Download Unit 8 exam - Human

The Living Environment
Ms. Poholek
Human Impact Test
Name: _______________________________________
Period: _____________
Directions:
Answer EVERY question to the best of your ability. Put all answers on the answer sheet.
Talking or being disruptive during the test will cause you to lose points.
Score
points out of
possible points =
Final Score =
%
1. Which factor is not considered by ecologists when they evaluate the impact of human
activities on an ecosystem?
a. quality of the atmosphere
b. amount of energy released from the Sun
c. degree of biodiversity
d. location of power plants
2. Chittenango Falls State Park in central New York State is the only known habitat for an
endangered species of aquatic snail. Contamination of its water supply and reduction of
its habitat have threatened the future of this snail. Which step could be taken to protect
this species of snail?
a. introducing a new snail predator into the habitat
b. transferring the snail to a terrestrial environment
c. crossbreeding the snail with another species
d. banning human activities that damaged the habitat
3. Which factor is often responsible for the other three?
a. increase in levels of toxins in both water and air
b. increase in human population
c. increased poverty and malnutrition
d. increased depletion of finite resources
4. Which practice would most likely deplete a non-renewable natural resource?
a. harvesting trees on a tree farm
b. burning coal to generate electricity in a power plant
c. restricting water usage during a period of water shortage
d. building a dam and a power plant to use water to generate electricity
5. Which statement illustrates how human activities can most directly change the dynamic
equilibrium of an ecosystem?
a. Water pollution causes a decrease in fish populations in a river.
b. A hurricane causes a stream to overflow its banks.
c. Increased wind increases water evaporation from a plant.
d. The ozone shield helps prevent harmful radiation from reaching the surface of
Earth.
6. Dumping raw sewage into a river will lead to a reduction in dissolved oxygen in the
water. This reduction will most likely cause
a. an increase in all fish populations
b. a decrease in most aquatic animal populations
c. an increase in depth of the water
d. a decrease in water temperature
7. Toxic chemicals were dumped into the Hudson River. What was most likely a result of
this action on fish in the Hudson River?
a. The fish populations increased.
b. Thermal pollution of the river increased, decreasing the fish population.
c. Some fish became unfit to eat.
d. The carrying capacity for fish increased in the river.
8. Deforestation would most immediately result in
a. industrialization of an area
b. the disappearance of native species
c. the depletion of the ozone shield
d. global warming
9. Which factor is a major cause of global warming?
a. increased number of green plants
b. decreased mineral availability
c. decreased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
d. increased burning of fuels
10. In which of the following are toxic chemicals usually most concentrated?
a. dissolved oxygen
b. fish
c. water molecules
d. algae
11. In the early 1980's, scientists discovered holes in the ozone shield surrounding Earth.
State one negative effect this environmental change could have on humans.
12. All living organisms are dependent on a stable environment. Describe how humans have
made the environment less stable by:
 changing the chemical composition of air, soil, and water
 reducing the biodiversity of an area
 introducing technologies and industrialization
13. Choose one ecological problem from the list below.
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS:
Global warming
Destruction of the ozone shield
Loss of biodiversity
Discuss the ecological problem you chose. In your answer be sure to state:
 the problem you selected and one human action that may have caused the problem
 one way in which the problem may negatively affect humans
 one positive action that could be taken to reduce the problem
human impact test answer key
1. b
2. d
3. b
4. b
5. a
6. b
7. c
8. b
9. d
10. b
11. SAMPLE ANSWERS: more UV rays reach the Earth OR increased incidence of sunburn
OR increased incidence of skin cancers and/or cataracts
12. SAMPLE ANSWERS:
(a)
(1) releasing more waste products of combustion to pollute the atmosphere; (2)
large areas of the rain forest in Brazil have been cut down; (3) returning cooling water
from nuclear power plants to bodies of water has raised the temperature of the bodies of
water, making them less fit for certain species
(b)
Pollution controls on cars have reduced the amount of pollutants in the air. OR
The use of biological controls has reduced the amount of pesticides being put in the
environment. OR Methods of organic fanning have reduced the amount of fertilizer and
thus reduced chemicals added to the environment.
13. .