Chapter 1 Introduction to Planet Earth

A  thousand

B  million

C  billion

D  trillion

A  granite

B  continental crust

C  asthenosphere

D  basalt

E  oceanic crust

A  lithosphere

B  atmosphere

C  mesosphere

D  asthenosphere

E  core

A  Continental crust and oceanic crust have equivalent densities.

B  Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.

C  Continental crust is thinner and less dense than oceanic crust.

D  Continental crust is thicker and denser than oceanic crust.

E  Continental crust is thinner and denser than oceanic crust.

A  basalt.

B  carbonate sedimentary rocks.

C  clay minerals.

D  granite.

E  siltstone.

A  presence of water at Earth’s surface.

B  gravitational force created by the rotating Earth.

C  initial collection of materials and their position in Earth.

D  decrease in temperature downward toward the core.

E  differing densities of the elements that make up the Earth.

A  supernova.

B  nebula.

C  solar system.

D  quasar.

E  protoplanet.

A  3,000

B  100.0

C  1,000

D  4,000

E  500

A  physical composition

B  ecological composition

C  chemical composition

D  biological composition

A  Mesosphere

B  Asthenosphere

C  Inner core

D  Lithosphere

E  Outer core

A  Outer core

B  Inner core

C  Lithosphere

D  Asthenosphere

E  Crust

A  1.5

B  3.5

C  2.0

D  2.5

E  3.0

A  Diorite

B  Granite

C  Basalt

D  Andesite

E  Quartzite

A  Diorite

B  Granite

C  Quartzite

D  Basalt

E  Andesite

A  the Earth was formed by a cosmic explosion, a “big bang”

B  the Moon is derived from a protoplanet

C  Earth’s moon is an asteroid captured by the Earth’s gravity

D  galaxies such as the Milky Way form independent of one another

E  all bodies in the solar system formed from an enormous gas cloud

A  outer core

B  lower mantle

C  upper mantle and hydrosphere

D  crust and uppermost mantle

E  crust and ocean

A  The moon is believed to have been a protoplanet that passed close to Earth and was captured by its gravitational field.

B  The initial atmospheres of Earth and other planets close to the Sun were rich in ammonia and carbon dioxide.

C  The Sun became a star when its temperature and density became so great that nuclear fusion began.

D  The solar system was formed by the expansion of a relatively small cloud of gas and space dust.

E  The Sun and the rest of the solar system were formed approximately one billion years ago.

A  The athenosphere is a brittle, low-density region composed of continental and oceanic crust. The lithosphere is a plastic or malleable, high-density region composed of oceanic crust.

B  The athenosphere is a plastic or malleable region of Earth’s interior, whereas the lithosphere is a liquified rock layer. Both are capable of flow.

C  The athenosphere is plastic or malleable and capable of slow flow. The lithosphere is a brittle and rigid solid region comprised mosly of basalt and granite.

D  The athenosphere is a brittle, solid region. The lithosphere is a plastic or malleable rock layer that is capable of flow.

A  The lowest-density materials are concentrated at Earth’s core, whereas higher-density materials are located closer to Earth’s surface.

B  The highest-density materials make up the ocean floor, and the lowest-density materials make up the mountains.

C  The lowest-density materials make up the ocean floor, and the highest-density materials make up the mountains.

D  The materials are homogenous throughout Earth’s interior.

E  The highest-density materials are concentrated at Earth’s core, whereas lower-density materials are located closer to Earth’s surface.

A  The magnesium-silicate rocks of Earth’s mantle exist in both solid and molten form. The composition of the lithosphere is uniform throughout.

B  The asthenosphere is composed of basalt and granite. The composition of the lithosphere is uniform throughout.

C  The magnesium-silicate rocks of Earth’s mantle exist in both solid and molten form. The mesosphere and the asthenosphere have the same chemical composition.

D  The composition of the lithosphere is uniform throughout. The liquid outer core is composed of different metals than the solid inner core.

A  Solid materials will always sink beneath fluid materials. The thickest layer of Earth has the greatest density. Rocky material of the mantle is less dense than the liquid outer core.

