ch. 3 ap enviro

1. Ecologists study

A. living things and their genetic makeup.
B. genetic patterns and the chemistry in them.
C. the physical world and its processes.
D. the Earth and its processes.
E. relationships between organisms and their environment.

E. relationships between organisms and their environment.

2. How are matter and mass related?

A. Mass is a component of matter.
B. Neither matter nor mass take up space.
C. Matter is a component of mass.
D. Both matter and mass take up space.
E. Mass takes up space while matter does not take up space

A. Mass is a component of matter.

3. Water vapor, water, and ice are examples of

A. types of matter.
B. phases of matter.
C. transfers of energy into matter.
D. forms of energy.
E. types of mass.

B. phases of matter

4. What implication(s) does the law of conservation of matter have for humans?

A. We cannot create energy because it is neither created nor destroyed.
B. As matter is recycled it loses some of its integrity so we need to be careful when we dispose of goods.
C. Natural resources are unlimited because they are used and reused by living organisms.
D. Disposable goods are not going "away" when we throw them out.
E. All of these are implications of the law of conservation of matter.

D. Disposable goods are not going "away" when we throw them out.

5. The law of conservation of matter tells us that matter

A. can never be reused.
B. needs to be conserved or it will not be available for future generations.
C. can be destroyed.
D. can be conserved by some adaptive strategies.
E. is used repeatedly.

E. is used repeatedly.

The smallest particle that exhibits the characteristics of a chemical element is known as a(n)

A. molecule.
B. microorganism.
C. atom.
D. phase of maE. isotope.

A. molecule.

7. The relationship among atoms, elements, and compounds is most like the relationship among

A. bricks, brick houses, and large brick buildings.
B. grains of sand, rocks, and continents.
C. bricks, sidewalks, and paved roads.
D. pond, lake, and ocean.
E. grains of sugar, sugar, and sweetened iced tea.

E. grains of sugar, sugar, and sweetened iced tea.

8. A compound is to a(n) _________ as a word is to a ________.

A. element, sentence
B. isotope, sentence
C. atom, letter
D. molecule, punctuation mark E. element, phrase

C. atom, letter

9. In chemical terms water (H2O) would best be described as a(n)

A. element.
B. atom.
C. ion.
D. compound.
E. isotope.

D. compound.

10. Which of the following is not a molecule?

A. O3
B. O2
C. H2O
D. DNA
E. C

E. C

11. Which of the following statements changes the statement: "Most, but not all, living organisms are made up
of organic compounds." into a true statement?

A. All living organisms are made up of organic compounds.
B. All living organisms are made up of inorganic compounds.
C. Most, but not all, living organisms are made up of inorganic compounds.
D. Most, but not all, living organisms are made up of organic elements.
E. Most, but not all, living organisms are made up of inorganic elements.

A. All living organisms are made up of organic compounds.

12. The distinction between an organic compound and an inorganic compound is that organic compounds
contain

A. oxygen.
B. water.
C. carbon.
D. nitrogen.
E. All of these.

C. carbon.

13. A fat or oil is to a _______ as an enzyme is to a _______.

A. nucleic acid, lipid
B. protein, nucleic acid
C. nucleic acid, carbohydrate
D. carbohydrate, protein
E. lipid, protein

E. lipid, protein

14. Nucleic acid is to _______ as lipid is to _______.

A. cellular membrane structure, energy storage
B. cellulose structure, genetic storage
C. energy storage, cellulose structure
D. genetic storage, cellular membrane structure
E. energy storage, genetic storage

D. genetic storage, cellular membrane structure

15. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contains billions of atoms and is very large. It would be considered a(n)

A. element.
B. enzyme.
C. compound.
D. mega-atom.
E. isotope.

C. compound.

16. A cell is

A. the smallest molecule exhibiting organic characteristics.
B. a building block for DNA.
C. a small organic compound made of carbon, water, and nitrogen.
D. made up of DNA.
E. the smallest unit in which life processes go on.

E. the smallest unit in which life processes go on.

17. A(n) ________ is like a screwdriver that you use to build something because it ______________.

A. enzyme, does not get consumed as it is used
B. molecule, organizes pieces together to form something different
C. lipid, provides the structure and form of the piece you are building
D. sugar, provides the energy to put something together
E. The analogy of a screwdriver can be applied to each of these examples.

