Introduction:
This is aimed at helping USA teachers and students to test and learn their environmental science knowledge. The quiz covers the most important concepts related to environmental science. Let’s start!
Q1: What is the study of living things and their environment called?
Options:
A: Astronomy
B : Biodiversity
C: Evolution
D: Ecology
Answer: D: Ecology – the study of the interactions of living organisms with each other and their environment.
Q2: What is the most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere?
Options:
A: Nitrogen
B : Carbon Dioxide
C: Oxygen
D: Water Vapor
Answer: A: Nitrogen – Nitrogen makes up about 78 percent of Earth’s atmosphere.
Q3: What are the Earth’s four spheres?
Options:
A: Growth, development, change and decay
B : Lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere
C: Sun, Moon, stars and planets
D: Fungi, plants, animals and humans
Answer: B: Lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere – Lithosphere is the solid crust and mantle of the Earth, hydrosphere is all of the water on Earth, atmosphere is the gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth, and biosphere is the regions of the Earth where life exists.
Q4: What are producers in an ecosystem?
Options:
A: Living things that cannot make their own food
B : Living things that make their own food
C: Living things that eat plants
D: Living things that eat animals
Answer: B: Living things that make their own food - Producers in an ecosystem are organisms that make their own food by photosynthesis.
Q5: What is the process of changing energy from one form to another known as?
Options:
A: Assimilation
B : Metabolism
C: Transduction
D: Transformation
Answer: D: Transformation – Transformation is the process of changing energy from one form to another.
Q6: What kind of energy powers the water cycle?
Options:
A: Nuclear Energy
B : Wind Energy
C: Solar Energy
D: Chemical Energy
Answer: C: Solar Energy – Solar energy powers the water cycle through the evaporation of water and the condensation of water vapor into clouds.
Q7: What does carbon dioxide all do to the atmosphere?
Options:
A: Deflects incoming solar radiation
B : Traps heat from the sun
C: Increases air temperature
D: Absorbs heat from the sun
Answer: B: Traps heat from the sun – Carbon dioxide traps heat from the sun and contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Q8: What does a landfill consist of?
Options:
A: Desert sand
B : Rocks and stones
C: Plastic and other waste materials
D: Leaves and twigs
Answer: C: Plastic and other waste materials – Landfills are areas where waste materials (such as plastic, metal, and paper) are stored in a controlled environment.
Q9: How can we reduce air pollution from cars?
Options:
A: Plant more trees
B : Use public transportation
C: Drive faster
D: Burn more fuel
Answer: B: Use public transportation - By using public transportation instead of private cars, we can reduce air pollution from cars.
Q10: What is one way to conserve water?
Options:
A: Turn off the sink when brushing your teeth
B : Take shorter showers
C: Run the washing machine more often
D: Flush the toilet less often
Answer: A: Turn off the sink when brushing your teeth – We can conserve water by turning off the sink when brushing our teeth.