Question 1

The "ring of fire" is _ .

Accepted Answer

The "ring of fire" is a belt of earthquakes and volcanoes that occur around the Pacific Ocean, including the coasts of North America, South America, Asia, and Oceania. It is known for its frequent seismic activity and volcanic eruptions.

Question 2

The primary source of increased levels of greenhouse gases on Earth is .

Accepted Answer

Modern human lifestyles, including the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, are the primary sources of increased levels of greenhouse gases on Earth.

Question 3

Geologists have divided the geologic time scale using evidence compiled using stratigraphy, which is the study of .

Accepted Answer

Stratigraphy is the study of layers of sedimentary rock, which contain evidence of past geological events and the fossil record, and has been used to divide the geologic time scale into various epochs and eras.

Question 4

When you burn a log in your fireplace you are converting .

Accepted Answer

Burning a log in a fireplace involves a chemical reaction where the energy stored in the chemical bonds of the log is converted to thermal energy in the form of heat and light. No other forms of energy conversion mentioned in the answer choices occur during the burning of a log in a fireplace.

Question 5

Approximately 40 grams of the radioisotope iodine -131 were accidentally released into the atmosphere during the Fukushima nuclear accident. The half -life of iodine -131 is 8 days. How long would it take for there to be 10 grams of iodine -131 left in the environment?

Accepted Answer

Since the half-life of iodine-131 is 8 days, we know that half of the initial amount (40 grams) will decay in 8 days to 20 grams. Another 8 days will pass for another half-life, resulting in 10 grams remaining. Therefore, the total time it takes for the amount of iodine-131 to decay to 10 grams is 16 days, making choice D the correct answer.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about the rock cycle is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Weathering and erosion can break down and transport all three types of rock, eventually forming sediments. These sediments can then undergo lithification to form sedimentary rock, or be subjected to heat and pressure to form metamorphic rock, or be melted and cooled to form igneous rock.

Question 7

Overpopulation contributes to global warming when .

Accepted Answer

Overpopulation contributes to global warming primarily through increased demand for resources, which leads to deforestation (for agriculture and living space), expanded agricultural activities (which can release greenhouse gases like methane), and a higher consumption of fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industrial activities. These actions increase the emission of greenhouse gases, thereby exacerbating global warming.

Question 8

The force driving plate tectonics is .

Accepted Answer

The force driving plate tectonics is heat in the inner layers of the earth, specifically in the mantle. This heat causes convection currents to form, which move the plates on the earth's surface.

Question 9

What are the three distinct layers of the earth?

Accepted Answer

The three distinct layers of the earth are the core, mantle, and crust. Option D is the only one that lists these three layers in the correct order. Option A is incorrect because it only lists two types of crust, oceanic and continental, and does not include the mantle. Option B is incorrect because magma is a part of the mantle, not a separate layer. Option C is incorrect because it lists the crust before the lithosphere, which is actually a part of the crust. Option E is incorrect because it lists the lithosphere instead of the crust as one of the layers.

Question 10

Consider the following processes: respiration, chemosynthesis, combustion of firewood, and photosynthesis. How many of these result in the release of oxygen into the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis is the only process among the listed ones that results in the release of oxygen into the atmosphere.

Question 11

A solution of pH 5 has

Accepted Answer

The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic (or has ten times more hydrogen ions) than the next higher value. Therefore, moving from pH 7 to pH 5 represents a 10^2 or 100 times increase in hydrogen ion concentration.

Question 12

At a , tectonic plates push apart from one another as magma rises upward to the surface.

Accepted Answer

A divergent boundary is where tectonic plates are moving away from each other, causing magma to rise upward and create new crust at the surface.

Question 13

How does burning fossil fuels contribute to global warming?

Accepted Answer

Burning fossil fuels converts carbon in coal, oil, and natural gas into carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Question 14

You live in the Pacific Northwest and hear a news story about the dangers associated with pyroclastic flow. Which of the following is the news story about?

Accepted Answer

Pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter that can move at speeds of up to 700 km/h (450 mph) and is associated with volcanic eruptions. The Pacific Northwest region is home to several active volcanoes, such as Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier, making this area prone to the dangers of pyroclastic flow.

Question 15

rock has undergone heat or pressure, causing it to change form.

Accepted Answer

Metamorphic rock is formed when existing rock (igneous, sedimentary, or other metamorphic) undergoes heat and/or pressure that causes a physical or chemical change, leading to the formation of new rock.

Question 16

Climatic change is a major concern for environmentalists because it can directly lead to .

Accepted Answer

Climatic change can lead to habitat loss, altered ecosystems, and extreme weather events, all of which can contribute to species extinctions.

Question 17

Preindustrial levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have been estimated to be approximately 275 ppm (parts per million). If unchecked, carbon dioxide levels are expected to reach by the year 2100.
Ppm

Accepted Answer

Current scientific projections estimate that if carbon dioxide emissions continue to rise unchecked, atmospheric levels could reach approximately 1100 ppm by the year 2100. This is based on high-emission scenarios without significant mitigation efforts.

Question 18

Why was the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 so much more deadly than the earthquake that struck Tohoku, Japan, in 2011?

Accepted Answer

Japan has a stricter building code, which requires buildings to be designed and constructed to withstand earthquakes. This contributed to the lower death toll in Japan compared to Haiti, where many buildings were poorly constructed and collapsed easily.

Quiz 2: Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems