Deck 1: Introduction to Planet Earth

Question 1

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)the Sun and the eight major planets revolving around it
B)gaseous and dusty space cloud (pre-cursor to a solar system)
C)Milky Way galaxy
D)outermost portion of the Earth composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt and granite
E)contains minerals rich in iron and magnesium, between the crust and the core, and has the second largest volume according to the chemical classification
F)solar winds
G)composed mostly of iron and nickel with a liquefied metallic outer layer
core

Answer 1

G

Question 2

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)the Sun and the eight major planets revolving around it
B)gaseous and dusty space cloud (pre-cursor to a solar system)
C)Milky Way galaxy
D)outermost portion of the Earth composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt and granite
E)contains minerals rich in iron and magnesium, between the crust and the core, and has the second largest volume according to the chemical classification
F)solar winds
G)composed mostly of iron and nickel with a liquefied metallic outer layer
crust

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Match the term or person with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean
B)led voyage that first circumnavigated the globe
C)used ecological approach to solve fisheries problem
D)mapped world with Roman knowledge showing latitude and longitude
E)first determination of Earth's circumference
F)led voyage that first used the marine chronometer
G)made important observations about drift of sea ice
H)mapped the Mediterranean Sea for the Greeks
I)established impermanent settlement in North America and the first Europeans to explore Iceland and Greenland
J)incorrectly concluded that no life exists in deep ocean
Magellan

Answer 3

Answers: B

Question 4

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)plastic (capable of flow)portion of the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere
B)innermost layer of the Earth, a solid
C)lower portion of the mantle that is rigid
D)composed of iron, nickel, and sulfur
E)continental crust
F)oceanic crust
G)crust and the uppermost mantle consisting of a solid rock layer
basalt

Question 5

The Earth's crust solidified around 4.5 billion years ago.

Question 6

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)plastic (capable of flow)portion of the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere
B)innermost layer of the Earth, a solid
C)lower portion of the mantle that is rigid
D)composed of iron, nickel, and sulfur
E)continental crust
F)oceanic crust
G)crust and the uppermost mantle consisting of a solid rock layer
lithosphere

Question 7

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)plastic (capable of flow)portion of the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere
B)innermost layer of the Earth, a solid
C)lower portion of the mantle that is rigid
D)composed of iron, nickel, and sulfur
E)continental crust
F)oceanic crust
G)crust and the uppermost mantle consisting of a solid rock layer
asthenosphere

Question 8

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)the Sun and the eight major planets revolving around it
B)gaseous and dusty space cloud (pre-cursor to a solar system)
C)Milky Way galaxy
D)outermost portion of the Earth composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt and granite
E)contains minerals rich in iron and magnesium, between the crust and the core, and has the second largest volume according to the chemical classification
F)solar winds
G)composed mostly of iron and nickel with a liquefied metallic outer layer
nebula

Question 9

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)plastic (capable of flow)portion of the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere
B)innermost layer of the Earth, a solid
C)lower portion of the mantle that is rigid
D)composed of iron, nickel, and sulfur
E)continental crust
F)oceanic crust
G)crust and the uppermost mantle consisting of a solid rock layer
mesosphere

Question 10

Match the term or person with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean
B)led voyage that first circumnavigated the globe
C)used ecological approach to solve fisheries problem
D)mapped world with Roman knowledge showing latitude and longitude
E)first determination of Earth's circumference
F)led voyage that first used the marine chronometer
G)made important observations about drift of sea ice
H)mapped the Mediterranean Sea for the Greeks
I)established impermanent settlement in North America and the first Europeans to explore Iceland and Greenland
J)incorrectly concluded that no life exists in deep ocean
Ptolemy

Question 11

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)the Sun and the eight major planets revolving around it
B)gaseous and dusty space cloud (pre-cursor to a solar system)
C)Milky Way galaxy
D)outermost portion of the Earth composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt and granite
E)contains minerals rich in iron and magnesium, between the crust and the core, and has the second largest volume according to the chemical classification
F)solar winds
G)composed mostly of iron and nickel with a liquefied metallic outer layer
mantle

