Deck 1: Foundations of Geography

Question 1

A principal methodology governing geographic inquiry

A) is behavioral analysis.
B) involves spatial analysis.
C) uses chronological organization.
D) is field work.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina falls within which of the five themes?

A) location
B) place
C) human-Earth relationships
D) movement
E) regions

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following terms characterizes the discipline of geography?

A) eclectic
B) holistic
C) unscientific
D) A, B, and C
E) A and B only

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Relative to the fundamental themes of geography proposed by the Association of American Geographers, $\underline { \text { communication } }$ and $\underline { \text { diffusion }}$ refer to

A) location.
B) place.
C) human-Earth relationships.
D) movement.
E) regions.

Question 5

The word spatial refers to

A) the nature and character of physical space.
B) items that relate specifically to society.
C) things that are unique and special.
D) eras of time.

Question 6

Geography is described as

A) an Earth science.
B) a human science.
C) a physical science.
D) a spatial science.

Question 7

Relative to the fundamental themes of geography proposed by the Association of American Geographers, $\underline { \text { resource exploitation and hazard perception } }$ refer to

A) location.
B) place.
C) human-Earth relationships.
D) movement.
E) regions.

Question 8

A battery can best be described as a/an ________ energy system and a/an ________ material system.

A) closed; closed
B) closed; open
C) open; open
D) open; closed

Question 9

Which of the following is the most strongly supported by experimental and observational evidence?

A) speculation
B) hypothesis
C) educated guess
D) theory

Question 10

Which of the following compose the fundamental duality in the field of geography?

A) physical versus human/cultural
B) physical versus economic
C) economic versus political
D) political versus environmental

Question 11

Relative to the fundamental themes of geography, your home address is best described within which of the five themes?

A) location
B) place
C) human-Earth relationships
D) movement
E) regions

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the current emphasis in the field of physical geography?

A) understanding soil development
B) modeling economic interrelationships among countries
C) studying weather
D) understanding how Earth's systems interact to produce natural phenomena

Question 13

Relative to the fundamental themes of geography, the Taj Mahal in India and Ayers Rock in Australia are best described within which of the five themes?

A) location
B) place
C) human-Earth relationships
D) movement
E) regions

Question 14

The scientific method is described by which of the following?

A) the application of common sense
B) a relation to procedures developed by Sir Isaac Newton
C) the development of hypotheses for testing and prediction
D) All of these are correct.
E) None of these is correct.

Question 15

Which of the following most accurately characterizes the goal of geography?

A) the production of maps
B) memorization of the names of places on world and regional maps
C) memorization of the imports and exports of a country
D) understanding why a place has the characteristics that it does

Question 16

The $\underline {\text { inductive } }$ method of reasoning used by Earth scientists to discern patterns in nature involves reasoning from

A) the complex to the simple.
B) the simple to the complex.
C) the specific to the general.
D) the general to the specific.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a system?

A) a leaf
B) a river drainage basin
C) a midlatitude cyclonic storm
D) All of these are examples of systems.
E) None of these are examples of systems.

Question 18

Which of the following is false?

A) Earth represents a vast integrated system.
B) Earth represents an open system in terms of energy.
C) Earth represents a closed system in terms of matter.
D) New resources and matter are being added to Earth's systems all the time.

Question 19

Relative to the fundamental themes of geography proposed by the Association of American Geographers, $\underline {\text { latitude and longitude } }$ refer to

A) location.
B) place.
C) human-Earth relationships.
D) movement.
E) regions.

Question 20

Which of the following is true of scientific theories?

A) They are based on several hypotheses.
B) They are broad in scope because they unify several known facts about the world.
C) They are based on natural laws (such as those pertaining to gravity, relativity, atomic theory, etc.).
D) all of the above
E) A and B only

Question 21

An angular distance measured north or south of the equator from the center of Earth is termed

A) longitude.
B) latitude.
C) zenith.
D) Greenwich distance.

Question 22

If increased levels of carbon dioxide lead to further increases in temperature by promoting the release of even more carbon dioxide from the oceans, this means that ________ feedback has occurred and that the planet is ________.

A) positive; in equilibrium
B) positive; out of equilibrium
C) negative; in equilibrium
D) negative; out of equilibrium

Question 23

What type of feedback maintains stability in a system, i.e., what type of feedback keeps a system functioning properly?

