Name: 
 

2001 Mt. Gilead Invitational Nature Interpretation Test


Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 
The maximum number of animals an ecosystem can sustain over a period of time is called the
a.
maximum potential
d.
carrying capacity
b.
biomass exponent
e.
biotic volume
c.
ecosystem maximus
 

 2. 
Which animal has coastal grooves?
a.
Crested Flycatcher
c.
Spiny Softshell
e.
Striped Skunk
b.
Starnose Mole
d.
Red Salamander
 

 3. 
Whitetail Deer are active at dusk and dawn. Another term for this type of animal is
a.
diurnal
b.
twilight
c.
crepuscular
d.
nocturnal
e.
biurnal
 

 4. 
A targus can be found on a(n)
a.
Eastern Pipistrelle
c.
American Kestrel
e.
Pileated Woodpecker
b.
Least Weasel
d.
Least Shrew
 

 5. 
This term refers to animals that become dormant during periods of hot or dry weather
a.
aestivation
b.
saltorial
c.
arboreal
d.
torpor
e.
hibernation
 

 6. 
The gestation period of an animal is best defined as
a.
the period from birth to weaning
b.
the mating season
c.
the amount of time spent in hibernation
d.
the act of giving birth
e.
the time from embryo implantation to birth
 

 7. 
The ecological role of a plant or animal in nature, including the physical place it occupies is known as its
a.
habitat
b.
biotic area
c.
niche
d.
residence
e.
ecohaven
 

 8. 
The typical life expectancy for the Striped Skunk is
a.
1-2 years
c.
6-8 years
e.
9-11 years
b.
3-5 years
d.
8-10 years
 

 9. 
Which of the following characteristics would allow you to tell a gray fox  from a red fox
a.
the gray fox has a black tipped tail, the red fox has a white tipped
b.
the gray fox can climb trees, the red fox can’t
c.
the gray fox can be found in woodlands, the red fox is found is more open areas
d.
All of these are correct
e.
the gray fox has a black tipped tail, the red fox has a white tipped AND the gray fox can climb trees, the red fox can’t
 

 10. 
A Virginia Opossum can give birth to 25 young, yet what is the maximum number that can survive?
a.
6
b.
9
c.
13
d.
18
e.
20
 

 11. 
During hibernation, a Woodchuck will drop its body temperature to around 45 degrees and its breathing will almost stop. By the end of winter, a Woodchuck can loose up to
a.
one eighth of its fall weight
d.
three quarters of its fall weight
b.
one quarter of its fall weight
e.
little or no weight due to stored food
c.
one half of its fall weight
 

 12. 
Which of the following animals feeds on mast?
a.
Beaver
d.
Norway Rat
b.
Gray Squirrel
e.
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
c.
Hoary Bat
 

 13. 
Baby Beaver are called
a.
pups
b.
cubs
c.
kits
d.
fawns
e.
bits
 

 14. 
Milk are unique in their reproduction in that
a.
the breeding season occurs all year long
b.
the female has her young while in hibernation
c.
the egg is fertilized one week after the female is bred
d.
gestation is almost eleven months long
e.
embryo implantation is delayed for up to 75 days
 

 15. 
Which two animals provide most of the tracks one finds in the winter snow?
a.
Short-tail Shrew and Virginia Opossum
b.
Meadow Vole and White-footed Mouse
c.
Flying Squirrel and White-footed Mouse
d.
Woodchuck and Gray Fox
e.
Raccoon and Muskrat
 

 16. 
Whitetail Deer belong to which order?
a.
Marsupialia
c.
Artiodactula
e.
Lagomorpha
b.
Insectivora
d.
Rodenta
 

 17. 
Which of the following animals is fossorial?
a.
River Otter
d.
Eastern Mole
b.
Big Brown Bat
e.
Bobcat
c.
Southern Flying Squirrel
 

