Question 1

The Polynesians reduced the forests of their islands to brush,and by the time of the arrival of the Europeans,had exterminated more than 80 percent of the regional birds due to their penchant for __________________
A) wearing bird-feather robes.
B) eating bird's eggs.
C) eating birds.
D) collecting bird's nests.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 2

The Little Ice Age began to affect Europe in which century?
A) fourteenth
B) fifteenth
C) sixteenth
D) seventeenth

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

The climatic record documenting the beginning of the Little Ice Age was partially pieced together by using farmer's diaries.Those of _________ were most useful.
A) dairy farmers
B) wine growers
C) grain farmers
D) vegetable growers

Accepted Answer

Wine growers were most useful in piecing together the climatic record of the Little Ice Age. Their diaries provided detailed information on the timing of grape harvests and the conditions that affected the growth of grapes, which can be used as proxies for temperature and precipitation.

Question 4

Growing understanding of the affects of the Little Ice Age leads to the suggestion that the chief cause of the rapid collapse of the Jamestown colony may well have been ______________
A) flooding.
B) shortened growing season.
C) a seven year drought.
D) poor farming practices.

Accepted Answer

The Little Ice Age was characterized by cooler temperatures, which in the case of Jamestown, coincided with a severe seven-year drought that would have drastically affected water supply and agriculture, contributing to the colony's collapse.

Question 5

Depletion of the ozone layer is caused by the release of __________ into the atmosphere. A) volcanic ash B) CO₂ C) methane D) chlorofluorocarbons

Accepted Answer

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are synthetic compounds that were widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosol sprays, and foam products. When released into the atmosphere, CFCs reach the stratosphere and break down into chlorine atoms, which then react with ozone molecules and destroy them, leading to depletion of the ozone layer.

Question 6

The greatest threat to human existence to come from any source was a volcanic eruption occurring about 73,500 years ago.The volcano was called _______________
A) Santorini.
B) St. Helen's.
C) Tambora.
D) Toba.

Accepted Answer

The volcanic eruption that occurred about 73,500 years ago, which was the greatest threat to human existence, took place in Toba, Indonesia.

Question 7

Biologists estimate that there may be as many as ____ million types of organisms on Earth.
A) 5
B) 10
C) 15
D) 25

Accepted Answer

Biologists estimate that there may be as many as 25 million types of organisms on Earth. This number is constantly changing as new organisms are discovered and old taxonomic classifications are reevaluated.

Question 8

Plant life and photosynthesis began about 1.5 billion years ago and increased the ___________ level in the atmosphere. A) CO₂ B) 0₂ C) methane D) sulfur

Accepted Answer

Plant life and photosynthesis increased the oxygen level in the atmosphere from around 0% to 21%. Methane and sulfur are not directly related to the increase in oxygen level.

Question 9

The boundaries of rocky crustal plates (theory of plate tectonics)are associated with ________________
A) deserts.
B) earthquakes and volcanoes.
C) ice caps.
D) plains regions.

Accepted Answer

The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth's crust is divided into several large plates that move and interact with each other. The boundaries of these plates are associated with geological activity such as earthquakes and volcanoes, making option B the correct answer. Option A (deserts), C (ice caps), and D (plains regions) are not directly related to plate boundaries.

Question 10

Climatologist-geographer Alfred Wegener used his spatial view of the world to develop the theory of _______________
A) relativity.
B) the hydrologic cycle.
C) continental drift.
D) Earth rotation.

Accepted Answer

Alfred Wegener used his spatial view of the world to develop the theory of continental drift.

Question 11

The geologic epoch,characterized by global warming,in which we are now living is the _____________
A) Pliocene.
B) Holocene.
C) Pleistocene.
D) Miocene.

Accepted Answer

The geologic epoch characterized by global warming, in which we are now living is the Holocene. The Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Miocene are all earlier epochs.

Question 12

The eruption of the Tambora volcano on the island of Sumatra resulted in what has been called the "year without a summer" in Europe and America.That year was ______________
A) 1000.
B) 1650.
C) 1816.
D) 1912.

Accepted Answer

The "year without a summer" is commonly referred to as 1816, which was the year when the Tambora volcano erupted.

Question 13

The latest Pangaea break up began _______ years ago.
A) 10,000
B) 2,000,000
C) 50,000,000
D) 180,000,000

Accepted Answer

The Pangaea break up began approximately 180 million years ago, during the Jurassic period of the Mesozoic era. This resulted in the formation of the modern continents and the Atlantic Ocean. Choices A and B are too recent, and Choice C is too far back in time.

