Multiple Choice
Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.
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Which of the following is not an environmental function of
wetlands?
a. | increasing runoff | b. | absorbing and removing pollutants from
water | c. | trapping carbon that would otherwise be released into the air | d. | controlling
floods |
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2.
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Estuaries are very productive ecosystems because they receive fresh nutrients
from
a. | lakes and ponds. | c. | marshes and swamps. | b. | rivers and oceans. | d. | streams and
springs. |
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3.
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What causes most coastal pollution in the United States?
a. | overfishing | c. | industrial waste and sewage | b. | temperature
changes | d. | lakes and
ponds |
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4.
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What adaptation prevents phytoplankton from sinking into deep waters?
a. | whiskers | c. | flagella | b. | streamlined body shape | d. | tentacles |
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5.
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Swamps are commonly found on
a. | rocky hillsides. | c. | forest clearings. | b. | flat, poorly drained land. | d. | bottoms of ponds or
lakes. |
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6.
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The majority of marine organisms are found in
a. | deep ocean waters. | c. | fisheries. | b. | shallow, coastal waters. | d. | None of the
above |
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7.
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As they flow down a mountain to flatter ground, rivers generally become
a. | wider. | c. | slower. | b. | warmer. | d. | All of the
above |
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8.
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Which of the following statements is not correct?
a. | Lakes may contain a region that receives little sunlight. | b. | Wetlands help remove
pollutants from water. | c. | Swamps are dominated by woody shrubs and
water-loving trees. | d. | Rivers generally move faster, and their oxygen
levels decrease, as they near the ocean. |
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9.
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Two threats to ocean ecosystems are
a. | nutrient runoff and industrial waste discharges. | b. | overfishing and
entanglement of marine mammals in trawl nets. | c. | sewage and algal blooms. | d. | All of the
above |
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10.
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The types of organisms found in a pond or lake depend on
a. | the amount of sunlight available. | c. | the presence of
nutrients. | b. | the temperature of the water. | d. | All of the
above |
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11.
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In the _____ zone, life is diverse and abundant.
a. | benthic | c. | littoral | b. | eutrophic | d. | plankton |
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12.
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In the _____ zone, the water is cool and dark.
a. | benthic | c. | littoral | b. | eutrophic | d. | plankton |
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13.
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Most pollutants that enter estuaries break down over time, yet they are still
considered a problem because
a. | the pollutants eventually concentrate in the ocean. | b. | it is the volume of
the pollutants, more than the time factor, that harms estuaries. | c. | the pollutants break
down into still more dangerous toxins. | d. | None of the
above |
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14.
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What mainly distinguishes nekton from benthos?
a. | One lives in a freshwater ecosystem and the other lives in salty
water. | b. | One swims freely and the other often lives attached to a hard
surface. | c. | One is a predator and the other is a primary producer. | d. | All of the
above |
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15.
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Estuaries
a. | are always saltwater ecosystems. | b. | are always freshwater
ecosystems. | c. | are ecosystems where both fresh water and salt water are present. | d. | prevent the
development of salt marshes. |
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16.
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Which organism produces most of the food in an aquatic ecosystem?
a. | fish | c. | phytoplankton | b. | barnacles | d. | zooplankton |
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17.
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The arrangement of organisms in the open ocean is determined by the
a. | increase in salt content from shallow to deep waters. | b. | size of the benthic
zone, where photosynthesis occurs. | c. | amount of nutrients and sunlight that are
available. | d. | distribution of zooplankton. |
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18.
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Which of the following is not characteristic of wetlands?
a. | Wetlands have plentiful nutrients and the capacity for
photosynthesis. | b. | Wetlands are limited to inland freshwater environments. | c. | Wetlands are
perceived historically as disease-infested wastelands. | d. | Wetlands have varied populations of plants and
animals. |
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19.
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An estuary functions as a mineral trap due to
a. | its great depth and particularly sticky sediment. | b. | the mixing action of
river water and ocean water. | c. | its storing of pesticides from agricultural
runoff. | d. | the filtering action of bottom-feeding fish species. |
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20.
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Coral reefs are intricately shaped rocklike structures that are formed as a
result of
a. | volcanic activity that is common in tropical marine environments. | b. | the gradual
accumulation and fusion of skeletons of bony fish. | c. | the secretion of calcium carbonate by tiny
marine animals. | d. | minerals that are washed from land ecosystems and build
up. |
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21.
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What are the two main types of freshwater wetlands?
a. | lakes and ponds | c. | littoral zones and benthic zones | b. | rivers and
streams | d. | marshes and
swamps |
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22.
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Which of the following is not characteristic of salt marshes and mangrove
swamps?
a. | Both provide habitats for wildlife. | b. | Both are dominated by marsh
grasses. | c. | Both are found along coastal areas. | d. | Both are threatened by
development. |
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23.
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Which ecosystem has the highest level of salinity?
a. | salt marsh | c. | river | b. | brackish marsh | d. | pond |
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24.
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Which of the following is a threat to coral reefs?
a. | oil spills | c. | pesticides | b. | sewage | d. | All of the
above |
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25.
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Why doesn’t photosynthesis occur in deep ocean water?
a. | The water temperature is too cold. | b. | There is no sunlight. | c. | There are not enough
nutrients. | d. | The salinity level of the water is too high. |
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