Deck 2: The Planet Earth

Question 1

The Earth is not quite spherical, because:

A) The polar radius is a little larger than the equatorial radius.
B) The equatorial radius is a little larger than the polar radius.
C) There are mountains in the northern hemisphere that make the surface uneven.
D) There are depressions on the surface making it look more like a golfball.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The ocean makes up about _____ percent of the Earth's surface.

A) 30
B) 45
C) 60
D) 71
E) 91

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The cryosphere includes _____ .

A) all forms of water on the Earth's surface
B) the highest layers of the atmosphere
C) all forms of frozen water
D) the deepest regions of the ocean
E) all of these

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The biosphere includes all of the following EXCEPT:

A) plants
B) animals
C) ozone layer
D) people
E) ecosystems

Question 5

What feature covers the largest portion of the Earth's surface?

A) Antarctica
B) Asia
C) Africa
D) North America
E) Pacific Ocean

Question 6

The large, flat portion of the ocean basin at great depth is called the:

A) ocean floor
B) ocean basement
C) abyssal plain
D) lower plains
E) Davey Jones' locker

Question 7

The very gently sloping, relatively shallow, submerged plain at the edge of the continent is the:

A) continental slope
B) continental shelf
C) continental rise
D) shallow sea

Question 8

The deepest part of the ocean floor occurs along the ________.

A) abyssal plain
B) trenches
C) middle of the Pacific
D) middle of the Indian Ocean

Question 9

Mid-oceanic ridges are:

A) active volcanic features
B) found in most ocean basins
C) high, uplifted features
D) geologically active
E) all of the above

Question 10

Which is the largest landmass on Earth?

A) Africa
B) Eurasia
C) North America
D) South America
E) Antarctica

Question 11

The hydrosphere includes the:

A) ocean
B) atmospheric water
C) surface water
D) ground water
E) all of these

Question 12

The Southern Hemisphere is sometimes called "the water hemisphere."

Question 13

The abyssal plain is perfectly flat without any topographic features.

Question 14

The only continent that straddles the equator with large portions in both north and south hemispheres is:

A) Africa
B) Australia
C) South America
D) Indonesia
E) Eurasia

Question 15

The dividing line between the Western and Eastern Hemispheres runs through:

A) Pittsburgh, PA
B) Greenwich, England
C) Buenos Aires, Argentina
D) Paris, France

Question 16

The Earth's smallest continent is:

A) Antarctica
B) Australia
C) Europe
D) Greenland
E) South America

Question 17

The ______ reaches the deepest in the ocean, in general.

A) continental shelf
B) continental slope
C) continental rise
D) continental apron

Question 18

All portions of the Earth's continents and oceans have been accurately mapped.

Question 19

This continent is somewhat funnel-shaped, narrowing towards the equator.

A) Australia
B) Eurasia
C) North America
D) South America