B  Molten material will rise if it is less dense than the surrounding material. The layer with the greatest density is located at the center of Earth. Rocky material of the mantle is less dense than the liquid outer core.

C  Solid materials will always sink beneath fluid materials. Molten material will rise if it is less dense than the surrounding material. The thickest layer of Earth has the greatest density.

D  Solid materials will always sink beneath fluid materials. The thickest layer of Earth has the greatest density.

A  Continental crust and oceanic crust are both predominantly composed of igneous rocks. Continental crust is made of rock that is light in color. Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust.

B  Continental crust is made mostly of basalt. Continental crust is much thinner than oceanic crust. Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust.

C  Continental crust is made mostly of basalt. Continental crust is much thinner than oceanic crust.

D  Continental crust is made mostly of basalt. Continental crust is much thinner than oceanic crust. Continental crust is made of rock that is light in color.

A  Lithosphere that was heated by hot asthenosphere.. Lithosphere that gets a large amount of additional mass added on top of it

B  Lithosphere that was made to be less dense. Lithosphere that was heated by hot asthenosphere. Lithosphere that was thickened by mountain building

C  Lithosphere that was weighed down by glacial ice. Lithosphere that gets a large amount of additional mass added on top of it

D  Lithosphere that was weighed down by glacial ice. Lithosphere that was thickened by mountain building

A  46 million years

B  4.6 billion years

C  4600 billion years

D  4.6 million years

E  460 million years

A  Mercury and Ceres

B  Neptune and Mercury

C  Jupiter and Mercury

D  Vesta and Ceres

A  The ocean was larger and hotter than it is today. Proto-Earth was larger than Earth is today.

B  There was no life on proto-Earth. Layers within proto-Earth were more pronounced.

C  The ocean was larger and hotter than it is today. Layers within proto-Earth were more pronounced.

D  Proto-Earth was homogenous. There was no life on proto-Earth. Proto-Earth was larger than Earth is today.

A  planetary subduction

B  nuclear fission

C  planetary erosion

D  thermonuclear fusion

E  planetary accretion

A  Over time, a star will form at the center of a nebula.

B  Over time, a nebula becomes cooler and grows in size.

C  It is believed that each planet in our solar system began as its own nebula.

D  There are no nebulas left in our galaxy because they have all formed stars and planets.

E  The density of a nebula is greatest at the edges and least in the center.

A  silica and quartz

B  iron and magnesium

C  iron and quartz

D  aluminum and silica

A  quartz and aluminum

B  quartz and iron

C  silica and quartz

D  iron and magnesium

A  mesosphere, ithosphere, asthenosphere

B  asthenosphere, outer core, mesosphere

C  lithosphere, asthenosphere, outer core,

D  mesosphere, ithosphere, inner core

A  Earth’s core is composed of two layers that differ in physical properties. The outer core is liquid because it is so hot. The core is composed of mainly iron and nickel, with some sulfur.

B  Earth’s core is composed of two layers that differ in chemical composition and physical properties. The inner core is liquid because it is so hot.

C  The inner core is liquid because it is so hot. The outer core is liquid because it is so hot.

D  The inner core is liquid because it is so hot. Earth’s core is composed of two layers that differ in chemical composition with some sulfur.

A  material temperature, with the hottest material on the surface and the coolest material in the center

B  material weight

C  material temperature, with the coolest material on the surface and the hottest material in the center

D  material density, with the most-dense material on the surface and the least-dense material in the center

E  material density, with the least-dense material on the surface and the most-dense material in the center

A  flexible sphere

B  viscosity sphere

C  hot sphere

D  weak sphere

E  deep sphere

A  thermal energy that was converted from the gravitational energy of the original nebula collapse

B  thermal energy that was converted from the magnetic energy of the original nebula collapse

C  ultraviolet energy that was converted from the magnetic energy of the original nebula collapse

D  ultraviolet energy that was converted from the gravitational energy of the original nebula collapse

A  a large cloud of dust and liquid in space

B  a large disk of dust and gas in space

C  a large disk of dust and liquid in space

D  a large cloud of dust and gas in space

A  A large cloud of dust and gas began to expand under the force of magnetism.

