Environment Quiz

Quiz contains 30 questions with multiple choice answers. Some of them are related to Oman.

1.         The vehicle exhausts contain large portion of this colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly less dense than air. Although it is produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, when encountered in concentrations above about 35 ppm it can be toxic to humans. When inhaled it is absorbed by blood in the lungs and forms a stable compound upon combining with the haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in reduced ability of blood to transport oxygen to different parts of the body. Name this gas.

a.            Carbon Dioxide

b.            Ozone

c.            Carbon Monoxide

d.            Nitrogen

2.         Greenhouse effect occurs when the atmosphere of a planet or satellite allows sunlight to pass through but traps the infrared portion of the sunlight, resulting in net increase in the planet or satellite’s surface temperature. However, on Titan (the satellite of Jupiter) the opposite of greenhouse effect occurs, i.e., the atmosphere does not allow sunlight to pass through and allows the infrared portion of the sunlight to escape, resulting in net decrease in the planet or satellite’s surface temperature. What is this phenomenon called?

a.            Whitehouse effect

b.            Anti-greenhouse effect

c.            Reverse-greenhouse effect

d.            Open-house effect

3.         The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the Convention was signed in 1971. Oman acceded to the convention in August 2013 becoming Ramsar’s 167^th Contracting Party. During the accession one wetland in Oman was nominated to the Ramsar List. During March 2020, a second site was nominated. Name these Ramsar sites in Oman.

a.            Al Ansab and Bandar Khayran

b.            Ad Duqm and Qurm Nature Reserve, Muscat

c.            Ad Duqm and Bandar Khayran

d.            Al Ansab and Qurm Nature Reserve, Muscat

4.         On 28-Jun-2007, this site in Oman became historic as the first ever to be delisted and removed from the World Heritage Site register. The reasons cited by UNESCO for delisting this site were: (i) Oman's decision to reduce the site by 90%, and (ii) the decline of the population of a threatened animal (Hint: the national animal of Oman), found in the site, from 450 in 1996 to 65 as a result of poaching and loss of habitat. At the time of delisting only four mating pairs remained in the site. Name the aforementioned threatened animal (the same name is given to this site as well).

a.            Arabian Wolves

b.            Arabian Oryx

c.            Arabian Gazelle

d.            Nubian Ibex

5.         A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shakehole, swallet, swallow hole, or doline, is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone or other carbonate rock, salt beds, or gypsum that can be dissolved naturally by circulating ground water.  As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns develop underground. These sinkholes can be dramatic, because the surface land usually stays intact until there is not enough support. Then, a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur. In Oman a popular sinkhole is the Bimmah Sinkhole that lies on the Muscat-Sur road. Name the lesser known sinkhole located in Dhofar region, which is one of the largest sinkholes of the world.

a.            Tayq Sinkhole

b.            Shahim Sinkhole

c.            Qidi Sinkhole

d.            Aqur Sinkhole

6.         The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. It was related to the pigeons and doves. What is the primary reason attributed to dodo’s extinction?

a.            Its beautiful feathers

b.            Its fearlessness

c.            Its curved beak

d.            Its melodious song

7.         First recorded in Oman in 1976, algal blooms have since then occurred every year in Oman. It refers to the bloom of phytoplanktons in the sea. When the bloom results in marine life mortalities it is called Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB). These algal blooms are better known by what misnomer?

a.            Bloomer Tide

b.            Fatal Tide

c.            Red Tide

d.            Death Tide

8.         A falaj in Oman refers to channels dug in the earth to circulate water. The source of falaj water is groundwater found in the subsoil or valleys. The plural of the word ‘falaj’ used in Oman is ‘aflaj’, which is a comprehensive term used to denote a system of what?

a.            Waterfalls

b.            Fountain

c.            Ponds

d.            Irrigation

9.         Oman has experienced wrath of tropical cyclones in recent times. The earliest damaging cyclone to hit Oman was in 1977. In 2002 an uncommon tropical cyclone hit the Dhofar region. In recent years, Oman saw Cyclone Gonu in 2007, Cyclone Phet in 2010, Cyclone Keila in 2011 and Cyclones Kyarr and Hikaa in 2019. Name the 2018 cyclone that was the strongest cyclone to strike Oman since 1959.

