Human Geography: Landscapes of Human Activities, 11th Edition (Fellmann)

Chapter 13: Human Impacts on Natural Systems

Quiz



1.

Human modification of the environment can lead to changes in the cultural landscape.
A)True
B)False
2.

During the early 20th century, introduction of human-produced aerosols into an atmosphere already holding significant amounts of natural aerosols seemingly was promoting which climatic change?
A)icebox effect
B)global warming
C)both "A" and "B"
D)neither "A" nor "B"
3.

When did the concern for a return to an ice age climate become replaced with emphasis upon the possibility of global warming?
A)1920s
B)1940s
C)1960s
D)1980s
4.

There is no question that humans are the principal cause of global warming.
A)True
B)False
5.

One of the reasons for skepticism about the data on global warming is because some weather recording stations are sited in places that have become __________________.
A)rural heat islands
B)suburban cooling islands
C)urban heat islands
D)rural cooling islands
6.

Who would be most severely impacted by global warming and climate change?
A)developed world
B)developing world
C)newly industrializing countries (NICs)
D)"A" and "B"
7.

Raising the height of smokestacks to reduce local pollution in industrial areas and around power plants did what to areas away from the source of the pollution relative to acid rain?
A)increased it
B)remained the same
C)decreased it
D)tended to redirect the problem in the opposite direction
8.

Acid rain damages lakes, fish, and soils but has no significant impact upon either natural vegetation or crops.
A)True
B)False
9.

Acid rain in North America originates in locations in the United States but not in Canada.
A)True
B)False
10.

At what level of the atmosphere is the accumulation of ozone, not its depletion, a major problem?
A)upper-to-middle level
B)middle-to-lower level
C)lower-to-ground level
D)accumulation of ozone is not a problem anywhere in the atmosphere
11.

What is the major source of photochemical smogs?
A)power plant emissions
B)motor vehicle exhaust fumes
C)toxic waste disposal sites
D)oil refineries
12.

Which of the following would be the most adverse impact of tropical deforestation?
A)maintenance of the global oxygen and carbon balance
B)global climate in terms of temperature
C)global climate in terms of precipitation
D)loss of significant aspects of biodiversity
13.

Soil erosion in tropical areas is not accelerated when the rainforest is removed.
A)True
B)False
14.

Desertification is most significant in what kind of areas?
A)arid
B)semiarid
C)temperate
D)"A" and "B"
E)"B" and "C"
15.

Desertification is only a recent phenomenon in human habitations of the Earth.
A)True
B)False
16.

Which of the following agriculture practices is a means to promote soil conservation?
A)crop rotation
B)fallowing
C)terracing
D)all of the above
E)none of the above
17.

Soil erosion is only an agricultural problem.
A)True
B)False
18.

Water is what type of resource?
A)renewable
B)non-renewable
19.

It is generally true that the lower a region's average amount of precipitation, the ________ the variability of precipitation.
A)lesser
B)greater
C)more moderate
20.

The greatest amount of freshwater usage is for ______________.
A)domestic needs
B)recreation
C)industry
D)irrigated agriculture
21.

The shift from simple landfills to sanitary landfills took place in the United States during the ________________.
A)1930s
B)1940s
C)1950s
D)1960s
E)1970s
22.

Incineration can be a waste-to-energy option for the handling of certain forms of garbage.
A)True
B)False
23.

Ocean dumping of garbage became a serious environmental concern in the __________.
A)1990s
B)1980s
C)1970s
D)1960s
E)1950s
24.

The most serious form of toxic wastes are radioactive wastes.
A)True
B)False
25.

As recently as 1998, which of the following nation-states continues to be a major toxic waste exporter?
A)Australia
B)United States
C)Germany
D)all of the above
E)none of the above
26.

Large land masses (in width) near the tropics (20N – 20S) tend to have
A)tropical wet climates.
B)tropical dry climates.
C)steppe and deserts climates.
D)marine west coast climates.
27.

The Greenhouse effect occurs due to
A)CO2 deflecting heat away from the earth surface.
B)the lack of CO2.
C)CO2 reflecting heat back towards the earth's surface.
D)ozone attaching itself to the CO2 and replacing a portion of the earth’s oxygen.
28.

The continent with no deforestation (besides Antarctica) is
A)Europe.
B)North America.
C)South America.
D)Asia.
E)none of the above.
29.

Fresh ground water up to ½ mile below the earth's surface makes up what percentage of the total available water found on the earth?
A)48.8%
B)2%
C)0.65%
D)0.32%
30.

The concept of the limiting factor
A)is the same idea as the concept of "ceteris paribus" used by economists that allows one factor to change and then identify the subsequent results.
B)identifies how the factor limits the ill effects of soil erosion, air/water pollution, or other environmental problem on the earth.
C)is a manmade rule or gauge when passed sends governments into immediate action through their legislative processes to limit the effects of the factor and its subsequent problems.
D)identifies the most deficient factor and determines whether or not the ecosystem can continue to develop under natural undisturbed conditions.
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