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UGS303 Exam Practice Questions


UGS303 Exam Practice Questions

Based on Note Sheet: Topics 1A–7C

Topic 1A–1B: Introduction to Sustaining a Planet

  1. Which of the following is a major driver of biodiversity loss?
    a) Overfishing
    b) Deforestation
    c) Habitat destruction
    d) All of the above

  2. The Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” is caused primarily by:
    a) Overfishing
    b) Agricultural nutrient runoff leading to algal blooms
    c) Oil spills
    d) Acid rain

  3. Sustainability is best defined as:
    a) Reducing human consumption completely
    b) Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
    c) Using resources as quickly as possible to maximize profits
    d) Maintaining industrial and economic growth indefinitely

Topic 2: The Scientific Method

  1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of science?
    a) Testable hypotheses
    b) Peer review
    c) Permanent, unchanging results
    d) Systematic documentation

  2. Astrology is best categorized as:
    a) Pathological science
    b) Pseudoscience
    c) Junk science
    d) Peer-reviewed science

Topic 3: Tragedy of the Commons

  1. The collapse of Easter Island society was largely due to:
    a) Volcanic eruption
    b) Warfare
    c) Deforestation and resource depletion
    d) Climate change

  2. The concept of carrying capacity refers to:
    a) The maximum number of species that can migrate across a region
    b) The maximum population size an environment can sustain
    c) The speed at which resources regenerate naturally
    d) The number of species in a balanced ecosystem

Topic 4: Drivers of Sustainability

  1. Who wrote Silent Spring, raising awareness of pesticides?
    a) Barry Commoner
    b) Paul Ehrlich
    c) Rachel Carson
    d) Thomas Malthus

  2. Which of the following is expressed by the I=PAT equation?
    a) Industrialization = Pollution × Affluence × Technology
    b) Impact = Population × Affluence × Technology
    c) Investment = Population × Affluence × Territory
    d) Impact = Pollution × Agriculture × Technology

  3. Which factor has been decreasing on average in recent decades?
    a) Population
    b) Affluence
    c) Energy per unit of economic output (energy per GDP)
    d) Global fossil fuel use

Topic 5: Plate Tectonics & Rock Cycle

  1. Which type of rock is formed by cooling magma?
    a) Sedimentary
    b) Metamorphic
    c) Igneous
    d) Fossilized

  2. At a convergent plate boundary, you would expect to see:
    a) Seafloor spreading
    b) Earthquakes and subduction zones
    c) Transform faults
    d) Rift valleys

Topic 6: Atmosphere

  1. Which atmospheric layer contains the ozone layer?
    a) Troposphere
    b) Stratosphere
    c) Mesosphere
    d) Thermosphere

  2. Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?
    a) CO₂
    b) CH₄
    c) Argon
    d) N₂O

  3. Positive feedback in climate systems is best illustrated by:
    a) Plant CO₂ uptake
    b) Ice melting → reduced albedo → more warming
    c) Cloud formation cooling the Earth
    d) Seasonal changes

Topic 7A–7C: Climate & Circulation

  1. The Coriolis effect explains why:
    a) Winds curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere
    b) Toilets flush differently in each hemisphere
    c) Hurricanes form only at the equator
    d) The moon affects ocean tides

  2. Deserts are commonly found near 30° latitude because:
    a) Rising warm, moist air releases precipitation there
    b) Descending dry air suppresses rainfall
    c) They are shielded from ocean currents
    d) They are located near tectonic boundaries

  3. True/False: The tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the seasons by changing the insolation footprint.

Hurricanes are fueled by:
a) Dry descending air
b) Latent heat released from evaporated water
c) Cold ocean currents
d) Carbon dioxide concentrations