
Question 1
How would Earth change if the greenhouse effect didn’t exist at all?
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Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would radiate all its heat into space. |
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All the incoming sunlight energy would be absorbed without the greenhouse effect. |
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The result of no greenhouse effect would be an extremely hot planet that never cools down. |
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Animals and plants would survive comfortably, and the average temperature would never change if the greenhouse effect did not exist. |
2 points
Question 2
How do scientists “know” the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide that existed on Earth hundreds or thousands of years ago?
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They deduce it from the carbon dioxide content of fossil fuels. |
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They measure it from bubbles of gas trapped in Antarctic ice. |
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They estimate it from the relative numbers of carbon-based life forms that existed over time. |
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They measure it from erupting volcanoes, bubbling hot springs, and seeping hydrothermal vents. |
2 points
Question 3
Burning fossil fuels can result in
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a decrease in ground-level ozone levels. |
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a decrease in carbon dioxide levels. |
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an increase in mercury levels. |
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a decrease in acid rain. |
2 points
Question 4
Developed countries are characterized by
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industrial economies and low individual incomes. |
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agricultural economies and high individual incomes. |
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agricultural economies and low individual incomes. |
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industrial economies and high individual incomes. |
2 points
Question 5
How does the greenhouse effect work?
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Rocks, soil, and water on Earth’s surface absorb sunlight energy and radiate it as heat. |
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The energy from sunlight passes through the transparent water of the oceans and heats up the Earth’s core. |
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Some sunlight energy that hits Earth radiates toward space, but some is trapped by atmospheric gases. |
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All the sunlight energy striking Earth bounces off the planet and radiates into space. |
2 points
Question 6
Which of the following experiments would not be considered an ecological study?
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the effect of a housing development on a spotted salamander population in a vernal pool |
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the effect of changing availability of acorns on a population of squirrels |
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the effect of a red tide outbreak on sea birds in the area |
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the effect of a hormone on the rate of blood vessel formation |
2 points
Question 7
Growth rates appear to be declining in many human populations because
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families are choosing to have fewer children. |
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death rates are increasing due to disease epidemics and famines. |
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birth rates are decreasing due to famine. |
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the carrying capacity has been reached. |
2 points
Question 8
A population has reached the carrying capacity of the environment when
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the environment can’t support a further increase in the population. |
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the environment can’t support the current population. |
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it has entered an extended period of exponential growth. |
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the food supply in that particular environment begins to decrease. |
2 points
Question 9
Americans make up less than ________ of the total human population, yet use close to ________ of the world’s resources.
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1%; 50% |
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5%; 25% |
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0.1%; 75% |
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0.01%; 80% |
2 points
Question 10
Which of the following projects would be conducted by an ecologist?
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a research project testing new pollution filters for cars |
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a study of squirrels and their interactions with other animals |
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observations of toad embryos’ development in a Petri dish |
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a project to genetically modify a wheat plant in order to increase production |
2 points
Question 11
Which of the following can be considered a predator?
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dandelion |
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wood warbler |
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honey bee |
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cow |
2 points
Question 12
Which of the following has dramatically decreased infant mortality in human populations?
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a shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy |
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the use of pesticides to reduce mosquito populations |
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the choice made by educated women to have fewer children |
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an increase in poverty in developed countries |
2 points
Question 13
Over the past two centuries, the growth of human population has
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leveled off slowly. |
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increased steadily. |
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exhibited “boom and bust” growth. |
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increased exponentially. |
2 points
Question 14
Which of the following is the proper equation for photosynthesis?
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6CO2 + 6O2 + sunlight C6H12O6 + 6H2O |
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6H2O + 6CO2 + sunlight C6H12O6 + 6O2 |
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C6H12O6 + 6O2 + sunlight 6CO2 + 6H2O |
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O2 + H2O + sunlight C6H12O6 + CO2 |
2 points
Question 15
According to the graph, by how many parts per million has the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide changed between 1980 and 2010?
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about 20 ppm |
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about 50 ppm |
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about 80 ppm |
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about 110 ppm |
2 points
Question 16
Which of the following is a density-dependent factor?
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decrease in temperature |
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increase in waste production |
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decrease in frequency of hurricanes |
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increase in rainfall |
2 points
Question 17
The process of photosynthesis transforms solar energy into ________ energy.
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chemical |
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mechanical |
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heat |
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kinetic |
2 points
Question 18
Approximately how many people are on Earth today?
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7,000,000 |
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70,000,000 |
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700,000,000 |
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7,000,000,000 |
2 points
Question 19
Exponential growth, when graphed, appears as a(n)
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straight line. |
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“S” curve. |
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“J” curve. |
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wavy line that goes up and down regularly. |
2 points
Question 20
What can happen to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
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It can be released into space from the atmosphere. |
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It can be converted to glucose by plants. |
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It can be converted into carbon monoxide by the oceans. |
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It can react with nitrogen to form fossil fuels. |
2 points
Question 21
A decrease in the amount of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere would result in
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cooler average global temperatures. |
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warmer average global temperatures. |
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no change in average global temperatures. |
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cooler temperatures in the northern hemisphere and warmer temperatures in the southern hemisphere. |
2 points
Question 22
The role a species plays in an ecosystem is called its
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niche. |
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trophic level. |
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biophilia. |
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biomass. |
2 points
Question 23
Which of the following is represented by a completely “columnar” population pyramid?
