Exam 1 Questions W/ Options

Orographic precipitation occurs A) mostly in the tropical rainforest climate zone. B) mostly in cumulonimbus clouds. C) on the coastal, windward slopes of mountain ranges. D) on the interior, leeward slopes of mountain ranges

on the coastal, windward slopes of mountain ranges.

A large destructive sea wave resulting from an earthquake is called a A) tidal wave. B) Pangaea. C) tsunami. D) subduction.

tsunami.

The earth's axis is tilted about __________ away from the perpendicular. A) 67.5° B) 45° C) 7.5° D) 23.5°

23.5°

Which one of the following sets of coordinates corresponds to a place on the earth? Question options: A) 57ºN, 193ºE B) 105ºN, 126ºW C) 180ºN D) 34ºN, 84ºW

34ºN, 84ºW

The earth is approximately __________ billion years old. A) 3.5 B) 4.5 C) 6.0 D) 10 to 12

4.5

If sea level temperature is 100°F (10°C), what is the temperature at an altitude of 10,000 feet (610m)? (Use the lapse rate.) A) 90°F (32.2°C) B) 65°F (18.3°C) C) 50°F (10.0°C) D) 0°F (-17.8°C)

65°F (18.3°C)

The International Date Line generally follows the 49th parallel. A) True B) False

False

The United States is the only country with satellites collecting remotely sensed data on the earth. A) True B) False

False

The contour intervals are much greater for flatter surfaces than for mountainous and steeper slopes. A) True B) False

False

The farthest extent of glaciations in North America is approximated by the boundary between Canada and the United States. A) True B) False

False

The present continents were joined in a single landmass as recently as 20 million years ago. A) True B) False

False

To a geographer, site and situation are interchangeable concepts. A) True B) False

False

Volcanism is a gradational process. A) True B) False

False

Which of the following statements about longitude is correct? A) Values of longitude range from 0° to 360° degrees. B) Meridians decrease in length away from the International Date Line. C) Distance between adjacent degrees of longitude increases away from the equator. D) It is the angular distance east or west of the prime meridian.

It is the angular distance east or west of the prime meridian.

Monsoon circulations occur most noticeably in A) the Mediterranean Sea lands of southern Europe and northwestern Africa. B) Canada and Russia. C) the Amazon Valley in South America and Congo Basin in Africa. D) South and Southeast Asia.

South and Southeast Asia.

Valley breezes usually occur at night, and mountain breezes usually occur in the day. A) True B) False

True

The federal agency that makes most of the topographic maps in the United States is A) USDOT. B) USGS. C) NASA. D) BLM.

USGS

Physical systems in geography include: A) Landforms, primary activities B) Weather and climate, landforms C) Human interaction, urban D) Natural resources, population

Weather and climate, landforms

This depositional feature is created in arid regions when a stream exits the mountains and enters a flat lowland. A) oxbow-shaped lake B) delta C) natural levee D) alluvial fan

alluvial fan

The type of cloud from which heavy rain falls is a A) cirrus. B) cirrostratus. C) stratus. D) cumulonimbus.

cumulonimbus.

Which of the following processes was responsible for the Ridge and Valley region of the eastern United States? A) jointing B) faulting C) folding D) earthquakes

folding

If a land surface where a mountain once stood is now a low, flat plain, __________ have been at work. A) tectonic forces B) volcanoes C) gradational processes D) earthquakes

gradational processes

A pressure gradient force causes winds to flow from A) low pressure areas to high pressure areas. B) high pressure areas to low pressure areas. C) areas having equal pressure. D) areas lacking pressure differences.

high pressure areas to low pressure areas.

Proceeding from the equator toward the North Pole in the Northern Hemisphere summer, the A) hours of darkness increase. B) days become longer. C) hours of daylight become fewer. D) hours of daylight become greater.

hours of daylight become greater.

Granite, basalt, pumice, and obsidian are all ______ rocks. A) igneous B) metamorphic C) sedimentary D) diastrophic

igneous

A contour interval A) is the vertical spacing between contour lines. B) connects points of equal elevation above sea level. C) is a single map in a topographic series. D) heightens the graphic effect of a topographic map.

is the vertical spacing between contour lines.

Terrain created by an underground solution of limestone creating sinkholes and caverns is known as A) karst topography. B) knob and kettle topography. C) belted topography. D) gradational topography.

karst topography.

The pattern of average July temperatures is influenced most strongly by A) latitude alone. B) patterns of cloud cover. C) presence of water or land. D) latitude and presence of water and land.

latitude alone.

The angle of the sun's rays at a given time and date is most influenced by a location's A) latitude. B) longitude. C) distribution of land and water. D) cloud cover.

latitude.

