5 Steps to a 5: AP Environmental Science 2023 Elite Student Edition

by Courtney Mayer

Overview

AP Teachers’ #1 Choice!

Ready to succeed in your AP course and ace your exam? Our 5 Steps to a 5 guides explain the tough stuff, offer tons of practice and explanations, and help you make the most efficient use of your study time. 5 Steps to a 5: AP Environmental Science Elite is more than a review guide, it’s a system that has helped thousands of students walk into test day feeling prepared and confident.

Everything you Need for a 5:

• 3 full-length practice tests that align with the latest College Board requirements
• Hundreds of practice exercises with answer explanations
• Comprehensive overview of all test topics
• Proven strategies from seasoned AP educators

Why the Elite edition?

• 200+ pages of additional AP content
• 5-minute daily activities to reinforce critical AP concepts
• AP educators love this feature for bellringers in the classroom!

Study on the Go:

• All instructional content in digital format (for both computers and mobile devices)
• Interactive practice tests with answer explanations
• A self-guided study plan with daily goals, powerful analytics, flashcards, games, and more

A Great In-class Supplement:

• 5 Steps is an ideal companion to your main AP text
• Includes an AP Environmental Science Teacher’s Manual that offers excellent guidance to educators for better use of the 5 Steps resources

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781264458134
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	08/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	21 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Courtney Mayer, M.Ed., taught science courses for more than 20 years, including AP Environmental Science for 15 years in San Antonio, Texas. She is a College Board Consultant for AP Environmental Science in the Southwestern Region. She has presented all over the United States and in China. Courtney was a reader and table leader at the AP Environmental Science reading where she scored Free Response Questions for thousands of students.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

About the Author xiii

Introduction: The Five-Step Program xv

Step 1 Set Up Your Study Plan

1 What You Need to Know About the AP Environmental Science Exam 3

The Advanced Placement (AP) Exams 4

Frequently Asked Questions About the AP Environmental Science Exam 5

2 How to Plan Your Time 9

Your Personalized Study Plan for the AP Environmental Science Exam 10

Three Timelines for Preparing for the AP Environmental Science Exam 10

Step 2 Determine Your Test Readiness

3 Take a Diagnostic Exam 15

AP Environmental Science Diagnostic Exam Answer Sheet 17

AP Environmental Science Diagnostic Exam 19

Answer Key and Explanations 37

Analyzing Your Performance on the Diagnostic Test 42

Step 3 Develop Strategies for Success

4 How to Approach Each Question Type 47

Multiple-Choice Questions 48

Free-Response Questions 48

Science Practices 50

Step 4 Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

5 The Living World: Ecosystems 53

Introduction to Ecosystems 54

Terrestrial Biomes 55

Aquatic Biomes 56

Carbon Cycle 56

Nitrogen Cycle 57

Phosphorus Cycle 58

Hydrologic Cycle (Water) 59

Primary Productivity 59

Trophic Levels 60

Energy Flow and the 10 Percent Rule 60

Food Chains and Food Webs 60

Review Questions 62

Free-Response Question 64

Answers and Explanations 65

Rapid Review 65

6 The Living World: Biodiversity 67

Introduction to Biodiversity 68

Ecosystem Services 69

Island Biogeography 69

Ecological Tolerance 70

Natural Disruptions to Ecosystems 70

Adaptations 71

Ecological Succession 71

Review Questions 72

Free-Response Question 74

Answers and Explanations 74

Rapid Review 75

7 Populations 77

Generalist and Specialist Species 78

k-Selected and r-Selected Species 78

Survivorship Curves 79

Carrying Capacity 80

Population Growth and Resource Availability 80

Age-Structure Diagrams 81

Total Fertility Rate 82

Human Population Dynamics 82

Demographic Transition 83

Review Questions 84

Free-Response Question 86

Answers and Explanations 86

Rapid Review 87

8 Earth Systems and Resources 89

Plate Tectonics 90

Soil Formation and Erosion 92

Soil Composition and Properties 93

Earth's Atmosphere 95

Global Wind Patterns 95

Watersheds 96

Solar Radiation and Earth's Seasons 96

Earth's Geography and Climate 97

El Nino and La Nina 97

Review Questions 98

Free-Response Question 100

Answers and Explanations 100

Rapid Review 101

9 Land and Water Use 103

The Tragedy of the Commons 104

Clear-Cutting 104

The Green Revolution 105

Impact of Agricultural Practices 105

Irrigation Methods 106

Pest Control Methods 108

Meat Production Methods 108

Impact of Overfishing 109

Impact of Mining 109

Impact of Urbanization 110

Ecological Footprints 111

Introduction to Sustainability 111

Methods to Reduce Urban Runoff 111

Integrated Pest Management 111

Sustainable Agriculture 112

Aquaculture 114

Sustainable Forestry 114

Review Questions 115

Free-Response Questions 116

Answers and Explanations 116

Rapid Review 117

10 Energy Resources and Consumption 121

Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources 122

Global Energy Consumption 122

Fuel Types and Uses 122

Distribution of Natural Energy Resources 123

Fossil Fuels 123

Nuclear Power 124

Energy from Biomass 125

Solar Energy 126

Hydroelectric Power 126

Geothermal Energy 126

Hydrogen Fuel Cell 127

Wind Energy 127

Energy Conservation 127

Review Questions 127

Free-Response Questions 128

Answers and Explanations 129

Rapid Review 129

11 Atmospheric Pollution 131

Introduction to Air Pollution 132

Photochemical Smog 133

Thermal Inversion 133

Atmospheric CO₂ and Particulates 134

Indoor Air Pollutants 134

Reduction of Air Pollutants 134

Acid Rain (Acid Deposition) 135

Noise Pollution 135

Review Questions 136

Free-Response Question 137

Answers and Explanations 137

Rapid Review 139

12 Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution 141

Sources of Pollution 142

Human Impacts on Ecosystems 142

Endocrine Disrupters 144

Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves 144

Eutrophication 144

Thermal Pollution 145

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 145

Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification 145

Solid Waste Disposal 147

Waste Reduction Methods 148

Sewage Treatment 148

Lethal Dose 50% (LD₅₀) 149

Dose-Response Curve 149

Pollution and Human Health 150

Pathogens and Infectious Disease 150

Review Questions 151

Free-Response Question 152

Answers and Explanations 152

Rapid Review 153

13 Global Change 155

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion 156

Reducing Ozone Depletion 157

The Greenhouse Effect 157

Increases in the Greenhouse Gases 158

Global Climate Change 158

Ocean Warming 159

Ocean Acidification 159

Invasive Species 160

Endangered Species 160

Human Impacts on Biodiversity 160

Review Questions 161

Free-Response Question 163

Answers and Explanations 163

Rapid Review 164

Step 5 Building Your Test-Taking Confidence

AP Environmental Science Practice Exam 1 167

Multiple-Choice Questions Answer Sheet 167

Section I Multiple-Choice Questions 169

Section II Free-Response Questions 190

Answers and Explanations for the Multiple-Choice Questions 192

Explanations for the Free-Response Questions 197

Score Approximation 199

AP Environmental Science Practice Exam 2 201

Multiple-Choice Questions Answer Sheet 201

Section I Multiple-Choice Questions 203

Section II Free-Response Questions 226

Answers and Explanations for the Multiple-Choice Questions 228

Explanations for the Free-Response Questions 233

Score Approximation 236

Elite Student Edition 5 Minutes to a 5

180 Activities and Questions in 5 Minutes a Day 237