1. The diagram below shows a greenhouse.
5. A gradual increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide
would warm Earth’s atmosphere because carbon
dioxide is a
A)
B)
C)
D)
What is the primary function of the clear glass of the
greenhouse?
A) The glass reduces the amount of insolation
entering the greenhouse.
B) The glass allows all wavelengths of radiation to
enter and all wavelengths of radiation to escape.
C) The glass allows short wavelengths of
radiation to enter, but reduces the amount of
longwavelength radiation that escapes.
D) The glass allows long wavelengths of radiation
to enter, but reduces the amount of
shortwavelength radiation that escapes.
2. Which gas in Earth's upper atmosphere is beneficial to
humans because it absorbs large amounts of
ultraviolet radiation?
A) water vapor
B) methane
C) nitrogen
D) ozone
3. Which gas is considered a major greenhouse gas?
A) methane
B) hydrogen
C) oxygen
D) nitrogen
4. Why are carbon dioxide and water vapor called the
greenhouse gases?
A) They are found in varying amounts in Earth's
atmosphere.
B) They are found in fixed amounts in Earth's
bedrock.
C) They are good reflectors of infrared radiation.
D) They are good absorbers of infrared
radiation.
poor reflector of ultraviolet radiation
good reflector of ultraviolet radiation
poor absorber of infrared radiation
good absorber of infrared radiation
6. The graph below shows changes in carbon dioxide concentrations in Earth's atmosphere over a
140-year period. Carbon dioxide concentrations are shown in parts per million (ppm).
This significant change in CO2 concentration is most likely caused by
A)
B)
C)
D)
decreased cloud cover, and is predicted to decrease average global temperatures
decreased volcanic activity, and is predicted to increase average global temperatures
increased use of fossil fuels, and is predicted to increase average global temperatures
increased EI Niño activity, and is predicted to decrease average global temperatures
7. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram and table below. The diagram shows a
cross section of a solar-energy collecting system constructed as a portion of a wall of a house. It
consists of an energy-absorbing surface, a clear glass covering, and air ducts through the wall into the
house. The table gives the house temperatures during a spring day. No other heat source is available
for the house.
What is the purpose of the clear glass covering of this solar collector?
A)
B)
C)
D)
The glass radiates infrared energy.
The glass radiates ultraviolet energy.
The glass allows short-wave radiation to enter and traps long-wave reradiation.
The glass allows long-wave radiation to enter and traps short-wave reradiation.
8. The graph below shows the change in carbon dioxide
concentration in parts per million (ppm) in Earth's
atmosphere from 1960 to 1990.
10. Deforestation increases the greenhouse effect on
Earth because deforestation causes the atmosphere
to contain
A) more carbon dioxide, which absorbs
infrared radiation
B) less carbon dioxide, which absorbs short-wave
radiation
C) more oxygen, which absorbs infrared radiation
D) less oxygen, which absorbs short-wave
radiation
The most likely cause of the overall change in the
level of carbon dioxide from 1960 to 1990 is an
increase in the
A) number of violent storms
B) number of volcanic eruptions
C) use of nuclear power
D) use of fossil fuels
9. Ice samples from continental glaciers provide
evidence that today's atmosphere contains more
carbon dioxide than ancient atmospheres did. This
increase concerns scientists because increased carbon
dioxide may
A) cause plants to grow very rapidly
B) cause a loss in the amount of radiant energy from
the Sun
C) contribute to a gradual warming of the
atmosphere
D) contribute to a rapid cooling of the oceans
11. Base your answer to the following question on the graph below which shows variations in Earth's
monthly temperatures from normal Earth temperatures between January 1990 and January 1995.
The addition of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane gas to the atmosphere changes Earth's
climate. This change occurs primarily because these gases cause
A) cooler temperatures by absorbing infrared radiation
B) cooler temperatures by absorbing ultraviolet radiation
C) warmer temperatures by absorbing ultraviolet radiation
D) warmer temperatures by absorbing infrared radiation
12. Which two gases have been added to Earth’s
14. Which diagram best shows how air inside a
atmosphere in large amounts and are believed to
greenhouse warms as a result of energy from the
have increased global warming by absorbing
Sun?
infrared radiation?
A) neon and argon
B) chlorine and nitrogen
C) hydrogen and helium
D) methane and carbon dioxide
13. Which graph best shows the relationship between the
concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth's
atmosphere and the amount of infrared radiation
absorbed by the atmosphere.
A)
A)
B)
B)
C)
C)
D)
D)
15. An increase in which gas in Earth’s atmosphere will
most significantly increase global temperatures?
A) methane
B) oxygen
C) nitrogen
D) hydrogen
16. Two identical glass containers were placed in direct
sunlight. The first container was filled with air and
the second container was filled with a mixture of air
and additional carbon dioxide. Each container was
sealed with a thermometer inside. Temperatures
were recorded at 2-minute intervals, as shown in the
data table below.
18. The graph below represents the average yearly
concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2) in Earth's
atmosphere from 1972 to 1993.
This change in CO 2 concentration most likely
caused
Which statement best explains the results of this
activity?
A) Carbon dioxide is a good absorber of
infrared radiation.
B) Carbon dioxide causes a random reflection of
energy.
C) Carbon dioxide has no effect on the
atmosphere's energy balance.
D) Carbon dioxide converts some energy into
potential energy.
17. Earth’s atmosphere is warmed when
A) ultraviolet radiation emitted by Earth is
absorbed by nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere
B) x-ray radiation emitted by Earth is absorbed by
nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
C) infrared radiation emitted by Earth is
absorbed by carbon dioxide and water vapor
in the atmosphere
D) gamma radiation emitted by Earth is absorbed
by carbon dioxide and water vapor in the
atmosphere
A) a decrease in the average wavelength of solar
radiation
B) a decrease in the thickness of Earth's
atmosphere
C) an increase in the absorption of long-wave
heat radiation by Earth's atmosphere
D) an increase in the thickness of Earth's glaciers
19. Which graph best shows the relationship between the
amount of carbon dioxide contained in Earth's
atmosphere and the average atmospheric
temperature?
A)
C)
B)
D)
20. An increase in which gas would cause the most
greenhouse warming of Earth’s atmosphere?
A) nitrogen
C) carbon dioxide
B) oxygen
D) hydrogen
21. An increase in the amount of which atmospheric gas
is thought to cause global climate warming?
A) oxygen
B) hydrogen
C) nitrogen
D) carbon dioxide
22. Evidence supports the idea that increases in carbon
dioxide and methane in Earth's atmosphere are
major contributors to global warming. This is based
primarily on the fact that carbon dioxide and
methane are excellent absorbers of
A) gamma rays
B) microwaves
C) visible light
D) infrared radiation
23. Which component of Earth’s atmosphere is
classified as a greenhouse gas?
A) oxygen
B) carbon dioxide
C) helium
D) hydrogen
24. Why are some scientists concerned about an increase
in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
A) An increase would change the decay rate of C 14
.
B) An increase would cause more ultraviolet
energy to strike the Earth's outer atmosphere.
C) An increase would cause energy to flow from
energy sinks to energy sources.
D) An increase would cause an overall heating
up of the Earth's atmosphere.
25. Which diagram best represents how greenhouse gases in our atmosphere trap heat energy?
A)
B)
C)
D)
26. Increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth’s
atmosphere increases atmospheric temperature
because the carbon dioxide absorbs
A)
B)
C)
D)
incoming solar gamma ray radiation
incoming solar visible light radiation
outgoing terrestrial ultraviolet radiation
outgoing terrestrial infrared radiation