CHAPTER 15—AIR POLLUTION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND OZONE
DEPLETION
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following statements is true about the ice that covers much of Greenland?
a.
The glaciers are as much as two miles deep.
b.
The ice contains roughly 10% of the world’s water.
c.
Despite the massive amount of ice, if it all melted, it would only raise sea levels globally
by 2-3 feet.
d.
Two of the above are correct.
e.
None of these answers is correct.
2. The correct sequence of layers of the atmosphere from innermost to outermost is
a.
mesosphere—stratosphere—thermosphere—troposphere
b.
troposphere—stratosphere—mesosphere—thermosphere
c.
stratosphere—thermosphere—troposphere—mesosphere
d.
thermosphere—stratosphere—mesosphere—troposphere
e.
thermosphere—mesosphere—stratosphere—troposphere
3. If the Earth were an apple, the lower layer of the atmosphere would be the thickness of
a.
the core
b.
the part of the apple we eat
c.
the skin
d.
the whole apple
e.
a seed
4. Most of Earth’s weather occurs in the
a.
Troposphere
b.
Thermosphere
c.
Mesosphere
d.
Stratosphere
e.
all of these answers
5. In which of the following is the ozone layer found?
a.
the troposphere
b.
the stratosphere
c.
the minisphere
d.
the mesosphere
e.
the thermosphere
6. What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
a.
Oxygen
b.
Nitrogen
c.
Methane
d.
carbon dioxide
e.
water vapor
7. Which of the following is a natural source of air pollution?
a.
dust blown by wind
b.
Wildfires
c.
Volcanoes
d.
volatile organic chemicals released by some plants
e.
all of these answers
8. Which of the following is categorized as a secondary pollutant?
a.
carbon monoxide
b.
Ozone
c.
carbon dioxide
d.
sulfur dioxide
e.
Hydrocarbons
9. Which of the following is not true of carbon monoxide?
a.
It is a colorless, odorless gas.
b.
It is highly toxic.
c.
It forms during the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials.
d.
It reacts with hemoglobin in red blood cells and reduces the body’s ability to transport
oxygen.
e.
It readily bio-accumulates and builds up in the fatty tissues of many aquatic organisms.
10. The primary ways in which the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be increased are
a.
Burning fossil fuels
b.
Fertilizing croplands
c.
Clearing forests and grasslands
d.
Two of the above are correct
e.
All of the above are correct
11. Which of the following are primary pollutants that eventually result in acid deposition?
a.
nitrogen oxides
b.
Ozone
c.
sulfur dioxide
d.
carbon monoxide
e.
both nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide
12. Which of the following forms of air pollution is most directly linked to increased incidence of asthma
and bronchitis?
a.
Ozone
b.
VOCs
c.
Radon
d.
SPMs
e.
sulfur dioxide
13. Which of the following are health problems that can be caused by ozone?
a.
skin cancer
b.
reduced resistance to colds and pneumonia
c.
nervous system disorders
d.
Mutations
e.
stomach cancer
14. Ozone is beneficial in the stratosphere but harmful in the lower troposphere. Ironically, human
activities are causing ozone to
a.
decrease in the stratosphere and increase in the lower troposphere
b.
increase in the stratosphere and decrease in the lower troposphere
c.
level out to equilibrium in both areas so there is no substantive difference between them
d.
Human activities are not causing any changes in ozone concentrations anywhere.
e.
bond with nitrous oxides to form acid rain
15. Which of the following is true of methane?
a.
It is a greenhouse gas.
b.
It is produced by rice paddies.
c.
It is produced naturally by wetlands and termites.
d.
All of these answers are correct.
e.
It is a greenhouse gas and it is produced by rice paddies only.
16. All of the following are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) except
a.
Methane
b.
dry cleaning fluids
c.
carbon monoxide
d.
Benzene
e.
industrial solvents
17. Primary pollutants from burning coal include all of the following except
a.
droplets of sulfuric acid
b.
sulfur dioxide
c.
suspended solid particles
d.
Ozone
e.
None of the above
18. Industrial smog used to be a serious problem in many urban areas but is now rarely a problem in most
developed countries. It is still a problem in industrialized areas of
a.
China, India, and Brazil
b.
