Introduction
Are you preparing for the AP Environmental Science exam in 2020? If so, you’ll need to be well-versed in the concepts covered on the exam. One of the best ways to test your knowledge is by taking practice multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of AP Environmental Science MCQs from the 2020 exam. These questions will cover a wide range of topics, including ecology, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, and energy. By studying these questions, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses and focus your studies accordingly.
Ecological Principles
1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a population?
(A) Density
(B) Distribution
(C) Biomass
(D) Gene flow
2. What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
(A) The maximum number of individuals of a species that can be supported by an ecosystem over time
(B) The rate at which a population grows
(C) The number of individuals of a species that are present in an ecosystem at any given time
(D) The amount of food available in an ecosystem
3. What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
(A) A food chain shows the flow of energy through a single linear pathway, while a food web shows the flow of energy through a complex network of interconnected pathways.
(B) A food chain shows the flow of energy through multiple linear pathways, while a food web shows the flow of energy through a single linear pathway.
(C) A food chain shows the flow of energy through a single branching pathway, while a food web shows the flow of energy through a complex network of interconnected pathways.
(D) A food chain shows the flow of energy through a complex network of interconnected pathways, while a food web shows the flow of energy through a single linear pathway.
Biodiversity
4. Which of the following is a major threat to biodiversity?
(A) Habitat loss
(B) Pollution
(C) Invasive species
(D) All of the above
5. What is the difference between species richness and species diversity?
(A) Species richness is the number of species in an ecosystem, while species diversity is the relative abundance of each species.
(B) Species diversity is the number of species in an ecosystem, while species richness is the relative abundance of each species.
(C) Species richness is the relative abundance of each species, while species diversity is the number of species in an ecosystem.
(D) Species diversity is the relative abundance of each species, while species richness is the number of species in an ecosystem.
6. What is the role of keystone species in an ecosystem?
(A) Keystone species are species that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance.
(B) Keystone species are species that are the most abundant in their ecosystem.
(C) Keystone species are species that are the least abundant in their ecosystem.
(D) Keystone species are species that have no impact on their ecosystem.
Pollution
7. Which of the following is NOT a type of air pollution?
(A) Carbon monoxide
(B) Sulfur dioxide
(C) Nitrogen dioxide
(D) Water vapor
8. What is the Clean Air Act?
(A) A federal law that regulates air pollution in the United States
(B) A state law that regulates air pollution in California
(C) An international treaty that regulates air pollution
(D) A local ordinance that regulates air pollution
9. What is the difference between point source pollution and nonpoint source pollution?
(A) Point source pollution comes from a single identifiable source, while nonpoint source pollution comes from many diffuse sources.
(B) Nonpoint source pollution comes from a single identifiable source, while point source pollution comes from many diffuse sources.
(C) Point source pollution is more harmful than nonpoint source pollution.
(D) Nonpoint source pollution is more harmful than point source pollution.
Climate Change
10. What is the difference between climate and weather?
(A) Climate is the average weather conditions in a region over a long period of time, while weather is the current state of the atmosphere.
(B) Weather is the average weather conditions in a region over a long period of time, while climate is the current state of the atmosphere.
(C) Climate is the same as weather.
(D) Weather is the same as climate.
11. What is the greenhouse effect?
(A) The process by which the Earth’s atmosphere traps heat, causing the planet to warm
(B) The process by which the Earth’s atmosphere reflects heat, causing the planet to cool
(C) The process by which the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs heat, causing the planet to warm
(D) The process by which the Earth’s atmosphere releases heat, causing the planet to cool
12. What is the role of carbon dioxide in climate change?
(A) Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
(B) Carbon dioxide is not a greenhouse gas and does not contribute to climate change.
(C) Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that reflects heat away from the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
(D) Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that absorbs heat from the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
Energy
13. Which of the following is NOT a renewable energy source?
(A) Solar energy
(B) Wind energy
(C) Hydropower
(D) Coal
**14. What is the difference between