Chapter 1 Introduction to Planet Earth

A  trillion

B  thousand

C  million

D  billion

A  oceanic crust

B  continental crust

C  granite

D  asthenosphere

E  basalt

A  lithosphere

B  mesosphere

C  core

D  asthenosphere

E  atmosphere

A  Continental crust is thicker and denser than oceanic crust.

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

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

D  Continental crust and oceanic crust have equivalent densities.

E  Continental crust is thinner and denser than oceanic crust.

A  carbonate sedimentary rocks.

B  clay minerals.

C  siltstone.

D  granite.

E  basalt.

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

B  gravitational force created by the rotating Earth.

C  presence of water at Earth’s surface.

D  decrease in temperature downward toward the core.

E  initial collection of materials and their position in Earth.

A  solar system.

B  quasar.

C  protoplanet.

D  supernova.

E  nebula.

A  3,000

B  1,000

C  500

D  4,000

E  100.0

A  biological composition

B  physical composition

C  ecological composition

D  chemical composition

A  Mesosphere

B  Inner core

C  Outer core

D  Asthenosphere

E  Lithosphere

A  Crust

B  Lithosphere

C  Asthenosphere

D  Inner core

E  Outer core

A  2.5

B  3.0

C  2.0

D  1.5

E  3.5

A  Andesite

B  Granite

C  Basalt

D  Quartzite

E  Diorite

A  Quartzite

B  Granite

C  Basalt

D  Diorite

E  Andesite

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

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

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

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

E  the Moon is derived from a protoplanet

A  lower mantle

B  upper mantle and hydrosphere

C  crust and ocean

D  crust and uppermost mantle

E  outer core

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

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

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

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

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

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

A  The materials are homogenous throughout Earth’s interior.

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

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

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

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

A  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.

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

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

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

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. The thickest layer of Earth has the greatest density.

D  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.

A  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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

A  46 million years

B  4600 billion years

C  4.6 billion years

D  4.6 million years

E  460 million years

A  Vesta and Ceres

B  Neptune and Mercury

C  Mercury and Ceres

D  Jupiter and Mercury

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  thermonuclear fusion

B  nuclear fission

C  planetary accretion

D  planetary subduction

E  planetary erosion

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

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

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

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

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

A  iron and quartz

B  iron and magnesium

C  aluminum and silica

D  silica and quartz

A  quartz and aluminum

B  iron and magnesium

C  quartz and iron

D  silica and quartz

A  asthenosphere, outer core, mesosphere

B  lithosphere, asthenosphere, outer core,

C  mesosphere, ithosphere, inner core

D  mesosphere, ithosphere, asthenosphere

A  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.

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

C  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.

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 coolest material on the surface and the hottest material in the center

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

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

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

E  material weight

A  deep sphere

B  flexible sphere

C  viscosity sphere

D  weak sphere

E  hot sphere

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

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

C  thermal energy that was converted from the gravitational 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 gas in space

B  a large disk of dust and liquid in space

C  a large disk of dust and gas in space

D  a large cloud of dust and liquid in space

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

A  5 million years ago

B  5 trillion years ago

C  5 billion years ago

D  5000 years ago

A  100 atoms

B  33 atoms

C  50 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 parent isotopes that will be lost during a single radioactive decay event

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

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

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

A  Energy turns into daughter isotopes.

B  Parent isotopes turn into energy.

C  Daughter isotopes turn into energy.

D  Parent isotopes turn into daughter isotopes.

E  Daughter isotopes turn into parent isotopes

A  distant

B  close-range

A  decreased

B  increased

A  decreased

B  increased

A  decreased…distant

B  increased… close-range

A  distant

B  close-range

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A  testing

B  prediction

C  hypothesis

D  theory

E  observation

A  a hypothesis that has been tested once

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

C  an educated guess

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

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

A  testing

B  hypothesis

C  theory

D  prediction

E  observation

A  Theory

B  Observation

C  Belief

D  Hypothesis

E  Testing

A  guesses.

B  laws.

C  observations.

D  hypotheses.

E  theories.

A  Guesses

B  Hypothesis

C  Laws

D  Theories

E  Observations

A  guess

B  law

C  observation

D  hypothesis

E  theory

A  To develop theories that help scientists determine the truth

B  To determine what happened in the past

C  To explain the causes and effects of observable natural phenomena

D  To allow scientists to test their hypotheses with experiments

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

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

B  Waves are usually caused by a distant storm.

C  Waves approach the beach at an angle.

