Question 1

Which of the following gases is most directly linked to human-driven (anthropogenic) climate change due to its prevalence and the scale of human emissions?

Accepted Answer

Carbon dioxide ($$CO_2)$$

Question 2

The images of Jackson Glacier in 1911 and 2009, along with the graph of glacier mass, best illustrate which consequence of global climate change?

Accepted Answer

Shrinking of the world's major glaciers

Question 3

Which process is primarily responsible for the largest portion of sea level rise since 1993, as shown in the second image?

Accepted Answer

Thermal expansion of seawater

Question 4

Why does the loss of forest land contribute to increased atmospheric $$CO_2$$ concentrations?

Accepted Answer

Forests absorb $$CO_2$$ and their removal reduces this absorption

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a proposed mitigation strategy for reducing the severity of global climate change?

Accepted Answer

Building sea walls to protect coastal cities

Question 6

A city like New Orleans is especially vulnerable to sea level rise because:

Accepted Answer

Most of the city is below sea level

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the greenhouse effect?

Accepted Answer

The absorption and re-radiation of infrared energy by certain atmospheric gases

Question 8

Which of the following is a potential negative consequence of carbon taxation as a mitigation strategy?

Accepted Answer

Polluters may pass the costs on to consumers

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a carbon offset?

Accepted Answer

Paying for reforestation projects to balance out fossil fuel emissions

Question 10

If the average global temperature increases by $$2^\circ C by $$the end of the century, which of the following is a likely impact on agriculture?

Accepted Answer

Initial increases in yield may be followed by declines due to droughts and floods

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why ocean acidification is a concern for marine life?

Accepted Answer

It threatens organisms like corals by reducing carbonate ion availability

Question 12

Which of the following is a direct result of increased evaporation due to global warming?

Accepted Answer

More extreme weather events, including both floods and droughts

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions?

Accepted Answer

A government sets a cap on emissions and allows trading of permits among emitters

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen ($$O_2)$$

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of adaptation to climate change?

Accepted Answer

Building sea walls to protect coastal cities

Question 16

Which of the following is a likely consequence of melting permafrost?

Accepted Answer

Release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas

Question 17

Which of the following best explains why the Clean Power Plan was proposed?

Accepted Answer

To regulate emissions from existing power plants and reduce $$CO_2$$ emissions

Question 18

Which of the following is a reason why water vapor concentrations have not changed significantly due to human activity?

Accepted Answer

Water vapor levels are controlled by temperature, not direct emissions

Question 19

Which of the following is a likely impact of climate change on human health?

Accepted Answer

Spread of tropical diseases to new regions

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the concept of carbon neutrality?

Accepted Answer

Balancing carbon emissions with an equivalent amount of carbon removal or offset

Global Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, and Mitigation

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards