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AP Environmental Science Practice Quiz: Pollution and Human Health

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

According to the provided text, which of the following diseases is primarily caused by the presence of untreated sewage in water sources?

All Questions (11)

According to the provided text, which of the following diseases is primarily caused by the presence of untreated sewage in water sources?

A) Mesothelioma

B) Dysentery

C) Asthma

D) Lung Cancer

Correct Answer: B

The content explicitly states that 'Dysentery is caused by untreated sewage in streams and rivers.'

Exposure to which of the following pollutants is the main cause of mesothelioma?

A) Tropospheric ozone

B) Untreated sewage

C) Asbestos

D) Lead

Correct Answer: C

The text identifies a direct link, stating that 'Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused mainly by exposure to asbestos.'

Which of the following human health issues is most directly associated with elevated levels of tropospheric ozone?

A) Gastrointestinal infections

B) A specific type of cancer

C) Respiratory problems

D) Neurological disorders

Correct Answer: C

The provided content specifies that 'Respiratory problems and overall lung function can be impacted by elevated levels of tropospheric ozone.'

What is the primary reason it can be challenging to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between a specific pollutant and a human health issue?

A) Pollutants are often invisible to the naked eye.

B) Human health issues develop too slowly to be studied.

C) Humans are typically exposed to a wide range of chemicals and pollutants simultaneously.

D) Laboratory tests are not advanced enough to detect pollutants in human tissue.

Correct Answer: C

The text states, 'It can be difficult to establish a cause and effect between pollutants and human health issues because humans experience exposure to a variety of chemicals and pollutants.' This makes it hard to isolate the effect of a single substance.

Which of the following correctly pairs a pollutant with its associated health problem?

A) Asbestos and dysentery

B) Untreated sewage and mesothelioma

C) Tropospheric ozone and mesothelioma

D) Asbestos and mesothelioma

Correct Answer: D

The content explicitly links asbestos exposure to mesothelioma. The other pairs incorrectly match the pollutants and health issues described in the text.

A public health investigation in a city reveals a correlation between days with high air pollution warnings and an increase in hospital admissions for breathing difficulties. This observation is most consistent with the health impacts of which pollutant?

A) Asbestos fibers in the air

B) Bacteria from untreated sewage

C) Elevated levels of tropospheric ozone

D) Chemicals leaching into the water supply

Correct Answer: C

The text links elevated tropospheric ozone to respiratory problems and impacted lung function, which aligns with an increase in hospital admissions for breathing difficulties on high air pollution days.

The contamination of streams and rivers with untreated sewage poses a significant risk for which of the following health problems?

A) Mesothelioma

B) Impaired lung function

C) Dysentery

D) Chronic bronchitis

Correct Answer: C

Based on the provided information, 'Dysentery is caused by untreated sewage in streams and rivers.'

A historical study focuses on the health of workers who were involved in shipbuilding and building insulation before the 1980s. Which of the following pollution-linked diseases would be the primary focus of such a study?

A) Dysentery, due to poor sanitation on job sites.

B) Respiratory ailments from high levels of tropospheric ozone.

C) Mesothelioma, due to the common use of asbestos in these industries.

D) Various illnesses, because it is too difficult to link any one cause to an effect.

Correct Answer: C

Asbestos was a common material used in shipbuilding and insulation. The text directly links exposure to asbestos with mesothelioma, making it the most likely disease for researchers to investigate in this specific occupational group.

All of the following are specific examples of human health issues linked to pollution mentioned in the text EXCEPT:

A) Impaired lung function from tropospheric ozone

B) Dysentery from untreated sewage

C) Mesothelioma from asbestos

D) Neurological damage from heavy metals

Correct Answer: D

The text explicitly mentions impaired lung function (ozone), dysentery (sewage), and mesothelioma (asbestos). It does not mention neurological damage or heavy metals.

Which environmental condition is directly cited as a cause for the impairment of overall lung function?

A) The presence of asbestos fibers in insulation

B) The contamination of rivers with untreated sewage

C) Exposure to a variety of unknown chemicals

D) Elevated levels of tropospheric ozone

Correct Answer: D

The text states that 'Respiratory problems and overall lung function can be impacted by elevated levels of tropospheric ozone.'

A scientist attempting to prove that a new industrial chemical causes a specific illness in a human population would likely face which major challenge described in the text?

A) The chemical is likely to be asbestos, which is already well-studied.

B) The illness is probably dysentery, which has a known cause.

C) It is difficult to isolate the effects of the new chemical from all other pollutants the population is exposed to.

D) Tropospheric ozone in the area would interfere with the chemical's effects.

Correct Answer: C

The text highlights the difficulty in establishing cause and effect 'because humans experience exposure to a variety of chemicals and pollutants.' This makes it challenging to isolate the health impact of a single new chemical from the background exposure to many other substances.