Name ______________ # ______ Class _________

Ecology & Human Impact Regents Review

1. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below and on your knowledge of biology. The diagramrepresents a food web in an ecosystem.

A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

Which row in the chart below best identifies the relationships between the mice and the wheat?

2. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram of a lake ecosystem below and on your knowledge of biology.the diagram shows a cross section of a deep lake. the dashed line which separates level A from level B indicates the depthbeyond which light cannot penetrate

A) decomposers B) scavengers C) carnivores D) producers

Which type of organism that ordinarily inhabits a lake ecosystem would not be found in level B because of the lack of lightpenetration?

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A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

3. The graph below represents a change in event A that leads to changes in events B and C.

Which row in the chart best identifies each event in the graph?

A) converted to energyB) changed into fossil fuels such as oil and coalC) permanently removed from the environmentD) cycled between organisms and the environment

4. For a natural ecosystem to be self-sustaining, many essentialchemical elements must be

A) an increase in the stability of the oceansB) an increase in the salt content of the oceansC) a decrease in the stability of the oceansD) a decrease in the oxygen available in the oceans

5. Due to overfishing, the number of fish in the ocean coulddrastically decrease. This will cause

A) recycling of materialsB) the available energyC) the availability of food and waterD) daily temperature fluctuations

6. The carrying capacity of a given environment is least dependentupon

A) the amount of light penetrating the waterB) the temperature of the waterC) the mud on the pond bottomD) the algae growing in the water

7. Which is a biotic factor in the environment of a fresh-water fish?

A) A rock moves during an earthquake.B) A sea turtle transports a pilot fish to food.C) A plant absorbs sunlight, which is used for photosynthesis.D) Wind causes waves to form on a lake.

8. Which statement illustrates a biotic resource interacting with anabiotic resource?

A) the variety of abiotic conditions in these regionsB) interactions between producers and decomposersC) increased efforts to protect endangered speciesD) a lack of competition between the heterotrophs living there

9. Forests, mountains, rivers, and marshes are examples of thewide variety of ecosystems in New York State. The diversity ofthese ecosystems is most likely the result of

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A) The interactions between other organisms would stopimmediately.

B) The functions carried out by these organisms would nolonger be necessary.

C) The ecosystem would remain stable.D) The ecosystem would become less stable.

10.The chart below shows the environmental functions that someorganisms perform in a stable ecosystem.

How would a decrease in the number of organisms that performthese functions most likely affect the ecosystem?

A) members of a single species in the biosphereB) members of a given genus inhabiting a given areaC) members of a single species inhabiting a given areaD) abiotic and biotic factors in a given location

11. In ecology, a population is defined as all the

A) an ecosystem B) a communityC) a food web D) a population

12. A group of organisms within a given area capable ofinterbreeding and producing fertile offspring under naturalconditions is called

A) This ecosystem would be the first stage in ecologicalsuccession..

B) This ecosystem would most likely lack decomposersC) All of the organisms in this ecosystem are producers.D) All of the organisms in this ecosystem depend on the activities

of biological catalysts.

13. Which statement describes the ecosystem represented in thediagram below?

A) evolution of the owlB) social structure of the local owl populationC) role of the owl in the local ecosystemD) life cycle of the owl

14. Owls periodically expel a mass of undigested material known asa pellet. A student obtained several owl pellets from the samelocation and examined the animal remains in the pellets. Hethen recorded the number of different prey animal remains inthe pellets. The student was most likely studying the

A) the same habitat, but different nichesB) the same niche, but different habitatsC) the same niche and the same habitatD) different habitats and different niches

15. In a forest community, a shelf fungus and a slug live on the sideof a decaying tree trunk. The fungus digests and absorbsmaterials from the tree, while the slug eats algae growing on theoutside of the trunk. These organisms do not compete with oneanother because they occupy

A) change their nesting behaviorsB) not affect one anotherC) interbreed to form a new speciesD) compete with one another

16. When two different bird species temporarily occupy the sameniche, they would most likely

A) nesting site B) territorial rangeC) biomass D) niche

17. Knowing the type of food consumed by an organism helps toidentify the role of the organism in the community. This role isknown as its

