Chapter 1 Introduction to Planet Earth

A  million

B  billion

C  thousand

D  trillion

A  oceanic crust

B  continental crust

C  basalt

D  asthenosphere

E  granite

A  core

B  mesosphere

C  lithosphere

D  asthenosphere

E  atmosphere

A  Continental crust and oceanic crust have equivalent densities.

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

C  Continental crust is thicker and denser than oceanic crust.

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

E  Continental crust is thinner and denser than oceanic crust.

A  siltstone.

B  basalt.

C  carbonate sedimentary rocks.

D  granite.

E  clay minerals.

A  decrease in temperature downward toward the core.

B  gravitational force created by the rotating Earth.

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

D  initial collection of materials and their position in Earth.

E  presence of water at Earth’s surface.

A  solar system.

B  nebula.

C  protoplanet.

D  supernova.

E  quasar.

A  3,000

B  1,000

C  100.0

D  500

E  4,000

A  ecological composition

B  chemical composition

C  physical composition

D  biological composition

A  Lithosphere

B  Inner core

C  Mesosphere

D  Outer core

E  Asthenosphere

A  Outer core

B  Crust

C  Lithosphere

D  Inner core

E  Asthenosphere

A  3.0

B  2.5

C  1.5

D  2.0

E  3.5

A  Basalt

B  Andesite

C  Granite

D  Diorite

E  Quartzite

A  Granite

B  Andesite

C  Basalt

D  Diorite

E  Quartzite

A  the Moon is derived from a protoplanet

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

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

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

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

A  outer core

B  lower mantle

C  crust and uppermost mantle

D  crust and ocean

E  upper mantle and hydrosphere

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

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

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

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 materials are homogenous throughout Earth’s interior.

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

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

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

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

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

B  The magnesium-silicate rocks of Earth’s mantle exist in both solid and molten form. 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. Molten material will rise if it is less dense than the surrounding material. The thickest layer of Earth has the greatest density.

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. Rocky material of the mantle is less dense than the liquid outer core.

D  Solid materials will always sink beneath fluid materials. 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.

B  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.

C  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.

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

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

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

A  4.6 million years

B  460 million years

C  46 million years

D  4600 billion years

E  4.6 billion years

A  Jupiter and Mercury

B  Mercury and Ceres

C  Neptune and Mercury

D  Vesta and Ceres

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

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

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

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

A  planetary accretion

B  planetary subduction

C  thermonuclear fusion

D  planetary erosion

E  nuclear fission

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

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

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

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

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

A  iron and quartz

B  iron and magnesium

C  silica and quartz

D  aluminum and silica

A  quartz and iron

B  silica and quartz

C  quartz and aluminum

D  iron and magnesium

A  asthenosphere, outer core, mesosphere

B  lithosphere, asthenosphere, outer core,

C  mesosphere, ithosphere, inner core

D  mesosphere, ithosphere, asthenosphere

A  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.

B  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.

C  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.

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

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  viscosity sphere

C  flexible sphere

D  weak sphere

E  hot sphere

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

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

C  thermal 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 gas in space

B  a large disk of dust and gas in space

C  a large cloud of dust and liquid in space

D  a large disk 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 billion years ago

B  5 million years ago

C  5 trillion years ago

D  5000 years ago

A  33 atoms

B  100 atoms

C  50 atoms

D  25 atoms

A  50 atoms

B  100 atoms

C  33 atoms

D  25 atoms

A  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. 

B  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.

C  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.

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

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

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

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

A  Parent isotopes turn into energy.

B  Daughter isotopes turn into energy.

C  Energy turns into daughter isotopes.

D  Parent isotopes turn into daughter isotopes.

E  Daughter isotopes turn into parent isotopes

A  close-range

B  distant

A  increased

B  decreased

A  decreased

B  increased

A  increased… close-range

B  decreased…distant

A  distant

B  close-range

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

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

C  Collecting many vocal samples from multiple groups of whales.

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

A  theory

B  hypothesis

C  prediction

D  observation

E  testing

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

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

C  a hypothesis that has been tested once

D  an educated guess

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

A  theory

B  testing

C  observation

D  prediction

E  hypothesis

A  Testing

B  Belief

C  Hypothesis

D  Theory

E  Observation

A  observations.

B  guesses.

C  hypotheses.

D  laws.

E  theories.