B  A large cloud of dust and gas began to contract under the force of gravity.

C  A large cloud of dust and gas began to expand under the force of gravity.

D  A large cloud of dust and gas began to contract under the force of magnetism.

A  5 million years ago

B  5 billion years ago

C  5 trillion years ago

D  5000 years ago

A  50 atoms

B  100 atoms

C  33 atoms

D  25 atoms

A  50 atoms

B  33 atoms

C  100 atoms

D  25 atoms

A  The rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container A is greater (or longer) than the rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container B.

B  The rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container B is greater (or longer) than the rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container A.

C  The rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container B is the same as the rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container A. 

A  the number of daughter isotopes that will be gained during a single radioactive decay event

B  the number of parent isotopes that will be lost during a single radioactive decay event

C  the amount of time over which the number of daughter isotopes increases by half

D  the amount of time over which the number of parent isotopes decreases by half

A  Daughter isotopes turn into parent isotopes

B  Daughter isotopes turn into energy.

C  Energy turns into daughter isotopes.

D  Parent isotopes turn into energy.

E  Parent isotopes turn into daughter isotopes.

A  close-range

B  distant

A  increased

B  decreased

A  decreased

B  increased

A  decreased…distant

B  increased… close-range

A  close-range

B  distant

A  Collecting a single vocal sample from one group of whales in a variety of ocean conditions.

B  Collecting many vocal samples from multiple groups of whales in a variety of ocean conditions.

C  Collecting many vocal samples from multiple groups of whales.

D  Collecting many vocal samples from one group of whales in a variety of ocean conditions.

A  A location right on the beach close to the migration route so that they could easily observe the whales and record their behavior.

B  Elevated high on a cliff so observers could easily view the whales from shore and record their behavior.

C  On boats so the whales would swim close enough for researchers to easily listen to their vocalizations.

D  Close to a marina because the scientists could take boats up close to the whales to quietly and carefully observe them breaching.

A  theory

B  hypothesis

C  prediction

D  testing

E  observation

A  an educated guess

B  an explanation that is supported by political leaders and popular media

C  a hypothesis that has been tested once

D  a well-substantiated explanation that is supported by facts, laws, tested hypotheses and logical inferences

E  an idea that is supported by a majority of the population

A  hypothesis

B  testing

C  observation

D  theory

E  prediction

A  Observation

B  Theory

C  Belief

D  Testing

E  Hypothesis

A  observations.

B  laws.

C  guesses.

D  theories.

E  hypotheses.

A  Hypothesis

B  Observations

C  Laws

D  Theories

E  Guesses

A  hypothesis

B  observation

C  law

D  theory

E  guess

A  To explain why the world and the laws of nature exist

B  To determine what happened in the past

C  To develop theories that help scientists determine the truth

D  To explain the causes and effects of observable natural phenomena

E  To allow scientists to test their hypotheses with experiments

A  Waves approach the beach at an angle.

B  Waves lose little energy as they travel across the ocean.

C  Waves transfer wind energy from the surface to deeper water.

D  Waves are usually caused by a distant storm.

E  Waves are the result of a disturbance (release of energy) somewhere in the ocean.

A  Testing

B  Theory

C  Observation(s)

