Multiple Choice
Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.
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What is
ecology?
a. | a complex network of living and
nonliving organisms | b. | the branch of science dealing with the complex relationships of nonliving
organisms | c. | the branch of science dealing with the complex relationships among living
things and their environment | d. | the branch of science dealing only with naturally
resources |
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2.
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Ecosystems
are...
a. | complex relationships among living
things and their environment | b. | complex relationships among nonliving
organisms | c. | natural resources | d. | complex networks of living and nonliving organisms in which each organism may
be affected by the others |
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3.
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Natural
resources...
a. | are only important to plants and
animals | b. | are only important to humans | c. | are important to humans because they rely upon them for
everyday life | d. | are important to the United States’ international trade
policy |
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4.
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The three components of the
food chain are...
a. | earth, wind, and
fire | b. | producers, consumers, and decomposers | c. | soil, plants, and
animals | d. | dogs, cats, and horses |
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5.
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Omnivores
are...
a. | flesh-eating animals; organisms that
feed in non-herbivore tropic guilds | b. | organisms which feed primarily on plant
matter | c. | consumers of both plants and animals; an organism that feeds in both carnivore
and herbivores tropic guilds | d. | animals that feed primarily on bananas and
coconuts |
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6.
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Humans are part of ecosystems
because they...
a. | work in the
environment | b. | are associated with all parts and functions of the
environment | c. | consume plants and animals, and can damage or improve an
ecosystem | d. | feel it is a citizen’s
duty |
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7.
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How are ecosystems and biotic
communities different?
a. | Ecosystems and communities are the
same thing | b. | A community is a system of only living organisms, but an ecosystem is a system
of living and nonliving factors | c. | They are both subject to alternations by
humans | d. | A community is a system of living and nonliving factors but an ecosystem is a
system of only living organisms |
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8.
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The computation to derive
growth rate is:
a. | birth rate in year one - birth rate
in year two = growth rate | b. | birth rate in one year divided by five = growth
rate | c. | death rate +/- birth rate = growth rate | d. | birth rate - death rate = growth
rate |
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9.
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If the world population is now
5.2 billion and the growth rate is 1.8%, what is the increase in population for the next
year?
a. | 2 billion
increase | b. | 0.32 billion increase | c. | 0.1 billion increase | d. | the population increase cannot be determined given this
information |
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10.
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Which of these agricultural
practices has made it possible to meet the world food demands?
a. | a creation of
wetlands | b. | deforestation to make room for cultivation | c. | use of fertilizers and improved
genetics | d. | food production demand has actually decreased in the last 20
years |
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11.
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Which of the following are
leading groundwater contaminates?
a. | sewage and
wastes | b. | nitrates and pesticides | c. | car exhaust and oil
spills | d. | cattle and hog wastes |
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12.
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Photosynthesis is a process by
which
a. | consumers make their own
food | b. | plants use sunlight to break down food | c. | plants transform the sun’s energy into usable energy
(food) | d. | one plant community is replaced by another over
time |
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13.
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Ecosystems can be studied at
three different levels: (1) how they work, (2) what they look like, and (3)...
a. | what makes up their food
webs | b. | what plant communities are dominant | c. | what stage ecological succession they
exhibit | d. | out number the producers in the
world |
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14.
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The gradual transformation of a
pond into a bottomland forest over the passage of years is an example of...
a. | limiting
factors | b. | a community rather than ecosystem | c. | ecological succession | d. | ecological
transformation |
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15.
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The most accurate definition of
soil is...
a. | a substance that farmers use that
supports plant growth | b. | a group of minerals that are very valuable | c. | a substance that is extracted from oil
wells | d. | a mixture of organic matter, mineral components, water, and air that supports
plant growth |
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16.
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What percentage of average soil
is organic matter?
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17.
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An agronomist is primarily
concerned with what use of soil?
a. | construction | b. | acting as a filter for the hydrologic cycle | c. | supporting crop growth | d. | natural
beauty |
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18.
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It is important for
agricultural production soil to be granular in structure for what purpose?
a. | It is more attractive crop
ground | b. | It is better for building structures on | c. | For root penetration and
permeability | d. | Soil structure is not important for agricultural
production |
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19.
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Soil erosion
is...
a. | the movement of plants and trees
under the influence of water, wind, ice or gravity | b. | the movement of water particles under the influence of
water, wind, ice or gravity | c. | the movement of soil particles under the influence of water, wind, ice or
gravity | d. | when people disturb the
environment |
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20.
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If soil is stabilized it
is
a. | acted on by geological soil erosion
and man-made soil erosion | b. | never moving under any circumstances | c. | under the influence of construction of a new
highway | d. | acted on only by geological soil
erosion |
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21.
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Topsoil losses in the United
States are 1/8 inch, but the restoration rate is...
a. | 30-50 years per
inch | b. | 50-60 years per inch | c. | 75-90 years per inch | d. | 400-500 years per
inch |
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22.
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This type of soil erosion can
be responsible for up to 95% of soil loss due to erosion.
a. | splash
erosion | b. | sheet erosion | c. | gully erosion | d. | wind erosion |
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23.
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What is the purpose of using
impermeable clays in constructing landfills?
a. | Impermeable clays do not settle as
much as other clays | b. | To prevent leaching of household chemicals into ground
water | c. | Impermeable clays are more conductive to plant
growth | d. | Impermeable clays are easier to find than other types of
clays |
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24.
