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- 1. Multiple Choice
The picture shows a flooded riverbed. Which of the following is the best prediction for how this flood will impact the ecosystems along the riverbed in the future?
Silt and minerals will be added to the soil, enhancing plant growth.
Grasses and other plants will die from a lack of water, causing animals to starve.
Large cracks will appear in the ground, providing new habitats for insects.
Tree branches will break off due to high winds, damaging birds' nests.
- 2. Multiple Choice
An area that normally has a moderate amount of rain is suddenly struck with weeks of rain, leading to a flood in this region. All of the following could be an effect of this flood EXCEPT —
an increase in insect populations that live mainly in soil and grasses.
the contamination of local watersheds from runoff of toxins and fertilizers.
a decrease in erosion in areas where water is flowing.
sediment buildup in areas of sitting water.
- 3. Multiple Choice
The picture models runoff from a mine into local watersheds. The runoff will affect local watersheds in all of the following ways EXCEPT —
by contaminating the lake with heavy metals.
by increasing sediments in the stream.
by increasing the number of animals that live in the lake or stream.
by introducing acid rock drainage to the lake and stream.
- 4. Multiple Choice
The diagram traces the development of acid rain from factory pollutants. The diagram does not explain how acid rain —
can get into groundwater and increase the acidity of local watersheds.
forms within the water cycle at different phases.
is chemically broken down into harmful substances when it enters bodies of water.
is formed because factories release sulfuric and nitric oxides into the air.
- 5. Multiple Choice
The picture shows sand dunes on Padre Island, Texas, in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion.
The sand dunes most likely formed by —
the deposition of sand carried by swift wind blowing along the coast.
land that slightly uplifted when tectonic plates moved under the beach sand.
a primitive river that flowed toward the ocean and carved out the sand dunes.
strong waves dumping chunks of the ocean floor onto the beach.
- 6. Multiple Choice
How will the rusting barrels in this stream affect the surface water in the watershed ecosystem?
The barrels will drop the temperature of the surface water that reaches the river.
The barrels will alter the course of the surface water that reaches the river.
The barrels will pollute the surface water that reaches the river.
The barrels will filter the surface water that reaches the river.
- 7. Multiple Choice
Highly developed regions contain large amounts of fertilizers in their soil due to yard maintenance. When these fertilizers are released from the soil, they enter local ponds, where they deposit an unusually high amount of organic matter. This excessive organic matter leads to massive algal blooms. What is the most likely result of the fertilizer entering the pond?
An increase in light received by organisms that live below the water's surface
An increase in the diversity of the organisms in pond
A decrease in light received by organisms that live below the water's surface
A decrease in the amount of soil and sediment at the bottom of the pond
- 8. Multiple Choice
The picture shows a map of a part of the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion. The circled portion represents islands in this ecoregion. Which of the following best explains how these islands formed?
They formed as sand from the shore was deposited in a location where water movement slowed down.
They formed as a reef built up deposits so high that it created an above water mass.
They formed as underwater volcanoes erupted and deposited lava.
They formed as hurricanes deposited sand from distant regions.
- 9. Multiple Choice
Polar bears in the Arctic use the sea ice that covers the North Pole as a platform for hunting seals, the mainstay of their diet. Recent data suggest that Arctic sea ice may have thinned as much as 40% over the past 50 years. If the polar ice continues to melt, it is likely that the polar bear will become extinct. Many scientists believe that the melting of the Arctic sea ice is due primarily to human activities. Which of the following human activities would have the most direct effect on the thickness of the polar ice cap?
Increased nuclear energy production
Increased fishing in the Arctic ocean
Increased burning of fossil fuels
Increased human population
- 10. Multiple Choice
Lightning can cause a forest fire, destroying the majority of plants in a forest. A forest fire will do all of the following EXCEPT —
increase the amount of sunlight that can reach the forest floor, allowing new plant growth.
cause a huge decrease in the predator population, maintaining the prey population numbers.
increase nutrients in the soil available for plants, allowing for increased growth.
stimulate the germination of certain seeds that need heat to complete a plant's life cycle.
- 11. Multiple Choice
A student sets up the investigation shown. The movement of colored water through the gravel best models —
condensation of water vapor
surface runoff of precipitation
conservation of water
pollution of groundwater
- 12. Multiple Choice
When tornadoes pass through regions, they can strip the land down to bare soil. Exposing this bare soil could lead to increased —
soil erosion.
worm populations in the soil.
numbers of minerals in the soil.
water retention.
- 13. Multiple Choice
The picture shows part of the Piney Woods ecoregion in east Texas. Which of the following best explains the lack of extremely diverse landforms in this ecoregion?
The high vegetation decreases erosion from water and wind.
The trees in this region hide the diverse landforms underneath them.
The trees broke down all of the previous landforms through weathering.
The high amount of vegetation soaks up most of the corrosive water into their leaves.
- 14. Multiple Choice
A student drew the model to represent a part of a watershed and some human activities that affect the watershed. How do the industrial, agricultural, and residential activities of humans most likely affect the groundwater in the area?
The activities prevent most of the water from evaporating into the atmosphere.
Pollutants from the activities percolate through the soil and enter the water table.
The activities replace the groundwater used.
All of the above
- 15. Multiple Choice
A student’s model of an area near a city depicts many activities that affect the quality of the water in the area.
How does the agricultural activity most likely affect the surface water of the area?
Excess crop fertilizer is carried by runoff into the river, causing excess growth of water plants.
Excess crop material accumulates on the riverbanks, slowing the movement of the river water.
Crops reduce erosion, increasing the amount of soil entering the river.
Crops absorb pure water from soil, causing the remaining water to contain more salt. The photograph
- 16. Multiple Choice
The picture shows the Palo Duro Canyon in the High Plains ecoregion of Texas. The formation of this canyon was mostly due to —
the erosion of land over millions of years by the swift-moving water of a river.
tectonic plates causing the uplift of land.
wind storms blowing away large chunks of land over millions of years.
the chemical weathering of land from acidic rainfall.
- 17. Multiple Choice
The picture shows Hurricane Sandy as it approached the northeastern part of the Unites States. All of the following could have been effects of Hurricane Sandy EXCEPT —
decreased local animal populations, because animals died during the storm.
negative human-animal interactions, because animals move toward shelter.
dehydration and animal deaths, because of increased temperatures.
arger mosquito populations, because mosquitoes lay larvae on standing water.
- 18. Multiple Choice
The model shows an aquifer. When an area is experiencing drought, humans may excessively pump groundwater out of aquifers like this one. All of the following are effects of this excessive pumping EXCEPT —
groundwater depleting.
the water table rising.
soil collapsing.
water quality decreasing.
- 19. Multiple Choice
The map shows the locations of the Blackland Prairie ecoregion in Texas. This ecoregion is characterized by having a dry climate, poor soil, large numbers of grazing animals, grasses, and oak trees. Which of the following plays the largest factor in the formation of this ecoregion?
Wildfires and the constant wildlife grazing that erodes the soil
Winds from hurricanes blowing down trees and weathering the land
Chemical weathering of limestone and granite
Flash floods that prevent diverse plant growth
- 20. Multiple Choice
The picture below shows the Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown, Texas, that formed under the Edwards plateau. Using this picture, the formation of this cavern was most likely due to —
the erosion of limestone, as carbon dioxide in the air and soil mixed with rainwater to form carbonic acid.
the erosion of soil, as ocean waves hit land so far inland that they carried soil and created openings and caves underground.
weathering of rock, as plant roots traveled deep into the soil and created spaces that grew larger as water washed soil away.
weathering by wind, as tornadoes in this area scooped up large chunks of land and formed caves that filled with water.
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