1. Long term differences in which two variables are the primary determinants of climate? (A) Temperature and cloud cover (B) Precipitation and temperature (C) Precipitation and soil type (D) Temperature and soil type (E) Soil type and cloud cover 2. Which of the below is an example of a change in weather? (A) A large area changes from a grassland to a desert. (B) While climbing a mountain, one moves through several different biomes. (C) A thunderstorm forms and drops 1.5 cm of rain. (D) Increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere cause atmospheric warming (E) Desertification of an area causes the area to see increased annual temperatures Questions 3-6 refer to the diagram of surface currents in the oceans. 3. A current responsible for moving heat away from the equator. 4. The reversal of this current is associated with ENSO events. 5. Cape Cod juts out from the Eastern coast of North America. This current keeps the waters of Cape Cod very cool. 6. This current causes offshore upwellings of nutrient rich water that is responsible for plankton rich waters sustaining a large anchovy fishery.
7. As one climbs a mountain, the elevation changes cause a change in biomes. Which of the below is a change caused by elevation? (A) Biomes are increasingly affected by prevailing winds as elevation increases. (B) Biomes receive more precipitation as elevation increases. (C) Biomes tend to be more tropical as elevation increases. (D) Biomes receive more solar radiation as elevation increases causing an increased temperature. (E) Biomes changing as one moves up a mountain are identical to the changes as one moves away from the equator. 8. Which of the below is a true statement about biomes? (A) Biomes cover large areas with clearly delineated boundaries. (B) Biomes are uniformly covered with similar vegetation. (C) Biomes consist of a mosaic of patches of different communities. (D) Biomes are unique from one continent to another. (E) Biomes are unaltered by human influences.
Questions 9-11 refer to the climate graphs below. The red line represents temperature and the blue line represents precipitation. 9. This biome is characterized by subfreezing temperatures much of the year, low precipitation rates and the formation of permafrost. 10. This biome found in equatorial regions has large amounts of precipitation but has low levels of nutrients in the soil. 11. This biome often has snow yet the average mean monthly temperature is always above the freezing point. Trees in this biome lose their leaves every fall producing colorful displays.
12. Which of the below is NOT an adaptation found in plants living in the desert? (A) Deep roots to tap into groundwater (B) Waxy-coated leaves preventing water loss (C) Storing much of their biomass as seeds and remaining inactive most of the year (D) Breaking down stored fats to produce needed water (E) Opening stomata (pores) only at night to absorb needed carbon dioxide 13. Which element below will be most helpful for reducing erosion from wave action to the coastline of an island in the ocean? (A) A coral reef (B) A sandy beach C) An offshore pelagic zone D) A sand dune E) A salt marsh 14. Animal larvae that are found on the surface of the Saroasso Sea that are weak swimmers and are moved around by the movement of the wind and waves are classified as A) Zooplankton. B) Nekton. C) Ultraplankton. D) Benthos. E) Decomposers. 15. Which of the below factors is NOT a primary determining factor for whether an organism is found on the surface or in the middle of the water column in the ocean? A) Temperature B) Dissolved oxygen C) Availability of light D) Salinity E) Nutrient availability 16. Which area below will have the lowest net primary productivity/km 2? A) Estuaries B) Lake edges C) Ocean shorelines D) Small streams E) Open ocean 17. The primary force responsible for tidal action is the A) gravitational pull of the moon. B) rotation of the Earth on its axis. C) tilt of the Earth on its axis. D) gravitational pull of the sun. E) uneven heating of the Earth and resulting wind action.
18. Four of the following are ecological and economic services provided by inland wetlands; one is not. Choose the one that is not. (A) filtering and degrading toxic wastes and pollutants (B) stopping the recharge of groundwater aquifers (C) reducing flooding and erosion caused by storms (D) helping to replenish stream flow during dry periods (E) helping to maintain biodiversity by providing habitats 19. Where are photosynthetic organisms least likely to be found? (A) Estuary (B) Bottom of small streams (C) Abyssal Zone (D) Euphotic zone (E) Bathyl zone 20. Which area of the oceans is most utilized by people for recreation? (A) Abyssal plain (B) Coastal zone (C) Pelagic zone (D) Primary dune (E) Profundal zone Questions 21-24 refer to the human impacts on ecosystems listed below. (A) Coral reef damage (B) Overfishing (C) Coastal development (D) Cultural eutrophication from release of excess nutrients (E) Population growth and burning of fossil fuels 21. Causes large areas of little to no oxygen in the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. 22. Causes large areas of beach loss or erosion or migration of beaches to new locations. 23. Caused by boats improperly anchoring. 24. Causes ocean warming and ph reduction leading to coral bleaching. ANSWERS: 1. B 2. C 3.A 4.D 5.B 6.E 7.A 8.C 9.E 10.A 11.B 12.D 13.A 14.A 15.D 16.E 17.A 18.B 19.C 20.B 21.D 22.C 23.A 24.E