Chapter 19 AP® Environmental Science Practice Exam

Section 1: Multiple-Choice Questions

Choose the best answer for questions 1–11.

Question 1

1. Which of the following activities causes a cooling of Earth?

  1. Volcanic eruptions

  2. Emissions of anthropogenic greenhouse gases

  3. Evaporation of water vapor

  4. Combustion of fossil fuels

  5. Deforestation

Question 2

2. In regard to the greenhouse effect, which statement is NOT true?

  1. Ultraviolet and visible radiation are converted to infrared radiation at the surface of Earth.

  2. Approximately one-third of the radiation of the Sun does not enter the atmosphere of Earth.

  3. Infrared radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases.

  4. Greenhouse gases were not historically present in the atmosphere.

  5. Ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by ozone.

Question 3

3. Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

  1. Carbon dioxide

  2. Water vapor

  3. Methane

  4. Nitrous oxide

  5. Nitrogen

Question 4

4. Of the following factors, which are important when considering the effect of a greenhouse gas on global warming?

  1. The amount of infrared radiation the gas can absorb

  2. How long the gas remains in the atmosphere

  3. The concentration of the gas in the atmosphere

  1. I

  2. I and II

  3. I and III

  4. II and III

  5. I, II, and III

Question 5

5. Which greenhouse gas is NOT correctly paired with one of its sources?

  1. Nitrous oxide : landfills

  2. Methane : termites

  3. Water vapor : evaporation

  4. Nitrous oxide : automobiles

  5. CO2 : deforestation

Question 6

6. Carbon sequestration

  1. is a process to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

  2. is a method for preventing carbon emissions from landfills.

  3. causes increased coral bleaching.

  4. is a method for emissions reduction that focuses on improved efficiency.

  5. is the release of carbon from soils due to warming.

Page 699

Question 7

7. Which statement about global warming is true?

  1. The planet is not warming.

  2. The planet is warming, but humans have not played a role.

  3. The planet has had many periods of warming and cooling in the past.

  4. Greenhouse gases compose only a small fraction of the atmosphere, so they cannot be important in causing global warming.

  5. Small increases in average global temperatures are not likely to affect polar bears.

Question 8

8. Which sources of data have been used to assess changes in global CO2 and temperature?

  1. Air bubbles in ice cores from glaciers

  2. Thermometers placed around the globe

  3. CO2 sensors placed around the globe

  1. I

  2. I and II

  3. I and III

  4. II and III

  5. I, II, and III

Question 9

9. Which is a true statement about feedback loops that occur with climate change?

  1. All feedback loops are positive.

  2. All feedback loops are negative.

  3. Increased soil decomposition under warmer temperatures represents a positive feedback loop.

  4. Increased evaporation under warmer temperatures represents a negative feedback loop.

  5. Increased plant growth under higher CO2 concentrations represents a positive feedback loop.

Question 10

10.Which predicted consequence of global warming has not yet occurred?

  1. Melting ice caps

  2. Rising sea levels

  3. Melting permafrost

  4. Shutting down the thermohaline circulation of the ocean

  5. Altered breeding times and flowering times of animals and plants

Question 11

11.Which statement regarding the Kyoto Protocol is true?

  1. All nations agreed to reduce their emission of greenhouse gases.

  2. All nations agreed to stop emitting greenhouse gases.

  3. Developed nations agreed to different levels of emission reductions.

  4. Developing nations agreed to reduce their emission of greenhouse gases.

  5. Developing nations agreed to stop their emission of greenhouse gases.

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. During a debate on climate change legislation in 2009, a U.S. congressman declared that human-induced global warming was a “hoax” and that “there is no scientific consensus.”

  1. If you were a member of Congress, what points might you raise in the debate to demonstrate that global warming is real? (4 points)

  2. What points might you raise to demonstrate that global warming has been influenced by humans? (4 points)

  3. What are some human health and economic effects that could occur because of global warming? (2 points)

Question 2

2. Given what you have learned about global warming and global climate change,

  1. what actions might you propose in the United States to reduce CO2 emissions? (3 points)

  2. what actions might you propose in the United States to reduce methane emissions? (3 points)

  3. what actions might you propose in the United States to reduce nitrous oxide emissions? (3 points)

  4. what evidence have scientists used to support the assertion that global warming is happening? (1 point)

[Leave] [Close]