AP Environmental Science Quiz: Heat Waves, Disease Vectors, and Air Pollution

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🌡️ Heat waves are prolonged periods of abnormally hot weather, often exacerbated by the urban heat island effect.
• 🦟 Disease vectors are organisms that transmit pathogens and parasites from one infected animal (or plant) to another. Climate change and altered habitats can influence their distribution. Examples include mosquitoes (malaria, Zika, dengue fever) and ticks (Lyme disease).
• 💨 Air pollution includes particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), ozone ($O_3$), nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$), sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$), and carbon monoxide (CO). These pollutants can cause respiratory problems and other health issues.
• ☀️ Ozone ($O_3$) is a secondary pollutant formed by reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• 🏭 Major sources of air pollution include industrial processes, transportation, and agriculture.
• 🌍 Climate change can worsen air quality by increasing the frequency of heat waves and wildfires.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is NOT a primary air pollutant?
   1. A) Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
   2. B) Carbon Monoxide (CO)
   3. C) Ozone ($O_3$)
   4. D) Sulfur Dioxide ($SO_2$)
2. Which of the following factors contributes to the urban heat island effect?
   1. A) Increased vegetation cover
   2. B) High albedo surfaces
   3. C) Dark, impermeable surfaces
   4. D) Reduced industrial activity
3. Which disease is commonly transmitted by mosquitoes?
   1. A) Lyme disease
   2. B) Malaria
   3. C) West Nile Virus
   4. D) Both B and C
4. Which of the following describes a consequence of increased heat waves?
   1. A) Decreased energy demand
   2. B) Reduced risk of wildfires
   3. C) Increased mortality rates
   4. D) Improved air quality
5. Which gas is a major component of photochemical smog?
   1. A) Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$)
   2. B) Methane ($CH_4$)
   3. C) Ozone ($O_3$)
   4. D) Sulfur Dioxide ($SO_2$)
6. How can climate change affect the spread of vector-borne diseases?
   1. A) By decreasing the range of vectors
   2. B) By increasing the range of vectors
   3. C) By having no effect on vectors
   4. D) By eliminating vectors entirely
7. Which of the following is a strategy to mitigate the urban heat island effect?
   1. A) Using dark-colored roofing materials
   2. B) Reducing vegetation in urban areas
   3. C) Planting trees and creating green spaces
   4. D) Increasing the density of buildings