Multiple Choice Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.
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An endangered species is
a. | a species in danger of extinction. | b. | a species growing on public
land. | c. | an organism brought to a place where it has not lived before. | d. | a species that has
disappeared entirely. |
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2.
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How many species are estimated to be living on Earth?
a. | between 10,000 and 100,000 | c. | between 1 and 2
million | b. | between 500,000 and 1 million | d. | between 10 and 50
million |
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3.
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Which of the following would be most effective in slowing the loss of
biodiversity?
a. | freezing fertilized eggs of endangered animals in case the species become extinct in
the wild | b. | setting aside small plots of land in a variety of ecosystems, such as forests,
grasslands, and marshes | c. | creating large parks/preserves in biodiversity
hotspots | d. | requiring every country to maintain a seed bank |
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4.
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In what part of the world are the greatest number of extinctions
occurring?
a. | in tropical rain forests | c. | in the Arctic | b. | in
deserts | d. | in Europe and the
United States |
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5.
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The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN)
a. | is known for trying to save endangered species through dramatic, attention-grabbing
protests. | b. | is an organization of multinational corporations united to fight conservation
efforts. | c. | is a collaboration of about 200 governmental agencies and 700 private conservation
groups from around the world. | d. | was disbanded after the Earth Summit of
1992. |
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6.
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Which of the following statements about the California condor is correct?
a. | The California condor has made a dramatic comeback and has been removed from the
endangered species list. | b. | The California condor is the subject of a
captive-breeding program. | c. | Several hundred breeding pairs of California
condors have been released into the wild. | d. | All of the
above |
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7.
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The United States laws that protect endangered species
a. | are considered to be the strongest in the world. | b. | are much weaker than
the legal protections in most other countries. | c. | are rarely enforced. | d. | apply to only 10
species of animals and about 20 species of plants. |
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8.
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According to biologists, what percentage of species have become or are expected
to become extinct between 1900 and 2100?
a. | 1 percent | c. | 25 percent | b. | 10 percent | d. | 60 percent |
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9.
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Reintroducing the gray wolf in certain areas of the northwestern United
States
a. | is beneficial for all of those working in that area. | b. | creates a mutualist
interaction between wolves and elks. | c. | is in accordance with the U.S. Endangered
Species Act of 1973. | d. | discourages hunters from hunting other
animals. |
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10.
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Which of the following would not be illegal under the Endangered Species
Act?
a. | capturing a wild animal listed as a threatened species for exhibition in a zoo,
provided the animal is well cared for | b. | digging up an endangered plant in a public park
and selling it | c. | destroying the habitat of an endangered plant during the building of a federal
highway | d. | having a permit to capture and conduct research with endangered
species |
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11.
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Earth's various organisms appear to be
a. | mostly small vertebrates. | c. | concentrated in certain
biomes. | b. | largely known to scientists. | d. | evolving at an unprecedented
rate. |
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12.
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The current rate of species extinction is
a. | slower than at any other time in this century. | b. | attributable to the
actions of humans. | c. | the result of natural environmental
processes. | d. | of little consequence to Earth’s long-term
survival. |
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13.
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The fact that organisms are adapted to survive in particular environments helps
to explain why
a. | captive-breeding programs are often ineffective. | b. | non-native plant
species never flourish in new areas. | c. | habitat destruction accounts for most
extinctions. | d. | compromise is impossible on environmental issues. |
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14.
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The type of hunting that threatens species survival the most is
a. | sanctioned by industrialized nations. | b. | legal hunting done by sports
enthusiasts. | c. | ignored by global conservation groups. | d. | especially a problem in less developed
nations. |
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15.
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The level of biodiversity that involves a variety of habits and communities
is
a. | ecosystem diversity. | c. | population diversity. | b. | genetic
diversity. | d. | species
diversity. |
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16.
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Reasons for preserving biodiversity include all of the following
except
a. | isolating unique genetic material so it can be incorporated into existing
crops. | b. | increasing the chances of discovering organisms with medicinal
value. | c. | preventing natural evolution. | d. | finding new plants that can supplement the
world’s food supply. |
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17.
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Because of the Endangered Species Act, the sale of protected animals or plants
is
a. | punishable by a substantial fine. | b. | subject to approval by a Species Review
Board. | c. | limited to quotas set for each species. | d. | allowed for
threatened but not endangered species. |
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18.
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When animals are placed in controlled or restrictive environments, they
a. | become immune to infectious diseases that are common in the wild. | b. | may have difficulty
meeting their basic survival needs. | c. | have a low rate of genetic disorders because
their gene pool is large. | d. | are less likely to
compete. |
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19.
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Germ-plasm banks are unique because they focus on
a. | saving individual organisms. | c. | preserving animal
species. | b. | storing genetic material. | d. | All of the above |
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20.
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The ecosystem approach to conservation is partly based on the idea that
a. | all rare species should be relocated to regional preserves. | b. | human needs are of
secondary importance. | c. | keystone species are genetically superior to
other organisms. | d. | a healthy biosphere requires intact ecosystems. |
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21.
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The human diet has been enriched with native food products such as sweet
potatoes, beans, tomatoes, and corn that come from
a. | Pacific islands. | c. | Madagascar and Africa. | b. | Southwest
Asia. | d. | Central and South
America. |
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22.
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What level of biodiversity is most commonly equated with the overall concept of
biodiversity?
a. | genetic diversity | c. | ecosystem diversity | b. | species diversity | d. | All of the
above |
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23.
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What groups of organisms are most in danger of extinction?
a. | those with small populations | b. | those that migrate or need special
habitats | c. | those with large populations that breed quickly | d. | Both (a) and
(b) |
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24.
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Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems?
a. | It allows animals to feed permanently from one type of plant. | b. | It increases at each
level of the food chain. | c. | It helps populations adapt to ecological
changes. | d. | It reduces the number of insects in a given
ecosystem. |
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25.
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The major human causes of extinction today are
a. | hunting and destroying habitats. | b. | polluting and introducing non-native
species. | c. | Both (a) and (b) | d. | Neither (a) nor
(b) |
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26.
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Germ plasm is
a. | an infection caused by germs. | c. | a conservation
strategy. | b. | the genetic material of a species. | d. | an endemic plant of
California. |
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27.
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Which areas of the United States represent ecosystems with high levels of
biodiversity?
a. | coastal California | c. | Florida Everglades | b. | Hawaiian Islands | d. | All of the
above |
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28.
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Where are many critical biodiversity hotspots located?
a. | cities and developed areas of the world | b. | islands, tropical
rain forests, and coastal areas | c. | desert and polar
environments | d. | All of the above |
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29.
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How can zoos, botanic gardens, and wildlife parks help save species?
a. | by preserving threatened species from destruction. | b. | by collecting
species from remote wilderness areas. | c. | by participating in captive breeding
programs. | d. | Both (a) and (c) |
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30.
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Reduction in the sea otter population affected the Pacific coast ecosystem
by
a. | decreasing the biodiversity of the ecosystem. | b. | reducing the size of
the sea urchin population. | c. | promoting the increased growth of the nearby
kelp beds. | d. | increasing the biodiversity of the ecosystem. |
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