Exam 1

All of the following are considered part of the continental margin except the: A) continental rise. B) continental shelf. C) continental slope. D) fracture zone. E) submarine canyon.

D) fracture zone.

The transfer of water between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the continents is known as the: A) closed cycle. B) geologic cycle. C) hydrobiological cycle. D) hydrologic cycle. E) meteorological cycle.

D) hydrologic cycle.

With respect to mid-ocean ridges, transform faults are: A) associated with hydrothermal vents. B) located in submarine canyons. C) parallel to the rift valley. D) perpendicular to the ridge axis.

D) perpendicular to the ridge axis.

Latent heat is the quantity of heat gained or lost as a substance undergoes a: A) change in chemical composition. B) change in molecular weight. C) change in state. D) change in atomic mass. E) change in subatomic structure.

C) change in state.

A very important way to increase the settling rate of fine particles in the open ocean is via: A) carbonate dissolution. B) deposit feeders. C) fecal pellets. D) precipitation. E) wind.

C) fecal pellets

In comparison to most other liquids, the heat capacity of liquid water is: A) a function of salinity. B) about the same as other liquids. C) higher than other liquids. D) lower than other liquids. E) related to solvent concentration

C) higher than other liquids.

Manganese nodules are an example of: A) biogenous sediments. B) cosmogenous sediments. C) hydrogenous sediments. D) terrigenous sediments. E) volcagenic sediments.

C) hydrogenous sediments.

Sediments produced because of chemical reactions in seawater are called: A) cosmogenous . B) biogenous. C) hydrogenous. D) lithogenous. E) volcanogenic.

C) hydrogenous.

Many of the unique properties of water are attributed to the fact that water: A) contains ionic bonds. B) exists in three states of matter on Earth's surface. C) is a polar molecule. D) is a universal solvent. E) requires heat to condense.

C) is a polar molecule.

The surface tension of water: A) increases as density decreases. B) is related to salinity. C) is relatively high. D) is relatively low. E) is very similar in other liquids

C) is relatively high.

High-energy environments are most likely to deposit which one of the following? A) clay-sized particles B) cosmogenous sediments C) large particles such as gravel D) manganese nodules E) silt-sized particles

C) large particles such as gravel

Tectonic plates are pieces of the ________ that float on the more fluid ________ below. A) crust; lithosphere B) asthenosphere; lithosphere C) lithosphere; asthenosphere D) mantle; crust E) lithosphere; mesosphere

C) lithosphere; asthenosphere

Sediments found on continental margins are called: A) continental. B) estuarine. C) neritic. D) oceanic. E) pelagic.

C) neritic.

All of the following are methods used to desalinate water except: A) electrolysis. B) freeze separation. C) osmosis. D) reverse osmosis. E) distillation

C) osmosis.

Hydrogen bonds form between neighboring water molecules because of: A) electron sharing. B) electron transfer. C) the polarity of water molecules. D) surface tension. E) the viscosity of water.

C) the polarity of water molecules.

The San Andreas Fault: A) is a continental transform fault. B) is an oceanic transform fault. C) is associated with deep focus earthquakes. D) is located in the Juan de Fuca Plate.

A) is a continental transform fault.

Sediment that begins as rocks on continents or islands is called: A) lithogenous (terrigenous) sediment. B) biogenous sediment. C) hydrogenous sediment. D) cosmogenous sediment. E) All of the above.

A) lithogenous (terrigenous) sediment.

The amount of energy that is necessary to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree C is the definition of: A) boiling point elevation. B) calorie. C) latent heat of condensation. D) latent heat of evaporation. E) thermal capacity.

B) calorie.

Passive continental margins are characterized by all of the following except: A) broad continental shelves. B) deep-sea trenches. C) shallow coastal waters. D) thick sediment accumulation. E) very little volcanic and earthquake activity.

B) deep-sea trenches.

As the salinity of seawater increases, its: A) density decreases. B) density increases. C) residence time increases. D) residence time decreases. E) residence time changes.

B) density increases.

All of the following are lithogenous sediments except: A) beach sand. B) diatom ooze. C) glacial deposits. D) clays. E) volcanic particles.

B) diatom ooze

Oceanic ridges and rises result from seafloor spreading along: A) convergent plate boundaries. B) divergent plate boundaries. C) transform plate boundaries. D) none of the above.

B) divergent plate boundaries.

Which of the following contains calcium carbonate (CaCO3)? A) diatoms B) foraminiferans C) glauconite D) phosphorites E) radiolarians

B) foraminiferans

An area of the ocean where rapid change in ocean density occurs with a change in depth is the: A) barocline. B) halocline. C) isocline. D) pycnocline. E) thermocline.

B) halocline.

Water can pile up a short distance above a container's rim due to: A) strong covalent bonds. B) high surface tension. C) high viscosity. D) low surface tension. E) low viscosity.

B) high surface tension.