A) decreased competition for sunlight between the trees and thewildflowers

B) decreased competition for suitable temperature betweenthe trees and the wildflowers

C) increased competition for space between the trees and thewildflowers

D) increased competition for oxygen between the trees andthe wildflower

18. In early spring, many wildflowers begin to grow, produceflowers, and release seeds. The leaves of the wildflowers makefood before the leaves of the trees in the area begin to develop.The early growth pattern of the wildflowers would likely resultin

A) ecosystems remain stable over long periods of timeB) significant changes occur in the ecosystemC) natural selection does not occurD) the finite resources of Earth increase

19. In an ecosystem, the presence of many different species iscritical for the survival of some forms of life when

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20. Base your answer to the following question on the passage below and on your knowledge of biology.

Research indicates that many plants prevent the growth of other plants in their habitat by releasing naturalherbicides (chemicals that kill plants). These substances are known as allelochemicals and include substances such asquinine, caffeine, and digitalis. Experiments have confirmed that chemicals in the bark and roots of black walnut treesare toxic, and when released into the soil they limit the growth of crop plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, and apples.Allelochemicals can alter growth and enzyme action, injure the outer cover of a seed so the seed dies, or stimulate seedgrowth at inappropriate times of the year. Studies on allelochemical effects help explain the observation that almostnothing grows under a black walnut tree even though light and moisture levels are adequate for growth.

A) a decrease in biodiversity and a competitive advantage for the treeB) an increase in biodiversity and a competitive advantage for the treeC) a decrease in biodiversity and a competitive disadvantage for the treeD) an increase in biodiversity and a competitive disadvantage for the tree

The release of allelochemicals into the soil under a black walnut tree will result in

A) nichesB) ecosystemsC) methods of asexual reproductionD) methods of selective breeding

21. In a pine forest, there are different species of birds known aswarblers that are able to coexist on the same pine trees. TheCape May warblers feed on insects located on the tips of thehighest pine branches. The yellow-rumped warblers feed oninsects on lower branches of the same trees. The differentfeeding locations for these two species of warblers indicate thatthey have different

A) a decrease in biodiversityB) an increase in the amount of energy recycledC) a decrease in erosionD) an increase in the amount of photosynthesis

22. Cutting down a rain forest and planting agricultural crops, suchas coffee plants, would most likely result in

A) one with a great deal of genetic diversityB) one with plants and animals but no bacteriaC) one with animals and bacteria but no plantsD) one with little or no genetic diversity

23. Which ecosystem has a better chance of surviving whenenvironmental conditions change over a long period of time?

A) protect biodiversityB) promote extinction of speciesC) exploit finite resourcesD) increase industrialization

24. Increased efforts to conserve areas such as rain forests arenecessary in order to

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Base your answers to questions 25 and 26 on the informationbelow.

An ecologist passed through different biomes whiledriving up a high mountain. At the lowest elevation (sealevel), the ecologist saw deep-green vegetation, many birds,and small mammals. At the highest elevation, the ecologistsaw bare rock, very little vegetation, and few birds.

A) an increase in the diversity of speciesB) an increase in the amount of atmospheric oxygenC) a decrease in temperatureD) a decrease in latitude

25. Which change was most likely encountered as the ecologistdrove up the mountain?

A) grassland ® tundra ® taigaB) taiga ® tundra ® temperate deciduous forestC) tundra ® temperate deciduous forest ® taigaD) temperate deciduous forest ® taiga ® tundra

26. Which sequence of biomes did the ecologist most likely passthrough while driving from the lowest elevation to the highestelevation of this mountain?

27. Base your answer to the following question on the biome,chosen from the list below, to which those organisms mostlikely belong. Then record its number on the separate answerpaper.

