Deck 15: Air Pollution Climate Change and Ozone Depletion

Question 1

About 97% of the world's climate scientists agree that climate change is happening now and is caused mostly by human activities.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The EPA estimates that running a typical gas-powered riding lawn mower for an hour creates as much air pollution as driving 34 cars for an hour.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Some research suggests that outdoor air pollution,mostly in the form of fine-particle pollution,contributes to the deaths of approximately 200,000 Americans every year.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The current climate problem is urgent because you face a rapid projected increase in the average temperature of the lower atmosphere during your lifetime.

Question 5

Soot generated in Europe is darkening arctic ice and lessening its ability to reflect sunlight,thereby hastening the disappearance of ice in the Arctic.

Question 6

A worst-case scenario predicted by some climate models is some forests being consumed in vast wildfires.

Question 7

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)involves restoring degraded wetlands so that they will absorb massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.

Question 8

Nine of the ten warmest years on record since 1861 have taken place prior to 1950.

Question 9

While climate change is a serious threat to natural ecosystems,it is not a threat to human health.

Question 10

At one time,Glacier National Park in the U.S.state of Montana had 150 glaciers,but only 25 remained in 2013.

Question 11

High temperatures can promote chemical reactions that lead to the formation of photochemical smog.

Question 12

The power of prevention was made clear by the 99% drop in atmospheric lead emissions after lead in gasoline was banned in 1976.

Question 13

The grasshopper effect is where winds sweep pollutants away and dilute them by mixing them with cleaner air.

Question 14

Removing your shoes before entering your house does not help reduce indoor air pollution.

Question 15

Some U.S.power plants have switched to low-sulfur coal,but this move has actually increased carbon emissions because more coal must be burned to generate a given amount of electricity.

Question 16

In 2012,China's per capita carbon dioxide emissions rate were greater than that of the U.S.

Question 17

A good way to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution is to have your home tested for radon and formaldehyde.

Question 18

Nitrogen oxides can combine with water in the atmosphere and form nitric acid,one of the components of harmful acid deposition.

Question 19

Smokestacks can increase regional pollution.

Question 20

Global warming will cause flooding and increased precipitation in some areas,and yet severe droughts in other areas.

Question 21

​Which form of air pollution is most directly linked to increased incidence of asthma and bronchitis?

A) ​ozone
B) ​VOCs
C) ​radon
D) ​suspended particulate matter
E) sulfur dioxide​

Question 22

​Photochemical smog is composed of secondary pollutants such as oxidants,aldehydes,and ____.

A) ​ozone
B) ​carbon dioxide
C) ​sulfur dioxide
D) ​NO_x
E) ​VOCs

Question 23

Photochemical smog is characteristic of urban areas with many vehicles and a climate that is ____.​

A) ​cool,wet,and cloudy
B) ​cool,dry,and sunny
C) ​warm,dry,and sunny
D) ​warm,wet,and cloudy
E) ​warm,wet,and sunny

Question 24

​What is a volatile organic compound?

A) ​organic matter that is unstable at warmer temperatures
B) ​acidic gases generated by combustion of fossil fuels
C) ​gases that exist in the atmosphere or evaporate from sources on earth
D) ​colorless and highly reactive gases
E) ​any solid particle or liquid compound that mostly come from natural sources.

Question 25

​The primary way in which the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be increased is by ____.

A) ​burning fossil fuels
B) ​fertilizing croplands
C) ​planting more forests and grasslands
D) ​increasing solar radiation
E) ​increasing use of chlorofluorocarbons

Question 26

What is the gas that makes up most of the air that we breathe?​

A) ​carbon dioxide
B) ​ozone
C) ​nitrogen
D) ​oxygen
E) argon​

Question 27

The movement of air pollutants via evaporation and winds from tropical and temperate areas to polar regions is referred to as ____.​

A) ​temperature inversion
B) ​the grasshopper effect
C) ​acid deposition
D) ​the rainshadow effect
E) ​the photochemical effect

Question 28

What is a healthcare issue that can be caused by ozone?​

A) ​skin cancer
B) ​reduced resistance to colds/pneumonia
C) ​nervous system disorders
D) ​mutations
E) ​stomach cancer

Question 29

The rate of cooling between 1998 and 2013 is most likely due to the advances in clean energy production and conservation efforts mandated by the Kyoto Protocol.