India, China, and the Ukraine
c.
Ukraine, Spain, and Portugal
d.
Southeast Asia, China, and India
e.
Brazil, China, and Russia
19. Photochemical smog generally requires the presence of
a.
nitrogen oxides
b.
Sunlight
c.
volatile organic compounds
d.
Heat
e.
all of these answers
20. Photochemical smog is formed when primary pollutants interact with
a.
Sunlight
b.
water vapor
c.
sulfur dioxide
d.
Oxygen
e.
Carbon
21. Photochemical smog is characteristic of urban areas with many vehicles and a climate that is
a.
cool, wet, and cloudy
b.
cool, dry, and sunny
c.
warm, dry, and sunny
d.
warm, wet, and cloudy
e.
warm, wet, and sunny
22. Which of the following statements is true?
a.
Temperature inversions occur when a layer of cold air prevents warm air from rising.
b.
Temperature inversions exacerbate pollution problems.
c.
Temperature inversions last only a few minutes to a few hours.
d.
Normally, cool air near Earth’s surface expands and rises, carrying pollutants higher into
the troposphere.
e.
Temperature inversions help prevent air pollution.
23. Which of the following is not a natural factor that helps reduce air pollution?
a.
Wind
b.
chemical reactions
c.
salty spray from the oceans
d.
a sunny, warm, and dry climate
e.
rain and snow
24. The movement of air pollutants via evaporation and winds from tropical and temperate areas to polar
regions is referred to as
a.
temperature inversion
b.
the grasshopper effect
c.
acid deposition
d.
the rainshadow effect
e.
none of these answers
25. Which of the following can be placed into a broad category called acid rain?
a.
acidic fog
b.
acidic snow
c.
wet deposition
d.
dry deposition
e.
all of these answers
26. Acid deposition can affect forests by
a.
Leaching out essential plant nutrients
b.
Diminishing the supply of Oxygen available to the tree
c.
Releasing ions that are toxic to the trees
d.
A and B are correct
e.
A and C are correct
27. Acid deposition is best classified as a
a.
local problem
b.
state problem
c.
regional problem
d.
national problem
e.
international problem
28. Acid deposition has been linked to
a.
contamination of fish with mercury
b.
leaching of calcium and magnesium from soils
c.
releasing ions of cadmium and aluminum into the soils
d.
weakening trees, so they become more susceptible to other types of damage
e.
all of these answers
29. Of the following strategies to reduce acid deposition, the most effective is probably
a.
using low-sulfur coal
b.
adding phosphate fertilizer to acidified lakes
c.
adding more topsoil to thin soil with little buffering capacity
d.
adding lime to neutralize the acids
e.
implementing prevention approaches that reduce or eliminate emissions
30. According to WHO (World Health Organization) and World Bank experts, indoor air pollution is
a.
the world’s most serious air pollution problem
b.
the world’s least serious air pollution problem
c.
a serious problem in poor countries, but no problem in affluent countries
d.
more than one of these
e.
none of these answers
31. All of the following are on the EPA‘s “four most dangerous indoor air pollutants list” in developed
countries except
a.
ultrafine particles from emissions
b.
radon-222
c.
cigarette smoke
d.
formaldehyde
e.
cooking fuels
32. The people least vulnerable to air pollution are
a.
infants
b.
elderly people
c.
adult males
d.
people with heart and respiratory disease
e.
pregnant women
33. Formaldehyde is used in
a.
particle board
b.
paneling
c.
furniture stuffing
d.
foam insulation
e.
all of these answers
34. Pipe insulation and vinyl ceiling and floor tiles may be sources of
a.
chloroform
b.
formaldehyde
c.
carbon monoxide
d.
asbestos
e.
sulfur dioxide
35. Humans are protected from air pollution by
a.
sneezing and coughing
b.
mucus capturing small particles
c.
nasal hairs filtering out large particles
d.
tiny mucus-coated, hairlike structures called cilia
e.
all of these answers
36. Years of smoking and exposure to air pollutants can contribute to the incidence of
a.
emphysema
b.
chronic bronchitis
c.
lung cancer
d.
asthma
e.
all of these answers
37. Which of the following can be said about the indoor pollutant styrene?
a.
