ESCI 1101 - Exam 1
How many degrees of longitude does the Earth rotate in 4 hours? a. 60° b. 180° c. 45° d. 4° e. 15°
a. 60°
Why are lines of latitude referred to as "parallels"? a. They are evenly spaced between each other and completely circle the globe. b. They determine the time of day for a location. c. Each line of latitude forms a great circle. d. They converge at the poles. e. They intersect one another at precise 90° angles.
a. They are evenly spaced between each other and completely circled the globe
A mental map could be a concept that someone uses to remember their daily commute to work. a. True b. False
a. True
A nighttime satellite image showing the lights from urban areas is a great way to observe spatial distribution and pattern. a. True b. False
a. True
A physical geographer who wants to observe remote sensing imagery for the same spot every day would want to use images from a geostationary satellite. a. True b. False
a. True
Equilibrium within a system tends to fall within a range of tolerance, it is almost never static. a. True b. False
a. True
Our environment consists of our surroundings, including all the physical, social, and cultural aspects of the world around us. a. True b. False
a. True
Scale is a necessary component of any good map and should always be displayed. a. True b. False
a. True
The human body is like Earth in that it is a system with inputs and outputs of energy and matter. a. True b. False
a. True
The last step in the scientific method is to accept or reject your hypothesis. a. True b. False
a. True
Weather radar systems are commonly used to produce map-like images of precipitation. a. True b. False
a. True
The planar projection would be the best choice to use in which map? a. a map of the Arctic Ocean and the surrounding polar region b. a map of the United States c. a map that needs to maintain true compass direction through rhumb lines d. a Mercator world map used for transatlantic navigation e. a map of the area between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
a. a map of the Arctic Ocean and the surrounding polar region
A coordinate system can be used to identify a(n): a. absolute location. b. relative location. c. spatial interaction. d. ecosystem. e. characteristic of place.
a. absolute location
An active remote sensing system that uses reflections from emitted sound waves to probe ocean depths is called: a. sonar. b. radar. c. lidar. d. stereoscope. e. unoccupied aerial systems.
a. sonar
Looking at a population density map of the United States would be observing what spatial characteristic? a. spatial distribution b. absolute location c. change over time d. spatial scale e. spatial interaction
a. spatial distribution
Near-infrared (NIR) images are best used for identifying: a. vegetation health and abundance in an area. b. the depth of water bodies in the area. c. changes in elevation and topography. d. the distance and direction of objects in an image. e. patterns of heat emitted from objects and resulting temperature differences.
a. vegetation health and abundance in an area
Lines of longitude are numbered from 0° to ______ (E and W). a. 270° b. 180° c. 360° d. 90° e. 0°
b. 180°
What critical component must all data layers in a GIS have in common? a. The layers should all contain elevation data. b. All layers should be in the same projection and scale. c. All data layers should be gathered from remote sensing. d. They must all have the same symbology. e. There should be at least one point layer, one line layer, and one polygon (area) layer.
b. All layers should be in the same projection and scale.
Which of the following is not a basic requirement of a map? a. north arrow b. contour lines c. legend d. scale e. title
b. Contour lines
A biologist who is interested in the vegetation health of a forest would most likely use thermal infrared imagery to observe this data. a. True b. False
b. False
A marine biologist who is interested in mapping the ocean floor could utilize lidar technology to gather underwater elevation data and produce a digital elevation model of this information. a. True b. False
b. False
A mental map would be an example of a pictorial model because it contains graphics that are easy to share with others. a. True b. False
b. False
An aerial photograph taken at an acute angle to Earth's surface is known as a vertical image. a. True b. False
b. False
Because physical geography focuses on the natural landforms and processes of Earth, it does not consider human and environment interactions. a. True b. False
b. False
Compasses are always calibrated to point towards true north. a. True b. False
b. False
Creating contour lines on a topographic map for a specific area would require the use of discrete data. a. True b. False
b. False
Earth is a true sphere. a. True b. False
b. False
Environmental overshoot occurs when resources are consumed at a level that Earth can sustain indefinitely. a. True b. False
b. False
Geographers tend to observe phenomena at a global scale. a. True b. False
b. False
