Question 1

Zones of low rainfall and therefore most deserts are at A) the equator since the light intensity is greatest there. B) the centers of all continents since they are farthest from the oceans that are the source of all water evaporation. C) about 30^$\circ$north and south latitude. D) about 60^$\circ$ north and south latitude. E) random points wherever wind patterns fail to bring moist air.

Accepted Answer

The air cools as it rises and moves away from the equator so when it falls back toward the earth around 30^$\circ$ north and south of the equator it contains very little moisture. These are desert areas due to this lack of rainfall.Bloom's

Question 2

Trees do NOT grow in the tundra because the
A) atmosphere is too rarefied.
B) land is too swampy.
C) land shifts from time to time.
D) permafrost is always frozen.
E) shrubs are too plentiful.

Accepted Answer

Since the permafrost is always frozen the roots of trees cannot find a sufficient hold or obtain the necessary nutrients.Bloom's

Question 3

The largest communities on land are called
A) biospheres.
B) estuaries.
C) tundras.
D) taigas.
E) biomes.

Accepted Answer

The biosphere includes the soil of the earth, the waters, the air and the surface; organisms are able to live in all of these places. Estuaries are places where a river meets the ocean; these are very rich and diverse areas where salt and freshwater meet. Tundra is a biome with permanently frozen subsoil found close the North Pole, below the ice cap and above the tree-line region. Taiga is a biome characterized by a coniferous forest and found around the world in a wide belt in the northern hemisphere. A biome is the term used to refer to a certain type of ecosystem; it has a particular set of organisms, climatic conditions and soil conditions and is found in certain predictable locations.Bloom's

Question 4

Which of the following do NOT help determine a biome?
A) amount of rainfall
B) solar energy
C) soil
D) atmospheric content
E) mountain ranges

Accepted Answer

Any physical aspect such as rainfall, amount of incoming solar radiation, soil composition or topography would determine the type of biome present.Bloom's

Question 5

Arctic winds blowing over inland reservoirs become saturated and then lose their moisture as they move across land.This is referred to as
A) lake effect.
B) eutrophication.
C) a montane successional gradient.
D) a monsoon climate.
E) rain shadow.

Accepted Answer

Lake effect refers to the increased likelihood of snowfall as warm moist air moves from over a large body of water, like the Great Lakes, in the winter and loses its moisture as it rises; the precipitation comes in the form of snow since the air cools rapidly as it rises. Eutrophication is the enrichment of water by inorganic nutrients that are used by producers in the lake. The montane successional gradient refers to the change of biome as altitude increases in the mountains. A monsoon climate is one that alternates between dry and wet seasons each one lasting about half of the year; in the wet season rainfall is frequent and heavy resulting flooding. A rain shadow is caused when the leeward side of a mountain receives less rain than the windward side because the air cools as it rises over the mountain causing it to drop its moisture.Bloom's

Question 6

A forest found in a broad belt in northern Eurasia and North America,with pine trees,mosses,and lichens,is called the
A) tropical rain forest.
B) tundra.
C) temperate deciduous forest.
D) chaparral.
E) coniferous forest.

Accepted Answer

A tropical rain forest has high rainfall and warm temperatures leading to great diversity and an abundance of organisms. Tundra is a biome with permanently frozen subsoil found close the North Pole, below the ice cap and above the tree-line region. A temperate deciduous forest is characterized by relatively high rainfall, well defined seasons and trees that lose their leaves seasonally. Chaparral is a type of shrubland having dry summers and limited rainfall in winter that occurs in California.Bloom's

Question 7

The taiga is a
A) tropical rain forest.
B) temperate deciduous forest.
C) chaparral.
D) grassland.
E) coniferous forest.

Accepted Answer

Taiga is a biome characterized by a coniferous forest and found around the world in a wide belt in the northern hemisphere.Bloom's

Question 8

A treeless region with little rainfall in the far north is the
A) grassland.
B) tundra.
C) taiga.
D) chaparral.
E) desert.

Accepted Answer

Tundra is a biome with permanently frozen subsoil found close the North Pole, below the ice cap and above the tree-line region that is characterized by little rainfall and organisms that migrate in and out of the area.Bloom's

Question 9

Temperate deciduous forests are defined by
A) humid climate with seasonal droughts.
B) highest variation in day and night length.
C) highest amount of organisms living in tree canopy.
D) a growing season between 140 and 300 days.
E) richest topsoil horizon.

