AP Environmental Exam

What is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)?

• A law that regulates the disposal of solid waste.

• A cradle-to-grave law that describes rules for the proper handling of hazardous and toxic waste.

• A federal law that promotes recycling of materials.

• A guideline for the management of non-hazardous waste.

What do the arrows in a food web diagram represent?

• The flow of nutrients in the soil.

• The flow of energy through an ecosystem.

• The direction of animal movement.

• The distribution of species in an area.

What is an ecological footprint?

• A measure of the total amount of carbon emissions produced by an individual or population.

• A measure of the environmental impact of an individual or population in terms of land and water area required.

• A calculation of the financial cost of environmental conservation efforts.

• A metric used to assess the biodiversity of a specific area.

What is the difference between point source and non-point source pollution?

• Point source pollution comes from multiple, diffuse sources, while non-point source pollution comes from a single, identifiable source.

• Point source pollution comes from a single, identifiable source, while non-point source pollution comes from multiple, diffuse sources.

• Point source pollution is always more harmful than non-point source pollution.

• Non-point source pollution is easier to control than point source pollution.

What is the significance of biodiversity in ecosystems?

• Biodiversity has no impact on ecosystems.

• Biodiversity enhances ecosystem productivity and stability, providing resilience against environmental changes.

• Biodiversity only affects the aesthetic value of an ecosystem.

• Biodiversity decreases competition among species.

Which two energy sources provide more than 50% of the energy needs of the United States?

• Coal and solar energy

• Nuclear and wind energy

• Petroleum and natural gas

• Hydropower and geothermal energy

What is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?

• A U.S. law that mandates federal agencies to evaluate the economic impacts of their proposed actions.

• A U.S. law that requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions before making decisions.

• A U.S. law that focuses on the preservation of historical landmarks and sites.

• A U.S. law that regulates the use of natural resources by private companies.

What is climate change?

• Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time, primarily driven by human activities.

• Climate change is a natural phenomenon that occurs without human influence.

• Climate change only affects polar regions and has no impact on other areas.

• Climate change is solely caused by volcanic eruptions and solar radiation.

What is the greenhouse effect?

• The greenhouse effect is the warming of Earth's surface due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

• The greenhouse effect is the cooling of Earth's surface due to the reflection of sunlight by clouds.

• The greenhouse effect is the process of plants absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.

• The greenhouse effect is the increase in Earth's temperature due to volcanic eruptions.

What is soil composed of?

• Weathered rocks and minerals, dead plants and animals, air, and water.

• Only rocks and minerals.

• Just air and water.

• Living organisms and synthetic materials.