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AP®Environmental ScienceCollege BoardExam QuestionsUnit 2: The Living World: BiodiversityNatural Disruptions to Ecosystems

Natural Disruptions to Ecosystems (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Exam Questions

5 mins5 questions
11 mark

Which of the following best explains why animals migrate in response to natural disruptions?

  • Migration due to natural disruptions is uncommon because most animals can quickly adapt to sudden environmental changes.

  • Animals only migrate when human activities, such as deforestation, alter their habitats.

  • Natural events such as wildfires, droughts, and hurricanes can destroy habitats, forcing animals to relocate in search of food and shelter. 

  • Natural disruptions rarely affect animal populations, so migration is usually unrelated to environmental changes.

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21 mark

Which of the following best explains why Earth's climate has changed over geologic time?

  • Variations in Earth's orbit, solar radiation, volcanic activity, and shifting continental positions have all contributed to long-term climate changes.

  • Climate change is a recent phenomenon caused only by human activities in the past century.

  • The Earth's climate has remained constant over geologic time, with no significant changes.

  • Changes in climate occur only due to asteroid impacts and have no connection to natural processes..

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31 mark

The table below shows estimated global sea levels at different points in geologic time:

Time Period 

Estimate Sea Level Rise (meters)

120,000 years ago (last interglacial period)

+6

20,000 years ago (last glacial maximum)

-120

10,000 years ago (end of ice age)

-20

Present Day

+ 0.1

Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the data?

  • Sea levels have fluctuated significantly due to glacial and interglacial periods, with lower levels during ice ages and higher levels during warmer periods. 

  • Sea levels have remained relatively stable throughout Earth's history, with minimal variation over time.

  • The current sea level is the highest it has ever been, indicating an unprecedented change in climate.

  • The data suggests that sea level decreases over time, meaning future sea levels will likely be lower than today.

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41 mark

Which of the following is an example of a periodic natural process?

  • A volcanic eruption that occurs after centuries of dormancy

  • An asteroid impact causing mass extinction

  • A sudden earthquake along a tectonic fault

  • Seasonal monsoon rains that occur annually in South Asia

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51 mark

Which of the following best differentiates between periodic, episodic, and random natural events?

  • Periodic and episodic events are the same, but random events are completely unpredictable.

  • Episodic events occur at consistent intervals, periodic events happen randomly, and random events are entirely predictable.

  • Periodic events occur at regular intervals, episodic events happen in patterns but not regularly, and random events have no predictable occurrence. 

  • Random events are caused by human activities, while periodic and episodic events are strictly natural processes.

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