Download APES FRQs TOPIC LIST 2014

APES FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS BY YEAR
Year
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
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Topic
Subtopic
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2
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2
3
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2
3
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2
3
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2
3
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2
3
4
Energy (Dishwasher)
Nuclear Power
Water Pollution
Land Use
Water Quality
Energy Resources
Air Pollution
Pesticide
Energy
Recycling
Endangered Species
Population
Energy Efficiency (Home)
Food Web, Animal Population
Indoor Air Pollution
Water Quality
Energy Efficiency (Electric Cars)
Water Diversion
Toxicity LD50
El Nino
Leaf Litter, Exotic Species
Population
Water
Ecology
Toxicity, Risk
Energy
Radioactivity
Soils
Disease
Meat Production
Mining
Oil
Water
Toxicity
Endangered Species
3 Tests, Sci Method, Indicator Species
Energy, Sustainability
Health Effects
Agriculture, Health Effects
Conversions & Air Pollution
Smart economics?
Biodiversity
Age structure diagrams, dem.trans
Natural gas conversions, efficiency
Sci Method, Pest Management
2 poll, sick building syndrome
Animal waste, other tests, chain rxn, 2 prov. of CWA
Point Source, Air Pollution
Env. probs, arg. for div. to urban vs. natural areas, other div. proj.
Brine shrimp, graph
Disease
Sci Method
CBR/CDR graph
Estuary, Wetlands
Endangered Species
Mercury
Coal Plant Energy conv. and wind power
Nuclear Waste, Health
Fertilizers, chem. test, phys. test
Agriculture
Coal, AMD
ANWR
Year
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
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Topic
Subtopic
1
Energy
Solar Power
2
Global Warming
CO2 concentr. calcs.
3
4
Hazardous Waste
Fisheries
Brownfields
Graph, rate of decline, fishing methods
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2
3
4
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2
3
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2
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2
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Water
Energy
Air
Urban Heat Island
Biofuels
Landfills
Forest mgmt. & Fires
TFR
Air – Smog
Energy
Water diversion
GM Crops
Water/Soil Pollution
Termites, Methane math
Invasive Species
Climate Change & Sea Level
Ecology (pine beetle and CCD)
Coral Reefs
Energy
Soil & Agriculture
Energy
Energy
Pesticides – Expt Design
Water – Wetlands
Water – Gulf of MX
Energy
Air
Ecology
Sewage Tx – use as fertilizer
Water & Energy Usage
Strat./Trop. Ozone
Air Poll/ Water Use/Energy Use
From Algae, DBQ
Leachate volume calc’s
Fire suppression consequences
Pop. Growth and TFR in LDCs
PC smog, how it forms, impacts
Methane digester - math
Dams
Math, pros/cons
PCB Mercury Lead Pollutants in soil & water (DBQ), why children
Zebra Mussels introduction, effects
Impact people/ecology coastal areas
Fire suppression, death of mature trees, econ. Efx of CCD, ecos. services
C-storage, ocean pH, math on incr. in volume & mass of corals, other marine probs
Geothermal, Air poll. In china, tar sands or biofuel
Graph land area, phys/chem. Prop. Of soil, sustainability in agriculutre
Fracking – env cons/econ ben, ben. Of NG, cons of nuclear
Alt energy source pros/cons, math
Define, food web, natural waste tx
Sed. Runoff (causes/efx), fert runoff
Electric cars
Strat. Ozone, ozone depletion, trop. Ozone/smog
Biodiversity – char of, causes of decrease, solutions
APES FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS BY TOPIC
WATER POLLUTION & MANAGMENT
2013 1
Gulf of MX – sediment runoff (causes, impact of decrease in sed. Deposits in wetlands), fertilizer runoff and cultural eutrophication
2012 4
ID two char. That define a wetland, draw arrows on food web/why so much land for one pair of eagles, econ ben of wetlands, act that degrades, how nat waste tx
2010 1
Water/Soil Toxins - PCB Mercury Lead Pollutants in soil & water (DBQ), why children more susceptible
2009 3
Water Diversion – dams, pros/cons, how to reduce water consumption, 2 conseq. of climate change on Colorado River system, and 2 impacts on coastal ecosys.
2007 1
Sewage Treatment and using sludge as a fertilizer, method of disinfection, law associated (CWA, NEPA, SDWA)
2007 4E
Urban areas – how is hydrologic cycle different? (decr. Transpiration, increased runoff, increased flooding and river flow rates during storms)
2004 4B
Effects of inorganic fertilizers used on soil – (eutrophication)
2003 3
Estuaries – 2 causes for temp. and/or salinity variations, 2 econ. and 2 ecol. roles of coastal wetlands, how have we degraded coastal wetlands, law to prevent?
2002 2
Water Diversion - Env. probs, arg. for div. to urban vs. natural areas, other div. proj.
2001 4
Water Quality Tests – how can DO, NO3- & PO43- tell you if animal waste has contaminated water, 2 other tests for water quality, effects of waste in water,CWA
1999 1
Water Quality Tests (3), design expt (pond A, pond B), what is an indicator species
1998 3
Acidification of lakes – In what range in the diagram do trout thrive, what organism is an indicator of acidification, how does pH affect biodiversity, causeation
ENDANGERED SPECIES
2000 3
ID one End. Sp. and give a characteristic that makes them vulnerable, 3 arguments for Biodiversity, describe a law
2003 4
Condor & whooping crane – what has led to endangerment, 2 measures to protect the species, characteristics of an end. species that make them slow to recover, 1
econ. or ecol. argument for protecting and one against.
1998 4
Bird species in decline – use the land for homes or preserve?, describe a law associated with this decision
ECOLOGY / FOOD CHAIN / INVASIVE SPECIES
2013 4
Biodiversity – characteristics of high BD, causes of decrease, benefits of BD, solutions
2012 3B
Draw arrows on wetland food chain, why does it take so much land to support one pair of eagles
2011 1
Pine Beetle/Colony Colapse Disorder, Fire suppression, death of mature trees, econ. Efx of CCD, ecos. services
2010 3
Zebra Mussels – Why in the East? How are they introd. Into isolated lakes? Method of prevent? ID another inv. Sp., 2 char. of invasives that allow them to thrive.
2004 1C
Bioaccumulation of Mercury in aquatic food chains – why is health risk greater with eating larger pred. fish, one other metal in env., source & health imp.
2003 1
Give 3 abiotic changes from invasive worm consuming all leaf litter, how this could promote other invasive plants taking over, design an expt.
2001 2
Gypsy Moths DBQ – draw a food web based on description, design an expt. to test relationship betw. acorn prod. and gypsy moth pop., how would you use IPM?
AIR & CLIMATE
2013 3
Stratospheric ozone – creation, depletion, CFCs, Trop. Ozone – creation, impacts
2010 4
Climate Change & Sea Level increase – calc. sea level rise in 50 yrs., 2 things caused by incr. temp. that lead to sea level rise, impacts of sea level rise on
estuaries, econ. impacts of sea level rise, 2 ways govt. could discourage people from moving to coastal areas.
2009 3C&D Two conseq. of climate change on Colorado River system, and 2 impacts on coastal ecosystems
2009 1
PC Smog – how it forms, impacts of the smog, etc.
2007 3
Tropospheric & Stratospheric Ozone – chem resp. for thinning ozone & 2 major uses for it, HOW do they destroy ozone, maj. Env./health Consequences
2007 4
Urban heat island & outdoor air pollution – how does temp. in urban areas differ from rural, what causes this,
2006 2
CO2/Temp correlation, net change in CO2, ratio of change in temp:CO2, predict temp change, assumption necessary, 2 reasons for CO2 increase, 2 other anthr. GHGs
2001 3
Indoor air pollution – ID 2 IAPs, type of building affected, source, effect on health, what is “sick building”, criteria used to determine if building is sick?
2000 1C& D Sulfur emissions – ways to reduce and env. impacts
1999 3
Four of the six criteria air pollutants shown in graphs (lead, particulates, CO, ozone), sources, ways to reduce, % change
MINING
2005 3
2007
Coal strip mines, steps of restoration, what env. effect does S in tailings have (AMD), 2 impacts of coal for energy, why will per capita coal cons. in U.S. go up?
Gold mining, vol., price, % calculations, 2 ways to use mine waste, negative env. Impacts of abandoned mine
ENERGY
2013 2
2012 1
2012 2
2011 3
2009 2
2008 1
2007 2
2006 1
2005 4
Electric vehicles – govt. incentives to encourage sales, fuel efficiency/battery charging/CO2 prod. Math, econ. Impacts of more EV’s
Fracking – 2 water related problems, 2 env benefits of NG, 2 env cons of fracking, one econ benefit, 2 env cons of nuclear
Alt energy – ID one, give pros/cons, 2 ecol benefits of forests, math – carbon storage, emissions, offsets
Geothermal, Air poll. In china, tar sands or biofuel
Methane Digester – math prob., how does it make electricity, health benefits,
Biofuels – acres required to produce 1000 gal oil, adv. Of biodiesel from algae vs. crops, adv. Other than air of relying on biofuel, why diff. impact on CO2 than ff’s
Cost of Shower (reducing water use & energy), energy calculations, 2 ways to reduce water use at home, 2 conserv. Measures to decr. Energy use at home
Solar Power – env. cost/benefit of using PV solar, stand-alone vs. grid-connected solar, how could govt. promote solar, ways to use passive solar at home?
Oil & ANWR – calc. how long the oil supply in ANWR would last us, 2 char. that make arctic fragile, 2 activities assoc. with developing area for
oil and env. impact, end uses of oil and alternatives
2005 3D&E Coal Mining – 2 impacts of using coal for energy, why per capita coal consumption in U.S. is likely to increase.
2004 2
Coal Plant & Wind Power – calc. the kWh produced by coal plant, community energy consumption, cost per kWh of using wind power & benefits
2002 3
Electric Cars – benefits, calc. reduction in oil consumption given certain variables, does it only shift pollution from dispersed to point sources?
2001 1
Natural Gas & Efficiency – calculations (# of ft3 to heat house, cost), identify 3 ways to conserve heat in your house, 2 impacts of wood-burning stove
2000 1
Coal Plant & Air Poll. – energy conversions, 2 ways the plant can reduce sulfur emissions, problems with sulfur emissions
1999 2
Energy & Sustainability – what makes a resource renewable/nonrenewable, give examples of each, describe resource use per capita in developed and
developing countries, what is sustainable resource use, policy that supports sustainable resource use
1998 1
Dishwasher vs. Handwashing – energy calculations, env. costs/benefits of i) washing w/ dishwasher, ii) washing dishes by hand
FORESTS/LAND USE
2010 2
Termites/CH4 prod. – data analysis (temp. humidity), math for CH4 emissions, reason termite pop. Increases when forest is cleared, df and climate change
2008 3
Why does fire suppression incr. intensity of for. Fires, pros/cons of HFI ’03, 2 ecosyst. Serv provided by forests, another biome maintained by fire, how?
NUCLEAR
2012 1D
2004 3
1998 2
Cons of nuclear
Low/High-level radioactive waste, what isotope is in waste, how is waste generated, char. of ideal underground storage site, two other
options for long-term mgmt. of radioactive waste, human health impacts from exposure, how?
Nuclear Power plant – label parts of plant, 2 env. probs. associated with nuclear power, based on article what options do you foresee for nuclear power
SUSTAINABILITY / renewable / nonrenewable / recycling
1999
Energy & Sustainability – what makes a resource renewable/nonrenewable, give examples of each, describe resource use per capita in developed and
developing countries, what is sustainable resource use, policy that supports sustainable resource use
2000 2 Is recycling smart economics? - DBQ
POPULATION
2008 4
2007 3
2003 2
2000 4
Graph the TFR over time, 2 causes for decr. In global TFR, why diff. in TFR betw. Kenya & U.S.(give econ. / societal factors), 2 hum. act. that impact biodiver.
Social reasons for higher pop. Gr in LDCs, % change, 2 reasons why % change in LDCs is so diff. than in MDCs, how do ff’s make energy, 2 Alt. energy S’s
Plot crude b/d rate, calc. growth rate, explain demographic transition (from pre-industrial to post-industrial)
Age Structure Diagram (histogram), explain demographic transition
FOOD & ENERGY
2009 4
GM Crops – graph w/ % increase, rate increase, projected land area use given the rate of increase, why might projections be off from actual land use.
2006 4
Fishing methods – calc. rate of decline over 5 yrs from graph, describe 2 fishing methods and role in fish depletion, law related to marine species, 1 other
example of a commons
2005 2
Global meat prod. calculations, % change in per capita production, efficiency of producing grain over meat, human health adv/dis. of eating meat
SOILS
2011 4
Graph land area, phys/chem. Prop. Of soil, sustainability in agriculture
2004 4
Chem/Phys. soil test, adv./dis. to using inorg. fertilizers, 2 soil conserv. practices, 1 biome rich in humus – how did soil orig., how do we improve soil conditions?
2003 1A Leaf Litter – importance to survival of native forest plants
PEST MANAGEMENT
2012 3
ID parts of expt., describe IPM, 2 examples of approaches, env benefits of IPM, 2 other practices that increase crop yields.
2003 1
Worm Invasion – design an expt. to see if they affect the forest ecosystem
2001 2D Integrated Pest Management – how is it used to control a pest tick population
1999 4
DBQ, Pesticide use in agriculture, select 4 people & make argument to support or refute their argument, ID one specific pest – adverse effects on agriculture or
human health, green way of controlling this pest?
WASTE MANAGEMENT
2008 2
Landfill, leachate vol. calc’s, how to reduce cadmium in waste input, shortcoming of one of these methods.
2007 1 Municipal Solid Waste – creating a sanitary landfill in town, choose which tract, env./econ. benefits, ways to maximize efficiency/aesthetics, law that applies
2006 3 Brownfield – 2 probs. w/ removing contam. Soil from site, how can plants be used to clean it (adv/dis), env./societal benefits of reclamation, 1 way to reduce
prod. of haz. waste, 1 way of legally disposing of it.
TOXICOLOGY & DISEASE
2010 1
Water/Soil Toxins - PCB Mercury Lead Pollutants in soil & water (DBQ), why children more susceptible
2002 3
LD-50 – what is it, what is the concentration for the brine shrimp, what is “threshold level of toxicity”, label on graph, argument for and one
against extending these results to humans
2004 1
Is the seafood we eat safe? Human activity that releases mercury, how it enters aquatic systems sometimes hundreds of miles away, how this
mercury could be reduced, why there are greater health risks eating large predatory fish, another toxic metal – source & health impacts
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
2012 3
ID parts of expt., describe IPM, 2 examples of approaches, env benefits of IPM, 2 other practices that increase crop yields.
2003 1
Worm Invasion – design an expt. to see if they affect the forest ecosystem
2001 2
Draw food web, expt. that test relationship between acorn production & gypsy moth population, Integrated Pest Mgmt.
1999 1
Water Quality Tests, design expt (pond A, pond B), what is an indicator species