Oceanography exam 1 practice

The mid-ocean mountains, such as the ridges and rises, __________. (a) are similar in origin to the Alps, the Rockies, and the Appalachians (b) are constructed of volcanic basalt (c) are composed of folded and faulted marine sedimentary rocks (d) are similar in size and features to most continental mountains

b. are constructed of volcanic basalt

Continental rises are formed __________. (a) as a result of the slow accumulation of sediments from the water column (b) by many deep sea fans (c) in association with hydrothermal vents (d) next to submarine canyons (e) on the flank of a mid-ocean ridge

b. by many deep sea fans

The transition between the shelf and the deep seafloor is __________. (a) the littoral zone (b) the continental slope and rise (c) the abyssal plain. (d) the mid-ocean ridge (e) the submarine canyon

b. continental slope and rise

Passive continental margins are characterized by all of the following except __________. (a) broad continental shelf (b) deep-sea trenches (c) shallow coastal waters (d) thick sediment accumulation (e) very little volcanic and earthquake activity

b. deep sea trenches

Due to the very harsh environment, few organisms are found in association with hydrothermal vents. (a) True (b) False

b. false

Characteristics of active continental margins include all of the following except __________. (a) broad continental shelf (b) chains of islands (c) deep-sea trenches (d) thin sediment accumulation (e) volcanic and earthquake activity

a. broad continental shelf

The great heaps of unconsolidated sediment at the base of the continental slope are known as __________. (a) the continental rise (b) the abyssal hills (c) the abyssal plains (d) the mid-ocean mountains (e) the mid-ocean ridge

a. continental rise

Old 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

Abyssal hills are only visible in the Pacific Ocean because __________. (a) sediment has covered those found in the other ocean basins (b) there are none in the Atlantic and Indian ocean basins (c) they are higher in the Pacific than in the other ocean basins (d) they have been destroyed in active plate margins (e) turbidity currents have eroded abyssal hills in the other ocean basins.

a. sediments have covered those found in the other ocean basins

Which is greater, the average height of the continents or the average depth of the ocean? (a) The average depth of the ocean is greater. (b) The average height of the continents is greater.

a. the average depth of the ocean

The average width of the continental shelves is about __________ kilometers (__________ miles). (a) 16 (10) (b) 35 (22) (c) 67 (42) (d) 100 (160) (e) 800 (1,280)

c. 67 (42)

Directly seaward of the continental shelf is a more steeply sloping region called the __________. (a) abyssal plain (b) continental rise (c) continental slope (d) mid-ocean ridge (e) trench

c. continental slope

The continental margins are relatively shallow because __________. (a) they have been built up by sediments contributed by marine organisms (b) the underlying crust is lighter (c) they have been built up by sediment washed off of the continents (d) they were formed in the last ice age, when the oceans were shallower (e) sea level has dropped in the last 100 years

c. they have been built up by sediment washed off of the continents

The deepest parts of the oceans are the ___________. (a) rift valleys (b) submarine canyons (c) trenches (d) deep basins (e) fault scarps

c. trenches

The continental shelf __________. (a) is a narrow strip on the East Coast of the United States (b) is a steeply dipping zone dropping off to the deep seafloor (c) is a featureless plain unlike the neighboring continent (d) is a gently sloping platform with a variable landscape (e) all of the above

d. a gently sloping platform with a variable landscape

The landscape of the seafloor would best be described as __________. (a) a featureless plain (b) a smooth descent with the deepest portions farthest from land (c) similar in rock type, sediment thickness, and erosional processes to those found on the land (d) containing ridges, trenches, seamounts, and other features different from those found on land

d. containing ridges, trenches, seamounts, and other features different from those found on land.

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

New lithosphere is produced in association with __________. (a) deep-sea trenches (b) fracture zones (c) hydrothermal vents (d) mid-ocean ridges (e) transform faults

d. mid ocean ridges

The correct order of marine provinces 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 flat, drowned edges of the continents are called the continental __________. (a) rises (b) wedges (c) slopes (d) shelves (e) ridges

d. shelves

Satellites are used to map the ocean floor because they __________. (a) are unaffected by surface weather (b) can cover areas where ships have not produced surveys (c) 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

A turbidity current is __________. (a) a fast surface current of water that runs parallel to beaches and that causes a rapid decrease in water clarity (b) the cause of mid-ocean maelstroms (whirlpools) (c) a phenomenon associated with violent atmospheric storms at sea (d) something that always occurs at river mouths in shallow water, but does not extend into water more than 50 meters (165 feet) deep (e) none of the above

e. none of the above

Warm-water hydrothermal vents form __________. (a) abyssal hills (b) black smokers (c) cold seeps (d) turbidity currents (e) white smokers

e. white smokers