AP Environmental Science Practice Quiz: Impacts of Mining
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 15 questions to check your progress.
Question 1 of 15
All Questions (15)
A) Tailings
B) Slag
C) Overburden
D) Low-grade ore
Correct Answer: C
The provided text states that surface mining is the removal of large portions of soil and rock, which is referred to as overburden, to access the desired resource.
A) The area becomes more susceptible to erosion.
B) Groundwater is immediately recharged.
C) The release of methane gas decreases.
D) The cost of subsurface mining increases.
Correct Answer: A
The content explicitly states that the removal of vegetation during surface mining makes the area susceptible to erosion.
A) Lower-grade ores are more profitable.
B) Subsurface mining has become too expensive.
C) More accessible, higher-grade ores have been mined to depletion.
D) Environmental regulations prohibit the mining of high-grade ores.
Correct Answer: C
The text indicates that 'As the more accessible ores are mined to depletion, mining operations are forced to access lower grade ores.'
A) It requires less energy but produces more habitat destruction.
B) It is less expensive but contaminates more groundwater.
C) It requires increased use of resources, leading to more waste and pollution.
D) It produces less slag and tailings but releases more methane.
Correct Answer: C
The content states that accessing lower-grade ores 'requires increased use of resources that can cause increased waste and pollution.'
A) Low-cost energy sources
B) Mining wastes
C) Accessible ores
D) Products made from mining
Correct Answer: B
The text directly identifies 'slag and tailings' as types of 'Mining wastes'.
A) It reduces soil erosion in mountainous areas.
B) It provides low-cost energy and materials for products.
C) It decreases the amount of dust particles in the atmosphere.
D) It is the only method to access clean groundwater.
Correct Answer: B
The content states that 'Mining provides low cost energy and material necessary to make products,' which is an economic benefit.
A) Destruction of habitats
B) Contamination of ground water
C) Release of methane
D) Increased soil fertility
Correct Answer: D
The text lists habitat destruction, groundwater contamination, and the release of dust and methane as impacts of coal mining. It does not mention any increase in soil fertility; in fact, it implies the opposite by discussing the removal of soil and vegetation.
A) When surface mining causes too much erosion.
B) When the price of coal is at its lowest point.
C) When coal reserves get smaller and less accessible from the surface.
D) When there is a high demand for slag and tailings.
Correct Answer: C
The text states, 'As coal reserves get smaller, it becomes necessary to access coal through very expensive subsurface mining.'
A) The operation has switched from subsurface to surface mining.
B) The operation is now mining a lower-grade ore.
C) The operation has successfully mitigated all groundwater contamination.
D) The operation is now mining a more accessible, higher-grade ore.
Correct Answer: B
The text explains that as more accessible ores are depleted, operations must access lower-grade ores. This 'requires increased use of resources that can cause increased waste and pollution.' Increased water/energy use and more waste rock are direct results of this shift.
A) Subsurface mining
B) Open-pit mining
C) Strip mining
D) Mountaintop removal
Correct Answer: C
The text provides 'strip mining' as a direct example of surface mining: 'Surface mining (e.g., strip mining)...'
A) Oxygen
B) Carbon dioxide
C) Nitrogen
D) Methane
Correct Answer: D
The content explicitly states that 'The mining of coal can... release dust particles and methane.'
A) Mining more accessible ores has a greater environmental impact due to the use of heavy machinery.
B) As easily accessible ores are depleted, the environmental impact per unit of ore extracted tends to increase.
C) The accessibility of an ore has no relationship to the amount of waste and pollution generated.
D) Subsurface mining for less accessible ores is always less polluting than surface mining.
Correct Answer: B
The text explains that the depletion of accessible (high-grade) ores forces a shift to less accessible (low-grade) ores, which requires more resources and causes increased waste and pollution. Therefore, the environmental impact increases as accessibility decreases.
A) The upper atmosphere
B) Ocean currents
C) Ground water
D) Surface snowpack
Correct Answer: C
The provided text clearly states that 'The mining of coal can... contaminate ground water.'
A) A decrease in the overall cost of energy extraction.
B) A shift towards more expensive mining techniques like subsurface mining.
C) A reduction in mining waste products like slag and tailings.
D) A complete halt to all surface mining operations.
Correct Answer: B
The text directly links the shrinking of coal reserves to the necessity of using 'very expensive subsurface mining.' This implies that as reserves continue to deplete, there will be a greater reliance on such methods.
A) To create wildlife habitats and restore ecosystems.
B) To obtain materials and energy for making products.
C) To study geological formations and rock layers.
D) To reduce soil erosion and prevent landslides.
Correct Answer: B
The text states that mining provides 'low cost energy and material necessary to make products,' identifying this as its core purpose.