Multiple Choice
Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.
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What pollutant forms when automobile emissions react with oxygen gas and
ultraviolet rays?
a. | ozone | c. | radon | b. | carbon dioxide | d. | sulfur dioxide |
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2.
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All of the following are primary air pollutants except
a. | carbon monoxide. | c. | sulfur oxides. | b. | nitric acid. | d. | VOCs. |
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3.
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Two-thirds of the sulfur dioxide that pollutes the air is produced by
a. | automobile exhaust. | c. | electric power plants. | b. | industrial
boilers. | d. | catalytic
converters. |
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4.
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Which of the following is often used to remove poisonous gases from industrial
emissions before they are released into the atmosphere?
a. | catalytic converters | c. | electrostatic precipitators | b. | scrubbers | d. | crushed limestone |
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5.
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Which type of building would most likely have poor indoor air
quality?
a. | one in a cool climate with a good ventilation system | b. | one in an urban area
where windows are often open | c. | one that is tightly sealed and
air-conditioned | d. | one that has not been repainted or recarpeted in several
years |
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6.
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Schools in the United States have spent over $40 billion to remove
a. | non-water-based paint. | c. | volatile organic compounds. | b. | carbon
dioxide. | d. | asbestos. |
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7.
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Which of the following pH measurements of rainwater would indicate acid
precipitation?
a. | pH 6.0 | c. | pH 7.3 | b. | pH 4.1 | d. | pH 9.6 |
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8.
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Which of the following contributes most to acid precipitation?
a. | burning of fossil fuels | c. | radon and ozone | b. | ethanol | d. | All
of the above |
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9.
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As a lake becomes more acidic, fish are harmed not only by the acidity but also
by substances that leach out of the soil into the water. Which of these toxic substances is leached
when conditions are acidic?
a. | copper | c. | calcium | b. | iron | d. | aluminum |
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10.
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Most of the pollution that causes acid precipitation to fall in southeastern
Canada is released from
a. | Mexico. | b. | central Canada. | c. | the midwestern and
eastern United States. | d. | the southern United
States. |
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11.
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Most air pollution is produced by
a. | thermal inversions. | c. | ozone layer depletion. | b. | fuel
burning. | d. | volcanic
eruptions. |
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12.
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A true statement about sulfur dioxides is that they are
a. | primarily a byproduct of fuel burning in automobiles. | b. | involved in the
formation of acid precipitation. | c. | released when solvents are used in
manufacturing. | d. | participants in the chemical reactions that produce
ozone. |
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13.
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Activities such as construction and agriculture are primary sources of
a. | hydrocarbons. | c. | nitrogen oxides. | b. | volatile organic compounds. | d. | particulate
matter. |
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14.
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A true statement about carbon monoxide is that it
a. | can lower the level of oxygen carried in the blood. | b. | is a less harmful
pollutant than carbon dioxide. | c. | may cause headaches but not
death. | d. | has no effect on fetal development. |
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15.
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The automobile’s contribution to air pollution includes
a. | water vapor released during combustion. | b. | fumes that escape
when the gas tank is filled. | c. | nitrogen oxides emitted in
exhaust. | d. | Both (b) and (c) |
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16.
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Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?
a. | hydrocarbon emissions in car exhaust | b. | sulfur dioxide created when electrical power is
generated | c. | VOCs released by a dry cleaner | d. | smog formed in the presence of
sunlight |
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17.
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Which of the following would cause the smallest increase in smog in an urban
area?
a. | dependence on coal for heating | c. | frequent thermal
inversions | b. | combustion of ethanol in cars | d. | location in a valley or
basin |
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18.
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One way radon and asbestos are similar is that they
a. | are both gaseous pollutants. | c. | cut and scar the
lungs. | b. | increase the risk of cancer. | d. | are primarily outdoor air
pollutants. |
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19.
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Which air pollutants can aggravate bronchial asthma in humans and cause fish to
suffocate?
a. | natural substances such as mold and fungi | b. | acids formed from
nitrogen compounds | c. | particulates produced by forest
fires | d. | VOCs released during industrial processes |
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20.
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Which of the following pollutants is most likely to reach unhealthy
levels inside an office building?
a. | VOCs found in the building’s foam insulation | b. | particulates such as
dust | c. | sulfur dioxide emitted in the exhaust of nearby traffic | d. | carbon dioxide
released by human respiration |
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21.
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Temperature inversions work to trap pollution when
a. | cool air above keeps warmer air at the surface from moving
upward. | b. | cool air above keeps warmer air at the surface from absorbing solar
radiation. | c. | warm air above keeps cooler air at the surface from absorbing solar
radiation. | d. | warm air above keeps cooler air at the surface from moving
upward. |
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22.
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Which of the following activities is the largest producer of primary air
pollutants in the United States?
a. | electricity production | c. | transportation | b. | healthcare | d. | agriculture |
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23.
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Light pollution can be decreased by
a. | directing lighting downward. | b. | lighting billboards from
below. | c. | using incandescent light bulbs. | d. | increasing the number of lights per block on a
city street. |
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24.
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Acid precipitation can be traced back to
a. | the burning of fossil fuels. | b. | the use of electrostatic
precipitators. | c. | thermal inversions. | d. | the release of particulate matter into the
atmosphere. |
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25.
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When the acidity of soil increases,
a. | the pH reaches levels as high as 7.0 to 9.0. | b. | some nutrients are
dissolved and washed away. | c. | the number of bacteria increases as
well. | d. | Both (a) and (b) |
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