Geography is considered a spatial discipline because geographers gather most of their data from space, such as imagery from satellites. a. True b. False
b. False
Great circles always pass through the north and south poles. a. True b. False
b. False
Insurance claims adjusters must quickly assess property damage to buildings and homes after a storm or natural disaster. They could easily view the damage on buildings and homes from several angles with vertical aerial photography. a. True b. False
b. False
Maps are always created in a square or rectangular format, which is why the process of projection always leads to some form of distortion. a. True b. False
b. False
On a map with a scale of 1:25,000, 1 inch on the map represents 25,000 feet on Earth. a. True b. False
b. False
One of the biggest concerns of geographers is environmental change. Geographic technology such as remote sensing can aid in efforts to monitor this change, and the best method of observing the ongoing change in a particular study area is by using multiscale imagery. a. True b. False
b. False
Physical geographers tend to focus on the Earth's features as they are now. They do not consider how the Earth has changed over time. a. True b. False
b. False
Positive feedback tends to maintain equilibrium in a system. a. True b. False
b. False
Satellite navigation systems such as GPS apply the principle of triangulation to calculate your precise location on Earth. a. True b. False
b. False
Satellites have only been acquiring imagery of Earth for about 10 years, so the information that they can provide about Earth's surface is very limited. a. True b. False
b. False
The Earth system is static, meaning that is does not change and remains constant. a. True b. False
b. False
The Mercator projection has been highly praised as one of the most spatially accurate projections. This is why it is commonly used for world maps in geography courses. a. True b. False
b. False
The absolute location of a point can be used to identify specific characteristics of the surrounding region. a. True b. False
b. False
The concept of an ecosystem only applies to the living things in an area. a. True b. False
b. False
The environmental science perspective of physical geography focuses on the spatial components of a phenomena. a. True b. False
b. False
The farther apart contour lines are on a topographic map, the steeper the gradient. a. True b. False
b. False
The fundamental principles of cartography and mapmaking have drastically changed since the advancement of geospatial technologies such as GPS, GIS, and remote sensing. a. True b. False
b. False
The spatial data in a GIS contains only the x and y coordinates of the map features. a. True b. False
b. False
Whenever the inputs of a system equal its outputs, that system is at a threshold. a. True b. False
b. False
Why is physical geography a key component of our daily lives? a. It explains how ideas such as culture and religion spread. b. It helps us understand our natural habitat. c. It helps us determine if we are paying too much for car insurance. d. It can predict future outcomes of the stock market. e. Physical geography does not play a part in our daily lives.
b. It helps us understand our natural habitat.
A road map of the state of Texas, such as one you may find at a convenience store, would best be described as: a. a digital elevation model. b. a reference map. c. a large-scale map. d. a thematic map. e. a compromise map.
b. a reference map
How do you describe a "region"? a. a source of geographic data which displays the results of geographic analysis b. an area identified by distinctive characteristics that distinguish them from surrounding areas c. any landform or process occurring on Earth's surface d. any organized entity that consists of interrelated and interacting components e. a location with a precise GPS coordinate
b. an area identified by distinctive characteristics that distinguish them from surrounding areas
How can the geographic tool known as a sextant help you determine your current latitude? a. by measuring your distance from the Equator in kilometers b. by measuring the angle between the horizon and a celestial body c. by identifying which direction is North d. by acquiring precise coordinates from the signals emitted from orbiting satellites. e. by calculating the time difference between your local time and Greenwich time
b. by measuring the angle between the horizon and a celestial body
The study of landforms and their development is called: a. biology. b. geomorphology. c. mathematics. d. meteorology. e. ecology.
b. geomorphology
A(n) ______ seeks to explain an observation and must be tested before it can be accepted as true. a. problem b. hypothesis c. method d. strategy e. test
b. hypothesis
Lines on a map that connect points with the same numerical value are called: a. great circles. b. isolines. c. small circles. d. rhumb lines. e. base lines.
b. isolines
A geographic information system (GIS) stores geographic data as: a. themes. b. layers. c. letters. d. fields. e. images.
b. layers.
An undesirable or unhealthy contaminant in an environment is called: a. a natural hazard. b. pollution. c. a location. d. negative feedback. e. input.
b. pollution
A sequence of changes that reinforces the direction of initial change is known as ______ feedback. a. static b. positive c. neutral d. negative e. spatial
b. positive
What is sustainability? a. any natural process that puts environments and human life or property at risk of damage or destruction b. using less or an equal amount of a resource in a year than its annual renewal, growth, or replacement c. a process for developing valid explanations for observed phenomena d. environmental damage caused by human activities e. using more of a resource in a year than its annual renewal, growth, or replacement
b. using less or an equal amount of a resource in a year than its annual renewal, growth, or replacement
What information would you need to accept a hypothesis that you have proposed if you are following the scientific method? a. an alternate hypothesis that directly contradicts your first hypothesis b. valid data that supports your hypothesis c. a test designed to gather data that will support your hypothesis d. an observation that is easily explained by your hypothesis e. valid data that does not support your hypothesis
b. valid data that supports your hypothesis
How can 10°30'N latitude be described using decimal degrees? a. -10.5°N b. 10.3°S c. 10.5°N d. -10.3°N e. -80.7°S
c. 10.5°N
Which is the best example of a spatial interaction? a. The North American Great Plains contain a distinct mixture of vegetation, climate, and wildlife. The area also has a unique human culture and is categorized as a region.... b. New York City is located at 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W, while Washington D.C. is located at 38.9072° N, 77.0369° W. c. A heavy thunderstorm hits Minnesota, which contains the headwaters for the Mississippi River. The excess rainfall in Minnesota causes severe flooding along the Mississippi River in Missouri. d. Pikes Peak, a well-known mountain in the Rocky Mountains, is located about 22 miles west of the city of Colorado Springs. e. A large fire completely burns down all the trees and vegetation in a forest. The forest slowly recovers from the fire, and the reestablishment of plant and animal communities occurs over time.
c. A heavy thunderstorm hits Minnesota, which contains the headwaters for the Mississippi River. The excess rainfall in Minnesota causes severe flooding along the Mississippi River in Missouri.
Which of the following is an example of a hypothesis? a. The temperature of Lake A is 38° F. b. The temperature at several lakes will be gathered with a thermometer. c. Lakes at higher elevations are colder because the overall climate is colder. d. Why are lakes at higher elevations colder than lakes at lower elevations? e. Some lakes are cold, and others are not. There is no pattern or relationship to other factors that we can derive.
c. Lakes at higher elevations are colder because the overall climate is colder.
Why is lidar considered an active remote sensing system? a. Lidar can acquire geographic data in all three dimensions. b. Lidar can acquire both oblique and vertical data. c. Lidar systems supply and emit their own pulses of laser light used to gather data. d. Lidar systems are usually found on aircraft or UAVs that must be actively controlled by a human. e. Lidar makes use of the energy that is available in the area of study to gather data.
c. Lidar systems supply and emit their own pulses of laser light used to gather data.
What is the first step of the scientific method? a. State the observation in the form of a testable hypothesis. b. Reject your hypothesis based on your test results. c. Note an observation that requires an explanation. d. Apply a strategy to test the validity of the hypothesis. e. Devise a strategy for testing the hypothesis.
c. Note an observation that requires an explanation.
What serves as the 0° axis for longitude? a. the North Pole b. Equator c. Prime meridian d. Tropic of Cancer e. Tropic of Capricorn
c. Prime meridian
Why are human-environment interactions considered two-way relationships? a. Both humans and the environment mutually benefit from the relationship. b. Human-environment interactions are better described as one-way relationships. Sometimes the environment affects human activity and other times humans affect the environment, but this never occurs simultaneously. c. The environment influences human activities and human activities affect the environment. d. Humans affect the environment in two major ways, through environmental degradation and pollution. e. The environment affects human activities only when it responds to the negative effects of environmental degradation and pollution.
c. The environment influences human activities and human activities affect the environment.
What is the most common criticism of the Mercator map projection? a. The projection maintains accurate size and shape but distorts direction. This makes it impossible to draw a straight line of constant compass direction from one location to another. b. The projection does not accurately maintain the shape of landmasses, leading to the continents being compressed or warped on a world map. c. The projection exaggerates the size of landmasses far from the equator, making it seem that Greenland is similar in size to South America. d. The projection translates geographic grid lines onto a plane, meaning it can only be used to display the polar regions accurately. e. The projection does not display all of Earth's landmasses, meaning that this projection could never be used for a world map.
c. The projection exaggerates the size of landmasses far from the equator, making it seem that Greenland is similar in size to South America.
Which example would best be described as a small-scale map? a. a map symbolizing a county by different land uses b. a satellite image capturing a square mile (1 mile by 1 mile) of a forest c. a political map of Africa showing the various countries on the continent d. a trail map of Yellowstone National Park e. a map of an amusement park, displaying the location of the rides and stores.
c. a political map of Africa showing the various countries on the continent
Which is an example of a natural hazard? a. a lake becomes severely polluted from nearby mining activity b. a human-engineered dam fails and causes massive flooding downstream c. a riverfront community is destroyed from severe flooding due to heavy rainfall d. acid rain caused from pollution damages nearby forests and kills fish in local freshwater lakes e. unsustainable farming practices cause widespread soil loss in an area
c. a riverfront community is destroyed from severe flooding due to heavy rainfall
The art of making maps is called: a. remote sensing. b. modeling. c. cartography. d. ecology. e. mental mapping.
c. cartography
What is a remotely controlled aerial vehicle capable of capturing geographic data? a. GPS b. helicopter c. drone d. tablet e. airplane
c. drone
Topographic contours are an example of: a. isobars. b. isotones. c. isolines. d. isogonic lines. e. isotherms.
c. isolines
In which situation would the concept of a great circle be the most helpful? a. identifying when a vertical stake would cast its shortest shadow b. finding what time zone Mexico City falls into c. navigating the shortest distance between Beijing and New York d. accurately scaling the measurement units of a map to Earth's surface e. determining the longitude and latitude of a single location
c. navigating the shortest distance between Beijing and New York
Geographic data is typically stored as ______ in a GIS. a. sonar, radar, or lidar b. paper maps and sheets c. points, lines, or polygons (areas) d. large-scale or small-scale e. either near-infrared or thermal infrared
c. points, lines, polygons (areas)
For a digital elevation model, ______ is the practice of stretching the vertical scale to enhance the relief of an area. a. remote sensing b. scalar magnification c. vertical exaggeration d. contouring e. scaling
c. vertical exaggeration
Which of these is an example of a verbal scale? a. 1/10000 b. 1:1000 c. 12,756 kilometers = 7926 mi d. 1 inch to 10 miles e. contour interval = 20 ft
d. 1 inch to 10 miles
Using the map, calculate the time difference between Tokyo and Mexico City. a. 9 hours b. 18 hours c. 24 hours d. 15 hours e. 6 hours
d. 15 hours
Which of the following would be an example of pollution? a. Excess rainfall leads to severe flooding and property damage along a river. b. A hurricane causes major devastation along a coastal town. c. Water in a reservoir evaporates into the atmosphere. d. Human use of chlorofluorocarbons leads to a buildup of CFCs in the atmosphere. e. A river is artificially straightened by humans.
d. Human use of chlorofluorocarbons leads to a buildup of CFCs in the atmosphere.
What is the difference between a great circle and a small circle? a. A small circle divides the Earth into equal halves, while a great circle does not. b. Small circles can be represented as straight lines with a gnomonic projection, while great circles can be represented as straight lines with a conic projection. c. There is no difference; both great circles and small circles divide the Earth into equal halves or hemispheres. d. The plane of a great circle passes through the center of the Earth, while the plane of a small circle does not. e. Small circles are formed from lines of longitude, while great circles only form from lines of latitude.
d. The plane of a great circle passes through the center of the Earth, while the plane of a small circle does not.
What is an ecosystem? a. an area identified by distinct characteristics that distinguish them from surrounding environments b. a gaseous blanket of air that envelops, shields, and insulates Earth c. all the waters in an area, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and glaciers d. a community of organisms and the relationships of those organisms to one another and to their environment e. a collection of landforms, minerals, rocks, and soils
d. a community of organisms and the relationships of those organisms to one another and to their environment.
A map capable of showing true directions as straight lines running through a central point is called: a. a planar map. b. an equal-area map. c. a Mercator map. d. an azimuthal map. e. a focal map.
d. an azimuthal map
Natural processes, typically of unusual intensity, that put environments and human life or property at risk of damage or destruction are called: a. pollution. b. natural resources. c. negative feedback. d. natural hazards. e. environmental degradation.
d. natural hazards
An ecosystem is an example of a(n) ______, because energy and matter are freely exchanged at its boundaries. a. conceptual model b. output c. closed system d. open system e. input
d. open system
Areas identified by distinctive characteristics that distinguish them from surrounding areas are known as: a. locations. b. patterns. c. systems. d. regions. e. ecosystems.
d. regions
A map scale of 1:100000 would be an example of a(n): a. thematic scale. b. bar scale. c. verbal scale. d. representative fraction scale. e. graphic scale.