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Which of the following is a
goal of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)?
a. | To eliminate all
erosion | b. | To protect long-term capability of land to produce food and
fiber | c. | To regulate all use of agricultural land | d. | To protect naturally occurring wetlands form all
use |
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25.
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Which of the following is the
best description of Class I land?
a. | Moderately good land that can be
cultivated and farmed regularly, but has some important limitations | b. | Land that may be in a frequent flood
plain. | c. | Very productive land that can be cultivated with minimal erosion control
measures | d. | Land that may be severely steep, greater than 30% slope, with several eroded
gullies |
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26.
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Which of the following is
considered a vegetative erosion control?
a. | conservation
tillage | b. | contour farming | c. | crop rotation | d. | diversion ditches or berms |
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27.
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According to the EPA,
agricultural waste does not include...
a. | crop
residues | b. | manure | c. | certain chemicals | d. | dead animals |
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28.
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Foods that should not be placed in a compost heap
include...
a. | potato
peels | b. | meats | c. | coffee grounds | d. | egg shells |
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29.
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Humus can be used as fertilizer
and comes from...
a. | decomposing organic
waste | b. | human bodily waste | c. | the incineration process | d. | domestic
mushrooms |
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30.
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Two environmentally sound
methods of solid waste disposal are...
a. | Incineration and sanitary
landfills | b. | Ocean dumping and sanitary landfills | c. | Town dumps and sanitary
landfills | d. | Compaction and town dumps |
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31.
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Which action will
not directly contaminate
groundwater?
a. | runoff from yards and
gardens | b. | incineration of domestic waste | c. | roadside dumping of large
appliances | d. | pouring used motor oil into a storm
sewer |
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32.
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Which of the following is
not an example of point source
pollution?
a. | a downstream fish
kill | b. | an above ground tank leak | c. | accidental manure spill | d. | a lagoon
overflow |
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33.
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The main federal agencies that
establish agricultural guidelines for water quality are...
a. | Department of Agriculture and the
Environmental Preservation Agency | b. | Department of Commerce and the Soil Conservation
Corps | c. | Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of
Engineers | d. | National Farmers’ Organization and the Nature
Conservancy |
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34.
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Which of the following is an
example of alternative land use?
a. | using a field for horticulture
production that was previously used as a wildlife refuge | b. | draining a wetland so that a shopping center may be built
in its place | c. | converting a river bottom to a wetland for endangered water fowl that has been
used for crop production for several years | d. | all of these are
correct |
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35.
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Which of the following is a
true statement about soils and
land use?
a. | Any soil can be used for any purpose
if it is modified | b. | With the right fertilizer any soil can be used to grow
corn | c. | Specific types of soil vary in their suitability for construction, sewage
disposal, and agricultural production. | d. | Generally any soil can be used for sewage disposal without polluting ground
water |
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36.
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Which of the following is an
accurate example of land-use planning?
a. | determining how much a profit can be
derived from clear cutting a forest | b. | evaluating the land, determining possible uses that will not damage the land,
and developing a land-use plan suitable for that land. | c. | drawing blue prints for constructing an apartment
complex | d. | sampling the soil to determine how much coal can be mixed from
land |
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37.
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Most of the botulism cases
reported in the United States are created by..
a. | commercial canned fruits and
vegetables | b. | home preserved fruits and vegetables | c. | commercial canned meats | d. | commercial cooked food
items |
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38.
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A certified pesticide
applicator can
a. | purchase “general-use”
products only | b. | apply “general-use” products
only | c. | apply and purchase “restricted-use”
products | d. | apply and purchase “general-use”
products |
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39.
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What percentage of Americans
receive water from public water systems?
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40.
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Eighty-five percent of the
irrigated land in the United States is located in ___states.
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41.
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Which of the following toxic
substances do not dissolve or suspend in water?
a. | heavy metals
| b. | plastic | c. | oil | d. | antifreeze |
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42.
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What percentage of the human
body is made up of water?
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43.
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The average American uses ___
gallons of water per day.
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44.
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Groundwater possesses its own
taste, odor, and color, which is created by dissolved ___
a. | acids | b. | salts | c. | minerals | d. | bacteria |
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45.
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Acids rain is most harmful to
which sphere of the hydrological cycle?
a. | atmosphere | b. | hydrosphere | c. | biosphere | d. | lithosphere |
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46.
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The secondary treatment system
removes at least _____(%) percent of organic wastes fond in waste water.
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47.
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It is recommended to apply
animal waste at least _____ of a mile away from neighboring residents to reduce odor
complaints.
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48.
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What hazardous pollutants is
most toxic to human lungs?
a. | asbestos | b. | mercury | c. | arsenic | d. | benzene |
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49.
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Of these air pollutants, which
is the most hazardous?
a. | blowing dust from wind
erosion | b. | odors from animal waste | c. | pesticide aerosol from crop spraying
| d. | diesel fumes from a tractor in an
open field |
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50.
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What type of farm activity can
increase particulate air pollution?
a. | odor from animal
feedlots | b. | dust from fields caused by wind erosion | c. | pesticide aerosol from crop
spraying | d. | methane production from animal waste
piles |
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