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

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

A  Theory

B  Absolute truth

C  Observation(s)

D  Hypotheses

E  Testing

A  Theory, hypothesis, falsification, and law

B  Observation, hypothesis, testing, and truth

C  Symposia, testing, hypothesis, and theory

D  Guess, testing, hypothesis, and theory

E  Observation, hypothesis, testing, and theory

A  archaeological

B  physical

C  chemical

D  geological

E  biological

A  geological

B  archaeological

C  physical

D  biological

E  chemical

A  Microbiology

B  Temperature dependence

C  Stratification/density

D  Chemical tracers

E  Dissolved components

A  Chemical oceanography

B  Biological oceanography

C  Physical oceanography

D  Historical oceanography

E  Geological oceanography

A  1900s

B  1870s

C  1890s

D  1850s

E  2000s

A  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

B  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association

C  National Oceanic and Atlas Association

D  National Oceanic and Atlas Administration

A  Geological and physical oceanography

B  Chemical and physical oceanography

C  Biological and physical oceanography

D  Biological and chemical oceanography

E  Chemical and geological oceanography

A  Contagious disease

B  Gunfire

C  Scurvy

D  Shipwreck

A  Ferdinand Magellan

B  Vasco Nunez de Balboa

C  Juan Sebastian del Caño

D  Giovanni Caboto

E  Vasco da Gama

A  Ferdinand Magellan

B  Giovanni Caboto

C  Prince Henry the Navigator

D  Vasco da Gama

E  James Cook

A  Ferdinand Magellan

B  James Cook

C  Giovanni Caboto

D  Prince Henry the Navigator

E  Vasco da Gama

A  Vasco Nunez de Balboa

B  James Cook

C  Ferdinand Magellan

D  Juan Sebastian del Caño

E  Vasco da Gama

A  Vasco da Gama

B  Giovanni Caboto

C  Juan Sebastian del Caño

D  Vasco Nunez de Balboa

E  Ferdinand Magellan

A  Prince Henry the Navigator

B  Bjarni Herjolfsson

C  Erik Thorvaldson

D  Leif Eriksson

E  Thor Heyerdahl

A  Bjarni Herjolfsson

B  Thor Heyerdahl

C  Erik Thorvaldson

D  Leif Eriksson

A  Claudius Ptolemy

B  Christopher Columbus

C  Eratosthenes

D  Erik Thorvaldson

E  Pytheas

A  Polynesians

B  Phoenicians

C  Chinese

D  Greeks

A  Marquesas

B  Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa

C  Hawaiian Islands

D  Easter Island

E  New Zealand

A  Easter Island

B  New Zealand

C  Hawaiian Islands

D  Marquesas

E  Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa

A  5,000

B  400,000

C  40,000

D  4,000,000

A  Ferdinand Magellan

B  Christopher Columbus

C  Ptolemy

D  John Cabot

E  Vasco de Gama

A  Ptolemy

B  Pytheas

C  Herodotus

D  Magellan

E  Eratosthenes

A  Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe.

B  Phoenician exploration of the Mediterranean.

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

D  Viking voyages to North America.

E  Polynesian colonization of Pacific Islands.

A  Viking voyages to North America.

B  Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe.

C  Polynesian colonization of Pacific Islands.

D  Phoenician exploration of the Mediterranean.

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

A  Spain.

B  Portugal.

C  Vikings of Scandinavia.

D  France.

E  Italy.

A  Ptolemy.

B  Seneca.

C  Herodotus.

D  Pytheas.

E  Eratosthenes.

A  Pytheas.

B  Seneca.

C  Eratosthenes.

D  Ptolemy.

E  Herodotus.

A  New Zealanders.

B  Phoenicians.

C  Polynesians.

D  Vikings.

E  Greeks.

A  Libya

B  Turkey

C  Egypt

D  Greece

E  Syria

A  Erathosthenes

B  Pytheas

C  Claudius Ptolemy

D  Phoenicians

A  Ferdinand Magellan

B  Leif Eriksson

C  Christopher Columbus

D  John Cabot

E  Vasco da Gama

A  1768-1771

B  1772-1775

C  1780-1783

D  1776-1780

E  1750-1754

A  Vitamin E deficiency

B  Vitamin B deficiency

C  Vitamin D deficiency

D  Vitamin C deficiency

E  Vitamin A deficiency

A  Discovery

B  Endeavour

C  Adventure

D  Resolution

A  Leif Erikson

B  Christopher Columbus

C  Juan Sebastian del Cano

D  James Cameron

E  James Cook

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

B  a reasonably accurate calculation of the circumference of our planet

C  devising a means of fixing longitude while at sea

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

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

A  Captain James Cook

B  Christopher Columbus

A  Christopher Columbus

B  Captain James Cook

A  Phoenicians

B  Arabs

C  Greeks

D  Vikings

A  Phoenicians

B  Vikings

C  Pacific Islanders

D  Arabs

A  Pacific Islanders

B  Phoenicians

C  Greeks

D  Vikings

A  Greeks

B  Vikings

C  Arabs

D  Phoenicians

A  Phoenicians

B  Arabs

C  Greeks

D  Pacific Islanders

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

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

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

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

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

B  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.

