Chapter 14 AP® Environmental Science Practice Exam

514

Section 1: Multiple-Choice Questions

Choose the best answer for questions 1–9.

Question 1

1. Which of the following statements about nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is NOT correct?

  1. NPS results from rain or snowmelt moving over or permeating through the ground.

  2. NPS is more difficult to control, measure, and regulate than point source pollution.

  3. NPS includes sediment from improperly managed construction sites as a pollutant.

  4. NPS is water pollution that originates from a distinct source such as a pipe or tank.

  5. NPS disperses pollutants over a large area, such as oil and grease in a parking lot.

Question 2

2. Human wastewater results in which of the following water-pollution problems?

  1. Decomposition of organic matter reduces dissolved oxygen levels.

  2. Decomposition of organic matter releases great quantities of nutrients.

  3. Pathogenic organisms are carried to surface waters.

  1. I only

  2. II only

  3. III only

  4. I and III

  5. I, II, and III

Question 3

3. Which of the following indicates that a body of water is contaminated by human wastewater?

  1. Low BOD and a fecal coliform bacteria count of zero

  2. High levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and high BOD

  3. Low BOD and low levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus

  4. Low levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and a fecal coliform bacteria count of zero

  5. A lack of dead zones

Question 4

4. Both septic systems and sewage treatment plants utilize bacteria to break down organic matter. Where in each system does this process occur?

  1. Septic tank and leach field; primary treatment and secondary treatment

  2. Septic tank only; primary treatment and chlorination

  3. Leach field only; secondary treatment only

  4. Septic tank and leach field; secondary treatment only

  5. Leach field only; secondary treatment and chlorination

Question 5

5. Under which of the following circumstances is a sewage treatment plant legally permitted to bypass normal treatment protocol and discharge large amounts of sewage directly into a lake or river?

  1. When the receiving surface water is designated for swimming only

  2. When the population of the surrounding community surpasses the plant’s capacity

  3. When combined volumes of storm water and wastewater exceed the capacity of an older plant

  4. When a permit to modernize the plant is denied by the Environmental Protection Agency

  5. When an extended period of drought restricts water flow in a lake or river

Question 6

6. Tertiary treatment of wastewater

  1. removes pathogens.

  2. reduces sediment.

  3. reduces eutrophication.

  4. removes heavy metals.

  5. reduces the amount of sludge.

Question 7

7. Which of the following inorganic substances is naturally occurring in rocks, soluble in groundwater, and toxic at low concentrations?

  1. Mercury

  2. Lead

  3. PCBs

  4. Copper

  5. Arsenic

Question 8

8. Acid mine drainage occurs when acidic water formed belowground makes its way to the surface; the acidic water is formed in flooded abandoned mines where the underground water

  1. reacts with a type of rock, pyrite, which releases iron and hydrogen ions.

  2. reacts with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide to form sulfuric and nitric acids.

  3. flushes out the chemicals used in the mining process.

  4. permeates a limestone layer that lowers the pH.

  5. reacts with copper and aluminum to form pyrite rock and hydrogen ions.

Question 9

9. All of the following are problems that result from the use of pesticides except

  1. most pesticides are not target-specific and kill other related and nonrelated species.

  2. pesticide runoff enters surface waters and increases the solubility of heavy metals.

  3. pesticides affect nontarget organisms by changing community relationships.

  4. pesticides target specific physiological functions, but also disrupt other functions.

  5. most inert ingredients are not tested for safety and may pose unacceptable risks.

515

Section 2: Free-Response Questions

Write your answer to each part clearly. Support your answers with relevant information and examples. Where calculations are required, show your work.

Question 1

1. Answer questions a–d using the graph below, which contains data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Chesapeake Bay Program.

image

  1. Calculate the differences in crab population from 1990–1997, 1998–2009, and 2010–2013. Predict the average blue crab population for 2010–2020 and explain your answer. (4 points)

  2. Identify and explain three possible factors related to water pollution that could have contributed to the decline in the total blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay. (3 points)

  3. Select one factor stated in (b) and describe how that source of water pollution could be managed and controlled. (2 points)

  4. What federal legislation would apply to the Chesapeake Bay and the blue crabs? (1 point)

Question 2

2. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed guidelines for the consumption of canned tuna fish. These guidelines were developed particularly for children, pregnant women, or women who were planning to become pregnant, because mercury poses the most serious threat to these segments of society. However, the guidelines can be useful for everyone.

  1. Identify two major sources of mercury pollution and one means of controlling mercury pollution. (6 points)

  2. Explain how mercury is altered and how it finds its way into albacore tuna fish. (2 points)

  3. Identify two health effects of methylmercury on humans. (2 points)