D  Absolute truth

E  Hypotheses

A  Theory, hypothesis, falsification, and law

B  Observation, hypothesis, testing, and theory

C  Observation, hypothesis, testing, and truth

D  Symposia, testing, hypothesis, and theory

E  Guess, testing, hypothesis, and theory

A  geological

B  biological

C  physical

D  chemical

E  archaeological

A  chemical

B  archaeological

C  physical

D  geological

E  biological

A  Stratification/density

B  Microbiology

C  Chemical tracers

D  Temperature dependence

E  Dissolved components

A  Biological oceanography

B  Physical oceanography

C  Chemical oceanography

D  Historical oceanography

E  Geological oceanography

A  1870s

B  1890s

C  1850s

D  1900s

E  2000s

A  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

B  National Oceanic and Atlas Association

C  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association

D  National Oceanic and Atlas Administration

A  Biological and physical oceanography

B  Chemical and geological oceanography

C  Geological and physical oceanography

D  Chemical and physical oceanography

E  Biological and chemical oceanography

A  Contagious disease

B  Gunfire

C  Scurvy

D  Shipwreck

A  Ferdinand Magellan

B  Vasco da Gama

C  Vasco Nunez de Balboa

D  Juan Sebastian del Caño

E  Giovanni Caboto

A  Prince Henry the Navigator

B  Vasco da Gama

C  Giovanni Caboto

D  James Cook

E  Ferdinand Magellan

A  Prince Henry the Navigator

B  Giovanni Caboto

C  James Cook

D  Vasco da Gama

E  Ferdinand Magellan

A  James Cook

B  Ferdinand Magellan

C  Juan Sebastian del Caño

D  Vasco da Gama

E  Vasco Nunez de Balboa

A  Juan Sebastian del Caño

B  Ferdinand Magellan

C  Vasco Nunez de Balboa

D  Vasco da Gama

E  Giovanni Caboto

A  Leif Eriksson

B  Prince Henry the Navigator

C  Erik Thorvaldson

D  Thor Heyerdahl

E  Bjarni Herjolfsson

A  Erik Thorvaldson

B  Thor Heyerdahl

C  Bjarni Herjolfsson

D  Leif Eriksson

A  Christopher Columbus

B  Erik Thorvaldson

C  Claudius Ptolemy

D  Pytheas

E  Eratosthenes

A  Greeks

B  Phoenicians

C  Chinese

D  Polynesians

A  New Zealand

B  Hawaiian Islands

C  Easter Island

D  Marquesas

E  Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa

A  Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa

B  Hawaiian Islands

C  New Zealand

D  Easter Island

E  Marquesas

A  40,000

B  400,000

C  4,000,000

D  5,000

A  Christopher Columbus

B  Vasco de Gama

C  Ptolemy

D  John Cabot

E  Ferdinand Magellan

A  Magellan

B  Ptolemy

C  Herodotus

D  Pytheas

E  Eratosthenes

A  Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the “New World.”

B  Viking voyages to North America.

C  Phoenician exploration of the Mediterranean.

D  Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe.

E  Polynesian colonization of Pacific Islands.

A  Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe.

B  Polynesian colonization of Pacific Islands.

C  Phoenician exploration of the Mediterranean.

D  Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the “New World.”

E  Viking voyages to North America.

A  Italy.

B  France.

C  Spain.

D  Vikings of Scandinavia.

E  Portugal.

A  Seneca.

B  Ptolemy.

C  Pytheas.

D  Herodotus.

E  Eratosthenes.

A  Herodotus.

B  Seneca.

C  Pytheas.

D  Eratosthenes.

E  Ptolemy.

A  Phoenicians.

B  Vikings.

C  Greeks.

D  Polynesians.

E  New Zealanders.