Question 30

The correct sequence of layers of the atmosphere from innermost to outermost is the ____.​

A) ​mesosphere,stratosphere,thermosphere,and troposphere
B) ​troposphere,stratosphere,mesosphere,and thermosphere
C) ​stratosphere,thermosphere,troposphere,and mesosphere
D) ​thermosphere,stratosphere,mesosphere,and troposphere
E) ​thermosphere,mesosphere,stratosphere,and troposphere

Question 31

Which air pollutant is a colorless gas with an irritating odor,and mostly comes from human sources such as smelting?​

A) ​nitric acid
B) ​ozone
C) ​nitrogen oxide
D) ​sulfur dioxide
E) carbon monoxide​

Question 32

Where is most of the ozone layer located?​

A) ​the troposphere
B) ​the stratosphere
C) ​the ionosphere
D) ​the mesosphere
E) ​the thermosphere

Question 33

Which of the following are primary pollutants that eventually result in acid deposition?​

A) ​volatile organic compounds
B) ​methane
C) ​particulates
D) carbon monoxide
E) Sulfur dioxide

Question 34

​The formation of photochemical smog forms as a reaction between VOCs,NO_x,heat,and ____.

A) ​ground level ozone
B) ​automobile exhaust
C) ​sulfur dioxide
D) ​carbon dioxide
E) ​sunlight

Question 35

Which of the following is categorized as a secondary pollutant?​

A) ​carbon monoxide
B) ​ozone
C) ​carbon dioxide
D) ​sulfur dioxide
E) hydrocarbons​

Question 36

​Which conclusion has been made by the world's major scientific bodies about climate change?

A) ​The recent harsh winters have placed some doubt on projected atmospheric warming.
B) ​We do not know enough about how climate works to make any definite conclusions.
C) ​Climate change is projected to slow down during the latter half of this century.
D) ​Climate change is real and is happening now.
E) ​The current climate change is caused primarily by natural processes.

Question 37

What do we call an unhealthy mix of sulfur dioxide,suspended droplets of sulfuric acid,and a variety of suspended particles in outside air?​

A) ​photochemical smog
B) ​industrial smog
C) ​suspended particulate matter
D) ​aerosols
E) ​greenhouse gasses

Question 38

During the 20th century,the world's average sea level has risen by 7.6 inches.

Question 39

How is ozone produced in the stratosphere?​

A) ​Ozone is produced when oxygen molecules interact with ultraviolet radiation.
B) ​Ozone is produced from oxygen generated by photosynthesis.
C) ​Ozone is a greenhouse gas that is formed from combustion of fossil fuels.
D) ​Ozone forms as a result of mixing between the troposphere and stratosphere.
E) When ultraviolet radiation interacts with CO₂,ozone (2O₃)is formed.​

Question 40

Economic downturns such as the one between 2008 and 2012 have led to increases in CO₂ emissions.

Question 41

Which of the following would make a greater contribution to rising sea levels?​

A) ​Melting sea ice
B) ​Melting land-based ice
C) ​Increased levels of precipitation in some areas
D) ​Increased levels of atmospheric water vapor
E) ​Increased levels of global evaporation and transpiration

Question 42

​What important form of natural capital has allowed human civilization to grow over the past 10,000 years?

A) ​fossil fuels
B) ​agriculture
C) ​technology
D) ​increasingly warmer climate
E) ​relatively stable climate

Question 43

​What is the most serious air pollution problem according to World Health Organization?

A) ​indoor air pollution
B) ​industrial smog
C) ​photochemical smog
D) ​acid deposition
E) volatile organic compounds​

Question 44

Which population is least vulnerable to air pollution?​

A) ​infants
B) ​elderly people
C) ​adult males
D) ​people with heart and respiratory disease
E) pregnant women​

Question 45

Pipe insulation and vinyl ceiling and floor tiles may be sources of ____.​

A) ​chloroform
B) ​formaldehyde
C) ​carbon monoxide
D) ​asbestos
E) ​sulfur dioxide

Question 46

​What is likely the most effective way to reduce acid deposition?