a.            Chapala

b.            Luban

c.            Mekunu

d.            Megh

10.     Oman has been using natural gas and diesel for generation of electric power. In recent years Oman is seeking to use renewable energy for power generation. Solar energy is currently used for water heating systems for tanks located on the roofs of private houses, and by the oil production industry. Additionally, Oman has established a wind farm for power generation. Several sites were considered for establishing wind farms. Where in Oman was the first wind farm constructed?

a.            Al Ashkarah coast

b.            Jebel Akhdar

c.            Mountains near Buraimi

d.            Thumrait plateau

11.     Trioxygen is an inorganic molecule that is in gaseous form at ambient temperature. It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell (similar to chlorine). It is considered as an air pollutant in the lower atmosphere but beneficial in the upper atmosphere. Trioxygen is better known by what popular/common name?

a.            Oxygen

b.            Chlorine

c.            Ozone

d.            Phosgene

12.     Benzene is the basic aromatic hydrocarbon and is a natural constituent of crude oil. It is mainly used as a precursor to heavy chemicals. Because it has high octane number, it is an important component of gasoline, comprising a few percent of its mass. However, most non-industrial applications have been limited by benzene's carcinogenicity, i.e., benzene can increase the risk of cancer in humans. The American Petroleum Institute (API) stated in 1948 that "it is generally considered that the only absolutely safe concentration for benzene is zero.” There are several sources of benzene to which humans can be exposed. In the USA, 50% of the nationwide exposure to benzene results from which source?

a.            Tobacco smoke (cigarette)

b.            Wood smoke (barbecue)

c.            Industrial emissions

d.            Vehicle exhausts

13.     According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) which of these waste products is unsafe and harmful to compost at home?

a.            Nut shells and Egg shells

b.            Hair and fur

c.            Coal and Charcoal ash

d.            Coffee filters and tea-bags

14.     Mercury is a chemical element with symbol Hg and atomic number 80. Commonly known as quicksilver, it is a heavy, silvery element. Mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure. Exposure to mercury causes acute and chronic poisoning even at low concentrations. Mercury can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes and mercury vapors can be inhaled, so containers of mercury are securely sealed to avoid spills and evaporation. There are set protocols and equipment needed for cleaning mercury spills (vacuum cleaners and brooms should never be used, and it should not be poured down a drain). What is the most common source of mercury exposure to humans?

a.            Fish consumption

b.            Novelty necklaces imported from Mexico

c.            Dental amalgam

d.            Fever thermometers

15.     Aluminium is considered to be the most recyclable of all material. The benefits of recycling aluminium include: fast turnaround (100% of recycled aluminum ends up as another aluminum can in as few as 60 days); energy saved (tossing a can into a landfill is the equivalent of dumping 175 mL of gasoline onto the pavement/footpath); and keeping clean (recycling cans keeps them from being littered, thrown in landfills or incinerated). So, how many times can aluminum be recycled?

a.            1

b.            8

c.            3

d.            Over and over

16.     _____ pollution can be seen in most developed cities. It is an orange haze of _____ that lingers over cities and is caused by the amount of artificial _____ left working at night. These _____ can be seen from space. It's more than just an eyesore, though. _____ pollution has many negative effects on both humans and animals. Which of the following word fills all the five blanks above and completes the paragraph?

a.            Air

b.            Light

c.            Water

d.            Odour

17.     Established in 2007, the Oman Environmental Services Holding Company S.A.O.C (OESHCo) was granted the mandate and the legal status, in 2009 through a Royal Decree No. 46/2009, as the entity responsible for solid waste management in the Sultanate of Oman. OESHCo’s main objectives are to control environmental damage incurred during traditional waste dumping processes; structure the waste sector and its related services in a sustainable manner; develop the industry; and support the economy. What brand name has OESHCo adopted?

a.            Be’ah

b.            Diam

c.            Tanweer

d.            Marafiq

18.     An aquaculture farm owned by Bentoot Seafood Products is located in Wilayat Mahout (Al-Wusta Governorate). This is presently the only operational aquaculture facility of its kind in the country. The site used by the farm was rented from the Government, commencing 28-Sep-2005. The first harvest was hauled during Q4-2007. The second harvest was taken in Oct-2008. Their current production is between 250 and 350 tpa. The operation also possesses its own hatchery to the east of the facility proper. Name the targeted species for culture in this aquaculture farm.

a.            Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

b.            Omani abalone (Haliotis mariae)

c.            White shrimp (Penaeus indicus)

d.            Sea cucumber (Holothuria scabra)

