AP ENVIRONMENTAL EXAM FORMAT

ESSAYS

• The four questions are equally weighted• ~~~~ 22 min of writing time

for each question

Common verbs

• Compare- point out similarities and differences

• Explain-tell how----give reasons why • Describe- give a “picture” in words• Discuss- • APES Language reduce, reuse, remediate

DO and DON’T

• Answer in essay or narrative form. NOT OUTLINE FORM

• If you use a diagram or are asked to compose a graph, VERBALLY DESCRIBE IT.

• If asked to compose a graph DO label x and y axis and title.

• Use as good penmanship as possible.

Should I guess on the multiple choice?100 QUESTIONS

YES!

2008 exam question

• Acid deposition would most likely result in which of the following?

• a. The release of aluminum ions from the soil• b. An increase in population of mollusks• c. The death of species tolerant of low pH levels• d. An increase in the buffering of lake water by sulfates• e. An increase of pH of unbuffered water

Answer is a

• Only 18 % of students got this one right!

2008 exam question

• When logging is carried out in a wateshed, a likely effect on the local streams is

• A. Mitigation of anoxia• B. Decreased nutrient levels• C. Decreased input of sediments• D. Increased oligotropic conditions• E. Increased water temperature

Answer is E

• Only 15 % got this one correct

2008 exam question• Rachel Carson’s contributions to the environmental movement include

which of the following?• A. Alerting the public to the hazardous waste problem at Love Canal• B. Increasing public awareness of the risks of pesticides• C. Starting the first Earth Day of 1970• D. Discovering the thinning to the ozone layer• E. Making Mr. Ben Butler clean up after himself

Answer is B

• 58% of students answered this correctly

• What is the population doubling time in years for a country with an annual growth rate of 3.5%?

• A. O.5• B. 3.5• C. 20• D. 24.5• E. 70

answer is C

• 53% correct on the 2008 exam

2008 exam question

• Which of the following best illustrates point source pollution?• A. Toxic sediments in the delta of a major river• B. Increase in NOX in a traffic clogged city• C. Dust blowing off unpaved roads• D. Smoke emitted from forest fires• E. Smokestack emission from a large smelting operation

Answer is E

• 80 correct in the 2008 exam

2008 exam question

• Most municipal solid waste in the United States is disposed of in

• A. The oceans• B. Sanitary landfills• C. Deep wells• D. Ocean dumps• E. Abandoned mines

Correct answer is B

• 81% correct

“Work the test, don’t let the test work you.”

No Yes

POLLUTION

• Air pollution (primary and secondary sources, major air pollutants, measurement units, acid deposition---causes and effects, heat islands, temperature inversions, indoor air pollutants, remediation and Clean Air Act,

• Noise pollution (sources, effects, control measures unit sound is measured in? )

• Water pollution (types, cultural eutrophication, ground water pollution, water quality, sewage treatment, Clean Water Act is different from the Safe Drinking Water Act in-----how------???

POLLUTION (CONT.)

• IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH• What is LD 50, How are hazardous waste

treated and disposed of, clean up of contaminated sites What is CERCLA (superfund) AND RCRA , biomagnification and bioaccumulation There is a difference between them.

Land and water use

• Mining• mineral formation, extraction, global

reserves, relevant laws and treaties)• Fishing ( fishing techniques, Overfishing,

aquaculture, relevant laws and treaties)• Global economics (globalization, World Bank;

tragedy of the commons, relevant laws and treaties)

Energy Resources and Consumption

• Energy Concepts: energy forms, power, units, conversion, Laws of Thermodynamics.

• Energy Consumption: history, present Global energy use, future energy needs)

• Fossil Fuel resources and Use (formation of coal, oil, natural gas, hydrogen fuel cells, biomass, wind energy, small scale hydroelectric, ocean and tidal energy, geothermal, fracting, plus and minus for each

KNOW

• For any energy source, • power source>>>>>turns a turbine

>>>>>generator produces electricity AC current

Energy Resources and Consumption

• Nuclear Energy (nuclear fission process, nuclear fuel, electricity production, environmental advantages or disadvantages, safety issues, radiation, human health, radioactve waste issues)

• Hydroelectric power (floods, dams, silting, the impacts on salmon)

• Energy Conversion (energy efficinecy, CAFÉ standards, hybrid vehicles, mass transit)

• Renewable Energy (solar energy, hydrogen fuel cells, biomass, wind energy, ocean waves, geothermal, advantages and disadvantages of each.

Global Change

• Stratospheirc ozone (formation of stratospheric ozone, UV radiation causes and effects, causes of ozone depletion, how to reduce ozone depletion, relevant laws and treaties)

• Global warming (greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect, possible consequences of the greenhouse effect, reducing climate change)

Global Change

• Habitat loss (overuse, invasive species, endangered and extinct species, habitat loss)

• 1973 Endangered species act

AVOID CONFUSION

• Niche and Habitat• CO2 and CFC’s• Atmospheric Ozone and Tropospheric Ozone• Passive Solar and Solar Generated Electricity• Origin of Sulfuric and Nitric Acids