Biomes (1) Tundra (2) Taiga (3) Temperate deciduous forest (4) Tropical rain forest (5) Desert

A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4 E) 5

Cacti and lizards

A) scarcity of consumer organismsB) wide variation in moistureC) inadequate supply of mineralsD) stability of temperatures

28. Which is characteristic of environmental conditions in theoceans?

A) ocean B) desertC) deciduous forest D) tundra

29. In which biome are the abiotic factors most constant?

A) direct harvesting B) genetic engineeringC) evolutionary change D) ecological succession

30. Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge has beendeveloped from an abandoned airport to restore habitat for sixspecies of birds that require an area rich in tall grasses. Workersmust continually remove trees that are beginning to invade thearea as a result of

A) caribou, crow, and snowy owlB) elk, moose, and black bearC) gray squirrel, fox, and deerD) water snake, grizzly bear, and mayfly

31. Which animal species are part of the climax fauna throughoutmost of New York State?

A) local deforestation B) biotechnologyC) ecological succession D) habitat loss

32. In New York State, small farms that were abandoned manyyears ago have become hardwood forests. This is an example of

A) climatic limitations of the geographic area of the pondB) number of carnivores present within the geographic area of

the pondC) concentration of nitrogen dissolved in the pond waterD) rate of photosynthesis in autotrophs growing in the pond

water

33. A pond ecosystem may be replaced by a terrestrial ecosystemover a period of time. The type of terrestrial ecosystem that willbe established depends on the

A) remain bare land indefinitelyB) develop into a desert areaC) develop into an entirely different type of forest after

hundreds of yearsD) recover through gradual changes back to a point of long-term

stability

34. After a fire destroys a forest, the area will most likely

A) energy flow B) biological evolutionC) cellular communication D) ecological succession

35. Which process is represented in the diagram below?

A) hydrolysis B) transpirationC) condensation D) cyclosis

36. As water cycles through an ecosystem, which process returns itto the atmosphere?

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Base your answers to questions 37 and 38 on the diagram below, which shows the sequence of plant communities thathave occupied land that was left barren 300 years ago, and on your knowledge of biology.

A) taiga B) tundraC) tropical rain forest D) temperate deciduous forest

37. In which biome would this sequence of plant communities most likely be found?

A) pine trees B) hickory trees C) mosses D) lichens

38. Dominant plant species in the climax community include

39. Base your answer to the following question on the diagrambelow and on your knowledge of biology

A) An increase in carbon dioxide in the soil will make itpossible for taller plants to grow.

B) Increased cultivation by humans will provide more fertilesoil.

C) The lichens and mosses will modify the environment, makingit more favorable for herbs and shrubs.

D) Herbs and shrubs are the climax community for thisenvironment.

Why will the herbs and shrubs most likely replace the lichensand mosses?

A) the heterotroph hypothesisB) ecological successionC) energy cyclesD) the water cycle

40. Mangrove trees grow in the water on the edge of a subtropicalisland. In time, glass-like plants will grow on the same spot.Still later, palm trees will grow there. Given enough time (andno natural disasters), all these plants will be gone, and a stablepine forest will stand where the mangroves once grew. Thesechanges best describe steps involved in

A) circulation and coordinationB) respiration and coordinationC) respiration and photosynthesisD) photosynthesis and circulation

41. Which two processes are responsible for keeping the percentageof atmospheric oxygen at relatively constant levels?

A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

42. The diagram below represents a cycling of materials.

Which row in the chart below shows the substances representedby X and Y?

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A) The grass stage is the most stable stage and exists for thousands of years.B) The shrub stage modifies the ecosystem, making it more suitable for the pine forest.C) The pine forest stage has no biodiversity and the least competition.D) The hardwood forest stage will be replaced by a pine forest.

43. The diagram below represents a biological process taking place in an area of New York State unaffected by naturaldisasters.

Which statement correctly describes a stage in this process?

A) respiration and photosynthesisB) the ozone shieldC) synthesis and digestionD) energy recycling in ecosystems

44. Carbon dioxide makes up less than 1 percent of Earth'satmosphere, and oxygen makes up about 20 percent. Thesepercentages are maintained most directly by

A) an increase in the amount of atmospheric pollutionproduced

B) a decrease in the source of new medicinesC) an increase in the amount of oxygen released into the

atmosphere

D) a decrease in the number of species

45. Millions of acres of tropical rain forest are being destroyed eachyear. Which change would most likely occur over time if theburning and clearing of these forests were stopped?