Accepted Answer

A temperate deciduous forest is characterized by relatively high rainfall, well defined seasons and trees that lose their leaves seasonally. The trees have broad leaves and there is a well developed understory beneath them. Squirrels, rabbits, skunks and other small mammals live in the woods in addition to a number of species of birds.Bloom's

Question 10

When moist air from over an ocean moves inland and up a mountain slope,it causes heavy precipitation on the windward side.On the leeward side of the mountain,the region receives far less rain.This is referred to as
A) lake effect.
B) eutrophication.
C) a montane successional gradient.
D) a monsoon climate.
E) rain shadow.

Accepted Answer

Lake effect refers to the increased likelihood of snowfall as warm moist air moves from over a large body of water, like the Great Lakes, in the winter and loses its moisture as it rises; the precipitation comes in the form of snow since the air cools rapidly as it rises. Eutrophication is the enrichment of water by inorganic nutrients that are used by producers in the lake. The montane successional gradient refers to the change of biome as altitude increases in the mountains. A monsoon climate is one that alternates between dry and wet seasons each one lasting about half of the year; in the wet season rainfall is frequent and heavy resulting flooding. A rain shadow is caused when the leeward side of a mountain receives less rain than the windward side because the air cools as it rises over the mountain causing it to drop its moisture.Bloom's

Question 11

When wet ocean winds blow onshore for half the year and slowly rise and cool,causing long periods of rainfall over a large area,this is referred to as
A) lake effect.
B) eutrophication.
C) a montane successional gradient.
D) a monsoon climate.
E) rain shadow.

Accepted Answer

Lake effect refers to the increased likelihood of snowfall as warm moist air moves from over a large body of water, like the Great Lakes, in the winter and loses its moisture as it rises; the precipitation comes in the form of snow since the air cools rapidly as it rises. Eutrophication is the enrichment of water by inorganic nutrients that are used by producers in the lake. The montane successional gradient refers to the change of biome as altitude increases in the mountains. A monsoon climate is one that alternates between dry and wet seasons each one lasting about half of the year; in the wet season rainfall is frequent and heavy resulting flooding. A rain shadow is caused when the leeward side of a mountain receives less rain than the windward side because the air cools as it rises over the mountain causing it to drop its moisture.Bloom's

Question 12

As the latitude increases,which biome sequence would be present?
A) tundra, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tropical forest
B) tundra, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, tropical forest
C) tropical forest, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, tundra
D) tropical forest, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tundra
E) tropical forest, deciduous forest, tundra, coniferous forest

Accepted Answer

Latitude refers to the distance from the equator so the biome found closest to the equator would be a tropical rainforest. Deciduous forests are found south of the taiga and north of tropical forests. Coniferous forests also called taiga are found north of deciduous forests and south of tundra and tundra are found closest to the North Pole.Bloom's

Question 13

Treeless biomes are treeless primarily because
A) of limited sunlight.
B) there is a lack of water or the water is frozen.
C) there is no source of seed dispersal in the region.
D) trees are dependent upon the animals for support.
E) trees cannot withstand hot temperatures or below-freezing cold.

Accepted Answer

Trees require a sufficient supply of water to be successful in an ecosystem. Biomes characterized by little rainfall or an area where the precipitation is frozen and therefore unavailable to the trees do not have trees.Bloom's

Question 14

In the water cycle,evaporated equatorial air masses that rise lose most of their water.The air immediately then flows A) all the way to the poles where it causes snow. B) all the way to the poles if it does not encounter mountain ranges, which it usually does. C) to about 60^$\circ$ north or south and then cool and condense, supporting a band of moist vegetation. D) to about 30^$\circ$ north or south and then descends, creating a band of deserts. E) to the west.

Accepted Answer

The air cools as it rises and moves away from the equator so when it falls back toward the earth around 30^$\circ$ north and south of the equator it contains very little moisture. These areas receive very little rainfall because the air is relatively dry as it returns to the earth.Bloom's

Question 15

Which pair is mismatched?
A) tundra-short grasses
B) savanna-acacia trees
C) prairie-epiphytes
D) coniferous forest-evergreen trees
E) deserts-cacti

Accepted Answer

Prairies are characterized by grasses not epiphytes. Epiphytes are plants that obtain their nutrients and moisture from the air and typically grow on another plant and are usually found in tropical areas.Bloom's

Question 16

The spinning of the earth
A) angles winds away from directly north-south toward east or west.
B) causes mountain ranges to spin off moisture.
C) is the initial driving force for generating winds.
D) causes ocean currents to be directed "out" to the equator.
E) causes the tidal ebb and flow.

