Deck 16: Air Quality Issues

Question 1

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?

A)It results in an increase in the ozone hole in the stratosphere.
B)It binds with hemoglobin,reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen.
C)It combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.
D)It is carcinogenic.

Answer 1

It binds with hemoglobin,reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen.

Question 2

The troposphere is an area of the atmosphere

A)that has clouds.
B)closest to the Earth's surface.
C)where weather takes place.
D)All of these statements are correct.
E)None of these statements is correct.

Answer 2

All of these statements are correct.

Question 3

Smog begins to develop in the morning because

A)the sun comes up.
B)people turn on lights in their homes.
C)people drive their cars to work.
D)power plants begin operation for the day.

Answer 3

people drive their cars to work.

Question 4

Which of the following about improvements in air quality is correct?

A)Lead emissions have decreased greatly because of the use of catalytic converters which remove lead from vehicle exhaust.
B)Sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased greatly because power plants were required to reduce their emissions which caused acid deposition.
C)Carbon monoxide emissions have decreased greatly because carbon monoxide is destroyed by oxygen in the atmosphere.
D)Ozone levels have decreased greatly because there is less nitrogen gas in the atmosphere.

Question 5

Which of the following is a secondary air pollutant?

A)Ozone
B)Particulate matter
C)Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
D)Sulfur dioxide

Question 6

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)

A)is produced primarily by power plants.
B)contributes to acid deposition.
C)causes respiratory problems.
D)All of these statements are correct.
E)None of these statements are correct.

Question 7

Photochemical smog forms when ________ and ________ are trapped by a thermal inversion and ozone,nitrogen dioxide and PAN form.

A)hydrocarbons;lead
B)volatile organic compounds;oxides of nitrogen
C)carbon monoxide;sulfur dioxide
D)carbon dioxide;lead

Question 8

Particulate matter is a dangerous pollutant because it

A)irritates the lining of the respiratory tract.
B)results in heart attacks.
C)decreases asthma rates.
D)replaces oxygen in the blood.

Question 9

Radon

A)is a major problem throughout the world.
B)is responsible for most cases of lung cancer.
C)can become trapped in homes.
D)is expensive to remove from buildings.

Question 10

Carbon monoxide (CO)

A)is a secondary air pollutant.
B)naturally combines with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide.
C)persists for long periods.
D)is produced in large quantities by coal fired power plants.

Question 11

Acid deposition is most likely to occur

A)where the soil is already acid.
B)in mountainous areas.
C)down wind of a coal fired power plant.
D)in forested areas.

Question 12

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

A)are released from many household chemicals.
B)contribute to the development of photochemical smog.
C)are less common in vehicle exhaust because of catalytic converters.
D)All of the statements are correct.
E)None of the statements are correct.

Question 13

Air pollution is

A)more common in economically developed countries.
B)concentrated near the equator.
C)caused by the actions of people.
D)low in economically less developed countries.

Question 14

What is the function of a catalytic converter?

A)It reduces nitrogen monoxide from vehicle exhaust.
B)It reduces volatile organic compounds from vehicle exhaust.
C)It reduces carbon monoxide from vehicle exhaust.
D)All options are correct.

Question 15

The greatest percentage of the earth's atmosphere is composed of

A)oxygen.
B)nitrogen.
C)carbon dioxide.
D)methane.
E)argon.

Question 16

Winds are produced by

A)the rotation of the Earth.
B)uneven heating of the Earth by the Sun.
C)air sinking at the equator.
D)All of these statements are correct.
E)None of these statements is correct.

Question 17

Which of the following situations is most likely to develop smog?

A)A small city on a mountain top with a cold climate.
B)A large city in a valley with a hot climate.
C)A small city in a valley with a cold climate.
D)A large city in a valley with a cold climate.

Question 18

The amount of lead released into the atmosphere

A)has declined since the introduction of lead free gasoline.
B)has increased with the increase in automobiles.
C)is greatest in rural areas.
D)is directly related to the amount of acid rain.

Question 19

Which of the following chemicals is implicated in both global warming and ozone depletion?

A)chlorofluorocarbons
B)sulfur dioxide
C)carbon dioxide
D)methane

Question 20

The most common source of carbon monoxide is from

A)industry.
B)burning leaves.
C)vehicles.
D)swamps.

Question 21

Ground level ozone is

A)a significant source of air pollution and contributes to the increase in the ozone hole.
B)a significant source of air pollution and contributes to the formation of smog.
C)not regulated.
D)found only in rural areas.

Question 22

Which of the following best matches the description?
Molecule consisting of three atoms of oxygen.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)radon.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 23

Which of the following best matches the description?
Yellowish-brown haze that is the result of the interaction of volatile organic compounds,oxides of nitrogen,and sunlight.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)radon.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 24

Which of the following best matches the description?
Air pollutant consisting of nitrogen and oxygen compounds.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)radon.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 25

PM₁₀ (coarse particulate matter)levels in the United States have ________ between 1990 and 2015.

A)decreased by 39%
B)decreased by 95%
C)remained constant
D)increased slightly

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a criteria air pollutant?

A)sulfur dioxide
B)particulate matter
C)Ozone
D)Volatile organic compounds

Question 27

Which of the following best matches the description?
Small pieces of solid material or droplets of liquid that are dispersed into the atmosphere.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)radon.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 28

Which of the following best matches the description?
Pollutants produced by the interaction of primary pollutants with other molecules or an energy source.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)radon.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 29

To decrease exposure to second hand smoke,the EPA recommended that

A)people not smoke in their homes or near children.
B)people not smoke in restaurants or bars.
C)all cigarette sales should have a $4 tax added.
D)children should not be allowed to purchase cigarettes.

Question 30

Which of the following air pollutants has been the most difficult to reduce?