Oxbow lakes form when rivers flow onto the more level land at the base of mountain slopes. A) True B) False

False

Stalactites and stalagmites are characteristic of arêtes and cirques. A) True B) False

False

Because geographers deal with patterns of spatial interaction that remain constant, scale is not important. A) True B) False

False

A map drawn at which of the following scales would provide the greatest level of detail? A) 1: 8,000 B) 1: 24,000 C) 1: 50,000 D) 1: 63,360

1: 8,000

Which of the following is the largest scale map? Question options: A) 1: 8,000 B) 1: 24,000 C) 1: 50,000 D) 1: 63,360

1: 8,000

Given a map scale of 1: 63,360, how many inches on the map would be needed to represent 2 miles on the ground? Question options: A) 2 inches B) 4 inches C) 8 inches D) 12 inches

2 inches

Geographic information systems are used in physical geography, but not in human geography. A) True B) False

False

A geographic information system contains A) A data input component and a data management component. B) Data manipulation functions and terrain manuals. C) Genomes and output components. D) A data analysis function and a periodic table.

A data input component and a data management component.

Which statement is most accurate regarding temperatures at a given latitude in marine environments versus continental environments? A) Compared to marine environments, continental environments are warmer in both winter and summer. B) Compared to continental environments, marine environments are warmer in both winter and summer. C) Compared to marine environments, continental environments are colder in winter and warmer in summer. D) Compared to marine environments, continental environments are warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Compared to marine environments, continental environments are colder in winter and warmer in summer.

The term "geography" was reportedly coined by which Greek scientist? Question options: A) Pythagoras B) Strabo C) Aristotle D) Eratosthenes

Eratosthenes

A place may be described by its physical or its cultural characteristics, but not by both. A) True B) False

False

All of the following are key reference points in the grid system EXCEPT the A) North and South Poles. B) Greenwich Village, New York. C) equator. D) prime meridian.

Greenwich Village, New York.

Which of the following statements about remote sensing is NOT true? A) It is a faster means of reconnaissance than ground surveying. B) It began with data collected by the United States space program. C) One of the most common sources of remotely sensed data is Landsat imagery. D) Aerial photographs must be interpreted before maps can be made of them.

It began with date collected by the United States space program.

Which statement is NOT true of a sea breeze? A) It is caused by differences in the heating of land and water. B) It blows from land towards the sea. C) It is a convectional circulation. D) It makes living by the seashore more comfortable in warm climates.

It blows from land towards the sea.

Which of the following statements about latitude is true? A) Latitude is a measure of distance and of the equator. B) Latitude lines are always parallel to each other on a globe. C) Latitude varies from 0° to 180°. D) On a globe, lines of latitude intersect parallels of longitude at right angles.

Latitude lines are always parallel to each other on a globe.

Which of the following is NOT a globe property? A) All meridians are one-half the length of the equator. B) Parallels increase in length as one nears the poles. C) Meridians and parallels intersect at right angles. D) The scale on the surface of the globe is the same in every direction.

Parallels increase in length as one nears the poles.

Human systems in geography include: A) Population, political, cultural B) Human impact on the environment, service activities, geographic techniques and skills C) Human interaction, weather and climate, human impact on the environment D) Primary activities, political, landforms

Population, political, cultural

A map scale is the ratio between distance on the map and distance on the ground. A) True B) False

True

Between the Middle Ages and the revival of geography in the 17th century, Muslim scholars were engaged in describing and analyzing their known world and its physical, cultural, and regional variation. A) True B) False

True

Over geologic time, sedimentary rocks can be transformed into metamorphic rocks and vice versa. A) True B) False

True

Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount required for condensation to begin at a given temperature. A) True B) False

True

The art and science of map-making is called cartography. A) True B) False

True

The dew point is the temperature at which precipitation begins to occur. A) True B) False

True

Every projection has some degree of distortion because A) a curved surface cannot be represented on a flat surface without distortion. B) parallels and meridians never cross at right angles on a globe. C) the grid system is two-dimensional but the earth is three-dimensional. D) a sphere is a developable surface.

a curved surface cannot be represented on a flat surface without distortion.

The landform often formed at the mouth of a heavily silted stream is called A) a delta. B) a spit. C) an offshore bar. D) a lateral moraine.

a delta.

The separation of South America from Africa was caused by A) a convergent plate boundary in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. B) a divergent plate boundary in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. C) subduction along the Atlantic Coast of South America. D) subduction along the Atlantic Coast of Africa.

a divergent plate boundary in the mid-Atlantic Ocean.

Which of the following distance measures refers to absolute distance? A) a 10-minute drive B) a $10 taxi ride C) a one-mile walk D) a scary trip through a dangerous neighborhood at night

a one-mile walk

When real estate agents say that "location matters," they are referring to ______. A) an absolute location. B) a relative location. C) the impact of distance decay. D) site conditions alone.

a relative location.

