37. Which of the following is one way that beach erosion can occur?

A. storm waves bringing sand to the beach from the ocean
B. storm waves pulling sand from the beach out into the ocean
C. currents increasing the sand on the beach with additional sand from the ocean
D. currents replacing sand on the beach with sand from the ocean
38. Scientists have several specimens from the same time period from several thousand years ago. Which two specimens should they study so that they can most easily learn about the amount of rainfall at that time and the kinds of plants that grew then?
A. Ice cores
B. Tree rings
C. Continental rock samples
D. Foraminifera
E. Fossilized Pollen
40. Which layer of the atmosphere has the widest variation in temperature?
A. mesosphere
B. exosphere
C. stratosphere
D. troposphere
E. thermosphere
41. How do beach nourishment and vegetation management differ in the ways they manage beach erosion?
A. Only vegetation management replaces sand on the beach.
B. Only vegetation management brings in plants to keep sand on beaches
C. Only beach nourishment provides protection from floods.
D. Only beach nourishment uses a hard structure to manage erosion.

42. Use the following scenario to calculate the carbon flux in the atmosphere. The amount of carbon that enters the atmosphere through natural processes is 211.6 GtC/yr and the amount that leaves the atmosphere through natural processes in 213.8 GtC/yr. The amount of carbon released by burning fossil fuels is 5.5 GtC/yr. What is the carbon flux in the atmosphere?
A. 3.3 GtC/yr out of the atmosphere
B. 2.2 GtC/yr out of the atmosphere
C. 3.3 GtC/yr into the atmosphere
D. 2.2 GtC/yr into the atmosphere
43. How did the use of coal affect human activity in the 1800s?
A. The steel industry used coal to produce electricity, making electricity available to everyone across the country.
B. The food industry used coal to make plastics, making storing goods more efficient.
C. The automobile industry used coal to fuel cars, expanding people's use of transportation.
D. The railroad industry used coal to power steam engines, allowing businesses to build more factories for the production of goods.
44. Which of the following is a possible consequence of damage to infrastructure due to flooding?
A. The prices of local crops are lowered.
B. Pollutants are spread to farmland.
C. Homes and businesses are washed away.
D. The flow of goods is decreased or halted.

37. B. storm waves pulling sand from the beach out into the ocean

38. B. Tree rings
40. E. thermosphere
41. D. Only beach nourishment uses a hard structure to manage erosion.
42. B. 2.2 GtC/yr out of the atmosphere
43. D. The railroad industry used coal to power steam engines, allowing businesses to build more factories for the production of goods.
44. D. The flow of goods is decreased or halted.

37. B. storm waves pulling sand from the beach out into the ocean

38. B. Tree rings and E. Fossilized Pollen
40. E. thermosphere
41. A. Only vegetation management replaces sand on the beach.
42. A. 3.3 GtC/yr out of the atmosphere
43. D. The railroad industry used coal to power steam engines, allowing businesses to build more factories for the production of goods.
44. C. Homes and businesses are washed away.

37. The correct answer is B. storm waves pulling sand from the beach out into the ocean. This is one way that beach erosion can occur. To determine the answer, you need to understand the process of beach erosion and how it happens. In this case, storm waves have a powerful force that can dislodge and carry sand away from the beach, causing erosion.

38. The correct answer is B. Tree rings and E. Fossilized Pollen. To determine the answer, you need to understand the methods scientists use to study past climates and vegetation. Tree rings can provide information about the amount of rainfall at a specific time period, as wider rings indicate more rainfall. Fossilized pollen can also provide insights into the kinds of plants that grew in a particular era.

40. The correct answer is A. mesosphere. To determine the answer, you need to understand the layers of the atmosphere and their characteristics. The mesosphere, which is located above the stratosphere, is known to have the widest temperature variation. Temperatures can range from extremely cold to very hot in this layer.

41. The correct answer is D. Only beach nourishment uses a hard structure to manage erosion. To determine the answer, you need to understand the difference between beach nourishment and vegetation management as methods of managing beach erosion. Beach nourishment involves adding sand to replenish the beach, while vegetation management involves using plants to stabilize the sand and prevent erosion. Only beach nourishment uses a hard structure, such as seawalls or groins, to manage erosion.

42. The correct answer is A. 3.3 GtC/yr out of the atmosphere. To determine the answer, you need to calculate the net flux of carbon in the atmosphere. The amount of carbon entering the atmosphere through natural processes (211.6 GtC/yr) minus the amount leaving the atmosphere through natural processes (213.8 GtC/yr) plus the amount released by burning fossil fuels (5.5 GtC/yr) equals a net flux of 3.3 GtC/yr out of the atmosphere.

43. The correct answer is D. The railroad industry used coal to power steam engines, allowing businesses to build more factories for the production of goods. To determine the answer, you need to understand the impact of coal use on human activity in the 1800s. One significant use of coal during that time was in powering steam engines, particularly in the railroad industry. This led to the expansion of transportation and the growth of factories for increased production.

44. The correct answer is C. Homes and businesses are washed away. To determine the answer, you need to understand the potential consequences of damage to infrastructure due to flooding. One of the possible consequences is the destruction or washing away of homes and businesses. Flooding can cause significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, leading to severe economic and social impacts.