It is found in carpets.
b.
It is found in plastic products.
c.
It causes kidney damage.
d.
It causes liver damage.
e.
All of these answers
38. The effectiveness of the pollution prevention approach is best illustrated by the significant drop in
atmospheric
a.
ozone
b.
sulfur dioxide
c.
lead
d.
carbon monoxide
e.
nitrogen oxide
39. An emissions trading policy tried on ____ cut U.S. emissions by 53%.
a.
carbon oxides
b.
sulfur dioxide
c.
asbestos
d.
lead
e.
carbon dioxide
40. The reduction of outdoor air pollution in the United States has been so successful because:
a.
The U.S. Congress supported it and diligently crafted laws to ensure its success.
b.
U.S. citizens insisted that the laws be passed.
c.
The country is affluent enough to afford the controls and improvements it required.
d.
All of these answers are correct.
e.
Only U.S. citizens insisted that the laws be passed and the country is affluent enough to
afford the controls and improvements it required are correct.
41. All of the following are problems that remain to be solved in the United States with respect to air
pollution except
a.
Dramatically reducing emissions from older power and industrial plants
b.
The current laws do not deal seriously with indoor air pollution.
c.
Enforcement of the Clean Air Act is too stringent.
d.
Airports are exempt from many air pollution regulations.
e.
Two-cycle engines need to be regulated more effectively.
42. Which of the following would function as a pollution reduction method for motor vehicles?
a.
Improve motor efficiency.
b.
Rely on mass transit and bicycles.
c.
Use emission-control devices.
d.
Add a charge to new cars based on the amount of pollution they produce.
e.
All of these answers.
43. Methods to prevent pollution from motor vehicle emissions include all of the following except
a.
improving fuel efficiency
b.
getting older, more polluting cars off the road
c.
using pollution-control devices
d.
using mass transit
e.
walking or biking
44. All of the following statements about emissions trading are correct except
a.
The success of emissions trading programs depends on how low the initial cap is set.
b.
Sulfur dioxide emissions were reduced by the emissions trading system in the United
States.
c.
Cheating is possible without strict government oversight
d.
The success of emissions trading programs depends on how often the cap is lowered to
promote continuing innovation in air pollution prevention and control.
e.
All of these answers are correct.
45. Which statement is the most accurate?
a.
Climate is determined by average weather conditions.
b.
Weather is determined by average climate conditions.
c.
Climatologists examine data from one to a few years to estimate weather.
d.
A general rise or fall in temperature or precipitation over 25 to 30 years is a standard time
period that climatologists will study.
e.
None of these answers are accurate.
46. Which of the following best describes the Earth’s average surface temperature for the past 900,000
years?
a.
a steady warming trend
b.
fairly steady temperatures until recently
c.
many fluctuations of several degrees centigrade
d.
fairly steady with occasional cool spells
e.
fairly steady with a recent cooling trend
47. Which of the following has provided information associated with past temperature changes?
a.
tiny bubbles of ancient air found in ice cores
b.
tree rings
c.
radioisotopes in rocks and fossils
d.
layers of soot trapped in ice cores
e.
all of these answers
48. According to a 2007 IPCC report, with what amount of probability is it that human activities have
been the leading cause of the observed atmospheric warming?
a.
at least 50%
b.
at least 60%
c.
at least 70%
d.
at least 80%
e.
at least 90%
49. Which of the following statements about the greenhouse effect is false?
a.
The amount of heat trapped in the troposphere depends on concentrations of greenhouse
gases.
b.
The greenhouse effect is a new theory that explains the warming of the atmosphere.
c.
Heat trapped by greenhouse gases keeps the planet warm enough for life.
d.
The predominant greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide.
e.
It has been confirmed by numerous lab experiments and measurements of atmospheric
temperatures at different altitudes.
50. Which of the following statements correctly reflect the content of the 2007 IPCC report by climate
scientists on climate change?
a.
2000-2009 was the warmest decade since the 1880’s.
b.
Average levels of CO2 rose sharply between 1960 and 2010.
c.
During the last century, the world’s average sea level rose 7 inches.
d.
Glaciers and floating sea ice are melting at increasing rates.
e.
All of these answers are correct.