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

D  All four principle oceans have similar average depths.

A  Arctic, Indian, Atlantic, Pacific

B  Arctic, Indian, Pacific, Atlantic

C  Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian

D  Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific

E  Indian, Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific

A  The Indian Ocean

B  The Arctic Ocean

C  The Pacific Ocean

D  The Atlantic Ocean

A  The Indian Ocean

B  The Black Sea

C  The Caspian Sea

D  The Red Sea

E  The Mediterranean Sea

A  The Indian Ocean

B  The Southern Ocean

C  The Pacific Ocean

D  The Arctic Ocean

E  The Atlantic Ocean

A  The Antarctic Ocean

B  The Indian Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Arctic Ocean

E  The Pacific Ocean

A  The Antarctic Ocean

B  The Atlantic Ocean

C  The Arctic Ocean

D  The Indian Ocean

E  The Pacific Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Indian Ocean

C  The Arctic Ocean

D  The Antarctic Ocean

E  The Atlantic Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Atlantic Ocean

C  The Southern Ocean

D  The Arctic Ocean

A  The Atlantic Ocean

B  The Indian Ocean

C  The Antarctic Ocean

D  The Pacific Ocean

E  The Arctic Ocean

A  The Indian Ocean

B  The Atlantic Ocean

C  The Antarctic Ocean

D  The Southern Ocean

E  The Pacific Ocean

A  The Southern Ocean

B  The Antarctic Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Pacific Ocean

E  The Indian Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Antarctic Ocean

C  The Indian Ocean

D  The Southern Ocean

E  The Atlantic Ocean

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

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

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

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

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

A  position; latitude

B  shape; position

C  size; shape

D  depth; elevation

A  Caspian

B  Indian

C  Adriatic

D  Black

E  Mediterranean

A  Atlantic

B  Indian

C  Pacific

D  Arctic

E  Mediterranean

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

B  This trench is called the Philippine Trench.

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

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

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

A  11,022 meters (36,161 feet)

B  840 meters (2,756 feet)

C  2,172 meters (7,126 feet)

D  3,682 meters (12,080 feet)

E  5,280 meters (17,323 feet)

A  Atlantic Ocean.

B  Indian Ocean.

C  Arctic Ocean.

D  Southern Ocean.

E  Pacific Ocean.

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

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

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

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

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

A  1950 and 2010

B  1940 and 2000

C  1960 and 2012

D  1930 and 1998

E  1970 and 2014

A  150

B  250

C  50

D  200

E  100

A  Atlantic Ocean

B  Southern Ocean

C  Indian Ocean

D  Arctic Ocean

E  Pacific Ocean

A  50

B  70

C  90

D  80

E  60

A  The Yellow Sea

B  The Adriatic Sea

C  The Mediterranean Sea

D  The Black Sea

E  The Red Sea

A  Atlantic

B  Arctic

C  Indian

D  Southern

E  Pacific

A  the Atlantic Ocean

B  the Antarctic ice cap

C  Eurasia

D  Africa

E  the Pacific Ocean

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

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

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

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

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

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

C  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.

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

E  There is no difference between oceans and seas.

A  Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of large land masses surrounded by large 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 small land masses surrounded by marginal 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 majority of the Indian Ocean is in the Northern Hemisphere.

C  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.

D  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.

A  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.

B  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.

C  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.

D  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.

A  Arctic, Caspian Sea, Pacific

B  Arctic, Caspian Sea, Atlantic

C  Pacific, Indian, Atlantic

D  Arctic, Caspian Sea

A  Arctic

B  Atlantic Ocean

C  Indian Ocean

D  Pacific

E  Southern Ocean

A  Pacific Ocean

B  Atlantic Ocean

C  Arctic Ocean

D  Mediterranean Sea

E  Lake Baikal

A  Antarctica

B  Amazon Rainforest

C  Grand Canyon

D  Pacific Ocean

E  Great Barrier Reef