A) respiration and photosynthesis, onlyB) transpiration and excretion, onlyC) respiration, photosynthesis, evaporation, and condensation,

onlyD) respiration, photosynthesis, transpiration, excretion,

evaporation, and condensation

46. Which processes are involved in the water cycle?

A) manufacture food by photosynthesisB) return nutrients to the ecosystemC) absorb energy from the SunD) produce organic nutrients

47. Decomposers are necessary in a food chain because they

A) A-deamination; B-transpiration; C-condensation; D evaporation

B) A-transpiration; B-evaporation; C-condensation; D-precipitation

C) A-condensation; B-precipitation; C-transpiration; D evaporation

D) A-transpiration; B-deamination; C-condensation; D-precipitation

48. Processes involved in the water cycle are represented by lettersin the diagram below.

In which group are these processes correctly identified?

A) herbivores B) saprophytesC) predators D) omnivores

49. Which term describes the bird and the cat in the followingpattern of energy flow?sun ® grass ® grasshopper ® bird ® cat

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A) They convert carbon dioxide and water to glucose.B) They break down organic compounds into products used by

other organisms.

C) They release oxygen to the atmosphere.D) They provide energy for the synthesis of proteins.

50. Which statement best describes the role of decomposers?

A) plant parasites B) autotrophsC) bacteria and fungi D) scavengers and viruses

51. Many families now use compost to make the soil in theirgardens more fertile. They collect vegetable scraps and yardtrimmings, place them in a compost pile or special container,and let them decompose. The organisms primarily responsiblefor decomposing the vegetable scraps and yard trimmings are

A)

B)

C)

D)

52. Which graph best represents a predator-prey relationship in astable ecosystem?

A) predator-prey B) consumer-producerC) parasite-host D) autotroph-heterotroph

53. Puppies are often given medicine to eliminate roundworms fromtheir intestines. These worms consume some of the food the puppies have digested. The worms and the puppies represent arelationship known as

A) consumers that owls preferB) autotrophs that owls preferC) organisms that feed on owlsD) saprophytes that affect owls

54. An owl cannot entirely digest the animals it preys upon.Therefore, each day it expels from its mouth a pellet composedof fur, bones, and sometimes cartilage. By examining owlpellets, ecologists would be able to determine the

A) predator B) scavengerC) parasite D) host

55. Deer ticks are responsible for spreading Lyme disease. Thisorganism, which feeds on the blood of warm-blooded organismslike mice, deer, and humans, is best described as a

A) commensalism B) mutualismC) parasitism D) saprophytism

56. A symbiotic relationship exists between two organisms ofdifferent species. If only one organism benefits from therelationship and the other is not harmed, the relationship isknown as

57. Base your answer to the following question on the passagebelow and on your knowledge of biology.

Algae live inside the body cells of a species of hydra. The hydrauses the products of the alga's photosynthesis. Ammoniaresulting from the hydra's metabolism is thought to contribute tothe algae's nutrition.

A) commensalism B) mutualismC) saprophytism D) parasitism

The relationship between the hydra and the alga is best describedas

A) protozoan and termite B) lamprey eel and troutC) tapeworm and dog D) barnacle and whale

58. Which pair of organisms would most likely be involved in thesymbiotic relationship known as mutualism?

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Base your answers to questions 59 and 60 on the informationbelow and on your knowledge of biology.

Lichens are composed of two organisms, a fungus thatcannot make its own food and algae that containchlorophyll. Lichens may live on the bark of trees or evenon bare rock. They secrete acids that tend to break up therock they live on, helping to produce soil. As soilaccumulates from the broken rock and dead lichens, otherorganisms, such as plants, may begin to grow.

A) biological evolutionB) ecological successionC) maintenance of cellular communicationD) differentiation in complex organisms

59. The ability of lichens to alter their environment, enabling otherorganisms to grow and take their places in that environment, isone step in what process?

A) decomposer B) parasiteC) herbivore D) producer

60. What is the role of the algae component of a lichen in anecosystem?

A) birds B) wormsC) mammals D) algae

61. The diagram below represents an energy pyramid.

Which organisms would most likely be found at level A?

