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AP Environmental Science Unit 5: Land and Water Use

12 questions

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Unit 5: Land and Water Use

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Question 1

Strip mining for coal removes entire hillsides of overburden to access coal seams near the surface. The most significant long-term water quality problem associated with strip mining is:

A.Mercury contamination from detonation residuesB.Acid mine drainage (AMD) from oxidation of iron sulfide mineralsC.Radioactive leachate from uranium ore exposed during miningD.Nitrogen runoff from explosives fertilizing nearby waterways

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the environmental impact of large-scale irrigation from surface water sources like rivers?

A.Increased river flow volume downstream due to field drainage returning water to riversB.Reduced streamflow, altered sediment transport, and habitat loss for aquatic speciesC.Removal of excess nutrients from rivers, improving downstream water qualityD.Stabilization of riverbanks through water level control

Question 3

Which of the following fishing practices has the MOST indiscriminate impact, capturing and killing non-target species (bycatch)?

A.Fly fishing with hook and lineB.Bottom trawling with large nets dragged across the sea floorC.Trap fishing with species-specific cage designsD.Aquaculture (fish farming) in enclosed pens

Question 4

Soil erosion is accelerated by all of the following EXCEPT:

A.Overgrazing by livestock that removes protective vegetation coverB.Contour plowing across slopes rather than up and down hillsC.Leaving fields bare (fallow) between planting seasons without cover cropsD.Removing windbreaks (shelterbelts) from farmland edges

Question 5

Clear-cutting a tropical forest for cattle ranching causes which of the following environmental consequences MOST directly?

A.Immediate increase in soil fertility due to ash from burned vegetationB.Habitat loss and fragmentation, releasing stored carbon and reducing biodiversityC.Reduction in atmospheric CO₂ because new grasses fix more carbon than treesD.Increase in local precipitation due to reduced evapotranspiration

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Question 6

The concept of sustainable agriculture includes which of the following practices?

A.Applying maximum synthetic fertilizer to maximize annual yieldB.Rotating crops to maintain soil nutrients and reduce pest buildupC.Irrigating with flood methods to ensure deep root hydrationD.Concentrating livestock in large feedlots to minimize land use

Question 7

Urbanization increases impervious surface cover (roads, parking lots, buildings). Which hydrological consequence does this MOST directly cause?

A.Increased groundwater recharge from concentrated runoffB.Reduced evapotranspiration and increased stormwater runoff volume and peak flowC.Increased soil water retention due to compaction under pavementD.Decreased flooding because drainage infrastructure channels water efficiently

Question 8

Industrial monoculture agriculture maximizes yield per acre by growing a single crop variety across large areas. Which of the following is a significant environmental drawback of this approach?

A.It requires more labor per unit of food produced than traditional polyculture.B.Genetic uniformity increases vulnerability to pests, diseases, and climate variability.C.It produces lower food yields compared to diverse crop systems.D.It relies on traditional organic fertilizers that are difficult to distribute at scale.

Question 9

A farmer in an arid region uses drip irrigation rather than flood irrigation. The primary environmental benefit of drip irrigation is:

A.It adds more nitrogen to the soil than flood irrigation.B.It dramatically reduces water use and prevents soil salinization from evaporation.C.It requires no energy input since gravity drives the flow.D.It eliminates the need for pesticide application.

Question 10

The maximum amount of fish that can be harvested from a fishery without causing long-term population decline is called the:

A.Ecological footprintB.Maximum sustainable yield (MSY)C.Carrying capacity of the marine ecosystemD.Biomagnification threshold

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Question 11

The Ogallala Aquifer underlies much of the U.S. Great Plains and is used for agricultural irrigation. It is being depleted at a rate 10–40 times faster than natural recharge. This situation is an example of:

A.Sustainable yield managementB.Overdraft (unsustainable groundwater use)C.The hydrologic cycle restoring the aquifer through precipitationD.Salinization from excessive flood irrigation

Question 12

The 'tragedy of the commons' concept, as applied to fisheries, predicts that:

A.Fishers will voluntarily reduce their catch to protect long-term yields.B.Individual fishers, each acting in self-interest, will overfish the shared resource to collapse.C.Government subsidies will prevent overfishing by making fishing less profitable.D.Fish populations self-regulate and prevent their own collapse.

AP Environmental Science Unit 5: Land and Water Use — Free with Answer Explanations | Test Practice Hub