A. enzyme, does not get consumed as it is used

18. Metabolism is a collective term for thousands of

A. organic compounds in a cell.
B. enzymatic reactions necessary for life.
C. molecular reactions in a compound.
D. cells in an organism.
E. molecular reactions in a cell.

B. enzymatic reactions necessary for life.

19. Energy is the ability to

A. move objects.
B. become heated.
C. transfer heat from one object to another.
D. All of these are true.
E. Both "move objects" and "transfer heat from one object to another" are true.

E. Both "move objects" and "transfer heat from one object to another" are true.

20. Which of the following is a form of energy?

A. electricity
B. food
C. heat
D. light
E. All of these are forms of energy.

E. All of these are forms of energy.

21. Potential energy is _______ energy.

A. electrical
B. motion
C. stored
D. heat
E. latent

C. stored

22. The motion of a rock rolling downhill is known as __________ energy.

A. kinetic
B. latent
C. potential
D. electrical
E. mechanical

A. kinetic

23. Metabolism can be seen as the process of converting

A. energy into matter.
B. potential energy into kinetic energy.
C. kinetic energy into potential energy.
D. atoms into compounds.
E. matter into potential energy.

B. potential energy into kinetic energy.

24. Which of the following has the highest quality energy?

A. a warm brick
B. a flame
C. a flowing stream
D. a rock rolling downhill
E. hot air

B. a flame

25. The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are similar in that

A. under normal circumstances neither energy or matter is created nor destroyed.
B. both energy and matter are recycled through biological systems.
C. both energy and matter flow in a one-way path through biological systems.
D. under normal circumstances energy and matter are destroyed as they pass through biological systems.
E. The first law of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of matter are not similar.

A. under normal circumstances neither energy or matter is created nor destroyed.

26. The second law of thermodynamics states that as energy moves through different forms and systems it
gradually

A. becomes more concentrated.
B. dissipates and becomes unavailable.
C. disappears and is lost.
D. accumulates in the form of electricity.
E. changes from kinetic to potential energy.

B. dissipates and becomes unavailable.

27. As energy is used and transformed it gradually becomes _______ quality and _______ concentrated.

A. higher, more
B. lower, more
C. higher, less
D. lower, less
E. As energy is used it does not become transformed; there is no change in quality and it stays the same
concentration.

D. lower, less

28. What implication(s) does the second law of thermodynamics have for biological systems?

A. Systems cannot create energy because it is neither created nor destroyed.
B. With each transformation less available energy is available to do work so older systems have less
energy.
C. A constant supply of energy is necessary for maintenance of biological systems.
D. Energy is unlimited because it is used and reused by living organisms.
E. None of these is an implication of the second law of thermodynamics.

C. A constant supply of energy is necessary for maintenance of biological systems.

29. Photosynthesis is the process of converting __________ into __________ energy.

A. chemical bond energy, kinetic
B. sunlight, chemical bond
C. solar energy, kinetic
D. solar electrical energy, heat
E. chemical bond energy, potential

B. sunlight, chemical bond

30. On the spectrum of solar energy wavelengths, visible light falls near the letter

A. a.
B. b.
C. c.
D. d.
E. e.

C. c.

31. On the spectrum of solar energy wavelengths, the wavelengths that plants use for photosynthesis is closest
to which letter?

A. a.
B. b.
C. c.
D. d.
E. e

C. c.

32. About ___________ percent of the solar energy that falls on plants is captured for photosynthesis.

A. 100
B. 60 – 70
C. 40 – 50
D. 10 – 20
E. 1 – 2

E. 1 – 2

33. Photosynthesis produces sugars from

A. water, carbon dioxide, and energy.
B. water, other sugars, and oxygen.
C. oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water.
D. carbon dioxide, enzymes, and energy.
E. oxygen, water, and energy.

A. water, carbon dioxide, and energy.

34. The process of photosynthesis and cellular respiration are similar in that they both

A. capture energy in the form of sugar.
B. occur in all living organisms.
C. store energy in ATP, an energy currency for the cell.
D. capture energy from the sun.
E. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are not similar, they are opposite processes.

C. store energy in ATP, an energy currency for the cell.

35. The process of cellular respiration

A. helps primary producers store energy accumulated by chloroplasts.
B. releases energy from chemical bonds of molecules such as glucose.
C. eliminates the need for enzymes in metabolism.
D. does not occur in primary producers.
E. does not occur in detritivores.

