Unit 1 Test Review Questions

At which of the following sites does seafloor spreading result in rifts and possible volcanoes? A. A B. B C. C D. D

A This is a divergent boundary, where seafloor spreading would occur.

At which of the following sites would activity result in volcanoes, island arcs, and mountains? A. A B. B C. C D. D

B Convergent boundaries may be responsible for all three formations as a result of pressure, friction, and plate movement.

At which of the following sites is an earthquake most likely to occur as two plates slide sideways past each other? A. A B. B C. C D. D

C Transform boundaries can result in earthquakes when plates slide past each other in opposite directions.

Which of the following is a biome found at 30° N and 30° S as seen in the diagram? A. Rain forests B. Tundras C. Coniferous forests D. Deserts

Deserts Deserts form where dry air descends from the upper atmosphere, heating up as it does so.

Which of the following is a positive effect likely to result from an El Niño event? A. Increased droughts in Central and South America B. Reduced chance of winter floods in California and the Pacific Northwest C. Fewer hurricanes forming in the Central Atlantic basin D. Fewer heat waves in Australia

Fewer hurricanes forming in the Central Atlantic basin El Niño results in cooler Atlantic water temperatures and strong winds, which reduce hurricane formation.

El Niño and La Niña are natural phenomena associated with changing water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. The occurrence of these events can result in changes in global weather and ocean circulation patterns. Which of the following changes in eastern Pacific Ocean food webs is typically associated with La Niña events? A. Decreased populations of squid B. Decreased populations of anchovies C. Increased phytoplankton concentrations D. Increased famine among sea lions and seals

Increased phytoplankton concentrations La Niña events increase both phytoplankton concentrations and, as a result, numbers of species higher up the food web because of increased nutrient levels.

Which of the following correctly characterizes one of Earth's atmospheric layers? A. Layer A is the stratosphere, where meteors are found. B. Layer B is the troposphere, where weather occurs. C. Layer C is the stratosphere, where the ozone layer is found. D. Layer D is the thermosphere, where auroras are found.

Layer D is the thermosphere, where auroras are found. In layer DD , the thermosphere, auroras are found.

The shaded area in New York State, Pennsylvania, and Ohio in the northeast United States is referred to as a snowbelt. On average, this region receives much more snowfall than surrounding areas. Which of the following best explains why the shaded area receives more snowfall than the other parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio? A. Moisture-laden storms from the Gulf of Mexico release precipitation here because of the cool temperatures in the region. B. Air pollutants from power plants and industrial emissions in the Midwest increase snowfall rates. C. Moisture picked up from the warmer water in the Great Lakes is deposited as snow downwind. D. Sea spray from the Atlantic Ocean is carried westward by prevailing winds.

Moisture picked up from the warmer water in the Great Lakes is deposited as snow downwind. Warm, moist air carried east from Lake Erie and Ontario deposits snow in the snowbelt.

Which of the following is the source of energy driving the circulation pattern labeled C in the diagram? A. The Coriolis effect B. Solar radiation C. Earth's magnetic field D. The spinning core of Earth

Solar radiation The light warms Earth's surface, creating rising air currents, as seen in the diagram.

Which of the following best describes why understanding a watershed and its boundaries is important in designing housing developments along a river? A. The water contained in a watershed is more likely to become polluted if the soil has high permeability, so it is important to locate all point sources to reduce contamination. B. Watersheds provide habitats for hundreds of marine species, so it is important to protect their feeding and nesting sites when designing housing for humans. C. Watersheds provide space for cultivating land to produce food and other products, so it is important to avoid locating a housing development on the most fertile land. D. Surface water and stormwater runoff will drain downstream within the watershed boundaries, so it is important to understand the flow of water through the watershed.

Surface water and stormwater runoff will drain downstream within the watershed boundaries, so it is important to understand the flow of water through the watershed. In a watershed, the boundary follows the highest ridge line, and water flows downstream. Water from rainfall and stormwater runoff can be contaminated with mining, agriculture, and urban wastes, and it is important to know watershed boundaries to understand water flow.

Which of the following correctly describes the season and length of day at the Tropic of Cancer at the time of year shown in the diagram? A. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun so it is winter at the Tropic of Cancer and daylight is less than twelve hours per day. B. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, so it is winter at the Tropic of Cancer and daylight is approximately twelve hours per day. C. The Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, so it is summer at the Tropic of Cancer and daylight is greater than twelve hours per day. D. The Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun so it is summer at the Tropic of Cancer and daylight is approximately twelve hours per day.

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun so it is winter at the Tropic of Cancer and daylight is less than twelve hours per day. The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from Sun, which causes shorter days and less intense solar radiation, which makes it colder (winter).

If the diagram illustrates Earth's relative position on December 21 of a given year, which of the following statements would be correct? A. The Tropic of Cancer has a shorter day and higher solar radiation intensity because there is an inverse relationship between length of day and radiation intensity. B. The Tropic of Capricorn has a shorter day and higher solar radiation intensity because there is a direct relationship between length of day and radiation intensity. C. The equator has twelve hours of daylight and the greatest solar radiation intensity because there is no direct relationship between day length and radiation intensity. D. The Tropic of Cancer has a shorter day and lower solar radiation intensity because there is a direct relationship between day length and radiation intensity.

The Tropic of Cancer has a shorter day and lower solar radiation intensity because there is a direct relationship between day length and radiation intensity.

If the diagram illustrates Earth's relative position on December 21 of a given year, which of the following statements would be correct? A. The Tropic of Cancer has a shorter day and higher solar radiation intensity because there is an inverse relationship between length of day and radiation intensity. B. The Tropic of Capricorn has a shorter day and higher solar radiation intensity because there is a direct relationship between length of day and radiation intensity. C. The equator has twelve hours of daylight and the greatest solar radiation intensity because there is no direct relationship between day length and radiation intensity. D. The Tropic of Cancer has a shorter day and lower solar radiation intensity because there is a direct relationship between day length and radiation intensity.

The Tropic of Cancer has a shorter day and lower solar radiation intensity because there is a direct relationship between day length and radiation intensity. The Tropic of Cancer has a shorter day as a result of lower solar radiation intensity on December 21.

Which of the following areas receives the most intense solar radiation at the time of year shown in the diagram, and why? A. The Antarctic Circle, because it is closest to the Sun. B. The Tropic of Capricorn, because this latitude is nearly horizontal to incoming solar radiation. C. The equator, because it is the hottest region and therefore receives the most intense solar radiation. D. The Tropic of Cancer, because solar radiation spreads out over a wider area at this latitude.

The Tropic of Capricorn, because this latitude is nearly horizontal to incoming solar radiation. The Tropic of Capricorn is tilted in such a way that incoming solar radiation is perpendicular to the surface of Earth and highly concentrated, making the radiation more intense there.

Hoover Dam is the largest dam in the United States, built on the Colorado River to supply hydroelectric power and flood control. Which of the following best describes a downstream environmental effect of Hoover Dam on the Colorado River watershed? A. The supply of inexpensive electricity led to population growth and industrial development in cities such as Phoenix and Los Angeles. B. The Lake Mead Recreation Area, formed by the reservoir behind Hoover Dam, is a popular tourist attraction for fishing, swimming, and boating. C. The drainage basin of the Colorado River includes 246,000 square miles and serves as a source of drinking water for over 40 million people. D. The damming of the Colorado River led to a change in stream flow, preventing river water and sediments from reaching the delta area.

The damming of the Colorado River led to a change in stream flow, preventing river water and sediments from reaching the delta area. One of the major drawbacks of damming a river, like the Colorado River, is that the watershed downstream is altered by decreased stream flow and decreased sediment accumulation. When river water no longer reaches the delta (as is often the case with the Colorado River), the lower parts of the river basin can experience an increase in salinity and other chemicals.

