1. AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
EARTH’S INTERDEPENDENT SYSTEMS
AP EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS
Answer the following questions on a sheet of paper.
Check your answers by the final slide.

2. 1. A seismograph is used to measure
a. tectonic plate size.
b. the magnitude of an earthquake.
c. the temperature of volcanic
materials.
d. the frequency of earthquakes in a
region.
e. soil fertility.

3. 2. The aurora borealis occurs in which
of the following parts of the
atmosphere?
a. troposphere
b. thermosphere
c. mesosphere
d. hydrosphere
e. stratosphere

4. 3. Which of the following are the two
most important factors in
determining a habitat’s climate?
a. temperature & wind speed
b. wind direction & precipitation
c. wind speed & rate of evaporation
d. rate of evaporation & temperature
e. temperature & precipitation

5. 4. The atmosphere is warmed as gases such
as water vapor and carbon dioxide absorb
the infrared heat radiated from the earth.
This process is best described as
a. ozone depletion.
b. the greenhouse effect.
c. biomagnification.
d. ionization.
e. convection.

6. 5. The hydrosphere includes all of the
following EXCEPT
a. watershed.
b. wetlands.
c. parent rock.
d. rivers.
e. lakes.

7. 6. An area where there are cold waters,
low oxygen levels, and bottom-dwelling
fish. This description best fits the
a. benthic zone.
b. littoral zone.
c. limnetic zone.
d. open water zone.
e. profundal zone.

8. 7. The amount of the earth’s surface
that is covered by water is
approximately
a. 12 percent.
b. 36 percent.
c. 50 percent.
d. 75 percent.
e. 93 percent.

9. 8. An area where salt and freshwater
mix that has a very high level of
productivity is correctly called
a. the open ocean.
b. the abyssal zone.
c. the headwaters.
d. an estuary.
e. the littoral zone.

10. 9. Which of the following describes the
waters in an upwelling area?
a. cold & nutrient rich
b. warm & nutrient poor
c. cold & nutrient poor
d. heavily polluted by human waste
e. shallow & full of light

11. 10. Which of the following best
describes an unconfined aquifer?
It is an area where
a. water always comes to the surface.
b. water is free to flow in all directions.
c. water is held in place by impenetrable
rocks.
d. pollutants enter the aquifer.
e. an aquifer’s discharge area is located.

12. 11. Which of the following organisms
is not likely to be found as a
member of the detritus food web?
a. ants
b. earthworms
c. fungi
d. deer
e. bacteria

13. Select the one lettered choice that best answers each question or best fits each statement. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
a. atmosphere
b. troposphere
c. wind
d. convection currents
e. stratopshere
12. ozone in this layer blocks UV light from the sun
13. the location of our daily weather
14. the vertical heating & cooling of air
15. the movement of air between masses with different pressures
16. the collection of all gases held to the earth by gravity

14. ANSWERS
1. B 9. A
2. B B
3. E D
4. B E
5. C B
6. A D
7. D C
8. D A