A)Nitrogen dioxide.
B)Volatile organic compounds.
C)Ozone.
D)Lead.

Question 31

Which of the following best matches the description?
Gas emitted from certain kinds of rocks.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)sulfur dioxide.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 32

The Clean Air Act

A)set national ambient air quality standards for six pollutants.
B)set voluntary air quality standards for 187 pollutants.
C)provided tax incentives and grants for voluntary clean-up of air pollution.
D)provided funding to States to regulate air pollution.

Question 33

Which of the following best matches the description?
Compound produced when sulfur-containing fossil fuels are burned.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)radon.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 34

Which of these is listed by EPA as a criteria air pollutant?

A)carbon monoxide
B)mercury
C)chlorofluorocarbons
D)All of these are criteria air pollutants.

Question 35

The amount of ozone in the upper atmosphere

A)contributes to smog.
B)increases with the presence of chlorofluorocarbons.
C)shields the earth from radiation from ultraviolet light.
D)All of these statements are correct.

Question 36

The Clean Air Act of 1970 included responsibilities to

A)reduce acid rain (acid deposition).
B)reduce ozone in the upper atmosphere
C)reduce emissions from vehicles.
D)stop power plants from releasing mercury.

Question 37

Which of the following best matches the description?
Substances released into the atmosphere,which in their unmodified form are a health risk.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)radon.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 38

Which of the following best matches the description?
Accumulation of potential acid-forming particles on a surface.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)radon.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 39

Which of the following best matches the description?
Condition in which warm air is sandwiched between two layers of cold air.

A)thermal inversion
B)acid deposition
C)secondary air pollutants
D)ozone
E)particulates
F)radon
G)greenhouse effect
H)primary air pollutants
I)radon.
J)photochemical smog
K)oxides of nitrogen
L)sulfur dioxide

Question 40

Lead and nitrogen compounds are believed to contribute to the destruction of ozone in the upper atmosphere.

Question 41

Carbon monoxide is produced when organic materials are incompletely burned.

Question 42

Radon gas may cause lung cancer if exposure is prolonged at high concentrations.

Question 43

Categories of air pollution include carbon monoxide,particulate matter,and lead.

Question 44

Atmospheric ozone shields the earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light radiation.

Question 45

Loss of calcium ions from soil may be a major problem associated with acid rain.

Question 46

The stratosphere is a wind current that blows from west to east.

Question 47

Acid rain is caused by the emission of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere.

Question 48

As a waterbody becomes more acidic,many aquatic species fail to reproduce.

Question 49

Since the prevailing wind patterns in the U.S.are from east to west,the best place to avoid air pollution is on the extreme East Coast.

Question 50

Photochemical smog is considered a primary pollutant.

Question 51

Air pollution is an aesthetic problem with no documented cases of death directly related to poor air quality.

Question 52

A large source of carbon monoxide is smoking tobacco.

Question 53

Ozone is a component of photochemical smog.

Question 54

Motor vehicle emissions are not a major source of air pollution.

Question 55

One way to reduce the effects of acid rain is to remove lead from fuels.

Question 56

Air can dilute and disperse significant amounts of pollutants.

Question 57

Unwanted sound or noise is considered to be a type of pollution.

Question 58

The use of catalytic converters can reduce acid rain production.

Question 59

There are six Criteria Pollutants.

Question 60

Ozone,when found close to the surface of the earth,is a pollutant.

Question 61

All the following are components of the mixture of gases known as photochemical smog EXCEPT

A)Ozone
B)Nitrogen dioxide
C)Peroxyacetyl nitrates (PAN)
D)Volatile organic compounds

Question 62

Acid precipitation

A)has little effect on forests.
B)increases in areas with greater rainfall.
C)has less effect in areas with where the soil is formed from sedimentary rock.
D)is caused primarily by vehicles exhaust.

Question 63

Nitrogen dioxide

A)is a natural ingredient of the atmosphere.
B)is produced when fossil fuels are burned.
C)can be reduced by using filters.
D)is produced by sunlight.

Question 64

Air pollution is

A)not a problem in economically developed countries.
B)unrelated to the amount of industrial activity in a country.
C)greatest in newly industrialized countries.
D)All these statements are correct.

Question 65

Nitrogen dioxide is not included as one of the EPA Criteria Pollutants.

Question 66

All of the following are a common source of indoor air pollution EXCEPT

A)Ozone
B)Radon
C)Smoke from tobacco products
D)Volatile organic compounds

Question 67

The hole in the Antarctic ozone layer in the upper atmosphere

A)continues to get larger each year.
B)occurs because of the destruction of ozone molecules.
C)caused countries to outlaw the use of spray cans.
D)All these statements are correct.

Question 68

Acid precipitation

A)affects aquatic ecosystems by lowering the pH of the water.
B)impairs the ability of aquatic organisms to get calcium for skeleton production.
C)has been significantly reduced in the United States.
D)All options are correct.

Question 69

Efforts to reduce emissions of acid forming substances from industrial sources continue to be an important part of air pollution control.

Question 70

There are many positive actions that have improved air quality.

Question 71

Noise

A)causes hearing loss.
B)affects the behavior of animals.
C)can affect a person's health.
D)All these statements are correct.

Question 72

Newer,energy efficient homes have cleaner air quality than older,less efficient homes.

Question 73

All of the following contribute to high levels of air pollution in countries like China and India EXCEPT

A)they have large cities.
B)the pollution by industry is poorly regulated.
C)poor people use wood and dung to cook and heat homes.
D)the pollution from vehicles is poorly regulated.

Question 74

Which of the following significantly improved air quality in the United States?

A)Eliminating lead in paint.
B)The use of catalytic converters.
C)The elimination of chlorofluorocarbons.
D)All these statements are correct.
E)None of these statements are correct.