B. releases energy from chemical bonds of molecules such as glucose.

36. Although there are exceptions, in general, a species includes all organisms that are similar enough to

A. produce fertile offspring in nature.
B. look alike.
C. fill the same niche.
D. occupy the same community.
E. live together.

A. produce fertile offspring in nature.

37. All members of a species that live in the same area at the same time make up a(an)

A. species.
B. ecosystem.
C. community.
D. population.
E. biome.

D. population.

38. A biological community consists of all

A. populations living and interacting in an area.
B. members of a species living in the same area.
C. living things on Earth.
D. populations of a given species.
E. members of a species living in the same biome.

A. populations living and interacting in an area.

39. An ecosystem consists of

A. a physical environment within which a biological community lives.
B. the species with which a biological community interacts.
C. a biological community and its physical environment.
D. the primary producers within a biological commE. all the species in a biological community.

C. a biological community and its physical environment.

40. If an ecosystem exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings, it would be referred to as a(n)
______ system.

A. closed
B. open
C. dynamic
D. isolated
E. interactive

B. open

41. With respect to _________, every ecosystem is open.

A. species
B. populations
C. matter cycling
D. energy flow
E. inorganic compounds

D. energy flow

42. Many ecologists think of ecosystems and even the Earth as a superorganism because its systems appear to
be

A. unregulated.
B. self-regulating and self-stabilizing.
C. completely unpredictable.
D. unchangeable.
E. hierarchical.

B. self-regulating and self-stabilizing.

43. Productivity in an ecosystem has to do with

A. the efficiency of its primary producers.
B. the number of different species living in the ecosystem.
C. its longevity.
D. the combined metabolic rate of the biological commu
E. its rate of producing biomass.

E. its rate of producing biomass.

44. How can a highly productive ecosystem (high total productivity) have a low net productivity?

A. The rate of decomposition is high.
B. The rate of secondary productivity is high.
C. The rate of photosynthesis is low.
D. The rate of decomposition is low.
E. The rate of secondary productivity is low.

A. The rate of decomposition is high.

45. Biomass includes all

A. material in an ecosystem.
B. things that are living at a given time.
C. living and nonliving things.
D. matter produced by primary
E. biological material.

E. biological material.

46. A simple linked feeding series such as grass-rabbit-wolf is known as a(n)

A. energy cycle.
B. food web.
C. carbon cycle.
D. food chain.
E. food cycle.

D. food chain.

47. The length and complexity of a food web in the Arctic would be ____________ when compared to one in
the tropical rainforest.

A. short and less complex
B. short and more complex
C. long and less complex
D. long and more complex
E. about the same

A. short and less complex

48. Living things that carry out photosynthesis are known as

A. consumers.
B. secondary consumers.
C. decomposers.
D. primary consumers.
E. producers.

E. producers.

49. Producers rely on ____________ to release chemical energy and consumers rely on ____________ to
release chemical energy.

A. cellular respiration, photosynthesis
B. cellular respiration, cellular respiration
C. photosynthesis, cellular respiration
D. photosynthesis, photosynthesis
E. the sun, the sun

B. cellular respiration, cellular respiration

50. Primary consumers are also known as

A. carnivores.
B. scavengers.
C. decomposers.
D. herbivores.
E. top carnivores.

D. herbivores.

51. Omnivores eat mainly

A. detritivores.
B. plants.
C. animals.
D. dead plants and animals.
E. plants and animals.

E. plants and animals.

52. The organisms at the "a" level of the biomass pyramid above are

A. primary producers.
B. primary consumers.
C. herbivores.
D. carnivores.
E. detritivores.

D. carnivores.

53. In the biomass pyramid above, the bottom level (shown by letter d) represents

A. primary producers.
B. primary consumers.
C. herbivores.
D. carnivores.
E. detritivores.

A. primary producers.

54. Energy enters a system as sunlight and a producer is able to produce 10 kilograms of tissue. If eaten, the
producer would produce about ______ kilograms of consumer tissue that would provide about __________
kilograms of tissue for a secondary consumer.

A. 100, 10
B. 10, 1
C. 100, 1
D. 1, 0.1
E. 10, 0.1

D. 1, 0.1

55. Detritivores, scavengers, and decomposers are all similar in that they

A. consume nonliving organic matter.
B. are primarily microorganisms.
C. are primary producers.
D. are among the Earth’s least useful organisms.
E. consume abiotic material.