A  Syria

B  Turkey

C  Libya

D  Egypt

E  Greece

A  Erathosthenes

B  Pytheas

C  Claudius Ptolemy

D  Phoenicians

A  Ferdinand Magellan

B  Leif Eriksson

C  John Cabot

D  Christopher Columbus

E  Vasco da Gama

A  1750-1754

B  1772-1775

C  1776-1780

D  1768-1771

E  1780-1783

A  Vitamin B deficiency

B  Vitamin A deficiency

C  Vitamin C deficiency

D  Vitamin E deficiency

E  Vitamin D deficiency

A  Adventure

B  Endeavour

C  Discovery

D  Resolution

A  Christopher Columbus

B  James Cook

C  Juan Sebastian del Cano

D  Leif Erikson

E  James Cameron

A  a reasonably accurate calculation of the circumference of our planet

B  exploration outside the Mediterranean Sea and into the North Atlantic Ocean

C  the introduction of latitude and longitude lines on maps of the world

D  discovery of a trade route from Europe around the African continent to India

E  devising a means of fixing longitude while at sea

A  Christopher Columbus

B  Captain James Cook

A  Christopher Columbus

B  Captain James Cook

A  Greeks

B  Arabs

C  Vikings

D  Phoenicians

A  Pacific Islanders

B  Arabs

C  Vikings

D  Phoenicians

A  Greeks

B  Vikings

C  Phoenicians

D  Pacific Islanders

A  Vikings

B  Phoenicians

C  Greeks

D  Arabs

A  Pacific Islanders

B  Phoenicians

C  Greeks

D  Arabs

A  The tallest point on land, Mt. Everest, is much taller than the ocean is deep.  

B  On Earth, the average depth of the oceans is less than the average height of the land.

C  The Pacific Ocean covers more of Earth’s surface than all the land combined.

D  About half the surface area on Earth is covered with oceans and half is covered with land.

A  The average depths of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are very similar and are much deeper than the Indian and Arctic Oceans.

B  The average depth of the Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic Oceans is similar, while the average depth of the Pacific Ocean is much greater.

C  The average depths of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans are very similar, while the depth of the Arctic Ocean is much shallower than the other three.

D  All four principle oceans have similar average depths.

A  Arctic, Indian, Pacific, Atlantic

B  Arctic, Indian, Atlantic, Pacific

C  Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific

D  Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian

E  Indian, Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific

A  The Atlantic Ocean

B  The Arctic Ocean

C  The Indian Ocean

D  The Pacific Ocean

A  The Mediterranean Sea

B  The Caspian Sea

C  The Black Sea

D  The Red Sea

E  The Indian Ocean

A  The Arctic Ocean

B  The Southern Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Indian Ocean

E  The Pacific Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Arctic Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Indian Ocean

E  The Antarctic Ocean

A  The Arctic Ocean

B  The Antarctic Ocean

C  The Indian Ocean

D  The Pacific Ocean

E  The Atlantic Ocean

A  The Atlantic Ocean

B  The Arctic Ocean

C  The Antarctic Ocean

D  The Pacific Ocean

E  The Indian Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Arctic Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Southern Ocean

A  The Antarctic Ocean

B  The Pacific Ocean

C  The Arctic Ocean

D  The Indian Ocean

E  The Atlantic Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Antarctic Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Indian Ocean

E  The Southern Ocean

A  The Indian Ocean

B  The Atlantic Ocean

C  The Pacific Ocean

D  The Southern Ocean

E  The Antarctic Ocean

A  The Atlantic Ocean

B  The Indian Ocean

C  The Antarctic Ocean

D  The Southern Ocean

E  The Pacific Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean is the second largest geographic feature on the planet.

B  The Pacific Ocean is about three times larger than the next largest ocean.

C  The Pacific Ocean covers more than two-thirds of the ocean surface area on Earth.

D  All of the continents could fit into the space occupied by the Pacific Ocean.

E  The Pacific Ocean spans more than one-half of Earth’s entire surface.

A  depth; elevation

B  shape; position

C  size; shape

D  position; latitude

A  Indian

B  Adriatic

C  Black

D  Mediterranean

E  Caspian

A  Mediterranean

B  Atlantic

C  Arctic

D  Pacific

E  Indian

A  The depth of this trench is estimated at 15,000 meters.

B  The deepest part of the ocean is located in a trench off the coast of Japan.

C  The depth of this trench exceeds the height of Mount Everest.

D  The bottom of this trench has never been reached by a submersible.

E  This trench is called the Philippine Trench.

A  3,682 meters (12,080 feet)

B  11,022 meters (36,161 feet)

C  840 meters (2,756 feet)

D  5,280 meters (17,323 feet)

E  2,172 meters (7,126 feet)

A  Arctic Ocean.

B  Southern Ocean.

C  Pacific Ocean.

D  Indian Ocean.

E  Atlantic Ocean.

A  Antarctic, Arctic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans.

