Chapter 4 Air Pollution and Climate Change

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Stratospheric ozone
a. screens out ultraviolet radiation.
b. allowed the evolution of life on land.
c. prevents ozone formation in the troposphere.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D
2. Human health depends on having
a. low amounts of ozone in the troposphere and stratosphere.
b. enough ozone in the stratosphere and little ozone in the troposphere.
c. high amounts of ozone in the troposphere and low amounts in the stratosphere.
d. high amounts of ozone in the troposphere and stratosphere.
ANS: B
3. There is evidence that humans are _____ ozone in the troposphere and _____ ozone in the
stratosphere.
a. increasing; increasing
b. increasing; decreasing
c. decreasing; decreasing
d. decreasing; increasing
ANS: B
4 Humans can disrupt Earth's gaseous biogeochemical cycles through
a. additions of carbon dioxide from combustion.
b. mining limestone.
c. emitting waste heat from air conditioners.
d. using mister systems to water cops.
ANS: A
5. Ozone which contributes to the formation of smog is found in the
a. troposphere.
b. thermosphere.
c. mesosphere.
d. stratosphere.
ANS: A
6. All of the following are suspended particles except

a. dust and soot.

b. pesticides.
c. sulfuric acid.
d. chlorofluorocarbons.
ANS: D
7. Photochemical smog generally requires the presence of
a. nitrogen oxides.
b. sunlight.
c. volatile organic compounds.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D
8. Photochemical smog is characteristic of urban areas with many vehicles and a climate
that is
a. cool, wet, and cloudy.
b. cool, dry, and sunny.
c. warm, dry, and sunny.
d. warm, wet, and cloudy.
ANS: C
9. Gray-air smog comes from suspended particles of
a. carbon dioxide.
b. ammonium salts.
c. soot.
d. carbonic acid.
ANS: C
10.A thermal inversion is the result of
a. precipitation.
b. cold air drainage.
c. a lid of warm air on top of cooler, stagnant air.
d. a cold blanket of air that prevents warm air from rising.
ANS: C
11. Tall chimneys
a. are expensive ways to disperse pollution.
b. cannot carry the pollutants above any local inversion layer.
c. are an output approach to pollution.
d. increase pollution in upwind areas.
ANS: C

12. Acid deposition is properly defined as the ____ deposition of ____ pollutants onto Earth's
surface.
a. wet; secondary
b. dry; secondary
c. wet and dry; primary
d. wet and dry; secondary
ANS: D
13. Acid deposition is best classified as a
a. local problem.
b. state problem.
c. regional problem.
d. national problem.
ANS: C
14.Experts rate acid rain as a
a. high-risk ecological and human health problem.
b. medium-risk ecological problem and high-risk human health problem.
c. high-risk ecological and low-risk human health problem.
d. medium-risk ecological and human health problem.
ANS: B
15. In general, acid deposition has harmful effects for terrestrial ecosystems when it falls below a
pH level of
a. 3.6.
b. 4.6.
c. 5.6.
d. 6.6.
ANS: C
16. Acid deposition has been linked to
a. contamination of fish with highly toxic methylmercury.
b. excessive soil nitrogen levels.
c. reduced nutrient uptake by tree roots.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D
17. Formaldehyde is used in
a. particle board.
b. paneling.
c. plywood.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D

18. Humans are protected from air pollution by

a. sneezing and coughing.
b. mucus capturing small particles.
c. nasal hairs filtering out large particles.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D
19 Years of smoking and exposure to air pollutants can contribute to the incidence of
a. emphysema.
b. chronic bronchitis.
c. lung cancer.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D
..
20.Carbon monoxide
a. causes the blood to carry too much oxygen.
b. speeds up reflexes.
c. causes headaches and dizziness.
d. sharpens thinking and perceptions.
ANS: C
21. Chronic exposure of tree leaves and needles to air pollutants can
a. cause a waxy coating to build up.
b. increase uptake of nutrients.
c. cause leaves or needles to turn bright red and drop off.
d. increase the chance of damage from diseases, pests, drought, and frost.
ANS: D
22. Air pollution, mostly ozone, has reduced crop production by 5% to 10% especially in
a. corn.
b. wheat.
c. soybeans.
d. alfalfa.
ANS: D
..
23. Acid deposition
a. increases the mobility of toxic metals.
b. kills many species of fish.
c. damages statues, buildings, and car finishes.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D

24 The effectiveness of the pollution prevention approach is best illustrated by the sharp drop in
atmospheric
a. ozone.
b. sulfur dioxide.
c. lead.
d. carbon monoxide.
ANS: C
25 Of the following motor vehicle fuels, the greatest polluter is
a. gasoline.
b. hydrogen gas.
c. alcohol.
d. natural gas.
ANS: A
26. One way to help protect the atmosphere would be to
a. quickly burn all remaining fossil fuels to encourage faster change to alternative fuels.
b. compartmentalize air pollution, water pollution, and energy policies so that each
department has its own focus.
c. emphasize local control and responsibility for air pollution.
d. control population growth.
ANS: D
27. The greenhouse effect is best described as
a. consensus science.
b. pioneer science.
c. fantasy.
d. a convention of florists.
ANS: A
28. Increased greenhouse gases originate from
a. burning fossil fuels.
b. use of CFCs.
c. deforestation.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D
29. Estimated variations in Earth's mean surface temperature over the past 135 years correlate
closely with
a. ozone.
b. water vapor.
c. CFCs.
d. carbon dioxide.

ANS: D
30. About 29% of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by human activities
a. remains in the atmosphere.
b. is absorbed by the oceans.
c. is absorbed by the growth of plants.
d. is absorbed by the soil.
ANS: B
31. Pollutants might affect climate change by
a. cooling effects of particles from volcanic eruptions.
b. warming and cooling effects from sulfur dioxide emissions.
c. cooling effects from particles in smoke from large-scale burning.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D
32. The threat of global warming can be addressed by
a. using energy more efficiently.
b. halting deforestation.
c. slowing population growth.
d. all of these answers.
ANS: D
33.Chlorofluorocarbons are
a. nontoxic.
b. corrosive.
c. odorous.
d. flammable.
ANS: A
34. The story of the discovery of the effects of CFCs and the political response to that knowledge
best illustrates which of the following components of complex systems?
a. negative feedback loop
b. positive feedback loop
c. synergistic interaction
d. lag time
ANS: D
35. All of the following chemicals are ozone-eaters except
a. methyl bromide.
b. PCBs.
c. halons.

d. methyl chloroform.
ANS: B
36. Damage to the ecological structure and function of lakes because of deeper penetration of UV
light is cause by
a. ozone depletion only.
b. acid deposition only.
c. global warming only.
d. a synergistic interaction among ozone depletion, acid deposition, and global warming.
ANS: D