AP Environmental Science Practice Quiz: Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 10 questions to check your progress.
Question 1 of 10
All Questions (10)
A) A decrease in anthropogenic pollution.
B) An increase in the UV rays that reach the Earth's surface.
C) A decrease in the number of skin cancer cases.
D) An increase in the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Correct Answer: B
The text explicitly states, 'A decrease in stratospheric ozone increases the UV rays that reach the Earth’s surface.'
A) Solar flares
B) Volcanic eruptions
C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
D) The evolution of life on Earth
Correct Answer: C
The content specifies that 'Stratospheric ozone depletion is caused by anthropogenic factors, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and natural factors.'
A) Asthma and respiratory illness
B) Heart disease and high blood pressure
C) Skin cancer and cataracts
D) Neurological and developmental disorders
Correct Answer: C
The provided information directly states, 'Exposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer and cataracts in humans.'
A) The formation of fossil fuels
B) The regulation of the carbon cycle
C) The evolution and continued survival of life
D) The process of photosynthesis in plants
Correct Answer: C
The content states, 'The stratospheric ozone layer is important to the evolution of life on Earth and the continued health and survival of life on Earth.'
A) Exclusively anthropogenic factors
B) Exclusively natural factors
C) Both anthropogenic and natural factors
D) Only factors related to solar radiation
Correct Answer: C
The text clearly indicates that depletion is caused by 'anthropogenic factors, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and natural factors.'
A) Skin cancer in humans causes the depletion of the ozone layer.
B) The evolution of life led to an increase in atmospheric CFCs.
C) The use of CFCs can lead to a higher incidence of cataracts in humans.
D) Natural factors are the sole cause of increased UV radiation on Earth.
Correct Answer: C
The text links CFCs (an anthropogenic factor) to ozone depletion. It then links ozone depletion to increased UV rays, which in turn can lead to cataracts. This option correctly connects the initial cause (CFCs) to a final effect (cataracts).
A) It provides a source of atmospheric oxygen.
B) It acts as a protective barrier against harmful UV rays.
C) It regulates the planet's climate and weather patterns.
D) It is a necessary component for human industrial processes.
Correct Answer: B
The text explains that a decrease in ozone increases the UV rays that reach the surface and cause harm, implying its role is to block those rays and protect life.
A) The health and survival of life on Earth is linked to the stratospheric ozone layer.
B) Chlorofluorocarbons are a natural factor that contributes to ozone depletion.
C) Human health can be negatively impacted by a reduction in stratospheric ozone.
D) Ozone depletion is caused by more than one type of factor.
Correct Answer: B
The text explicitly identifies chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as an 'anthropogenic' (human-caused) factor, not a natural one. All other statements are directly supported by the text.
A) Cataracts
B) Asthma
C) Heart attacks
D) Diabetes
Correct Answer: A
The text directly lists two conditions: 'Exposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer and cataracts in humans.'
A) Related to the evolution of life.
B) Caused by natural Earth processes.
C) Beneficial to the stratospheric ozone layer.
D) Originating from human activities.
Correct Answer: D
The text provides chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a human-made chemical, as the example of an 'anthropogenic factor,' implying that the term relates to human causes or activities.