A) positive
B) negative
C) neutral

Question 24

Which of the following statements about Earth is correct?

A) It is elongated.
B) Earth is the second largest planet in the solar system.
C) The equatorial circumference is 57 km (42 mi.) greater than the polar circumference.
D) Earth is perfectly spherical.

Question 25

The individual who first determined the circumference of Earth did so using all but which of the following?

A) geometry
B) a water well
C) the shadow of an obelisk
D) camels
E) All of these were used.

Question 26

Which of the following is correctly matched?

A) equilibrium - balance of inputs and outputs
B) steady state equilibrium - small fluctuations about an average condition
C) dynamic equilibrium - small fluctuations about an average condition that changes gradually over time
D) All of these are correctly matched.

Question 27

Which of the following best describes the condition of steady-state equilibrium?

A) System inputs always exactly balance outputs so the system never changes.
B) System inputs and outputs fluctuate around a stable average so the system does not move far from its average condition.
C) System inputs produce large, random fluctuations in output, forcing the system into a new state of equilibrium.
D) Systems slowly adjust to long-term changes in input and output.

Question 28

The science that specifically attempts to determine Earth's shape and size by surveys and mathematical means is called

A) geography.
B) geology.
C) cartography.
D) astronomy.
E) geodesy.

Question 29

Living systems are considered

A) biotic.
B) inorganic.
C) part of the lithosphere.
D) abiotic.

Question 30

Which of the following is true of the biosphere?

A) Life processes generally are not shaped by the abiotic spheres.
B) Life processes generally are shaped by the abiotic spheres.
C) It is unique and therefore segregated from the other spheres.
D) It only occurs in the hydrosphere.

Question 31

The increase in meltponds in Arctic regions is an example of

A) positive feedback, because the melt ponds absorb more solar energy than the ice did.
B) positive feedback, as the melt ice freezes it increases the area of ice.
C) negative feedback, because the ponds reflect more sunlight than ice and therefore absorb less energy.
D) negative feedback, as the ice melts the water freezes, increasing the amount of ice.

Question 32

The oblateness of Earth occurs at the

A) poles.
B) equator.
C) subtropics.
D) prime meridian.

Question 33

The three $\underline { \text { inorganic } }$ Earth realms are the

A) hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere.
B) thermosphere, lithosphere, heterosphere.
C) atmosphere, geoid, homosphere.
D) stratosphere, magnetosphere, and troposphere.

Question 34

The carbon dioxide that is being added to the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels is an example of an ________ variable to the atmosphere and an ________ variable from the lithosphere.

A) input; input
B) input; output
C) output; output
D) output; input

Question 35

Earth's circumference is greatest when measured around the

A) poles.
B) equator.
C) subtropics.
D) prime meridian.

Question 36

Which of the following is easily determined using the position of the Sun or stars?

A) longitude
B) latitude
C) altitude

Question 37

A value for Earth's circumference was first calculated by

A) Columbus.
B) Pythagoras.
C) modern satellite measurements.
D) Eratosthenes.

Question 38

Which of the following is true of models?

A) They are abstract representations of the world.
B) They are idealized representations of the world.
C) They are simplified representations of the world.
D) They are abstract and idealized, but not simplified representations of the world.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 39

The realization that Earth was a sphere

A) did not occur in Europe until the first voyages of Columbus.
B) had to wait until the modern era (1800s).
C) was first made by Pythagoras, 580-500 BC.
D) was made by Isaac Newton.

Question 40

If a system responds to a change in input by moving further away from its equilibrium condition, what type of feedback has occurred?

A) positive
B) negative
C) neutral
D) Not enough information is given to indicate what type of feedback has occurred.

Question 41

Longitude is

A) an angular distance measured north or south of the equator.
B) an angular distance measured east or west of a prime meridian.
C) the basis for establishing parallels.
D) determined by Sun altitude above the horizon.

Question 42

If you began a trip at 60 degrees west, 20 degrees north and traveled 120 degrees farther west and 50 degrees south, your new position would be

A) the International Dateline at 70 degrees north latitude.
B) the International Dateline at 30 degrees south latitude.
C) the Greenwich meridian at 70 degrees north latitude.
D) the Greenwich meridian at 30 degrees south latitude.
E) 30 degrees north, 120 degrees west.

