Download geog272: physical geography, test 2

GEOG272:
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY,
TEST 2
You are required to answer all Questions. Section A carry 60 points and B carry 40
points. Use the bubble sheet to answer Section A and the answer book for Section B
SECTION A
1.
Based on principles discussed earlier in the course, you know that as distance from the
equator increases, seasonal variation in temperature tends to
a. increase
b. decrease
c. remain constant
2.
Based on principles discussed earlier in the course, you know that the annual temperature
range of places located in the interior of a continent is _________ those located along the
coast at the same latitude.
a. greater than b. less than
c. the same as
3.
Based on principles discussed earlier in the course, you know that areas dominated by
maritime air masses will be relatively __________, and that those dominated by cT air
masses will be relatively __________.
a. wet; wet
b. wet; dry
c. dry; wet
d. dry; dry
4.
As regards average annual precipitation, which of the following is correct?
a. The highest amounts occur throughout subtropical latitudes.
b. The drier regions are associated with the eastern portions of major landmasses.
c. The precipitation tends to increase with latitude toward the poles.
d. The highest average values occur along the equator.
5.
"Hot and wet" temperature and precipitation patterns are characteristic of
a. rain forests in the equatorial tropics
b. humid continental climates that have mild summers
c. highland climates
d. cold steppe climates
6.
The ancient Greeks thought that the __________ zone was the best to live in.
a. torrid
b. temperate
c. frigid
d. frost
7.
An empirical classification is based on, among other factors, __________.
a. the interaction of air masses
b. the origin or genesis of the climate
c. the mean annual temperature and precipitation of an area
d. causative factors
8.
A genetic classification system can be based on, among other factors, __________.
a. the interaction of air masses
b. statistics or other data used to determine general categories
c. mean annual temperature
d. mean annual precipitation
9.
Which of the following lists the correct, generalized sequence of K›ppen climates from the
equator to the poles?
a. H-->D-->C-->B-->A
b. H-->B-->C-->D-->E c. A-->B-->C-->D-->E
d. E-->D-->C-->B-->A
e. B-->A-->D-->E-->C
10.
Tropical climates are identified by the letter
11.
A climate that is mesothermal, and that has a long, hot, dry summer would be designated
by which of the following?
a. Af
b. BS
c. Csa
d. Cwa
e. Dwa
12.
The tropical rain-forest climate receives most of its rainfall as a result of _________
a. frontal uplift
b. orographic uplift
c. convectional uplift
13.
The bulk of the Amazon River drainage basin is dominated by which one of the following
K›ppen climate classifications?
a. Am
b. Aw
c. Af
d. EF
14.
The tropical monsoon climate is designated by
a. Af
b. Am
c. Aw
a. A
b. T
d. EF
c. C
d. P
e. E
e. Csa
15.
The Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. is a moist environment because of
a. the effect of maritime air masses
b. the presence of mountains
c. the predominant direction the winds blow at that latitude (45ø to 50ø north)
d. all of the above
e. a and b only
16.
The largest percentage of Earth's population lives within the
a. A climates b. B climates
c. C climates
d. D climates
17.
Potential evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation in all parts of which climate type?
a. tropical savanna
b. Mediterranean summer-dry
c. all B climates
d. polar climates
18.
The gas that is thought to be responsible for more than half of the anthropogenic warming
of the atmosphere is
a. methane
b. water vapor c. carbon dioxide
d. CFCs
19.
Which of the following is a predicted consequence of the greenhouse effect?
a. flooding of low-lying coastal areas
b. spread of tropical diseases to regions now unaffected by them
c. change in species composition of forest ecosystems
d. change in international trade relationships--especially those pertaining to food
e. all of the above
20.
Climates are usually stable over several human generations, but usually change over
longer time periods (thousands to millions of years).
a. True
b. False
21.
The K›ppen climate classification system is an example of a purely genetic classification.
a. True
b. False
22.
The Kyoto Protocol called for a reduction in the emissions of greenhouse gases.
a. True
b. False
Clouds that have vertical development and produce precipitation are called
a. stratocumulus b. cumulonimbus c. nimbostratus d. cumulus
23.
24.
Which of the following are correctly matched?
a. flat or layered clouds = cumulus
b. puffy or globular clouds = cirroform
c. puffy or globular clouds = cumuliform
d. wispy clouds = water droplets
25.
Which of the following is a middle-level cloud type?
a. cirrostratus b. stratocumulus c. cumulonimbus
d. altostratus
26.
Florida has the highest thunderstorm frequency in the U.S. because
a. the Florida peninsula heats to high temperatures during the day
b. mT air masses surround the peninsula
c. frequent, strong cold fronts occur in the Florida area
d. all of the above
e. a and b only
27.
The scientific study of the atmosphere is carried out under the discipline called . . .
a. weather
b. climate
c. meteorology d. geography
28.
Which of the following is false regarding air masses?
a. An air mass initially reflects the characteristics of its source region.
b. They are homogenous in terms of temperature and humidity.
c. They may dominate half the depth of the troposphere.
d. Air masses tend to maintain their original characteristics as they migrate from their
source regions.
29.
A well-developed, newly formed cP air mass would have which of the following
characteristics?
a. cold temperatures b. clear skies
c. high pressure
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
30.
The Intertropical Convergence Zone is characterized by
a. cold, dry rising air
b. cold, dry sinking air
c. warm, dry rising air
d. warm, wet rising air
31.
Orographic refers to
a. convection stimulated principally by local heating
b. lifting along the edges of conflicting air masses
c. air mass modification and the formation of secondary air masses
d. forced uplift due to the presence of a physical barrier
32.
The wetter, intercepting slope of a mountain is termed the _______________ slope,
whereas the drier, downwind slope is termed the ____________ slope.
a. left side; right side b. west side; east side c. windward; leeward
d. leeward; windward
33.
Storm tracks across the United States and Canada generally
a. shift to the south in winter, and toward the north in summer
b. move east to west
c. move south to north
d. exist in spring and fall only
34.
Summer thunderstorms in the southern U.S. are usually produced by towering
___________ clouds that form by ___________.
a. nimbostratus; convection
b. nimbostratus; frontal uplift
c. cumulonimbus; frontal uplift d. cumulonimbus; convergence
e. cumulonimbus; convection
35.
Which of the following cloud types is associated with tornado development?
a. cumulus
b. nimbostratus c. altocumulus d. cumulonimbus
36.
Which of the following gives the correct sequence of layers in the mantle, from bottom to
top?
a. lower mantle; upper mantle, aesthenosphere
b. aesthenosphere, mantle, upper mantle
c. upper mantle, aesthenosphere, mantle
d. mantle, aesthenosphere, upper mantle
37.
Which layer of the planet forms 80 percent of Earth's total volume, and has an average
density of 4.5 grams per cm2?
a. continental crust
b. oceanic crust
c. mantle
d. core
38.
The majority of the Earth's crust is composed of ________ rock.
a. igneous
b. metamorphic c. sedimentary
d. carbonate
39.
A batholith forms from
a. intrusive igneous rock
c. metamorphic rock
b. extrusive igneous rock
d. sediment accumulation in a depression
40.
If you were driving down the highway and saw mountains composed of layered strata, you
could be confident that you were looking at
a. sedimentary rocks
b. extrusive igneous rock
c. a shield volcano
d. batholiths or laccoliths
41.
Limestone is an example of which type of rock-forming process?
a. sedimentary
b. metamorphic
c. igneous
42.
Coal is a fossil fuel formed from
a. dead marine organisms
c. metamorphosed mafic minerals
b. plants
d. blue-green algae
43.
Convergent plate boundaries are characteristic of
a. sea-floor spreading centers
b. collision zones between plates
c. lateral motions of plates
d. all plate boundaries
44.
Alfred Wegner's theory of continental drift was immediately accepted by the scientific
community when it was proposed. a. True
b. False
45.
Which of the following is endogenic in nature?
a. weathering b. stream deposition
c. volcanism
d. glacial erosion
46.