A) Offer tax breaks to companies that emit SO₂.
B) ​Add phosphate fertilizer to acidified lakes.
C) ​Add more topsoil to thin soil with little buffering capacity.
D) ​Add lime to neutralize the acids.
E) ​Implement prevention approaches that reduce or eliminate emissions.

Question 47

Why do cities in warm and dry climates tend to have more air pollution?​

A) ​There are more automobiles in these areas.
B) ​These locations are usually surrounded by mountains that trap the air pollution.
C) ​There are more plants and trees that promote the formation of VOCs.
D) ​There are more chemical reactions that can happen in dry climates.
E) ​There are no natural pollution reduction factors such as precipitation and salty sea spray.

Question 48

The ultimate success of an emission trading approach depends on ____.​

A) ​how well the stock market is doing
B) ​the supply and demand of clean energy
C) ​how the initial cap is set and how often it is lowered
D) ​what kinds of government regulations are in place
E) ​the availability of subsidies and tax breaks

Question 49

What has released toxic ions of cadmium and aluminum into the soils,causing trees to weaken?​

A) ​air pollution
B) ​photochemical smog
C) ​volatile organic compounds
D) ​nitric acid
E) ​acid deposition

Question 50

​What is the potential risk associated with furniture stuffing,paneling,particleboard,and foam insulation?

A) ​These all contain methylene chloride.
B) ​These use asbestos is used in the manufacturing process.
C) ​These materials emit high levels of particulates.
D) ​These are plastic-based materials that contain lethal levels of styrene.
E) ​These materials contain formaldehyde.

Question 51

​The ____ for any given place on the planet often fluctuates widely from day to day and from year to year.

A) ​weather
B) ​climate
C) ​pollution level
D) ​global warming
E) ​concentration of VOCs

Question 52

Which statement about emissions trading is false?

A) ​The success of emissions trading programs depends on how low the initial cap is set.
B) ​Sulfur dioxide emissions were reduced by the emissions trading system in the United States.
C) ​Cheating is possible without strict government oversight.
D) ​The success of emissions trading programs depends on how often the cap is lowered to promote continuing innovation in air pollution prevention and control.
E) ​It forces all utilities to reduce the amount of pollution they emit.

Question 53

​Why do coal-burning power plants and oil refineries have tall smokestacks?

A) ​to utilize the scrubbers in the smokestacks that remove pollutants
B) ​to make use of the natural vertical movements of air
C) ​to vent exhausts high into the atmosphere for dilution and dispersal
D) ​to exploit the grasshopper effect
E) ​to avoid photochemical reactions with ozone near the ground

Question 54

When the global average atmospheric temperature changes over a period of at least three ____,the earth's climate can be said to have changed.​

A) ​decades
B) ​years
C) ​days
D) ​months
E) ​centuries

Question 55

​Where are pollution levels up to 18 times higher inside than they are outside in traffic-clogged urban settings?

A) ​office buildings
B) ​construction sites
C) ​fuel stations
D) ​homes located near freeways
E) inside automobiles​

Question 56

​A warmer world is least likely to result in ____.

A) ​decreased food production
B) ​reductions in biodiversity
C) ​a rise in sea level
D) ​more moderate weather
E) ​spread of tropical diseases

Question 57

What natural factor removes suspended particulate matter from the troposphere?​

A) ​temperature inversions
B) ​the grasshopper effect
C) ​reduced precipitation
D) ​hills and mountains
E) ​gravity

Question 58

An emissions trading policy on the emissions of ____ cut U.S.emissions by 76%.​

A) ​carbon oxides
B) ​sulfur dioxide
C) ​asbestos
D) ​lead
E) carbon dioxide​

Question 59

What value do the oceans have in moderating climate change?​

A) ​Oceans remove about 25% of the atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by humans.
B) Oceans reflect sunlight back into space before the ultraviolet wavelengths are converted into infrared radiation.​
C) ​Oceans absorb about 40% of the methane out of the atmosphere that has been produced by rice paddies and livestock.
D) ​Oceans help to reduce the level of water vapor in the atmosphere through condensation and transpiration.
E) ​Oceans serve as a layer of insulation between the atmosphere and magma deep with the earth.