Question 43

The letters AM stand for

A) after midnight.
B) after morning.
C) ante majolica.
D) ante meridiem.
E) after meridian.

Question 44

An angular distance measured east or west of a prime meridian from the center of Earth is termed

A) longitude.
B) latitude.
C) zenith.
D) Greenwich distance.

Question 45

The letters AM and PM refer to the time at which

A) the Sun's rays first appear above the eastern horizon at dawn.
B) the Sun's rays first disappear below the western horizon at dusk.
C) the Sun is directly overhead at noon.
D) the Sun crosses the equator moving north on the first day of Spring.

Question 46

If an observer determines that the North Star (Polaris) is located 30° above the horizon, then the observer is located at ________.

A) 70 degrees north latitude
B) 60 degrees north latitude
C) 30 degrees north latitude
D) 60 degrees north longitude
E) 30 degrees north longitude

Question 47

If City A is located $\underline { \text { West } }$ of City B, the time at City A is ________ than that at City B because Earth rotates from ________ when viewed from above the North Pole.

A) earlier; west to east (i.e., counterclockwise)
B) earlier; east to west (i.e., clockwise)
C) later; west to east (i.e., counterclockwise)
D) later; east to west (i.e., clockwise)

Question 48

If a clock on a ship indicates that it is 2:00 PM in its home port, while another clock on the ship indicates that it is 12:00 noon at the ship's present location, what is the difference in longitude between the ship's position and its home port?

A) The ship is 2 degrees east of its home port.
B) The ship is 2 degrees west of its home port.
C) The ship is 30 degrees east of its home port.
D) The ship is 30 degrees west of its home port.
E) The ship is 45 degrees west of its home port.

Question 49

The most extreme northern and southern parallels to experience perpendicular rays of the Sun at local noon are located at

A) the equator.
B) 23.5 degrees north and south.
C) 45 degrees north and south.
D) 66.5 degrees north and south.

Question 50

The letters PM stand for

A) prior majolica.
B) previous morning.
C) post meridiem.
D) possible meridian.

Question 51

The meridian opposite of Earth's prime meridian (0 degrees longitude) is called

A) Coordinated Universal Time.
B) Greenwich Mean Time.
C) the equator.
D) the International Date Line.

Question 52

(place your city here) approximate location is best described as

A) (place your latitude and longitude here as presented in lecture).
B) 105 degrees north latitude by 41 degrees west longitude.
C) north and east of Greenwich, London, England.
D) south and east of Greenwich, London, England.

Question 53

Which of the following is true of the length (as measured in kilometers) of a degree of latitude?

A) It is constant at all latitudes.
B) It is longer near the equator than near the poles.
C) It is shorter near the equator than near the poles.
D) It is shorter near the prime meridian than near the international dateline.

Question 54

Which of the following is false regarding meridians?

A) They cross parallels at right angles.
B) They are lines which run in an east-west direction.
C) All meridians are the same length.
D) They are used to measure east-west angular distances.

Question 55

A line connecting all points along the same longitudinal angle is called a

A) meridian.
B) parallel.
C) prime latitudinal angle.
D) great circle.

Question 56

Latitude is

A) the angular distance measured north or south of the equator.
B) the angular distance measured east or west of a prime meridian.
C) the basis for establishing meridians.
D) portrayed on a globe as lines that cross the equator at right angles.

Question 57

The basis for defining the length of a day is the fact that

A) Earth rotates east to west.
B) Earth moves through 365.25 days a year in its orbit about the Sun.
C) Earth rotates on its axis in 24 hours, i.e., it rotates 15 degrees of longitude per hour.
D) Earth does not rotate; rather, it revolves.

Question 58

How far north you live from the equator is measured as your ________, whereas an imaginary line marking all those places at that same distance north of the equator is called a ________.

A) longitude; meridian
B) meridian; longitude
C) latitude; parallel
D) parallel; latitude
E) location; place

Question 59

If you were standing at 20 degrees north latitude, you would be within which latitudinal geographic zone?