A. consume nonliving organic matter.

56. Which of the following does not cycle repeatedly through the Earth’s ecosystems?

A. water
B. nitrogen
C. matter
D. carbon
E. energy

E. energy

57. Living vegetation and the ocean are known as "carbon sinks" because

A. they are made of carbon.
B. they create carbon.
C. they destroy carbon.
D. they store carbon.
E. due to gravity carbon is found closer to the ground.

D. they store carbon

58. Nitrogen is an essential component of

A. amino acids and proteins.
B. organic molecules.
C. sugars, the product of photosynthesis.
D. the hydrologic cycle.
E. carbohydrate

A. amino acids and proteins.

59. Nitrogen gas (N2), the most abundant form of nitrogen on Earth, is

A. also the easiest for plants to use.
B. the easiest form for both animals and plants to use.
C. outside of the global nitrogen cycle.
D. inaccessible to most plants.
E. usually transported in aqueous form.

D. inaccessible to most plants.

60. Phosphorus cycles through the Earth’s ecosystems

A. extremely quickly.
B. very slowly.
C. only when activated by human activity.
D. very rarely.
E. quickly when humans burn large amounts of fossil fuels.

B. very slowly.

61. Human activities such as the ____________ release large quantities of sulfur.

A. burning of fossil fuels
B. burning of wood
C. use of synthetic fertilizers
D. use of detergents
E. cultivation of sulfur-fixing crops

A. burning of fossil fuels

62. Which of the following is not a step in the global nitrogen cycle?

A. nitrogen fixation
B. nitrification
C. photosynthesis
D. ammonification
E. denitrification

C. photosynthesis

63. Which of the following biogeochemical cycles does not have an atmospheric phase?

A. hydrologic cycle
B. nitrogen cycle
C. sulfur cycle
D. carbon cycle
E. phosphorous cycle

E. phosphorous cycle

64. Water molecules readily dissolve ionic substances such as sugar because of the covalent bonds between the
hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

A. True
B. False

A. True

65. Acids and bases are highly reactive so they can cause important environmental problems.

A. True
B. False

A. True

66. Which of the following statements is false?
I. Nutrients are cycled in the ecosphere in biogeochemical cycles.
II. Elements in the rock cycle are generally cycled slower than elements in gaseous cycles.
III. Biogeochemical cycles are driven by the sun and by gravity.
IV. There are three types of biogeochemical cycles: air, water, and land.
V. The hydrologic cycle involves the ocean, air, land, and living organisms.
Change the false answer above to a true statement.

66.For a total of 6 points (Note: The numbers can be changed to fit your assessment needs.) 6 = Identified the correct false statement; Changed the statement to reflect the appropriate number of biogeochemical cycles; Provided accurate examples of all biogeochemical cycles 4 = Identified the correct false statement; Changed the statement to reflect an inappropriate number of biogeochemical cycles; Provided accurate examples of most biogeochemical cycles 2 = Identified the correct false statement; Changed the statement to reflect an inappropriate number of biogeochemical cycles; Did not change the statement examples (i.e., left air, water, and land in0 = Identified the incorrect false statement

67. Using examples, compare and contrast the cycling of energy through biological systems and
biogeochemical cycles.

67.For a total of 20 points (Note: The numbers can be changed to fit your assessment needs.) 20 = Provided at least three accurate comparisons; Supported the comparisons with accurate evidence; Provided at least three accurate contrasts; Supported the contrasts with accurate evidence; Communicated effectively with a well written summary 15 = Provided at least two accurate comparisons; Supported the comparisons with accurate evidence; Provided at least two accurate contrasts; Supported the contrasts with accurate evidence; Communicated with a fairly well written summary 10 = Provided at least one accurate comparison; Supported the comparison with accurate evidence; Provided at least one contrast; Supported the contrast with evidence; Communicated with a fairly well written summary 5 = Provided at least one accurate comparison; Supported the comparison with accurate evidence OR Provided at least one accurate contrast; Supported the contrast with accurate evidence AND Communicated with a poorly written summary 0 = Provided at least one comparison; Did not support the comparison with accurate evidence OR Provided at least one contrast; Did not support the contrast with accurate evidence AND Communicated with a very poorly written summary