A) The Sun provides the needed energy.B) Energy is transferred from plants to animals.C) There are more consumers than producers.D) There are interactions between biotic and abiotic factors.

62. Which statement represents a characteristic of an ecosystem thatis not likely to sustain itself?

A) snake eating a birdB) tree absorbing mineralsC) fungus breaking down wastesD) deer eating grass

63. A relationship between a consumer and producer is bestillustrated by a

A) producers are not as important as consumers in a food webB) more consumers than producers are needed to support the

food webC) organisms in this food web are interdependentD) populations tend to stay constant in a food web

64. One season, there was a shortage of producers in a food web. Asa result, the number of deer and wolves decreased. What is thereason that both the deer and wolf populations declined?

Base your answers to questions 65 through 67 on the energypyramid below and on your knowledge of biology.

A) A and B B) B and CC) C and D D) D and A

65. Which energy levels could contain carnivores?

A) A to level B B) A to level CC) B to level A D) D to level A

66. The greatest amount of available energy is transferred fromlevel

A) level A, only B) levels B and C, onlyC) levels B, C, and D, only D) levels A, B, C, and D

67. Energy from nutrients is transferred to ATP in

A) They are introduced by environmentalists to kill sewagebacteria.

B) They are the decomposition products of river organisms.C) They were accidentally spilled into the river by fishermen.D) They were discharged into the river as manufacturing

byproducts.

68. The lower part of the Hudson River contains large amounts ofpolychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) and heavy metals. Whichstatement best explains their presence in the river?

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69. Base your answer to the following question on the passage below which describes an ecosystem in NewYork State and onyour knowledge of biology.

The Pine Bush ecosystem near Albany, New York, is one of the last known habitats of the nearly extinct KarnerBlue butterfly. The butterfly’s larvae feed on the wild green plant, lupine. The larvae are in turn consumed bypredatory wasps. The four groups below represent other organisms living in this ecosystem.

A) A B) B C) C D) D

The Karner Blue larvae belong in which group?

A) an increase in game fish population levelsB) the stimulation of a rapid rate of evolutionC) the elimination of many species of aquatic lifeD) an increase in agricultural productivity

70. Recent evidence indicates that lakes in large areas of New YorkState are being affected by acid rain. The major effect of acidrain in the lakes is

A) a decrease in the use of fossil fuelsB) a decrease in the release of oxygen gasC) an increase in abiotic resourcesD) an increase in global warming

71. Car manufacturers have begun to explore the use of biofuels,such as biodiesel, ethanol, and cooking oils made from plantmaterial. The desired outcome of using these biofuels would be

A) using carbon dioxide faster than it is being producedB) placing industrial wastes in landfillsC) interfering with energy flow from consumers to producersD) using large amounts of some materials that cannot be

renewed

72. Many scientists are worried about some of Earth’s finiteresources because humans are

A) natural method to decrease ecosystem stabilityB) natural method of controlling the population of an

endangered speciesC) technological Hx to increase habitat destructionD) technological fix for the problem of endangered species

73. Certain animal species that are endangered or threatened havebeen cloned. Closely related species have been used to carry theembryos of the endangered species. This process of increasingthe population size of a species in danger of becoming extinct isan example of a

A) building a new homeB) building a new store in a shopping mallC) widespread use of pesticidesD) widespread recycling prograrns

74. Which environmental change would cause the greatest reductionin the biodiversity of a large ecosystem?

A) using natural predators to reduce insect numbersB) adding chemical fertilizers to all the crops in the areaC) planting the same crop for 1 year on all the fields in the

areaD) planting the same crop in the same field each year for 10

years

75. Which farming practice causes the least harm to theenvironment?

A) will usually favor older methods of energy production overnewer methods

B) must be made by weighing the risks and costs against thebenefits

C) must be made by taking into account the present needs ofthe citizens without looking toward the future

D) should be the responsibility of each individual

76. Some people see the benefit of wind energy as a cleanalternative to fossil fuels for energy production. Others believeit is dangerous for migratory birds. These opinions bestillustrate that decisions about alternate energy sources