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proportionally more young than middle-aged or elderly |
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equal proportions of young, middle-aged, and elderly |
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proportionally more middle-aged and elderly than young |
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proportionally more middle-aged than elderly and/or young |
2 points
Question 24
Which of these would be the most likely effect on precipitation from global warming?
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an increase in the months of snowfall in higher latitudes |
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a decrease in the amount of snowfall on mountaintops |
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an increase in the amount of rainfall in every climate |
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a decrease in the amount of rainfall near oceans |
2 points
Question 25
According to this plot, growth rate and doubling time are
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directly proportional. |
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inversely proportional. |
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not related to one another. |
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equally proportional to one another. |
2 points
Question 26
Energy in ecosystems:
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a. |
cycles from the sun to plants, then to animals, then back to the sun |
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b. |
cycles from the sun to animals, then to decomposers |
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c. |
travels only one way from the sun, to plants, then to animals |
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d. |
increases as you pass from one trophic level to the next higher level |
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e. |
is returned from decomposers to the soil, where it can be picked up by plants |
2 points
Question 27
A(n) ________ could exert the most influence to speed the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
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individual |
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business owner |
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nonprofit corporation |
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policy maker |
2 points
Question 28
All individuals of all species living within an area of interest represent a(n)
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ecosystem. |
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community. |
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population. |
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trophic level. |
2 points
Question 29
According to scientists, how do the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today compare to the past 400,000 years?
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There’s more atmospheric carbon dioxide today. |
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There’s less atmospheric carbon dioxide today. |
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There have been no changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. |
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Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have fluctuated randomly. |
2 points
Question 30
Which of the following would most likely result in a population represented by an “inverted triangular” population pyramid, which is heaviest at the top?
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rapid population growth |
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population stabilization |
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a “boom and bust” cycle |
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a population decline |
2 points
Question 31
What are fossil fuels?
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carbon-rich remains of plants and microorganisms |
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underground deposits of carbon dioxide |
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accumulations of partially decomposed dinosaurs |
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timber from old-growth forests |
2 points
Question 32
Human populations may surpass the carrying capacity of their environment due to
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temporary reliance on stored or nonrenewable resources. |
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sudden population crashes. |
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increases in death rates as the population growth approaches carrying capacity. |
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decreases in birth rates as resources are depleted. |
2 points
Question 33
As the size of a population approaches the carrying capacity of its environment, which of following is true?
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the growth rate increases |
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a graph of population growth resembles a “J” |
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the population stabilizes at its maximum size |
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birth rates become proportionally much greater than the death rates |
2 points
Question 34
Most of the energy contained in one trophic level is “lost” when it gets to the next trophic level. The lost energy takes the form of
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free electrons. |
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metabolic heat. |
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potential energy, in chemical bonds. |
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kinetic energy, in the motion of consumers. |
2 points
Question 35
The greenhouse effect is most similar to
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heating up the air inside a car by parking it in the sun. |
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warming the air for a hot-air balloon with a propane burner. |
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burning kerosene in a heater to warm up the air inside a cold house. |
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growing plants in your office to reduce indoor air pollution. |
2 points
Question 36
The carrying capacity of a population is represented as
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K. |
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r. |
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J. |
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S. |
2 points
Question 37
When a population of spotted salamanders in an area of vernal pools remains stable for many years and the population has stabilized because of resource limits, then
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density dependence is not involved. |
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predation has decreased. |
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carrying capacity has been reached. |
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density independence occurs. |
2 points
Question 38
Which of the following is a nonrenewable resource?
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solar energy |
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hydrogen fuel cell |
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wind power |
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natural gas |
2 points
Question 39
Which of the following is a population-limiting, density-dependent factor?
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a heavy flood that destroys a large area around a river |
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a heat wave in which some organisms can’t survive |
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a drought that limits food availability |
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the rapid spread of tuberculosis in heavily populated areas |
2 points
Question 40
Which of these human activities has directly contributed to global warming?
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burning of coal |
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building of greenhouses |
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planting of trees |
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development of solar energy |
2 points
Question 41
A food chain in the open ocean, from the base up, would be
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zooplankton, phytoplankton, tuna, cod. |
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phytoplankton, zooplankton, sand lance, humpback. |
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shark, cod, phytoplankton, zooplankton. |
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albatross, cod, zooplankton, phytoplankton. |
2 points
Question 42
The plants that made up fossil fuels lived around ________ years ago.
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300,000,000,000 |
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300,000,000 |
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300,000 |
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30,000 |
2 points
Question 43
Which of these activities could help you to slow the rate of global warming?
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only buy food in plastic containers |
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drive faster than the speed limit |
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replace an old refrigerator with a new one |
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mow the grass more frequently |
2 points
Question 44
Based on the population pyramid of the United States in 2010, as seen in this figure, you can predict that the population will
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be in a demographic transition. |
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experience a decrease. |
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experience a decrease after a period of high demographic momentum. |
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remain relatively stable due to low demographic momentum. |
2 points
Question 45
True or false: Nearly all developed countries in the world are beginning a demographic transition in the 21st century.
True
False
2 points
Question 46
True or false: Scientists agree on the size of the carrying capacity of Earth for the human population.
True
False
2 points
Question 47
True or false: The human population may continue to increase even though it surpasses carrying capacity.
True
False
2 points
Question 48
True or false: In general, developed countries have lower population growth rates than less developed countries.
True
False
2 points
Question 49
True or false: Most developed countries have passed through a demographic transition and currently have low population growth rates.
True
False
2 points
Question 50
True or false: The average American uses as many resources in one day as 370 Ethiopians.
True
False
2 points
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