 18. 
Federal regulations do not protect the
a.
Brown-headed Cowbird
d.
Red-winged Blackbird
b.
American Crow
e.
Turkey Vulture
c.
House Sparrow
 

 19. 
When the state began monitoring the Bald Eagle population in 1979, how many pairs of nesting eagles were found?
a.
2
b.
4
c.
6
d.
10
e.
14
 

 20. 
These strong fliers migrate up to 600 miles a day in the spring and fall. They fly quick enough to catch insects on the wing. They attach their nests to walls or eaves.
a.
Barn Swallow
c.
Eastern Kingbird
e.
Gray Catbird
b.
Blue Jay
d.
Tree Swallow
 

 21. 
This sparrow has a whistled song that sounds like “Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody, Peabody”
a.
House Sparrow
c.
Chirping Sparrow
e.
White-throated Sparrow
b.
Song Sparrow
d.
Tree Sparrow
 

 22. 
Many people believe the turkey vulture is a member of the hawk family. Yet, DNA analysis causes scientists to place it in the
a.
Falcon Family
c.
Stork Family
e.
Scavenger Family
b.
Thrush Family
d.
Fish Bird Family
 

 23. 
The main diet of the Sharp-shinned Hawk is
a.
mice
d.
smaller birds
b.
large rodents
e.
both mice and large rodents
c.
insects
 

 24. 
A nearly spherical shaped egg is most likely to belong to which group?
a.
an owl
c.
a warbler
e.
a duck
b.
a shore bird
d.
a cliff-nesting bird
 

 25. 
Which correctly places these owls in order from smallest to largest?
a.
Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Short-eared Owl, Screech Owl
b.
Barred Owl, Screech Owl, Short-eared Owl, Great Horned Owl
c.
Screech Owl, Short-eared Owl, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl
d.
Screech Owl, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Short-eared Owl
e.
Short-eared Owl, Barred Owl, Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl
 

 26. 
From a distance, woodpeckers can be distinguished from other species, like Flickers, by this behavior:
a.
they are usually found in dead trees
b.
they face downward and work down the tree, looking for insects
c.
they glide from tree to tree, looking for flying insects
d.
they stand upright and work up the tree, looking for insects
e.
they are usually found at night
 

 27. 
The “ears” of a Long-eared Owl help to funnel sound towards the real ears, located on the sides of its head.
a.
true
b.
false
 

 28. 
Of the following birds, which has a white band on the tip of its tail?
a.
Whip-poor-will
d.
Black and White Warbler
b.
White-breasted Nuthatch
e.
Eastern Kingbird
c.
Gray Catbird
 

 29. 
Which of the following birds does NOT feed primarily on insects in the summer?
a.
Eastern Bluebird
d.
American Kestrel
b.
Black and White Warbler
e.
Tree Swallow
c.
Cedar Waxwing
 

 30. 
This snake is usually black in the Northeast and has angled belly scales that allows it to climb trees easily
a.
Northern Water Snake
d.
Brown Snake
b.
Black Rat Snake
e.
Eastern Massasauga
c.
Eastern Milk Snake
 

 31. 
Brown Snakes feed primarily on
a.
slugs, worms and soft insects
d.
frogs, toads, and small fish
b.
small rodents and shrews
e.
beetles and grasshoppers
c.
eggs and baby birds
 

 32. 
Often found in barns, this snake was often thought to milk cows dry. It somewhat resembles a copperhead and was killed for that reason too. Its nickname is red adder.
a.
Brown Snake
d.
Eastern Hognose Snake
b.
Common Garter Snake
e.
Eastern Milk Snake
c.
Eastern Massasauga
 

 33. 
The larvae of this salamander transform into red efts, small land animals that remain ashore for one to three years before turning into aquatic adults
a.
Red Salamander
d.
Mud Puppy
b.
Red-backed Salamander
e.
Small-mouthed Salamander
c.
Eastern Newt
 