The Hawaiian Islands are located where the Pacific plate is: A) being subducted beneath the North American plate. B) being subducted beneath Japan. C) being thrust over the North American plate. D) diving under Japan. E) moving over a hot spot or mantle plume.

E) moving over a hot spot or mantle plume

Which of the following contains silica (SiO2)? A) coccolithophores B) corals C) foraminiferans D) phosphorites E) radiolarians

E) radiolarians

All of the following are hydrogenous sediments except: A) evaporites. B) halites. C) manganese nodule. D) phosphates. E) stromatolites.

E) stromatolites.

Wegener used all of the following provide evidence for continental drift except: A) age of selected continental rocks. B) apparent polar wandering. C) location of coral reef fossils. D) seafloor magnetic pattern. E) shape of continental margins.

D) seafloor magnetic pattern.

Which of the following is not an important control on oceanic sediment accumulation? A) degree of preservation B) dilution C) input from other sediment types D) rate of deposition E) All of the above factors are important.

E) All of the above factors are important.

Satellites are used to map the ocean floor because: A) they are unaffected by surface weather. B) they can cover areas where ships have not produced surveys. C) they can "see" large areas of the seafloor at one time. D) the shape of the ocean surface itself reflects large features on the seafloor below. E) All of the above statements are correct.

E) All of the above statements are correct.

The four main classifications of marine sediment include: A) lithogenous (terrigenous) sediment. B) biogenous sediment. C) hydrogenous sediment. D) cosmogenous sediment. E) All of the above.

E) All of the above.

The ion in seawater that serves as a buffer is: A) Ca+2. B) Cl-. C) CO2. D) Na+. E) HCO3-.

E) HCO3-.

Evidence for continental drift includes: A) the fit of the continents. B) matching sequences of rocks and mountain chains. C) past glacial activity. D) the distribution of organisms. E) all of the above.

E) all of the above.

Fossil remains of organisms on land and in sediments can be used to: A) indicate the relative age of the sediments. B) provide evidence for plate movement. C) suggest ancient climate characteristics. D) support the idea that landmasses were joined. E) all of the above.

E) all of the above.

The covalent bonds form between hydrogen and oxygen atoms in a water molecule form as a result of the: A) polarity of water molecules. B) sharing of electrons between the atoms. C) surface tension of water. D) transfer of electrons between the atoms. E) viscosity of water.

B) sharing of electrons between the atoms.

Frederick Vine and Drummond Matthews determined that new ocean floor was being produced at ocean ridges by examining: A) apparent polar wandering. B) fossils in marine sediments. C) glacial debris at various locations. D) the location of ancient coral reefs. E) the magnetic pattern of rocks on the seafloor.

E) the magnetic pattern of rocks on the seafloor.

The Principle of Constant Proportions states that: A) ocean salinity varies as a function of season. B) ocean salinity varies with geographical location. C) the percentage of chloride varies with geographical location. D) the percentage of sodium varies with ocean depth. E) the relative concentrations of the major ions in seawater does not change.

E) the relative concentrations of the major ions in seawater does not change.

A rapid change in ocean temperature with a change in depth occurs in the: A) barocline. B) halocline. C) isocline. D) pycnocline. E) thermocline.

E) thermocline.

Characteristics of active continental margins include all of the following except: A) broad continental shelves. B) chains of islands. C) deep-sea trenches. D) thin sediment accumulation. E) volcanic and earthquake activity.

A) broad continental shelves.

All continents fit together with the least number of overlaps and gaps when the continents are matched along: A) contours at around 2,000 meters depth. B) current shorelines. C) edge of the continental shelf. D) edges of the deep sea floor. E) oceanic trenches in subduction zones.

A) contours at around 2,000 meters depth.

Sediments with an extraterrestrial origin are called: A) cosmogenous. B) biogenous. C) hydrogenous. D) lithogenous. E) volcanogenic.

A) cosmogenous.

Older lithosphere is destroyed in association with: A) deep-sea trenches. B) fracture zones. C) hydrothermal vents. D) mid-ocean ridges. E) spreading centers.

A) deep-sea trenches.

All of the following processes decrease seawater salinity except: A) evaporation. B) iceberg melting. C) precipitation. D) river runoff. E) sea ice melting.

A) evaporation.

Which property of water causes coastal communities to have only moderate differences in daily highs and lows when compared to inland communities? A) high heat capacity B) high salinity C) high viscosity D) low heat capacity E) low viscosity

A) high heat capacity

Cosmogenous sediment consists of two main types of sediment: A) microscopic spherules and macroscopic meteor debris. B) microscopic spherules and abyssal clays. C) biogenous oozes and macroscopic meteor debris. D) abyssal clays and evaporites. E) biogenous oozes and evaporites.

A) microscopic spherules and macroscopic meteor debris.