Which of the following should be included in a watershed map to best determine the non-point source of a pollutant, such as fertilizer, found in a river? A. The total volume of groundwater in the aquifer B. The total area and the average yearly precipitation of the watershed C. The land use upstream of the river and water quality indicators in streams that run downstream into the river D. The total volume of surface water of the river and the land use downstream of the river

The land use upstream of the river and water quality indicators in streams that run downstream into the river The land upstream of the river and streams that run into the river could all be draining a non-point source pollutant such as fertilizer. Mapping these areas (and the land uses) could be used to determine the source of the pollutant.

Based on the diagram, which of the following identifies a characteristic of the atmosphere between the stratopause and the tropopause? A. Cloud formation occurs in the stratosphere. B. The warmest air is found in the mesosphere. C. The ozone layer is in the stratosphere. D. The troposphere is the closest layer to the sun.

The ozone layer is in the stratosphere. The ozone layer is found in the stratosphere. Stratospheric ozone absorbs both UVB and UVC rays from the Sun, and the energy causes those molecules to move faster, thus warming the air in the stratosphere.

Which of the following best explains why City B regularly receives less precipitation than City A? A. As air rises up the side of the mountain near City B, the temperature and the relative humidity increase, causing increased precipitation on the other side of the mountain over City A. B. Air that is forced upward on the side of the mountain near City B leads to the formation of stratospheric clouds. C. The urban heat island from City B causes a warmer climate that leads to reduced cloud formation. D. The rain shadow effect causes City B to be drier because the mountain blocks precipitation from reaching the city.

The rain shadow effect causes City B to be drier because the mountain blocks precipitation from reaching the city. The air expands and cools as it rises upward on the leeward side (over City A), and the mountain blocks precipitation from reaching City B on the other side.

In the desert regions of the southwestern United States, daily high and low temperatures will frequently fluctuate by 40°F (33°C) or more. Which statement below best explains the large variation in temperature? A. There are no bordering oceans or large bodies of water to provide a stabilizing humidity to the air. B. The nearby Rocky Mountain range provides a rain shadow effect in the evenings to the west. C. The flat, light-colored sand formations typical in deserts reflect light from the Sun during the day, but not at night. D. Desert plants have long tap roots that pull water from deep in the soil, cooling the desert at night.

There are no bordering oceans or large bodies of water to provide a stabilizing humidity to the air. Humidity in the air tends to stabilize temperature and prevent large fluctuations. Temperatures in regions with dry air will increase and decrease rapidly.

Based on the data in the diagrams, in which layer of the atmosphere would short wave radio signals be reflected? A. Stratosphere B. Mesosphere C. Thermosphere D. Exosphere

Thermosphere Model A shows that the thermosphere is 87−500km above Earth, and according to Model B , that encompasses the distance (250km) above Earth where radio waves will be reflected.

Which of the following causes the air to rise high into the atmosphere in the areas labeled A, B, and C on the diagram? A. El Niño circulation patterns B. The rotation of Earth shifting the direction of the air upward C. Warm, moist air that is less dense than the surrounding air D. Rain shadows over mountain ridges

Warm, moist air that is less dense than the surrounding air The Sun warms Earth, which warms the atmosphere above it, causing evaporation. The warm and moist air is less dense than the surrounding air, causing it to rise.

Which of the following is the most likely effect of a strong El Niño event on the weather patterns in the United States? A. Wetter weather and cooler temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and warmer temperatures with more snow in the northeastern states B. Drier weather in the western states and wetter weather in the eastern states C. Wetter weather and cooler than average temperatures in the southeastern states and warmer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest D. Overall warmer temperatures and drier conditions throughout the entire United States

Wetter weather and cooler than average temperatures in the southeastern states and warmer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest In an El Niño event, the reduced upwelling off the South American coast affects wind patterns as the warmer water and air move toward South America. This leads to cooler and wetter conditions in the southeastern United States and warmer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest.