CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Climate Change
Which human activity is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions?
A. Photosynthesis
B. Tree growth
C. Burning fossil fuels
D. Wind energy generation
Correct Answer: C
Coal, oil and natural gas combustion releases large amounts of CO2.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Climate Change
What is the greenhouse effect?
A. Heating caused by Earth's magnetic field
B. Warming caused when greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit outgoing infrared radiation
C. Cooling caused only by oxygen
D. Reflection of all sunlight by plants
Correct Answer: B
Greenhouse gases reduce the rate at which infrared energy escapes to space.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Climate Change
Which gas is the largest contributor to current human-caused warming from long-lived greenhouse gases?
A. Argon
B. Oxygen
C. Nitrogen
D. Carbon dioxide
Correct Answer: D
CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, land-use change and industry are the dominant long-lived anthropogenic forcing.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Climate Change
What is climate change?
A. Long-term shifts in climate patterns, including temperature and precipitation
B. Only daily temperature variation
C. Any single rainy day
D. The movement of one cloud
Correct Answer: A
Climate change concerns persistent changes in statistical climate conditions over decades or longer.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
Which approach follows the pollution-prevention hierarchy most directly?
A. Create more waste then dilute it
B. Release pollutants at night
C. Reduce waste generation at the source
D. Burn all waste in open areas
Correct Answer: C
Preventing pollution is generally preferable to treating it after generation.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the protective ozone layer?
A. Stratosphere
B. Troposphere only
C. Exosphere only
D. Mesosphere only
Correct Answer: A
Most atmospheric ozone that absorbs harmful UV radiation is in the stratosphere.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
In pollution studies, what does biomagnification mean?
A. Increasing concentration of persistent pollutants at higher trophic levels
B. Breakdown of all pollutants in soil
C. Increase in sunlight
D. Rapid dilution at every trophic level
Correct Answer: A
Some persistent chemicals accumulate in organisms and magnify up food webs.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
Which process can contaminate groundwater with agricultural chemicals?
A. Photosynthesis
B. Leaching
C. Sublimation
D. Condensation only
Correct Answer: B
Soluble pollutants can move downward through soil into aquifers.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
What is noise pollution?
A. Only chemical waste
B. Harmful or excessive environmental sound
C. Only heat in rivers
D. Any light at night
Correct Answer: B
Chronic or intense noise can affect hearing, sleep and health.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
Which pollutant category includes PM2.5?
A. Sound waves only
B. Ultraviolet light only
C. Fine particulate matter
D. Dissolved oxygen
Correct Answer: C
PM2.5 particles have aerodynamic diameters of about 2.5 micrometers or less.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
What is acid rain mainly associated with atmospheric emissions of which gases?
A. Methane only
B. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
C. Oxygen and helium
D. Hydrogen and neon
Correct Answer: B
SO2 and NOx form sulfuric and nitric acids in the atmosphere.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
What is eutrophication commonly caused by?
A. Excess inert sand only
B. Excess nutrient inputs such as nitrates and phosphates into water
C. Too little sunlight only
D. High oxygen with no nutrients
Correct Answer: B
Nutrient enrichment can trigger algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
Which gas is a major pollutant produced by incomplete combustion and can bind strongly to hemoglobin?
A. Carbon monoxide
B. Helium
C. Oxygen
D. Nitrogen
Correct Answer: A
Carbon monoxide reduces blood's oxygen-carrying capacity by binding hemoglobin.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollution
What is pollution?
A. Only solid waste
B. Any natural process
C. Introduction of harmful substances or energy into the environment at damaging levels
D. Only visible smoke
Correct Answer: C
Pollution can affect air, water, soil and living organisms through substances or forms of energy.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollination
Why can cross-pollination increase genetic variation?
A. It combines alleles from different individual plants
B. It prevents recombination
C. It copies one plant exactly
D. It eliminates meiosis
Correct Answer: A
Cross-pollination facilitates gene flow and new genetic combinations.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollination
Which pollination syndrome often includes brightly colored petals, scent and nectar?
A. Water erosion
B. Wind pollination only
C. Animal pollination
D. Self-incompatibility only
Correct Answer: C
Visual and chemical attractants often recruit animal pollinators.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollination
Pollination is distinct from fertilization because fertilization is what?
A. Formation of nectar
B. Fusion of male and female gametes
C. Opening of a flower
D. Transfer of pollen only
Correct Answer: B
Pollination delivers pollen; fertilization occurs later when gametes fuse.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollination
Where is pollen produced in a flower?
A. Ovary
B. Anther
C. Sepal
D. Stigma
Correct Answer: B
Anthers contain pollen-producing microsporangia.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollination
What is the function of the stigma?
A. To produce seeds directly
B. To receive pollen
C. To perform all photosynthesis
D. To absorb soil water
Correct Answer: B
The stigma is the receptive surface of the pistil/carpel.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - General Science
Pollination
What feature is common in many wind-pollinated flowers?
A. Large quantities of light, dry pollen
B. Bright petals always
C. Strong nectar production always
D. Heavy sticky pollen only
Correct Answer: A
Wind pollination is aided by abundant lightweight pollen.