All of the following statements are true of ocean sediments except: A) ocean sediments are thickest in pelagic waters overlying the oceanic ridges. B) ocean sediments can include the fossilized remains of ancient marine life. C) ocean sediments may form from the remains of living organisms falling to the ocean floor. D) ocean sediments include the remains of ancient rocks of cosmic origin. E) ocean sediments may be composed of chemical precipitates such as calcium carbonate or manganese dioxide.

A) ocean sediments are thickest in pelagic waters overlying the oceanic ridges.

All of the following statements regarding pH are true except: A) A pH of 3.0 is acidic and a pH of 10.0 is alkaline. B) As a whole, the pH of the ocean is slightly acidic. C) Buffers prevent large changes in the pH of a solution. D) pH will be buffered in deeper water where organisms with calcite shells sink. E) pH relates to relative acid-base ion balance in a solution.

B) As a whole, the pH of the ocean is slightly acidic.

Sediments produced by plants and animals in the sea are called: A) cosmogenous. B) biogenous. C) hydrogenous. D) terrigenous. E) volcanogenic.

B) biogenous.

The direction of motion along a seafloor transform fault is: A) associated with turbidity currents. B) in the same direction as the plates are spreading. C) in the same direction as the ridge offset. D) influenced by underwater boundary currents. E) perpendicular to the direction of plate movement.

B) in the same direction as the plates are spreading.

Transform faults have all of the following characteristics except: A) they occur along transform plate boundaries. B) movement occurs in the same direction. C) they have many earthquakes. D) they occur between offset oceanic ridge segments.

B) movement occurs in the same direction.

The seafloor magnetic pattern is best described as: A) not related to the location of mid-ocean ridges. B) parallel to and symmetric about mid-ocean ridges. C) parallel to, but not symmetric about mid-ocean ridges. D) perpendicular to and symmetric about mid-ocean ridges. E) perpendicular to, but not symmetric about mid-ocean ridges.

B) parallel to and symmetric about mid-ocean ridges.

Fossils of ancient polar plants are currently found near the equator because the: A) entire earth had polar conditions at the time the plants were living. B) plants lived near the poles, but landmasses have drifted to current locations. C) plants probably were tolerant of both tropical and polar conditions. D) plants were distributed to current locations by ancient glacial ice sheets. E) poles were at the equator at times in the geologic past.

B) plants lived near the poles, but landmasses have drifted to current locations.

Deep ocean trenches are associated with: A) rift valleys. B) subduction zones C) submarine canyons. D) transform faults. E) turbidity currents.

B) subduction zones

Which of the following is characteristic of continental-continental convergent plate boundaries? A) hot spots B) uplifted mountain ranges C) mid-ocean ridges D) volcanic island arcs

B) uplifted mountain ranges

Which of the following statements is true of the lithosphere? A) The lithosphere is composed of outer mantle material. B) The lithosphere is composed of igneous rock. C) The lithosphere is composed of metamorphic rock. D) The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle. E) The lithosphere is composed of the inner portion of the mantle and the outer core.

D) The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a: A) convergent plate boundary (continent-continent). B) convergent plate boundary (continent-oceanic). C) convergent plate boundary (oceanic-oceanic). D) divergent plate boundary . E) transform fault boundary.

D) divergent plate boundary

All of the following processes decrease the salinity of water except: A) precipitation. B) runoff. C) icebergs melting. D) evaporation. E) sea ice melting.

D) evaporation.

Sediments derived from pre-existing rocks on land are called: A) cosmogenous. B) biogenous. C) hydrogenous. D) lithogenous. E) volcanogenic.

D) lithogenous.

New lithosphere is produced in association with: A) deep-sea trenches. B) fracture zones. C) hydrothermal vents. D) oceanic ridges. E) transform faults.

D) oceanic ridges.

Along the margins of the Pacific are found most of Earth's: A) seamounts. B) tablemounts. C) abyssal hills or seaknolls. D) oceanic trenches. E) oceanic ridges.

D) oceanic trenches.

The correct order of seafloor features from the coast to the mid-ocean ridge is: A) abyssal plain, rise, slope, shelf. B) abyssal plain, shelf, slope, rise. C) rise, abyssal plain, slope, shelf. D) shelf, slope, rise, abyssal plain. E) slope, rise, shelf, abyssal plain.

D) shelf, slope, rise, abyssal plain.

The states of matter in which water exists is primarily determined by: A) density. B) salinity. C) chlorinity. D) temperature. E) pH.

D) temperature.

Which of the following is characteristic of oceanic-oceanic convergent plate boundaries? A) fracture zones B) hot spots C) mid-ocean ridges D) volcanic island arcs

D) volcanic island arcs

All of the following are true concerning neritic sediment deposits except: A) they may contain coarse-grained sand and rock fragments in the sediments . B) they may contain sediments of lithogenous origin. C) they may contain sediments transported from rivers onto the continental shelf. D) they may form in shallow coastal waters. E) they are primarily composed of calcareous deposits of biological origin.

E) they are primarily composed of calcareous deposits of biological origin.

Alfred Wegner

The first person to advance the idea of mobile continents or continental drift was: