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Question 1
Which of the following describes the climate change mitigation strategy known as "Carbon
Sequestration"?
A) Reducing the amount of fossil fuels burned in power plants.
B) Blocking sunlight using aerosol injections in the stratosphere.
C) Removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it in sinks like forests or underground.
D) Protecting agricultural yields against changes in temperature.
E) Transitioning all transportation to electric vehicles.
Correct Answer: C) Removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it in sinks like forests
or underground.
Rationale: Mitigation involves reducing the severity of climate change. While reducing
emissions (A) is a primary type, sequestration specifically refers to the "removal" and
storage of existing atmospheric CO2. The four types of mitigation in this course include
reducing emissions, removing CO2, geoengineering (blocking sunlight), and protecting
agricultural systems.
Question 2
In the context of the Arctic, which of the following is an example of a Positive Feedback Loop?
A) Increased temperatures cause ice to melt, exposing dark water which absorbs more heat,
leading to further melting.
B) Increased temperatures lead to more evaporation, creating clouds that reflect sunlight and cool
the Earth.
C) Colder temperatures lead to the growth of polar ice caps, which reflect more sunlight and lead
to even colder temperatures.
D) Vegetation regrowth in the tundra absorbs CO2, reducing the greenhouse effect.
E) Oceans absorbing excess CO2 from the atmosphere to stabilize temperatures.
Correct Answer: C) Colder temperatures lead to the growth of polar ice caps, which reflect
more sunlight and lead to even colder temperatures.
Rationale: In environmental science, a "Positive Feedback" is a self-reinforcing cycle where
a change in a system leads to an even greater change in the same direction. Your notes
specify that colder temperatures leading to ice growth is a positive feedback. Conversely,
negative feedbacks (like cloud cover in some regions) work to stabilize or reverse the trend.
Question 3
Which of the following is considered a primary "Sink" in the Global Carbon Cycle?
A) Cellular Respiration in animals.
B) The combustion of fossil fuels in factories.
C) Photosynthesis by terrestrial plants and phytoplankton.
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D) Volcanic eruptions releasing gases.
E) The decomposition of organic matter in landfills.
Correct Answer: C) Photosynthesis by terrestrial plants and phytoplankton.
Rationale: The Carbon Cycle consists of sources (releasers) and sinks (absorbers).
Photosynthesis "pulls" CO2 out of the atmosphere to create glucose, making it a major
sink. Respiration and combustion are sources that return carbon to the atmosphere.
Question 4
Climate change is expected to significantly impact Florida. Which of the following is NOT one
of the three major impacts highlighted in the EVR 1001 curriculum?
A) Increased average temperatures leading to heatwaves.
B) Sea level rise threatening coastal infrastructure.
C) Increased respiratory issues due to allergens and air quality.
D) A significant increase in tectonic activity and earthquakes.
E) Increased intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes.
Correct Answer: D) A significant increase in tectonic activity and earthquakes.
Rationale: The curriculum focuses on atmospheric and oceanic changes. While Florida faces
heat increases, sea level rise, and health issues (respiratory), earthquakes are caused by
plate tectonics and are not a direct result of anthropogenic climate change.
Question 5
Agriculture can have several negative impacts on the environment. Which term describes the
process where soil is worn away by wind or water, often due to over-farming?
A) Land conversion.
B) Soil erosion.
C) Eutrophication.
D) Habitat fragmentation.
E) Oxidation of peat.
Correct Answer: B) Soil erosion.
Rationale: Agriculture causes environmental degradation through land conversion (habitat
loss), wasteful water consumption, and soil erosion. Erosion removes the nutrient-rich
topsoil (O and A horizons), making it difficult for the land to sustain future crops or native
vegetation.
Question 6
Which of the following is a major category of water pollution, and what is a common source of
it?
A) Ozone; Car exhaust.
B) Pesticides; Agricultural runoff.
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C) Heavy Metals; Industrial chemical waste.
D) Carbon Monoxide; Volcanic eruptions.
E) Hydrocarbons; Tundra melting.
Correct Answer: C) Heavy Metals; Industrial chemical waste.
Rationale: Your notes categorize pollutants by medium. Water pollutants include heavy
metals and chemical waste (often from industry), Air pollutants include Ozone (O3) and
Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Soil pollutants include pesticides and hydrocarbons.
Question 7
What determines the overall impact of mineral exploitation (mining) on a specific environment?
A) Ore quality, mining procedures, and the size of the operation.
B) The price of the mineral on the global stock market.
C) The number of workers employed at the mine.
D) Only the rock type and local climate.
E) The distance of the mine from a major city.
Correct Answer: A) Ore quality, mining procedures, and the size of the operation.
Rationale: Environmental impact is determined by physical and procedural factors. Ore
quality determines how much waste (tailings) is produced; mining procedures determine
chemical use; and operation size determines the scale of land disturbance.
Question 8
In mineral development, which of the following is considered an Indirect Impact?
A) Plants being killed by the physical digging of a mine.
B) Animals dying from direct contact with toxic tailings water.
C) Changes in nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability.
D) Rapid influx of workers into a small town.
E) The removal of the topsoil layer.
Correct Answer: C) Changes in nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability.
Rationale: Direct impacts are immediate physical/chemical kills (A, B). Indirect impacts are
secondary effects on the "function" of the ecosystem, such as biomass changes or diversity
loss. Social impacts (D) refer to the human population changes in the area.
Question 9
What is the primary goal of Ecological Restoration?
A) To turn all damaged land into profitable farmland.
B) To build sea walls to prevent coastal flooding.
C) To restore an ecosystem to its historical range of variation and self-sustaining ability.
D) To introduce new, faster-growing species to replace native ones.
E) To extract all remaining minerals before a site is closed.
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Correct Answer: C) To restore an ecosystem to its historical range of variation and self-
sustaining ability.
Rationale: Restoration is not just about making an area look "green"; it is about returning
it to its "historical range of variation" so that the ecosystem can perform its crucial
functions (like water filtration) without constant human intervention.
Question 10
How have human activities historically impacted the Florida Everglades?
A) By increasing the depth of the water through damming.
/ B) By draining wetlands and channelizing rivers like the Kissimmee.
C) By preventing all invasive species from entering the state.
D) By increasing the thickness of the peat soil.
E) By removing all water control structures.
Correct Answer: B) By draining wetlands and channelizing rivers like the Kissimmee.
Rationale: The Everglades has been severely impacted by disturbed hydrology. Humans
drained the wetlands for agriculture and development, channelized rivers to control
flooding, and installed water control structures that disrupted the natural "Sheet Flow" of
water.
Question 11
Which of the following is a Disadvantage of using Coal as a primary energy source?
A) It is currently more expensive than solar power per kilowatt.
B) It has low energy density and cannot provide base-load power.
C) It causes significant air pollution and contributes to acid rain.
D) There is very little coal left in the world to mine.
E) It provides very few jobs for local communities.
Correct Answer: C) It causes significant air pollution and contributes to acid rain.
Rationale: Coal is a conventional fossil fuel. While it is abundant (the most abundant fossil
fuel) and relatively cheap, its disadvantages include high CO2 emissions, sulfur emissions
leading to acid rain, and significant health impacts from mining and combustion.
Question 12
Which alternative energy source is considered the "cheapest" but faces the disadvantage of being
highly variable in time and intensity?
A) Solar Power.
B) Geothermal Energy.
C) Wind Power.
D) Nuclear Energy.
E) Biofuels.