Human Impact on the Environment Quiz

Last updated · -42 min play time

Humans, the greatest disaster ever experienced by Earth.


Eugene has a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and taught both general biology and nutrition. Several of his publications have appeared in peer-reviewed journals. He revises chapters, produces, edits, and proofreads materials for college textbooks.

Most importantly he loves learning about biology. Learning and making connections among the disparate pieces of information he finds is one of his passions. Another passion is sharing and discussing this information with others.

Human Impact Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 3.1K Plays · 4 Comments

Question 1

Which of the following is not a potential consequence of a global increase in average temperature?

  • A
    Increased drought
  • B
    Increased species extinction
  • C
    Increased hurricane strength
  • D
    Increased agricultural yield

Question 2

The recent increase in global temperature that is promoting a greenhouse effect is primarily due to _____.

  • A
    an increase in solar activity
  • B
    volcanic eruptions
  • C
    an increase in the percentage of forested area
  • D
    the burning of fossil fuels

Question 3

Why is the runoff from fertilized agricultural fields, even if free of pesticides, often harmful to the ecosystems of temperate lakes?

  • A
    The fertilizer promotes the growth of fish to the point where they cannot find enough food to eat.
  • B
    The runoff causes a surface algal bloom, which reduces the penetration of light into the eater which reduces photosynthesis which reduces the amount of oxygen in the water.
  • C
    Fertilizer runoff promotes antibiotic resistance.
  • D
    The runoff raises the levels of inorganic nutrients in the surface waters to levels that are toxic for algae and other lake organisms.

Question 4

What has happened to fish populations as a result, primarily, of commercial fishing activity?

  • A
    Some commercial fish species are exhibiting faster growth rates.
  • B
    There has been a decline in population sizes of commercial fish stocks.
  • C
    There has been a decrease in the levels of toxins found in the flesh of fish that we eat.
  • D
    There has been directional selection favoring larger fish.

Question 5

An introduced/invasive species _____.

  • A
    can easily be removed from the community at a later date
  • B
    are never able to establish themselves in the new habitat
  • C
    stabilizes the structure of the native community
  • D
    may disrupt the native community

Question 6

Melting of the permafrost _____ the atmosphere.

  • A
    removes CFCs from
  • B
    releases sulfur dioxide from
  • C
    increases the release of more of the same gases that led to the melting of the permafrost in
  • D
    counteracts the release of greenhouse gases into

Question 7

Increasing global temperatures _____.

  • A
    will increase the food supply
  • B
    will promote events that lead to a further increase in global temperature
  • C
    will lower sea levels
  • D
    increase water availability

Question 8

The unregulated withdrawal of water from water sources will ultimately lead to _____.

  • A
    zombification
  • B
    reforestation
  • C
    desertification
  • D
    soil conservation

Question 9

Carbon dioxide traps heat and warms the atmosphere. This is known as the __________ effect.

  • A
    carbon dioxide
  • B
    greenhouse
  • C
    carbon
  • D
    summer

Question 10

Sulfur-rich fossil fuels _____.

  • A
    cause less harm to the environment than other fossil fuels
  • B
    contribute to global cooling
  • C
    contribute to acid rain
  • D
    deplete the ozone layer

Question 11

The amount of ultraviolet radiation hitting Earth's surface is greatly reduced by which gas in the atmosphere?

  • A
    Carbon monoxide
  • B
    Carbon dioxide
  • C
    Methane
  • D
    Ozone

Question 12

Which of the following would promote the intensity of a hurricane?

  • A
    Deep warm water
  • B
    Deep cold water
  • C
    Shallow cold water
  • D
    A mangrove forest

Question 13

Deforestation _____.

  • A
    allows for the growth of younger trees thereby decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
  • B
    allows for primary succession
  • C
    followed by using the land for farming acts to counterbalance global warming
  • D
    increases soil erosion

Question 14

The increase in the concentration of a toxin such as DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) in the tissues of organisms as it is passed up a food chain is called _____.

  • A
    accretion
  • B
    biological magnification
  • C
    maximization
  • D
    accumulation

Question 15

Which of the following statements concerning the role of fire in ecosystems is true?

  • A
    Forest fires are extremely destructive to all ecosystems and should be put out as quickly as possible.
  • B
    Fire is essential to the maintenance of certain ecosystems.
  • C
    In North America, prior to the arrival of European settlers, fire did not have an impact on community structure.
  • D
    Fire is not an important factor in developing and maintaining certain ecosystems.

Question 16

Which of the following is an expected consequence of global warming?

  • A
    Increased access to fresh water
  • B
    Increased agricultural yield in the tropics
  • C
    Eradication of tropical diseases
  • D
    Coral death

Question 17

The methane belched by cattle _____.

  • A
    contributes to acid precipitation
  • B
    contribute to global warming
  • C
    was once used as an energy source
  • D
    was once used as pesticides

Question 18

Which of these processes removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

  • A
    Deforestation
  • B
    Photosynthesis
  • C
    Burning coal for energy
  • D
    Burning oil for energy

Question 19

Globally, ice sheets and glaciers are _____.

  • A
    increasing in size
  • B
    composed of sea water
  • C
    stable
  • D
    melting

Question 20

Which of the following is most likely to contain high levels of contaminants such as mercury?

  • A
    Shrimp
  • B
    Salmon
  • C
    Tilapia
  • D
    Shark

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