Science
Questions 1-11 are based on the following
Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage.
This passage is excerpted from the Ecological Society of America, “Human Alteration of the Global Nitrogen Cycle: Causes and Consequences,” ©1997 by the Ecological Society of America.
1. The author’s central claim in the passage is that
A) human activities are hastening the rate at which nitrogen is fixed into biologically useful forms.
B) nitrogen is a necessary symbiotic component to sustain life on earth and keep ecosystems in balance.
C) industrial use of fertilizer has contributed to the rise of fixed nitrogen, outpacing the output of organic nitrogen.
D) developing countries need to continue their use of fertilizer in order to meet rising agricultural demands.
2. In the passage, the author indicated that nitrogen
A) is derived primarily from lightning and industrial fertilizer.
B) is more essential than oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen.
C) is mostly a minor factor in regulating ecosystems.
D) is necessary to sustain biological life and ecosystems.
3 In line 17, “secure” most nearly means
A) protect.
B) defend.
C) acquire.
D) shelter.
4. According to paragraph 6, the main purpose of natural nitrogen fixation is to
A) support claims about the consequence of human enterprise on nitrogen fixation rates.
B) establish a unit of measurement to provide a baseline for fixed rates of nitrogen.
C) provide examples of the impacts on nitrogen release from lightning and microbes.
D) caution readers about the environmental effects of nitrogen release on the ecosystem.
5. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
A) lines 47-50 (“Quantifying … nitrogen”)
B) lines 51-54 (“The … nitrogen”)
C) lines 54-57 (“Worldwide … nitrogen”)
D) lines 57-60 (“Before … year”)
6. In lines 71, “symbiotic” most nearly means
A) harmonious
B) interdependent
C) concerted
D) collegial
7. The author implies that humans are altering the natural cycle of nitrogen by
A) stabilizing the food web chain of events.
B) using industrial fertilizer and fossil fuels.
C) expanding biodiversity and agriculture.
D) decreasing the release of fixed elements.
8. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
A) lines 63-67 (“During … forms”)
B) lines 67-73 (“The … bacteria”)
C) lines 72-75 (“Furthermore … matter”)
D) lines 75-78 (“Industrial … cycle”)
9. How does the data in the graph support the author’s point in the last paragraph?
A) The graph indicates that the use of fertilizer on corn in developed countries is rising faster than the overall use of fertilizer.
B) The graph strengthens the argument that fertilizer production must be halted in order to reduce nitrogen rates.
C) The graph suggests that urbanization will lead to a rapid acceleration of nitrogen fertilizer production in the United States.
D) The graph supports the claim that fertilizer production in developed countries has largely stabilized.
10. The main purpose of the information in the graph is to
A) show the relationship over time between overall fertilizer use in the United States and the amount used to grow corn.
B) illustrate the effect of overall nitrogen fertilizer use on the environment in the United States.
C) forecast the production of nitrogen fertilizer use in the United States over the coming century.
D) indicate the inherent risk in increasing production of nitrogen fertilizer use and its impact on the corn industry.
11. The graph indicates that, between 1960 and 2010, the United States’ nitrogen fertilizer use has
A) remained stable.
B) fallen off, then increased again.
C) tripled in volume.
D) decreased significantly.
E) *Rack your brain and you don't know why.