A  Theories

B  Laws

C  Hypothesis

D  Observations

E  Guesses

A  theory

B  law

C  observation

D  hypothesis

E  guess

A  To allow scientists to test their hypotheses with experiments

B  To determine what happened in the past

C  To develop theories that help scientists determine the truth

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

E  To explain the causes and effects of observable natural phenomena

A  Waves approach the beach at an angle.

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

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

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

E  Waves are usually caused by a distant storm.

A  Hypotheses

B  Theory

C  Absolute truth

D  Testing

E  Observation(s)

A  Theory, hypothesis, falsification, and law

B  Symposia, testing, hypothesis, and theory

C  Guess, testing, hypothesis, and theory

D  Observation, hypothesis, testing, and truth

E  Observation, hypothesis, testing, and theory

A  archaeological

B  geological

C  physical

D  chemical

E  biological

A  physical

B  chemical

C  biological

D  archaeological

E  geological

A  Dissolved components

B  Microbiology

C  Chemical tracers

D  Temperature dependence

E  Stratification/density

A  Physical oceanography

B  Chemical oceanography

C  Biological oceanography

D  Historical oceanography

E  Geological oceanography

A  1870s

B  2000s

C  1900s

D  1890s

E  1850s

A  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association

B  National Oceanic and Atlas Association

C  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

D  National Oceanic and Atlas Administration

A  Chemical and physical oceanography

B  Chemical and geological oceanography

C  Biological and chemical oceanography

D  Geological and physical oceanography

E  Biological and physical oceanography

A  Contagious disease

B  Scurvy

C  Gunfire

D  Shipwreck

A  Vasco da Gama

B  Ferdinand Magellan

C  Giovanni Caboto

D  Vasco Nunez de Balboa

E  Juan Sebastian del Caño

A  Giovanni Caboto

B  Vasco da Gama

C  Prince Henry the Navigator

D  Ferdinand Magellan

E  James Cook

A  Ferdinand Magellan

B  James Cook

C  Vasco da Gama

D  Giovanni Caboto

E  Prince Henry the Navigator

A  James Cook

B  Vasco da Gama

C  Juan Sebastian del Caño

D  Vasco Nunez de Balboa

E  Ferdinand Magellan

A  Vasco Nunez de Balboa

B  Giovanni Caboto

C  Vasco da Gama

D  Juan Sebastian del Caño

E  Ferdinand Magellan

A  Bjarni Herjolfsson

B  Erik Thorvaldson

C  Prince Henry the Navigator

D  Thor Heyerdahl

E  Leif Eriksson

A  Leif Eriksson

B  Erik Thorvaldson

C  Thor Heyerdahl

D  Bjarni Herjolfsson

A  Pytheas

B  Eratosthenes

C  Christopher Columbus

D  Claudius Ptolemy

E  Erik Thorvaldson

A  Greeks

B  Phoenicians

C  Chinese

D  Polynesians

A  Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa

B  Hawaiian Islands

C  Easter Island

D  Marquesas

E  New Zealand

A  Hawaiian Islands

B  Marquesas

C  Easter Island

D  Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa

E  New Zealand

A  40,000

B  400,000

C  5,000

D  4,000,000

A  Vasco de Gama

B  Christopher Columbus

C  John Cabot

D  Ferdinand Magellan

E  Ptolemy

A  Herodotus

B  Magellan

C  Pytheas

D  Ptolemy

E  Eratosthenes

A  Phoenician exploration of the Mediterranean.

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

C  Viking voyages to North America.

D  Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe.

E  Polynesian colonization of Pacific Islands.

A  Phoenician exploration of the Mediterranean.

B  Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe.

C  Polynesian colonization of Pacific Islands.

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

E  Viking voyages to North America.

A  Portugal.

B  Italy.

C  France.

D  Vikings of Scandinavia.

E  Spain.

A  Herodotus.

B  Ptolemy.

C  Eratosthenes.

D  Seneca.

E  Pytheas.

A  Seneca.

B  Ptolemy.

C  Pytheas.

D  Herodotus.

E  Eratosthenes.

A  New Zealanders.

B  Greeks.

C  Phoenicians.

D  Polynesians.

E  Vikings.