d. representative fraction scale
What system divides compass directions into four 90° quadrants? a. Township and Range Survey System b. the azimuth system c. US Public Lands Survey System d. the bearing system e. latitude and longitude
d. the bearing system
A map of the different soil types in an area would be an example of a ______ map. a. gnomonic b. oblate c. verbal d. thematic e. conformal
d. thematic
What do all three of the major perspectives of physical geography share? a. concentrating on human phenomena such as urbanization and population b. a focus on environmental sustainability c. studying the impact that humans have on the environment d. use of the scientific method for guiding research e. emphasis on the Earth's internal structure
d. use of the scientific method for guiding research
Which of the following is an example of a holistic approach? a. Geologists searching for natural resources identify a particular area with an abundance of valuable minerals. They decide to start mining in this area, but do not consider how their mining activity affects the surrounding communities. b. A physicist looks at the physical aspects of a phenomena but does not consider the human or societal components. c. A meteorologist studying the current changes in weather occurring in a region only considers atmospheric changes. d. A mathematician focuses specifically on the statistics and trends of a specific issue. e. A geographer studying habitat loss in a region has considered all the factors when forming their hypothesis, including human and environmental ones.
e. A geographer studying habitat loss in a region has considered all the factors when forming their hypothesis, including human and environmental ones.
What do physical geography and human geography have in common? a. Both disciplines are interested in averages and extremes of long-term weather data. b. Both focus on the nature of human generated phenomena. c. There are no easily identifiable commonalities between physical geography and human geography. d. Both study the geographic ranges and distribution patterns of plant and animal species. e. Both are holistic in their approach and emphasize the spatial aspects of phenomena.
e. Both are holistic in their approach and emphasize the spatial aspects of phenomena
What is the significance of pixel size in remote sensing imagery? a. Pixel angle is more significant to the quality of a remote sensing image than pixel size. The angle of the pixels matters for both vertical and oblique imagery. b. Pixel size is determined by the projection that the image is using. c. Each pixel contains precise coordinates. Images with smaller pixels contain more coordinate data and are more spatially accurate. d. The size of the pixels determines what level of thermal and near-infrared data that the image can acquire. e. Pixel size determines the spatial resolution of the image and the level of detail that is discernible.
e. Pixel size determines the spatial resolution of the image and the level of detail that is discernible.
What information can be derived specifically from the use of GPS? a. change over time b. local weather c. human-environment interaction d. characteristics of places e. absolute location
e. absolute location
When creating a map, it is impossible to: a. keep lines of latitude parallel. b. scale the map accurately. c. include both the North and South Poles. d. represent elevation changes. e. accurately maintain all four geometric properties.
e. accurately maintain all four geometric properties
What type of educational background would best benefit someone who will be using maps, location, and spatial data to solve world problems? a. biology b. geology c. economics d. mathematics e. geography
e. geography
Which of the following is an example of sustainability? a. restoring a previously disturbed ecosystem b. rebuilding a community that was destroyed by a natural disaster c. growing more and more crops on a farm each year until the soil can no longer support plant growth d. removing pollution from a water body such as a lake e. harvesting just enough fish from a lake so that the fish population is fully replenished in a year
e. harvesting just enough fish from a lake so that the fish population is fully replenished in a year
What is one common use of satellite imagery? a. measuring precise latitude and longitude coordinates b. recording atmospheric temperatures c. tracking seismic activity in a particular location d. calculating changes in water quality e. observing changes on the Earth's surface
e. observing changes on the Earth's surface
A world globe, or a three-dimensional replica of planet Earth, is an example of a(n) ______ model. a. conceptual b. dynamic c. mental d. political e. physical
e. physical
What does a representative fraction scale represent? a. the amount of vertical stretching occurring between contour lines b. the latitudinal and longitudinal values of a location expressed in fraction (x/y) form c. the rate of elevation change per horizontal distance d. the ratio between one unit of distance on a map and another unit of distance in reality, such as 1 inch equals 50 miles e. the ratio between a unit of distance on a map to the distance that unit represents, expressed in the same units
e. the ratio between a unit of distance on a map to the distance that unit represents, expressed in the same units
What is the purpose of the U.S. Public Lands Survey System? a. to identify the precise location (latitude, longitude) of the country's 10 largest cities b. to parcel out public lands on the easternmost portion of the United States c. to establish a nationwide grid consisting of east-west lines called principal meridians and north-south lines called base lines used for finding coordinates d. to build a grid-like network of roads and streets across the United States e. to parcel out public lands in the United States for all areas west of Pennsylvania
e. to parcel out public lands in the United States for all areas west of Pennsylvania