A) tropical
B) midlatitude
C) equatorial
D) subarctic
E) subtropical

Question 60

Longitude is conveniently determined at sea using

A) chronometers.
B) pendulum clocks-as in olden days.
C) magnetic compasses.
D) sextants and Sun angles.

Question 61

A great circle is

A) any parallel of latitude.
B) the shortest distance between two places on the surface of Earth.
C) a circle of circumference whose center coincides with the center of Earth.
D) a correct magnetic compass direction on a flat map.

Question 62

A scale given as "one centimeter to one kilometer" is an example of a

A) representative fraction.
B) graphic scale.
C) written scale.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 63

UTC refers to

A) the International Date Line.
B) Universal Time Conference.
C) Coordinated Universal Time.
D) a system of local time using phases of the Moon.

Question 64

If it is 10:00 AM in Miami, Florida (Eastern time zone), what time is it in Los Angeles, California located 3 time zones to the west in the Pacific Time zone?

A) 7:00 AM
B) 8:00 AM
C) 1:00 PM
D) 2:00 PM

Question 65

Which of the following is true of the prime meridian just prior to the year 1884?

A) Most countries were already using the Greenwich meridian for their land maps.
B) All countries were already using the Greenwich meridian for their marine maps.
C) The United States used a combination of the Washington meridian for land maps and the Greenwich meridian for marine maps.
D) There was no such thing as a prime meridian before 1884.

Question 66

Time is now precisely measured with primary standard clocks that are based on

A) very precise pendulum motion.
B) the pulsed vibrations of quartz crystals.
C) the vibration of cesium atoms.
D) the pulse rate of pulsar stars.

Question 67

The practice of setting time ahead or behind during the year, out of coordination with the Sun, is termed

A) Coordinated Universal Time.
B) Daylight Saving Time.
C) Standard Time.
D) Greenwich Mean Time.

Question 68

Standard time zones

A) have yet to be generally established.
B) are 15 degrees wide because Earth rotates through that distance in one hour.
C) are only used in the developed countries.
D) are spaced at 5 degree intervals of longitude in North America.

Question 69

The $\underline {\text { larger }}$ the scale of a map, the ________ the area covered by the map and the ________ detail it provides.

A) larger; more
B) larger; less
C) smaller; more
D) smaller; less

Question 70

Any orderly system of parallels and meridians drawn on a flat surface is called a

A) diagram.
B) cone.
C) map projection.
D) globe.

Question 71

Objects appear ________ on large scale maps.

A) large
B) small
C) It is impossible to compare the relative size of the same features on maps of different scales.

Question 72

A map scale of 1:24,000 means that

A) one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches on the ground.
B) one centimeter on the map equals 24,000 centimeters on the ground.
C) one foot on the map equals 24,000 feet on Earth.
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 73

Which of the following describes the property of $\underline { \text { true shape } }$ on a map?

A) equivalence
B) conformality
C) proximity
D) equidistance

Question 74

Which type of map scale would be appropriate to use if the map were to be enlarged by Xeroxing?

A) written
B) graphic
C) representative fraction

Question 75

If it is 10:00 PM on July 3rd at 30 degrees west, what date and time is it at 15 degrees east?

A) July 3rd; 11:00 PM
B) July 3rd; 9:00 PM
C) July 3rd; 6:00 PM
D) July 4th; 1:00 AM
E) July 4th; 2:00 AM

Question 76

Which of the following is an example of an intermediate map scale?

A) 1:3,168,000
B) 1:63,360
C) 1 cm = 0.25 km (1 in. = 2000 ft)
D) 1:125,000

Question 77

Which of the following describes the property of $\underline { \text { equal area } }$ on a map?

A) equivalence
B) conformality
C) proximity
D) equidistance

Question 78

The part of geography that embodies map making is known as

A) theodesy.
B) geodesy.
C) cartography.
D) calligraphy.

Question 79

Earth's equator is an example of

A) a small circle.
B) a great circle.
C) a prime meridian.
D) a line of equal longitude.

Question 80

The earliest known maps date to ________ and were made by ________.

A) 45,000 BC; Neanderthals
B) 2,300 BC; the Babylonians
C) 500 BC; the Greeks
D) 700 AD; the Catholic Church
E) 1100 AD; Mongol warriors