In the 1930s, the American Great Plains became known as the Dust Bowl because it was the source of huge clouds of dust that covered much of the United States. Which BEST describes the causes of the Dust Bowl?

Some used car oil was put in a container to take to a mechanic for proper disposal. The used oil is disposed of this way so that

Around the edges of many dry areas, local plant life helps to create cool, moist conditions. When humans deplete these areas of vegetation, the areas become drier and soil rapidly disappears. Which characteristic of plants in these areas MOST likely helps to prevent soil erosion?

Trees are carbon sinks, because they absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. Burning large stands of rainforest not only reduces the amount of photosynthesis on Earth, but it releases carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas. Carbon dioxide levels in the ocean are directly correlated to carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. What would be the MOST likely effect of burning large stands of rainforest?

One biome includes bearberry, a short plant with small, waxy leaves, shallow roots, and flowers that bloom quickly in the short growing season. Another biome includes tall grasses that can survive fires due to roots that extend 6 to 7 meters deep during the long growing season. What is MOST likely true about the two biomes?

Nonnative flathead catfish that prey on smaller fish were accidentally introduced into the Yadkin River in North Carolina. What is the MOST likely effect these catfish could have on the ecology of the Yadkin River?

Leafcutter ants live in South and Central American tropical rainforests. Their huge, underground colonies contain an average of 5 million individuals. These ants have a complex society that includes a queen, workers, and soldiers. Leafcutter ants tend fungus gardens within their colony to feed to their larvae. The ants keep the fungus alive by feeding it fresh plant material. How does a leafcutter ant colony help to support the tropical rainforest biome?

What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

A lemming population lives in a cold, mountainous region. Over time, the climate in the region becomes drier and warmer. The lemming population would be MOST likely to adapt and remain in the area under these new climate conditions if individuals in the population developed this characteristic.

Sweet potatoes grow best in sandy, well-drained soil. In which North Carolina ecological region would you MOST likely grow sweet potatoes?

What do the energy resources uranium and coal have in common?

What is an environmental threat posed by oil and gas acquisition and transport that is NOT posed by the acquisition and transport of the energy resources uranium, and wood?

Can Earth's human population increase indefinitely?

Which terrestrial ecosystem has the highest biodiversity?

As human populations increase, more shelter is needed. Increasing shelter often requires making a trade-off with another resource. In which case is a food resource decreased to increase a shelter resource?

Eruption of a large volcano on a tropical island releases ash and gases into the atmosphere. After the eruption, the air temperatures on the island cool temporarily before returning to normal. Which is the MOST likely reason for the temporary cooling of the island?

Which of the following is an activity that does not take place in the biosphere?

Coal ash is a byproduct produced when coal is burned for energy. Coal ash contains sand, unburned carbon, and a variety of metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and zinc. Some energy companies mix coal ash with water and store this waste in ponds. How could the accidental release of coal ash waste impact ecosystems?

Visible light reaches Earth's surface while infrared light is trapped as heat. Which characteristic of Earth's atmosphere causes this to happen?

Temperature affects the development of sea-turtle eggs. Eggs that are incubated at warmer temperatures are more likely to become females. Eggs incubated at cooler temperatures are more likely to become males. How would higher atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations MOST likely affect sea turtle populations?

Wave energy from the ocean can be harnessed to power generators to make electricity. Energy from ocean tides can also be used to make electricity. How would you categorize these two sources of energy?

On the edge of many deserts, there is a delicate area with abundant vegetation. Sometimes cattle are allowed to graze in these areas. The hooves of the cattle compact the topsoil making it less absorbent. Which environmental concern is MOST likely to happen at the edge of the desert when cattle graze there?

In many parts of the world, land that is too dry for farming is used for grazing livestock. Overgrazing of these lands destroys the native plants and breaks down the natural soil covering. How does overgrazing result in desertification?

The average temperature of Earth has increased approximately 0.8C in the last one hundred years. Which of the following do researchers MOST attribute to this temperature increase?

Raising livestock, such as sheep and cattle, results in the production of large amounts of methane gas (CH4). Methane has a similar effect in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2). As more livestock are raised to provide food for humans, what is the MOST likely effect of the increase in methane?

Which of these events is an example of a change in climate?

On December 12th a snowstorm in a city produced 20 centimeters of snowfall. When can this event be used to describe the climate of the region?