of low-growing plants be a typical characteristic?

A)coniferous forest
B)arctic tundra
C)tall-grass prairie
D)tropical forest

Question 59

How much of the Earth's land surface is covered by deserts?

A)about 10%
B)about 20%
C)about 30%
D)about 50%

Question 60

What is NOT characteristic of the tropical desert?

A)low productivity
B)humid conditions
C)low diversity
D)few grazing animals

Question 61

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a tropical rain forest?

A)rich soil
B)stratified
C)rapid decomposition
D)highly diverse

Question 62

Which biome does NOT belong with the others?

A)northern coniferous forest
B)steppe
C)boreal forest
D)taiga

Question 63

What would NOT be found below the roots of a big tree in a tropical rain forest?

A)a deep, vertical taproot
B)roots that spread out through the nutrient-poor, moist, thin soil layer
C)a buttress root
D)a shallow root system

Question 64

What is the most common feature of temperate rain forests?

A)They contain mostly evergreens.
B)They are not moist enough for mosses to grow.
C)They are found along tropical coastlines.
D)They usually have lots of light reaching the forest floor.

Question 65

How do temperate deciduous forests compare to tropical rain forests?

A)they have more varieties of tree species than tropical rain forests
B)they have more varieties of animal species than tropical rain forests
C)they have less sunlight penetrating to lower levels than tropical rain forests
D)they have more plant life at ground level than tropical rain forests

Question 66

What is the foliage of most trees in a tropical rain forest like?

A)It is broadleaf foliage that is evergreen.
B)It is broadleaf foliage that drops seasonally.
C)It is needle like foliage that is evergreen.
D)It is needle like foliage that drops seasonally.

Question 67

Which has the greatest species diversity of all terrestrial biomes?

A)a mature temperate deciduous forest
B)a mature tundra
C)a mature taiga
D)a mature tropical rain forest

Question 68

In mountain biomes, how many kilometres' change in latitude is each 100-metre gain in elevation roughly equivalent to?

A)1 kilometre
B)10 kilometres
C)100 kilometres
D)1000 kilometres

Question 69

Why are there fewer plant species in coniferous forests than in deciduous forests?

A)Few species in coniferous forests can tolerate the bright sunlight.
B)Few species in coniferous forests can tolerate the winters, when soil moisture is frozen.
C)Few species in coniferous forests can tolerate the alkaline soils.
D)Few species in coniferous forests can tolerate the excessive moisture.

Question 70

What is least likely to be found in a chaparral?

A)long, hot, dry summers
B)plants with large underground root systems
C)mild, slightly wet winters
D)epiphytes and a dense understory

Question 71

What is the primary limiting factor of the rain forest?

A)temperature
B)soil nutrients
C)water
D)light

Question 72

Which mammal species most likely dominates the temperate deciduous forest in Canada?

A)bears
B)wildcats
C)foxes
D)deer

Question 73

What is typical of temperate deciduous forests?

A)They have a high rate of decomposition because of the large fall leaf layer.
B)They have severely cold winters and have most of their precipitation in the spring.
C)They have nutrient-poor soil.
D)They have trees that survive winter by dropping their leaves.

Question 74

What is the primary reason for the clearing of coniferous forests?

A)mining
B)agriculture
C)timber harvesting
D)urban development

Question 75

Where are most of the nutrients in the tropical rain forests found?

A)in a thick atmosphere
B)in large rivers
C)in living organisms
D)in deep, rich soil

Question 76

In which biome are evergreen trees most abundant?

A)tropical rain forest
B)coniferous forest
C)tundra
D)temperate deciduous forest

Question 77

Which part of a tropical rain forest mostly contains relatively open space that is free of vegetation?

A)the emergent layer
B)the canopy
C)the understory
D)the forest floor

Question 78

Which mode of pollination would you least expect to find in a tropical rain forest?

A)bird
B)bat
C)butterfly
D)wind

Question 79

In what biome are cone-bearing trees found?

A)temperate deciduous forest
B)tropical rain forest
C)taiga
D)savanna

Question 80

Which part of a tropical rain forest receives the strongest direct sunlight?

A)the understory
B)the canopy
C)the emergent layer
D)the forest floor