19.     Apiculture is the maintenance of a kind of animal by an apiarist for a product from the animal. The location where the animal is kept is called an apiary. Apiculture is practiced in Oman, and apiculture product of Oman is popular in Oman and the GCC region. Name the animal used in apiculture and its product.

a.            Cow and milk

b.            Sheep and wool

c.            Chicken and eggs

d.            Bee and honey

20.     ‘Water harvesting’ has emerged as a sensible method of meeting the water shortfall in a cost-effective manner and is now being applied in order to raise the groundwater levels. Water harvesting together with artificial recharging help in arresting sea-water ingress/intrusion, i.e., prevent the sea from moving further landwards, and conserve surface water. Water harvesting is the –

a.            Collection of water from the river for storage in water tanks

b.            Collection of rainwater into water tanks or putting back into the soil to recharge groundwater

c.            Harvesting of water from tube wells and store in water tanks

d.            Circulation of water in a Falaj to recharge groundwater

21.     In 1989, this region faced the greatest ecological threat in its history when an Argentinian supply ship carrying 1 million L of diesel oil sank off the region’s western peninsula. The unique flora and fauna of the region faced the threat of extinction and the effects of this oil spill are likely to be felt till c. 2100. Name the region.

a.            Mediterranean

b.            Antarctica

c.            Caribbean

d.            Australia

22.     On 5-Jun-1972, the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment was held in Sweden. Since then what is celebrated on this day?

a.            World Environment Day

b.            World Health Day

c.            World Humanity Day

d.            World Society Day

23.     The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) is the government entity responsible for the environment affairs is the Sultanate by the mandate of the Royal Decree No. 90/2007. They have three specialised divisions formulating strategies, policies and taking required official mandate: (i) Directorate General of Climate Affairs, (ii) Directorate General of Environmental Affairs and (iii) Directorate General of Nature Conservation. Prior to 2007 (i.e., creation of MECA) ‘environment’ was mandated to which present day Ministry?

a.            Ministry of Culture & Heritage

b.            Ministry of Health

c.            Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries

d.            Ministry of Regional Municipalities & Water Resources

24.     This species of bird native to North America was considered to have been one of the most numerous birds on earth. Intensive shooting and the destruction of the birds’ natural breeding ground brought about a sudden fall in their numbers. The last of this species on earth died in a zoo in Cincinnati in 1914. Name this bird.

a.            Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)

b.            Laughing Owl (Sceloglaux albifacies)

c.            Paradise Parrot (Psephotus pulcherrimus)

d.            Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis)

25.     Wind erosion is one of the key causes of desertification and occurs when soil is left bare of vegetation. What is the major cause of wind erosion in arid and semi-arid lands where this problem is most severe?

a.            Cleaning of land for agriculture

b.            Deforestation

c.            Overgrazing by livestock

d.            Forest fires

26.     In the world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986, 31 people died, 129 others suffered acute radiation and many thousands are expected to die prematurely as a result of exposure to radiation released from the stricken plant. Name the site of this mishap.

a.            Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, USA

b.            Chernobyl, erstwhile USSR present Ukraine

c.            Surry County, Virginia, USA

d.            Windscale, Cumbria, UK

27.     Certain scientists use the word HIPPO as mnemonic for the different threats to an element of the environment. The threats are Habitat destruction, Invasive species, Pollution, Population and Overgrazing/overharvesting. What do these threats cause and to which environmental element?

a.            Depletion of groundwater

b.            Degradation of human health

c.            Reduction in soil fertility

d.            Extinction of animals/plants

28.     If the world’s water resource is represented by 100 L of water, then what quantity would be available to humankind as freshwater?

a.            Half teaspoon

b.            Half tablespoon

c.            One teaspoon

d.            One tablespoon

29.     The bathroom is one of the main water consumption areas in the home. Which of these would save the most water in a bathroom?

a.            A bucket for collecting excess water

b.            A water/energy efficient shower head

c.            A glass for rinsing after brushing teeth

d.            Repairing a leaking tap

30.     This marine mammal is recognised as a non-migratory population isolated to the Arabian Sea. Within the Arabian Sea, Masirah Island and Gulf of Masirah, Halaniyat Islands and Kuria Muria Bay are hot spots for the species. It is classified with 'Endangered' status by the IUCN with less than 80 individuals suspected to be existing. Name the animal.

a.            Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta)

b.            Arabian Sea Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

c.            Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas)

d.            Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)