Question 60

The average concentration of ____ has risen by approximately 40% between 1880 and 2012.​

A) ​carbon monoxide
B) ​sulfur dioxide
C) ​ozone
D) ​carbon dioxide
E) ​nitrous oxide

Question 61

The progress in reducing the ozone depletion problem could be set back by the projected ____.​

A) ​growth of developing countries
B) ​increased use in manufacturing
C) ​rising use of CFCs
D) ​climate change
E) increased cloud cover in the troposphere​

Question 62

The emission of ____________________ from certain trees and plants in urban areas can promote the formation of photochemical smog.​

Question 63

Avoiding the use of tanning parlors or sunlamps is one of the best ways to ____.

A) ​decrease your carbon footprint
B) ​limit the amount of CFC pollution
C) ​reduce your exposure to UV radiation
D) ​prevent exposure to harmful photochemical reactions
E) save energy​

Question 64

​What is a major problem with carbon capture and storage strategies?

A) ​They are extremely expensive.
B) ​They create other kinds of pollution.
C) ​They require large amounts of water.
D) ​They decrease the efficiency of automobiles.
E) Huge amounts of biochar are required.​

Question 65

____________________ are manmade compounds that have been widely used as refrigerants and in spray propellants and foam blowing.

Question 66

____________________ is a mixture of primary and secondary pollutants formed under the influence of UV radiation from the sun.​

Question 67

Compounds that can react and help neutralize acid deposition are called _________________________.​

Question 68

What is a disadvantage of cap-and-trade policies?​

A) ​There is no clear legal limit on emissions.
B) ​There are no rewards to cut emissions.
C) ​There is no record of success.
D) ​The expense to consumers is very high.
E) The revenues are not predictable.​

Question 69

What is an advantage to placing taxes and fees on carbon and energy usage?​

A) ​Tax laws are typically very simple and straightforward.
B) ​Tax laws tend to have few,if any,loopholes.
C) ​Lower emissions are nearly guaranteed.
D) ​Tax laws and fees tend to be politically popular.
E) The administration is simple and revenues are predicable.​

Question 70

Satellite data and other measurements and models indicate that 75-85% of the observed ozone losses in the stratosphere since 1976 resulted from people releasing ____ and other ozone-depleting chemicals into the troposphere beginning in the 1950s.​

A) ​CO₂
B) ​CO
C) ​NO_x
D) ​CFCs
E) UVB​

Question 71

____________________ are harmful chemicals emitted directly into the air from natural processes and human activities.

Question 72

The ____________________ is the layer of the atmosphere that contains the protective ozone layer.

Question 73

The term ___________________ is misleading because it does not mean that all areas of the earth are getting warmer every year.​

Question 74

The latest scientific research indicates that the net global effect of ____ cover changes is likely to increase atmospheric warming.​

A) ​ice
B) ​water
C) ​soot
D) ​aerosol
E) cloud​

Question 75

In comparing CO2 emissions sources,scientists use the concept of a(n)____________________,which is the amount of CO2 generated by an individual,an organization,a country,or any other entity over a given period of time.​

Question 76

When a cool layer of air is below a warm layer of air,this is called a(n)____________________.​

Question 77

____________________ is a colorless gas used in foam insulation and can cause irritation of the eyes,throat,skin,and lungs.​

Question 78

In 1987,36 nations meeting in Montreal,Canada,developed the Montreal Protocol to reduce production of ____.​

A) carbon dioxide
B) ​nitrous oxide
C) ​CFCs
D) ​toxic wastes
E) ​halons

Question 79

Life as we know it could not exist without the protective layer of ____________________ in the stratosphere.​

Question 80

The estimated tipping point of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere is ____________________ ppm.​