A) reduce the rate of global warmingB) increase damage caused by acid rainC) decrease the number of biotic factors in ecosystemsD) reduce destruction of the ozone layer

77. Most scientists recommend reducing carbon dioxide emissions.Less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would be expected to

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A) dark-brown beetles could not find food as well as the tan beetlesB) dark-brown beetles were harder for predators to locateC) tan beetles turned dark brown to blend in with the darker, ash-covered groundD) exposure to ash from the fire changed the DNA of some of the tan beetles

78. Base your answer on the information and data table below and on your knowledge of biology.

The Thousand Islands region in upstate New York has many isolated islands. On one island, a fire burned most of thetrees. The data table below indicates the percentages of tan beetles and dark-brown beetles present before and after the fire.

The increase in the percentage of dark-brown beetles over time was most likely due to the fact that the

A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

79. In which row in the chart below is a human action correctlypaired with its environmental impact?

A) recycling activities by humansB) supply of finite resourcesC) predation and diseaseD) human population size

80. The negative effect humans have on the stability of theenvironment is most directly linked to an increase in

A) release of pollutants into the environmentB) creation of new employment opportunitiesC) decrease of property values in the area around the plantD) increase of automobile traffic in the area around the plant

81. A new automobile manufacturing plant is opening in a certaintown. It will have some negative environmental impacts. This isa trade-off that the town officials had to consider carefullybefore giving final approval. They most likely gave theirapproval because the negative impacts would be offset by the

A) the results of the use of pesticidesB) the recycling of nutrientsC) the flow of energy present in all ecosystemsD) an unintended effect of adding a species to an ecosystem

82. The tall wetland plant, purple loosestrife, was brought fromEurope to the United States in the early 1800s as a garden plant.The plant’s growth is now so widespread across the UnitedStates that it is crowding out a number of native plants. Thissituation is an example of

A) harvesting trees on a tree farmB) burning coal to generate electricity in a power plantC) restricting water usage during a period of water shortageD) building a dam and a power plant to use water to generate

electricity

83. Which practice would most likely deplete a nonrenewablenatural resource?

A) overproduction of bird offspringB) destruction of natural habitatsC) fewer predatorsD) an energy-rich diet

84. The Audubon Society recently released a study that showed thatthe populations of some bird species have decreased in numberby as much as 50% since 1966. The study eliminated food andwater shortages and natural cycles as causes for the decrease.Which factor might have contributed to this decline?

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A) Land in the Coachella Valley should be purchased and setaside as a preserve for the lizards.

B) The fringe-toed lizards should be crossed with a speciesadapted for survival in a different habitat.

C) The land should be developed as planned and the lizardsrelocated to another valley.

D) The land should be developed as planned and the lizardsmonitored to see if they can adapt to the new conditions.

85. In the Coachella Valley in California, much of the desert hasbeen converted into golf courses, housing developments, andhotels. The habitat of the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard israpidly being lost. This lizard is adapted for life on fine,windblown sand.Environmentalists want to save the lizard, and developerswant to continue construction. Which solution would beof most benefit to all involved?

Answer Key

Ecology, Plants, & Human Impact Regents Review

1. D

2. D

3. D

4. D

5. C

6. D

7. D

8. C

9. A

10. D

11. C

12. D

13. D

14. C

15. A

16. D

17. D

18. A

19. B

20. A

21. A

22. A

23. A

24. A

25. C

26. D

27. E

28. D

29. A

30. D

31. C

32. C

33. A

34. D

35. D

36. B

37. D

38. B

39. C

40. B

41. C

42. C

43. B

44. A

45. C

46. D

47. B

48. B

49. C

50. B

51. C

52. A

53. C

54. A

55. C

56. A

57. B

58. A

59. B

60. D

61. D

62. C

63. D

64. C

65. C

66. A

67. D

68. D

69. B

70. C

71. A

72. D

73. D

74. C

75. A

76. B

77. A

78. B

79. C

80. D

81. B

82. D

83. B

84. B

85. A