 34. 
Which is a lungless salamander?
a.
Spotted Salamander
d.
Mud Puppy
b.
Red Salamander
e.
Eastern Newt
c.
Hellbender
 

 35. 
Which amphibian has a mating call sounding like a loose banjo string?
a.
Pickerel Frog
c.
Spring Peeper
e.
Fowler’s Toad
b.
Bullfrog
d.
Green Frog
 

 36. 
This animal must shed its skin to grow
a.
Eastern Hognose Snake
b.
Blue Racer
c.
American Toad
d.
Eastern Hognose Snake, Blue Racer, American Toad
e.
Eastern Hognose Snake, Blue Racer
 

 37. 
Salamanders are
a.
herbivores
c.
carnivores
e.
decomposers
b.
omnivores
d.
scavengers
 

 38. 
Distinctly shaped for each turtle species, this bony plate protects a turtle’s stomach
a.
calcar
b.
boss
c.
keel
d.
midden
e.
plastron
 

 39. 
Which is an example of an umbel?
a.
Wild Carrot
c.
Red Clover
e.
Daylily
b.
Purple Cress
d.
Teasel
 

 40. 
Which is an example of an irregular flower?
a.
Canadian Violet
c.
Trout Lily
e.
Mayapple
b.
Nightshade
d.
Blue Phlox
 

 41. 
The petals on a flower can also be called the
a.
style
b.
sepal
c.
pistil
d.
bract
e.
corolla
 

 42. 
Although most members of this family are poisonous to some degree, important plants such as the tomato and eggplant are also members of the family
a.
Nightshade
c.
Mint
e.
Ground Ivy
b.
Geranium
d.
Buttercup
 

 43. 
The juice of this plant, also known as jewelweed, can be used to relieve the itch of poison ivy
a.
Wild Bergamot
c.
Touch-Me-Not
e.
Bloodroot
b.
Heal-all
d.
Marsh Marigold
 

 44. 
This biennial plant grows to a height of six feet tall, has no branches, and is covered with woolly hairs.
a.
Daylily
c.
Tall Meadow Rue
e.
Thimbleweed
b.
Common Mullein
d.
Evening Primrose
 

 45. 
Most violets have small flowers found growing at ground level that never open. These flowers self-pollinate and guarantee that seeds will develop. These flowers are called
a.
axillary
c.
glabrous
e.
cleistogamous
b.
inflorescence
d.
neutralized
 

 46. 
How many petals does the flower on Tall Meadow Rue have?
a.
3 petals
d.
10 petals
b.
5 petals
e.
has no petals, only stamens
c.
6 petals
 

 47. 
This flower is also called Duck Potato because it is a favorite food of ducks, geese, and muskrats. Indians and settlers also collected the edible tubers
a.
Mayapple
d.
Wild Geranium
b.
Wild Carrot
e.
Marsh Marigold
c.
Broad-leaved Arrowhead
 

 48. 
Which of the following have purple flowers?
a.
Nightshade, Columbine, Thimbleweed, Wild Onion
b.
Blazing Star, Hepatica, Prairie Dock, Marsh Marigold
c.
Canada Violet, Purple Cress, Wild Geranium, Heal-all
d.
Ground Ivy, Wild Bergamot, Great Lobelia, Teasel
e.
Purple Loosestrife, Wild Lupine, Butterflyweed, Wild Ginger
 

 49. 
These flowers appear yellow to humans but to the bees that pollinate them ( who see in ultraviolet ), there are numerous nectar guides on the petals. The family name comes from the Latin ranunculus, meaning “little frog,” in reference to its wet habitat.
a.
Large-flowered Bellwort
d.
Common St. Johnswort
b.
Yellow Goat’s Beard
e.
Evening Primrose
c.
Marsh Marigold
 

 50. 
Sitting on a rocky ledge overlooking a deep river valley, you hear an insect chirping. Some people believe that this insect can determine the outside temperature. It is a
a.
cricket
c.
locust
e.
locust and cicada
b.
katydid
d.
cicada
 



 
Check Your Work     Reset Help