A street address is an example of A) relative position. B) conformality. C) absolute location. D) situation.

absolute location.

The location of Chicago at 41° 49' N latitude and 87° 37' W longitude is an example of Question options: A) intensive location. B) absolute location. C) relative location. D) remote location.

absolute location.

As one crosses the International Date Line going westward, the calendar day should be moved A) back one day. B) ahead one day. C) ahead twelve hours. D) back twelve hours.

ahead one day.

Since humans are the active agents in human-environmental interactions, people in general A) have no contact with the physical landscape. B) are frequently unmindful of the dangers of inappropriate environmental exploitation. C) are immune from adverse natural events. D) alter the physical environment so that any potential dangers it holds are made harmless or removed totally.

are frequently unmindful of the dangers of inappropriate environmental exploitation.

Which one of the following groups contains only sedimentary rocks? A) limestone, sandstone, granite B) conglomerate, limestone, shale C) marble, basalt, conglomerate D) slate, gneiss, marble

conglomerate, limestone, shale

The prime meridian A) passes through Greenwich Village, New York. B) is given in nature. C) connects the North and South Poles. D) is parallel to the equator.

connects the North and South Poles.

Which of the following is NOT one of the steps in the rock cycle? A) cementation and compaction of sediment into sedimentary rocks B) weathering, transport, and deposition of igneous rocks into sediment C) cooling and solidification of magma into metamorphic rocks D) pressure and heat converting igneous rocks into metamorphic rocks

cooling and solidification of magma into metamorphic rocks

Rainfall is caused by A) increasing air temperature. B) cooling of saturated air. C) decreasing relative humidity. D) location along a rain shadow.

cooling of saturated air.

Spatial interaction is affected by ______. A) mobility, economics, and anticipation. B) the physical environment, the cultural landscape, and the interchangeable potential of places. C) distance, accessibility, and connectivity. D) absolute location, spatial parameters, and network design.

distance, accessibility, and connectivity.

Warm air rises and tends to move away from the A) equatorial low-pressure belt. B) subtropical high-pressure belt. C) northeast trades. D) westerlies.

equatorial low-pressure belt.

The Coriolis effect means that wind appears to deflect toward the A) right in the Southern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Northern Hemisphere. B) right in both Southern and Northern Hemispheres. C) left in the Southern Hemisphere and toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere. D) left in the Southern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Northern Hemisphere.

left in the Southern Hemisphere and toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere.

Karst topography is created by chemical weathering of ___________ rocks. A) basalt B) limestone C) granitic C) gneiss

limestone

An intrusive igneous rock is formed from A) lava that cools rapidly on the earth's surface. B) magma that cools slowly beneath the earth's surface. C) other rocks that are transformed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions beneath the earth's surface. D) sediments that have accumulated under water in horizontal beds.

magma that cools slowly beneath the earth's surface.

The world's major ocean currents are set into motion by A) condensation nuclei. B) differences in water density. C) major wind patterns. D) hurricanes.

major wind patterns.

The breaking up of rock by freezing and thawing is the result of A) chemical weathering. B) mass wasting. C) erosion. D) mechanical weathering.

mechanical weathering.

Which of the following rock types is formed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions within the earth's crust acting on the other two major types of rocks? A) tectonic B) metamorphic C) sedimentary D) igneous

metamorphic

The theory of continental drift was formulated because A) of the remarkable fit of the continents. B) scientists observed that the Atlantic Ocean was widening. C) of the mountain ranges on the fringes of the Pacific Ocean. D) the landforms moved over faults.

of the remarkable fit of the continents.

A map scale of 1: 24,000 means that A) one inch on the map represents 2,000 feet on the earth. B) one inch on the map represents 24,000 inches on the earth. C) one foot on the map represents 2,000 inches on the earth. D) one foot on the map represents 24,000 miles on the earth.

one inch on the map represents 24,000 inches on the earth.

Geography as a discipline: A) originated in ancient Greek interest in the nature of the universe and the varying character of the known parts of the earth. B) developed as an outgrowth of the "Age of Discovery," beginning in the 15th century. C) emerged in the 20th Century with the development of geographic information systems (GIS). D) was developed in response to a national need to map and describe the American West.

originated in ancient Greek interest in the nature of the universe and the varying character of the known parts of the earth.

The type of precipitation that is associated with hills and mountains is called A) convectional. B) orographic. C) frontal. D) cyclonic.

orographic.

Geographically, a hurricane is most likely to develop A) along an air mass boundary. B) in a hot, dry air mass. C) in a cool, wet air mass. D) over warm ocean waters.

over warm ocean waters.

All of the following statements about small-scale maps are true EXCEPT that they A) give a general idea of the relative locations of major features. B) show significantly less detail than do larger scale maps. C) typically smooth out such features as coastlines and rivers. D) permit the accurate measurement of major features.

permit the accurate measurement of major features.

An example of a choropleth map would be a map showing A) dots, each depicting 1,000 acres of corn production. B) the location of schools in a census tract. C) population density by county. D) proportional circles depicting the population of selected cities.

population density by county.

The three most important elements that make up weather are A) temperature, precipitation, and vegetation. B) precipitation, wind, and temperature. C) temperature, wind, and solar energy. D) climate, moisture, and solar energy.

precipitation, wind, and temperature.

Energy from the sun is transformed into heat A) primarily at the earth's surface and secondarily in the atmosphere. B) by way of solar radiation, or insolation. C) through the collection of solar energy. D) by means of the circumpolar vortex.

primarily at the earth's surface and secondarily in the atmosphere.

Which of the following features is NOT commonly found on topographic maps? A) elevation contours B) rivers, lakes, and coastal features C) cultural features such as buildings, orchards, cities, and roads D) proportional circle symbols depicting population distribution

proportional circle symbols depicting population distribution

The seasons are the result of the earth's A) rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun. B) varying distance from the sun. C) revolution around the sun and the inclination of its axis. D) varying distance from the planets of the solar system.

revolution around the sun and the inclination of its axis.

The most important erosional agent is A) groundwater flow. B) chemical oxidation. C) running water. D) wind.

running water.

The type of climate that is characterized by warm temperatures throughout the year, rainy summers and dry winters is the A) tropical rain forest. B) savanna. C) Mediterranean. D) marine west coast.

savanna.

Coal and petroleum occur in the group of rocks classified as A) igneous. B) metamorphic. C) plutonic. D) sedimentary.

sedimentary.

The amount of incoming solar radiation available at various places on the earth depends mainly on A) longitude. B) the angle at which the sun's rays strike the earth and the number of daylight hours. C) the earth's rotation. D) the absorbance of the earth surface material.

the angle at which the sun's rays strike the earth and the number of daylight hours.

An example of foreign region is A) the hub and spoke network for a particular airline. B) 100,000 square kilometers. C) Dixie. D) the area of France where the Breton language is spoken.

the area of France where the Breton language is spoken.

The world's tallest mountains were formed by A) mechanical weathering. B) fluid basaltic lava flows. C) the collision of the Pacific and North American plates. D) the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates.

the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates.

The word geography is derived from Greek words meaning: A) human society and the earth. B) the cultural landscape of the earth. C) the description of the earth. D) the measurement of the earth.

the description of the earth.

When neither the Northern nor the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, the noon sun's vertical rays are felt at A) 23.5° north and south latitude. B) the equator. C) 67.5° north and south latitude. D) the summer solstice.

the equator.

Which one of the following best identifies the cultural landscape? A) the natural resources of the earth B) the natural landscape as modified by human occupancy C) the landscape as modified by recent catastrophic events such as hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes D) places where intense human activities have obliterated any trace of the natural landscape

the natural landscape as modified by human occupancy

As Geographers use the term, scale tells us A) the weight of a given commodity. B) the intrinsic character of the object or area studied. C) the relationship between earth distance and map distance. D) the length of a degree of longitude along different parallels.

the relationship between earth distance and map distance.

Geography is BEST described as: A) the location of countries, state and national capitals, major rivers, and continents. B) the study of the origin and behavior of humans and the development of societies and cultures. C) the study of how and why human and physical attributes vary from place to place on the surface of the earth. D) the study of the choices made by individuals and societies with regard to the alternative uses of scarce resources.

the study of how and why human and physical attributes vary from place to place on the surface of the earth.

The name given to the nearly treeless zone to the north of the forested subarctic region of the Northern Hemisphere is A) humid continental climate. B) the tundra. C) the savanna. D) the steppe.

the tundra.

Under the survey system established by the Land Ordinance of 1785, land is divided into A) metes and bounds. B) base lines and meridians. C) townships and sections. D) acres and hectares.

townships and sections.

The layer of the earth's atmosphere that contains virtually all air, clouds, and precipitation is called the A) asthenosphere. B) troposphere. C) solstice. D) equinox.

troposphere.

Globalization refers to the increasing spatial interconnection of the world's social, cultural, and economic activities. A) true B) false

true

Geography differs from disciples such as geology, meteorology, and cultural anthropology in that it _______. A) involves greater accuracy of measurement of phenomena studied. B) is more precisely defined in terms of the phenomena studied. C) is concerned with more abstract concepts. D) uses data from related disciplines to study spatial relationships.

uses data from related disciplines to study spatial relationships.