A  Greece

B  Turkey

C  Libya

D  Egypt

E  Syria

A  Pytheas

B  Claudius Ptolemy

C  Erathosthenes

D  Phoenicians

A  Ferdinand Magellan

B  Leif Eriksson

C  Christopher Columbus

D  John Cabot

E  Vasco da Gama

A  1772-1775

B  1750-1754

C  1780-1783

D  1768-1771

E  1776-1780

A  Vitamin E deficiency

B  Vitamin B deficiency

C  Vitamin C deficiency

D  Vitamin A deficiency

E  Vitamin D deficiency

A  Resolution

B  Discovery

C  Adventure

D  Endeavour

A  Juan Sebastian del Cano

B  Christopher Columbus

C  Leif Erikson

D  James Cameron

E  James Cook

A  a reasonably accurate calculation of the circumference of our planet

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

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

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

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  Phoenicians

C  Arabs

D  Vikings

A  Vikings

B  Phoenicians

C  Arabs

D  Pacific Islanders

A  Vikings

B  Pacific Islanders

C  Greeks

D  Phoenicians

A  Vikings

B  Greeks

C  Arabs

D  Phoenicians

A  Greeks

B  Phoenicians

C  Pacific Islanders

D  Arabs

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

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

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

D  On Earth, the average depth of the oceans is less than the average height of the 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  All four principle oceans have similar average depths.

D  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.

A  Arctic, Indian, Pacific, Atlantic

B  Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian

C  Arctic, Indian, Atlantic, Pacific

D  Indian, Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific

E  Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific

A  The Indian Ocean

B  The Pacific Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Arctic Ocean

A  The Black Sea

B  The Mediterranean Sea

C  The Caspian Sea

D  The Red Sea

E  The Indian Ocean

A  The Southern Ocean

B  The Arctic Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Pacific Ocean

E  The Indian Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Atlantic Ocean

C  The Arctic Ocean

D  The Antarctic Ocean

E  The Indian Ocean

A  The Antarctic Ocean

B  The Indian Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Arctic Ocean

E  The Pacific Ocean

A  The Arctic Ocean

B  The Pacific Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Antarctic Ocean

E  The Indian Ocean

A  The Southern Ocean

B  The Atlantic Ocean

C  The Pacific Ocean

D  The Arctic Ocean

A  The Arctic Ocean

B  The Atlantic Ocean

C  The Indian Ocean

D  The Antarctic Ocean

E  The Pacific Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Atlantic Ocean

C  The Indian Ocean

D  The Southern Ocean

E  The Antarctic Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Antarctic Ocean

C  The Southern Ocean

D  The Atlantic Ocean

E  The Indian Ocean

A  The Pacific Ocean

B  The Indian Ocean

C  The Atlantic Ocean

D  The Antarctic Ocean

E  The Southern Ocean

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

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

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  size; shape

C  shape; position

D  position; latitude

A  Caspian

B  Mediterranean

C  Black

D  Adriatic

E  Indian

A  Arctic

B  Mediterranean

C  Atlantic

D  Pacific

E  Indian

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

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

C  This trench is called the Philippine Trench.

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

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

A  11,022 meters (36,161 feet)

B  840 meters (2,756 feet)

C  2,172 meters (7,126 feet)

D  5,280 meters (17,323 feet)

E  3,682 meters (12,080 feet)

A  Indian Ocean.

B  Pacific Ocean.

C  Atlantic Ocean.

D  Southern Ocean.

E  Arctic Ocean.

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

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

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

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

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

A  1940 and 2000

B  1960 and 2012

C  1950 and 2010

D  1930 and 1998

E  1970 and 2014

A  150

B  200

C  250

D  50

E  100

A  Southern Ocean

B  Atlantic Ocean

C  Arctic Ocean

D  Indian Ocean

E  Pacific Ocean

A  60

B  70

C  80

D  90

E  50

A  The Yellow Sea

B  The Adriatic Sea

C  The Black Sea

D  The Mediterranean Sea

E  The Red Sea

A  Southern

B  Indian

C  Pacific

D  Arctic

E  Atlantic

A  Eurasia

B  Africa

C  the Antarctic ice cap

D  the Pacific Ocean

E  the Atlantic Ocean

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 marginal bodies of water.

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

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

B  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.

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 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  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.

C  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.

D  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.

A  Arctic, Caspian Sea, Atlantic

B  Arctic, Caspian Sea, Pacific

C  Arctic, Caspian Sea

D  Pacific, Indian, Atlantic

A  Atlantic Ocean

B  Arctic

C  Indian Ocean

D  Pacific

E  Southern Ocean

A  Mediterranean Sea

B  Arctic Ocean

C  Lake Baikal

D  Pacific Ocean

E  Atlantic Ocean

A  Antarctica

B  Great Barrier Reef

C  Pacific Ocean

D  Amazon Rainforest

E  Grand Canyon