AP Environmental Science Practice Quiz: Clearcutting
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 9 questions to check your progress.
Question 1 of 9
All Questions (9)
A) Increased carbon absorption by the soil
B) Decreased stream temperatures
C) Soil erosion
D) Improved air quality
Correct Answer: C
The text explicitly states that clearcutting 'leads to soil erosion, increased soil and stream temperatures, and flooding.'
A) It decreases stream temperatures and reduces flooding.
B) It increases stream temperatures and can lead to flooding.
C) It filters pollutants from streams more effectively.
D) It has no significant effect on soil or stream temperatures.
Correct Answer: B
The content specifies that clearcutting results in 'increased soil and stream temperatures, and flooding.' The loss of tree canopy removes shade, increasing water temperature, and the loss of root systems to absorb water increases runoff, leading to floods.
A) They release large amounts of carbon dioxide during growth.
B) They absorb pollutants and store carbon dioxide.
C) They convert carbon dioxide into water vapor.
D) They primarily contribute to soil erosion, releasing buried carbon.
Correct Answer: B
The text states, 'Forests contain trees that absorb pollutants and store carbon dioxide.' This identifies their key function as a carbon sink.
A) By increasing the absorption of solar radiation by the soil.
B) By releasing stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
C) By causing floods that release methane from the soil.
D) By reducing the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere.
Correct Answer: B
The source material directly links this practice to climate change by stating, 'The cutting and burning of trees releases carbon dioxide and contributes to climate change.'
A) A short-term increase in local employment.
B) The loss of the forest's ability to regulate climate and prevent soil degradation.
C) A temporary decrease in local wildlife populations.
D) The immediate availability of timber for construction.
Correct Answer: B
The text contrasts the economic advantages with multiple, severe environmental consequences, including soil erosion and the release of stored CO2 (which affects climate regulation). This represents the most significant long-term environmental trade-off.
A) Increased exposure to direct sunlight.
B) The heat released from decaying roots.
C) The machinery used during the logging process.
D) A chemical reaction in the exposed soil.
Correct Answer: A
While not explicitly stated, the text mentions increased soil and stream temperatures as an effect. The most direct cause for this is the removal of the tree canopy, which eliminates shade and allows for greater solar radiation to reach the ground and water surfaces.
A) Timber production and soil creation.
B) Water filtration and nutrient cycling.
C) Air purification and climate regulation.
D) Pollination and seed dispersal.
Correct Answer: C
The text states that forests 'absorb pollutants' (air purification) and 'store carbon dioxide,' the release of which 'contributes to climate change' (climate regulation). These are the two services most directly identified.
A) Increased flooding
B) Contribution to climate change
C) Increased soil and stream temperatures
D) Decreased atmospheric pollutants
Correct Answer: D
The text states that forests 'absorb pollutants.' Therefore, removing the forest via clearcutting would lead to a decrease in the absorption of pollutants, not a decrease in the pollutants themselves. The other three options are explicitly listed as negative consequences.
A) The release of carbon dioxide changing local weather patterns.
B) Increased soil compaction from logging equipment preventing water infiltration.
C) The burning of trees releasing large amounts of water vapor.
D) The loss of tree roots to hold soil and absorb water, leading to increased surface runoff.
Correct Answer: D
The text links clearcutting to both soil erosion and flooding. The loss of tree root systems, which anchor soil and absorb significant amounts of water, is the underlying cause for both of these effects. With less water absorbed by trees and soil, surface runoff increases, leading to floods.