Question 14

The Earth's most recent experience with mass volcanism was between _________ million years ago.
A) 180 and 160
B) 150 and 130
C) 120 and 100
D) 90 and 70

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Earth's most recent experience with mass...

Question 15

The most recent glaciation of the Pleistocene was the ________ Glaciation.
A) Illinoian
B) Kansan
C) Wisconsinan
D) Nebraskan

Accepted Answer

The most recent glaciation of the Pleistocene was the Wisconsinan Glaciation, which occurred approximately 110,000 to 11,700 years ago. The other answer choices are also glaciations of the Pleistocene, but they are not as recent as the Wisconsinan.

Question 16

During the Pleistocene,glaciers extend as far as _____________
A) St. Louis and Seattle.
B) Moscow and Rome.
C) Paris and San Francisco.
D) London and Belgrade.

Accepted Answer

During the Pleistocene, the maximum extent of glaciers was around the latitude of St. Louis in North America and Seattle in Western Canada, as well as in other regions around the world. Therefore, option A is the correct choice. Options B, C, and D are incorrect as they suggest that the maximum extent of glaciers was further south in Europe, which is not accurate.

Question 17

The Little Ice Age put an end to a period of flourishing ____________ in Ming Dynasty China.
A) wine making
B) plant domestication
C) astronomical science
D) ship building and maritime exploration

Accepted Answer

The Little Ice Age caused a decline in temperature and precipitation which led to harsher winters and shorter summers, making it more difficult for ships to navigate and explore. As a result, shipbuilding and maritime exploration in China declined during this time.

Question 18

A tsunami's waves result from ______________
A) tidal conditions.
B) high storm winds called "tsunamis."
C) earthquake displacement of the seafloor.
D) periodic floods.

Accepted Answer

Tsunami waves are primarily caused by earthquakes that occur beneath the ocean floor. These earthquakes create a rapid displacement of the seafloor, which results in a massive energy release that can cause waves to form and propagate rapidly across the ocean surface. Tidal conditions, high storm winds, and periodic floods are not directly responsible for the creation of tsunami waves.

Question 19

Human destructiveness of the environment manifested itself early when __________________
A) streams were polluted by settlements.
B) fires were set to kill entire herds of reindeer and bison.
C) cooking fires polluted the air.
D) the beginnings of agriculture destroyed vast areas of soil.

Accepted Answer

Evidence shows that early human societies engaged in intentional burning of large areas of grasslands and forests in order to herd and hunt animals. This led to the destruction of habitats and loss of biodiversity.

Question 20

What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by water?
A) 90
B) 70
C) 50
D) 20

Accepted Answer

Approximately 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, including oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers. The remaining 30% is land.

Quiz 13: Human Environment

The Polynesians reduced the forests of their islands to brush,and by the time of the arrival of the Europeans,had exterminated more than 80 percent of the regional birds due to their penchant for __________________

The Little Ice Age began to affect Europe in which century?

The climatic record documenting the beginning of the Little Ice Age was partially pieced together by using farmer's diaries.Those of _________ were most useful.

Growing understanding of the affects of the Little Ice Age leads to the suggestion that the chief cause of the rapid collapse of the Jamestown colony may well have been ______________

Depletion of the ozone layer is caused by the release of __________ into the atmosphere.

The greatest threat to human existence to come from any source was a volcanic eruption occurring about 73,500 years ago.The volcano was called _______________

Biologists estimate that there may be as many as ____ million types of organisms on Earth.

Plant life and photosynthesis began about 1.5 billion years ago and increased the ___________ level in the atmosphere.

The boundaries of rocky crustal plates (theory of plate tectonics) are associated with ________________

Climatologist-geographer Alfred Wegener used his spatial view of the world to develop the theory of _______________

The geologic epoch,characterized by global warming,in which we are now living is the _____________

The eruption of the Tambora volcano on the island of Sumatra resulted in what has been called the "year without a summer" in Europe and America.That year was ______________

The latest Pangaea break up began _______ years ago.

The Earth's most recent experience with mass volcanism was between _________ million years ago.

The most recent glaciation of the Pleistocene was the ________ Glaciation.

During the Pleistocene,glaciers extend as far as _____________

The Little Ice Age put an end to a period of flourishing ____________ in Ming Dynasty China.

A tsunami's waves result from ______________

Human destructiveness of the environment manifested itself early when __________________

What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by water?