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AP Environmental Science Practice Quiz: Impacts of Urbanization

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 11 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 11

A rapidly growing city has replaced many of its natural fields and forests with parking lots, roads, and large buildings. Which of the following environmental problems is a direct consequence of this type of development?

All Questions (11)

A rapidly growing city has replaced many of its natural fields and forests with parking lots, roads, and large buildings. Which of the following environmental problems is a direct consequence of this type of development?

A) An increase in saltwater intrusion into local aquifers.

B) A significant decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

C) An increase in localized flooding after rainstorms.

D) A reversal of urban sprawl as people move back to the city center.

Correct Answer: C

The text states that impervious surfaces, such as roads and buildings, do not allow water to reach the soil. This lack of infiltration increases surface runoff, leading directly to a higher risk of flooding.

Which of the following best describes the phenomenon of urban sprawl?

A) The construction of high-rise buildings to increase population density in a city's core.

B) The expansion of low-density suburbs into surrounding rural lands.

C) The increase in flooding caused by the construction of impervious surfaces.

D) The depletion of groundwater resources leading to saltwater intrusion.

Correct Answer: B

The provided content defines urban sprawl as 'the change in population distribution from high population density areas to low density suburbs that spread into rural lands'.

According to the text, which two activities associated with urbanization directly increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, affecting the carbon cycle?

A) Creating impervious surfaces and depleting water resources.

B) Urban sprawl and saltwater intrusion.

C) The burning of fossil fuels and the operation of landfills.

D) Increasing population density and building new roads.

Correct Answer: C

The text explicitly states that 'Urbanization, through the burning of fossil fuels and landfills, affects the carbon cycle by increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.'

In a coastal urban area, excessive pumping of groundwater to meet the demands of a growing population is most likely to cause which of the following problems in the hydrologic cycle?

A) Increased atmospheric CO2 levels.

B) The formation of urban heat islands.

C) Saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers.

D) Increased flooding from impervious surfaces.

Correct Answer: C

The text links urbanization to the 'depletion of resources and saltwater intrusion in the hydrologic cycle.' Depleting freshwater aquifers through over-pumping reduces the pressure that holds back saltwater, allowing it to intrude.

Which statement best explains how urban sprawl contributes to an increase in atmospheric CO2?

A) The conversion of rural land to suburbs directly releases stored carbon from the soil.

B) Low-density living often increases residents' reliance on personal vehicles, leading to more fossil fuel combustion.

C) Suburban homes are less energy-efficient, and their landfills produce more CO2 than urban ones.

D) The construction of new suburban roads creates impervious surfaces that trap CO2.

Correct Answer: B

This question requires synthesizing two points. Urban sprawl leads to low-density suburbs, which increases commute times and the need for cars. This increased driving leads to more burning of fossil fuels, which the text identifies as a source of increased atmospheric CO2.

A developer buys a large tract of farmland on the outskirts of a city to build a community of single-family homes. This project is a classic example of which of the following?

A) Hydrologic cycle disruption

B) Impervious surface mitigation

C) Urban sprawl

D) Carbon sequestration

Correct Answer: C

The scenario describes the conversion of rural land (farmland) into a low-density residential area, which perfectly matches the definition of urban sprawl provided in the text.

Which statement best explains how the development of a large suburban shopping mall can impact both the local hydrologic and global carbon cycles?

A) The mall's large, flat roof increases CO2 absorption, while its parking lot increases water infiltration.

B) The construction process releases CO2, and the resulting building depletes local water resources through high usage.

C) The mall's parking lot is an impervious surface that increases flooding, and the traffic it generates from shoppers' cars increases fossil fuel emissions.

D) The landfill for the mall's waste can pollute groundwater, and the energy used to light the mall contributes to urban sprawl.

Correct Answer: C

This option correctly connects two distinct concepts from the text. The parking lot is an impervious surface affecting the hydrologic cycle (flooding). The cars traveling to the mall burn fossil fuels, affecting the carbon cycle (increased CO2).

All of the following are potential environmental problems resulting from urbanization as described in the text EXCEPT:

A) Increased flooding in areas with many roads and buildings.

B) Contamination of coastal freshwater aquifers with salt water.

C) An increase in atmospheric CO2 from landfills and transportation.

D) An increase in biodiversity as new habitats are created.

Correct Answer: D

The text lists several negative environmental impacts of urbanization, including flooding (A), saltwater intrusion (B), and increased CO2 (C). It does not suggest that urbanization increases biodiversity; in fact, converting rural land to suburbs typically reduces it.

Based on the provided text, which of the following is the best example of an impervious surface?

A) A community garden

B) A grassy public park

C) A forested area

D) An asphalt road

Correct Answer: D

The text explicitly gives 'roads' as an example of an impervious surface, which is a surface that does not allow water to penetrate the soil. The other options are all permeable.

The movement of population from a high-density city center to low-density suburbs can lead to which of the following environmental problems?

A) A decrease in the burning of fossil fuels for transportation.

B) The conversion of rural land for development.

C) A reduction in the number of impervious surfaces.

D) A decrease in the demand for freshwater resources.

Correct Answer: B

The movement described is urban sprawl. The text defines this as suburbs that 'spread into rural lands,' which directly implies that rural land, such as farms or forests, must be converted for development.

A scientist observes that over the past 50 years, as a city has grown, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere above the city has increased, and the frequency of flash floods has also increased. Which two principles from the text best explain these concurrent trends?

A) Resource depletion and saltwater intrusion.

B) Urban sprawl and resource depletion.

C) The effects of burning fossil fuels and the proliferation of impervious surfaces.

D) The effects of landfills and saltwater intrusion.

Correct Answer: C

The increase in atmospheric CO2 is explained by the burning of fossil fuels associated with urbanization. The increase in flash floods is explained by the creation of impervious surfaces (roads, buildings) that prevent water infiltration and increase runoff.