Which of the following is normally true of a hot desert?
a. potential evapotranspiration exceeds actual evapotranspiration
b. actual evapotranspiration exceeds potential evapotranspiration
c. potential evapotranspiration equals actual evapotranspiration
d. it is impossible to say what the normal relationship between potential and actual
evapotranspiration would be in a desert
47.
Which of the following gives the correct sequence of layers in the Earth, from the surface
to the center?
a. crust, core, lower mantle, aesthenosphere
b. aesthenosphere, lower mantle, crust, core
c. crust, lower mantle, aesthenosphere, core
d. crust, aesthenosphere, lower mantle, core
48.
The thickness of Earth's crust ranges from
a. 5 km to 60 km (3 mi to 37 mi)
b. 70 km to 250 km (43 mi to 155 mi)
c. the surface to an unknown depth
d. the surface down to 2900 km (1800mi
49.
The major rocks of Earth's crust are classified into principal types based on
a. element composition
b. mineral composition
c. three specific rock-forming processes, i.e., the manner in which they formed
d. relative and absolute locations
50.
Which of the following is not a sedimentary rock?
a. sandstone b. bituminous coal
c. marble
d. shale
51.
Which of the following is not true of the metamorphism process?
a. It can be accomplished by heat.
b. It can be accomplished by pressure.
c. It involves melting of the original rock. d. It can be accomplished by chemical processes.
52.
The Hawaiian Islands were formed as a result of
a. a rising plume of magma from the mantle
b. an oceanic-oceanic plate collision
c. a continental-oceanic plate collision
d. activity along a midocean ridge
53.
Any rock, either igneous or sedimentary, may be transformed into a metamorphic rock, by
going through profound physical and/or chemical changes under increased pressure and
temperature.
a. True
b. False
54.
The uplift of mountains is caused by
a. endogenic processes
b. aggradation
55.
c. denudation d. exogenic forces
The disintegration and dissolving of surface and subsurface rock is called
a. erosion
b. mass wasting
c. landmass denudation
d. weathering
56.
Chemical weathering is greatest under conditions of
a. higher mean annual rainfall and temperatures
b. lower mean annual rainfall and temperatures
c. temperatures below freezing
d. rainfall of less than 25 cm (10 in) per year
57.
Other than the rock itself, the most important chemical substance needed for the
majority of weathering processes is
a. oxygen
b. nitrogen
c. water
d. carbon dioxide
58.
The fact that water expands as much as 9% of its volume as it freezes is the basis of
a. chemical weathering processes
b. pressure-release jointing
c. crystallization
d. frost wedging
59.
The yellow-red stains that occur on some rock surfaces are the result of ________, which
is a form of ________ weathering.
a. hydration; physical
b. hydration; chemical
c. solution; chemical
d. oxidation; physical
e. oxidation; chemical
60.
Physical weathering dominates in warm, wet climates.
a. True
b. False
SECTION B: Answer questions in this section on the paper provided by the Examiner (20).
1. Explain briefly why permanent ice occurs on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro located along the equator
in Tanzania, Africa? Use a sketch to explain if necessary (5 points)
2. Why do sea breezes occur during the day in coastal cities of New England? (5 points)
3. Why are the Western portion of the Rocky Mountains in Oregon and Washington States
wetter than the Eastern zones of the Rockies? (5 points)
4. Why do frozen ice cause cracks that later develop into potholes on our roads in early spring?
(5 points)
Use the Climograph A and B to answer questions 5 – 8 (20 points: 2 points each)
5. The stations from which climatic data displayed in climographs A and B were taken can be
found in which hemispheres? A. Station A is in ………..
B. Station B is in the ……….
6. Identify the type of climates found at stations A and B.
A. The climate at station A is -----B. The climate at station B is …………….
7. Which are the wettest and warmest months in stations A and B?
A. The wettest month at station A is …….
B. The wettest month at station B is ……..
C. The warmest month at station A is …..
D. The warmest month at station B is ……
8. Describe the vegetation you can find at stations A and B.
A. The vegetation at station A is ………
B. The vegetation at station B is ………..