51. NASA scientist Jim Hansen has recommended that we bring our atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
down to _____ from the current level of _____ in order to maintain a planet with fairly constant
atmospheric temperatures.
a.
450 ppm, 500 ppm
b.
350 ppm, 390 ppm
c.
388 ppm, 450 ppm
d.
488 ppm, 550 ppm
e.
560 ppm, 660 ppm
52. As of 2009, per capita CO2 emissions in the United States were
a.
Two times as high as China
b.
Five times as high as China
c.
Two hundred times as high as some of the world’s poorest countries
d.
A and C are correct
e.
B and C are correct
53. Of what value are the oceans in moderating climate change?
a.
Oceans remove about 25% to 30% of the atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by
humans.
b.
Oceans reflect sunlight back into space before the ultraviolet wavelengths are converted
into infrared radiation.
c.
Oceans absorb about 40% of the methane out of the atmosphere that has been produced by
rice paddies and livestock.
d.
Oceans help to reduce the level of water vapor in the atmosphere through condensation
and transpiration.
e.
All of these answers.
54. Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have been implicated in which of the following?
a.
increased global warming
b.
increased seawater acidity
c.
decreased seawater temperatures
d.
both increased global warming and increased seawater acidity
e.
both increased global warming and decreased seawater temperatures
55. Which of the following would make a greater contribution to rising sea levels?
a.
melting sea ice
b.
melting land-based ice
c.
increased levels of precipitation in some areas
d.
increased levels of atmospheric water vapor
e.
increased levels of global evaporation and transpiration
56. A warmer world is least likely to result in
a.
decreased food production
b.
reductions in biodiversity
c.
a rise in sea level
d.
more moderate weather
e.
spread of tropical diseases
57. In a warmer world, we would expect more
a.
droughts
b.
hurricanes
c.
prolonged heat waves
d.
desert expansion
e.
all of these answers
58. In the arctic
a.
Temperatures have risen twice as fast as the rest of the world during the past 50 years
b.
Soot is darkening the ice, causing it to reflect more radiation
c.
Sea ice is increasing while land based ice is decreasing
d.
A and B are correct
e.
None of the above
59. Which statement most accurately reflects the projections on temperature-related deaths in humans if
our climate projections are accurate?
a.
Cold-related deaths will decline, heat-related deaths will increase.
b.
Cold-related deaths will increase, heat-related deaths will decline.
c.
Cold- and heat-related deaths will not change.
d.
Heat-related deaths will not change, but cold-related deaths will.
e.
Cold-related deaths will not change, but heat-related deaths will.
60. A loss of 15% of _____ would cause a one meter rise in sea level that would threaten millions of
people and cause trillions of dollar of damage to coastal areas.
a.
the Antarctic ice sheet
b.
the Arctic ice sheet
c.
inland glaciers in Alaska
d.
Greenland’s ice sheet
e.
Iceland’s ice sheet
61. As oceans become more acidic, the shells of tiny sea snails tend to dissolve. This is a concern because:
a.
The snail shells provide material for jewelry making on south sea islands.
b.
The shells are ground up and used for fertilizer for agricultural crops.
c.
The snails are the base of a food web that supports entire polar ecosystems.
d.
More than one of these are correct.
e.
None of these answers.
62. The threat of global warming can be addressed by
a.
using energy more efficiently
b.
reducing deforestation
c.
slowing population growth
d.
all of these answers
e.
shifting to renewable resources
63. All of the following are prevention approaches to global warming except
a.
limiting urban sprawl
b.
shifting to renewable energy sources
c.
improving energy efficiency and transferring energy-efficiency and pollution-prevention
technologies to developing countries
d.
slowing population growth
e.
dispersing methane from landfills to prevent explosions
64. The Kyoto treaty to reduce global warming
a.
does not require developing countries to make any cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions
b.
requires participating countries to cut CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions
c.
went into effect in 2005
d.
was not supported by the U.S. after 2001
e.
all of these answers
65. President Barack Obama wants the United States to
a.
continue to boycott the Kyoto Protocol
b.
lead the way in creating a new international agreement on climate change
c.
reduce our carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020
d.
all of these answers
e.
lead the way in creating a new international agreement on climate change and reduce our
carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020