Accepted Answer

As the earth rotates the air masses that rise away from the surface seem to curve or angle as the earth's surface moves under them; this is called the Coriolis Effect.Bloom's

Question 17

Which would be characterized by little rainfall,permafrost,and reindeer?
A) grasslands
B) temperate deciduous forest
C) desert
D) taiga
E) tundra

Accepted Answer

Grasslands are characterized by limited rainfall that is not sufficient to support trees and large grazing animals. A temperate deciduous forest is characterized by relatively high rainfall, well defined seasons and trees that lose their leaves seasonally. Deserts are usually found 30F1F1F1S1F1F1F10 north or south of the equator and are characterized by very low rainfall and organisms that are well adapted to dry conditions. Tundra is a biome with permanently frozen subsoil found close the North Pole, below the ice cap and above the tree-line region. Taiga is a biome characterized by a coniferous forest and found around the world in a wide belt in the northern hemisphere.Bloom's

Question 18

A coniferous forest that runs along the west coast of Canada and the United States,due to the moist winds off the Pacific,is called the
A) tropical deciduous forest.
B) tundra.
C) temperate rain forest.
D) taiga.
E) temperate deciduous forest.

Accepted Answer

Tropical deciduous forests are seasonal tropical forest that has a wet and a dry season and is characterized by trees that shed their leaves, organisms includes tigers and elephants. Tundra is a biome with permanently frozen subsoil found close the North Pole, below the ice cap and above the tree-line region. Taiga is a biome characterized by a coniferous forest and found around the world in a wide belt in the northern hemisphere. A temperate deciduous forest is characterized by relatively high rainfall, well defined seasons and trees that lose their leaves seasonally.Bloom's

Question 19

Which of the following statements is NOT true about biomes?
A) They vary according to climate.
B) They are communities of similar populations.
C) They vary according to latitude and altitude.
D) They are the smallest communities on land.
E) They are characterized by particular animals and plants.

Accepted Answer

Biomes are broad areas characterized by similar climates, soil, topography, plants and animals.Bloom's

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT considered to be a treeless biome?
A) chaparral
B) tundra
C) desert
D) taiga
E) savanna

Accepted Answer

Taiga are coniferous forests and so are not treeless. Chaparral is a type of shrubland having dry summers and limited rainfall in winter that occurs in California. Tundra is a biome with permanently frozen subsoil found close the North Pole, below the ice cap and above the tree-line region. Deserts are usually found 30F1F1F1S1F1F1F10 north or south of the equator and are characterized by very low rainfall and organisms that are well adapted to dry conditions. Savannas are a type of grassland that has a cool dry season followed by a hot rainy season and containing a few hardy trees and abundant species of animals.Bloom's

Quiz 36: Major Ecosystems of the Biosphere

Zones of low rainfall and therefore most deserts are at

Trees do NOT grow in the tundra because the

The largest communities on land are called

Which of the following do NOT help determine a biome?

Arctic winds blowing over inland reservoirs become saturated and then lose their moisture as they move across land.This is referred to as

A forest found in a broad belt in northern Eurasia and North America,with pine trees,mosses,and lichens,is called the

The taiga is a

A treeless region with little rainfall in the far north is the

Temperate deciduous forests are defined by

When moist air from over an ocean moves inland and up a mountain slope,it causes heavy precipitation on the windward side.On the leeward side of the mountain,the region receives far less rain.This is referred to as

When wet ocean winds blow onshore for half the year and slowly rise and cool,causing long periods of rainfall over a large area,this is referred to as

As the latitude increases,which biome sequence would be present?

Treeless biomes are treeless primarily because

In the water cycle,evaporated equatorial air masses that rise lose most of their water.The air immediately then flows

Which pair is mismatched?

The spinning of the earth

Which would be characterized by little rainfall,permafrost,and reindeer?

A coniferous forest that runs along the west coast of Canada and the United States,due to the moist winds off the Pacific,is called the

Which of the following statements is NOT true about biomes?

Which of the following is NOT considered to be a treeless biome?