B  Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern, and Arctic Oceans.

C  Atlantic, Arctic, Mediterranean, Southern, and Pacific Oceans.

D  Antarctic, Caspian, Southern, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

E  Atlantic, Antarctic, Southern, Mediterranean, and Pacific Oceans.

A  1940 and 2000

B  1970 and 2014

C  1960 and 2012

D  1930 and 1998

E  1950 and 2010

A  50

B  200

C  100

D  150

E  250

A  Pacific Ocean

B  Arctic Ocean

C  Southern Ocean

D  Indian Ocean

E  Atlantic Ocean

A  80

B  70

C  90

D  50

E  60

A  The Adriatic Sea

B  The Mediterranean Sea

C  The Yellow Sea

D  The Black Sea

E  The Red Sea

A  Pacific

B  Southern

C  Indian

D  Atlantic

E  Arctic

A  the Atlantic Ocean

B  the Pacific Ocean

C  Eurasia

D  the Antarctic ice cap

E  Africa

A  The Mariana Trench is shallower than the average height of mountains on land.

B  The Mariana Trench is thousands of meters deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

C  Mount Everest and the average depth of the oceans are similar in height above sea level and ocean depth, respectively.

D  The Mariana Trench is thousands of meters shallower than Mount Everest is tall.

E  The Mariana Trench and Mount Everest are similar in depth and height.

A  Seas are bodies of water that are composed of salt water, but they are enclosed by land and therefore not directly connected to the world ocean.

B  Seas are smaller and shallower bodies of salt water that are somewhat enclosed by land, but they are directly connected to the world ocean.

C  There is no difference between oceans and seas.

D  Seas are smaller, shallower, composed of freshwater, and are somewhat enclosed by land.

E  Seas are larger and deeper bodies of water that are composed of both fresh and salt water, and they are directly connected to the world ocean.

A  Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of small land masses surrounded by marginal bodies of water.

B  Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of large land masses surrounded by marginal bodies of water.

C  Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of large land masses surrounded by large bodies of water.

D  Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of small land masses surrounded by large bodies of water.

A  The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the oceans.
The Southern Ocean is at the southernmost point of the globe.
The majority of the Indian Ocean is in the Northern Hemisphere.

B  The Southern Ocean is at the southernmost point of the globe.
The Arctic Ocean is the shallowest ocean.
The majority of the Indian Ocean is in the Northern Hemisphere.

C  The Southern Ocean is at the southernmost point of the globe.
The majority of the Indian Ocean is in the Northern Hemisphere.

D  The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the oceans.
The deepest areas of the world’s oceans are found in the Pacific Ocean.
The Arctic Ocean is the shallowest ocean.

A  The Arctic is a continent surrounded by land, whereas the Antarctic is an ocean surrounded by continents.
The Indian Ocean is about 7% the size of the Pacific Ocean.
NASA satellites fly over Antarctica.

B  The Arctic is a continent surrounded by land, whereas the Antarctic is an ocean surrounded by continents.
The Indian Ocean is about 7% the size of the Pacific Ocean.

C  NASA satellites fly over Antarctica.
Earth’s ocean is one big interconnected body of water.
The Southern Ocean is one of the least-studied areas on planet Earth.

D  The Southern Ocean is one of the least-studied areas on planet Earth.
The Arctic is a continent surrounded by land, whereas the Antarctic is an ocean surrounded by continents.
The Indian Ocean is about 7% the size of the Pacific Ocean.

A  Arctic, Caspian Sea, Atlantic

B  Pacific, Indian, Atlantic

C  Arctic, Caspian Sea

D  Arctic, Caspian Sea, Pacific

A  Indian Ocean

B  Southern Ocean

C  Atlantic Ocean

D  Pacific

E  Arctic

A  Atlantic Ocean

B  Lake Baikal

C  Mediterranean Sea

D  Arctic Ocean

E  Pacific Ocean

A  Pacific Ocean

B  Grand Canyon

C  Amazon Rainforest

D  Great Barrier Reef

E  Antarctica