Question 12

Match the term or person with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean
B)led voyage that first circumnavigated the globe
C)used ecological approach to solve fisheries problem
D)mapped world with Roman knowledge showing latitude and longitude
E)first determination of Earth's circumference
F)led voyage that first used the marine chronometer
G)made important observations about drift of sea ice
H)mapped the Mediterranean Sea for the Greeks
I)established impermanent settlement in North America and the first Europeans to explore Iceland and Greenland
J)incorrectly concluded that no life exists in deep ocean
Eratosthenes

Question 13

Christopher Columbus established trade routes from Europe around Africa to India.

Question 14

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)the Sun and the eight major planets revolving around it
B)gaseous and dusty space cloud (pre-cursor to a solar system)
C)Milky Way galaxy
D)outermost portion of the Earth composed largely of the igneous rocks basalt and granite
E)contains minerals rich in iron and magnesium, between the crust and the core, and has the second largest volume according to the chemical classification
F)solar winds
G)composed mostly of iron and nickel with a liquefied metallic outer layer
solar system

Question 15

Match the term or person with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean
B)led voyage that first circumnavigated the globe
C)used ecological approach to solve fisheries problem
D)mapped world with Roman knowledge showing latitude and longitude
E)first determination of Earth's circumference
F)led voyage that first used the marine chronometer
G)made important observations about drift of sea ice
H)mapped the Mediterranean Sea for the Greeks
I)established impermanent settlement in North America and the first Europeans to explore Iceland and Greenland
J)incorrectly concluded that no life exists in deep ocean
Vikings

Question 16

Match the term or person with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean
B)led voyage that first circumnavigated the globe
C)used ecological approach to solve fisheries problem
D)mapped world with Roman knowledge showing latitude and longitude
E)first determination of Earth's circumference
F)led voyage that first used the marine chronometer
G)made important observations about drift of sea ice
H)mapped the Mediterranean Sea for the Greeks
I)established impermanent settlement in North America and the first Europeans to explore Iceland and Greenland
J)incorrectly concluded that no life exists in deep ocean
Balboa

Question 17

In Europe, significant oceanographic knowledge was acquired during the Middle Ages.

Question 18

Match the term with the appropriate phrase. You may use each answer once, more than once or not at all.

A)plastic (capable of flow)portion of the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere
B)innermost layer of the Earth, a solid
C)lower portion of the mantle that is rigid
D)composed of iron, nickel, and sulfur
E)continental crust
F)oceanic crust
G)crust and the uppermost mantle consisting of a solid rock layer
granite

Question 19

Vikings led by Thor Heyerdahl established temporary colonies in North America.

Question 20

Early Polynesians only traveled within sight of land.

Question 21

The first person we are aware of who determined the circumference of the Earth using trigonometry and the angle of sunlight at Alexandria, Egypt, was:

A)Pytheas.
B)Eratosthenes.
C)Herodotus.
D)Seneca.
E)Ptolemy.

Question 22

The method of determining latitude in the Northern Hemisphere by measuring the angle between an observer's line of site to the North Star and line of site to the northern horizon was developed by:

A)Pytheas.
B)Eratosthenes.
C)Herodotus.
D)Seneca.
E)Ptolemy.

Question 23

The first humans from Western Hemisphere known to have developed the art of navigation were the:

A)Polynesians.
B)Greeks.
C)Vikings.
D)Phoenicians.
E)New Zealanders.

Question 24

Radiometric dating is used to determine the ages of rocks.

Question 25

All of the following are TRUE concerning the deepest part of the ocean except:

A)the bottom of this trench was visited by Piccard and Walsh in the Trieste in 1960.
B)the deepest part of the ocean is located in a trench off the coast of Japan.
C)the depth of this trench exceeds the height of Mount Everest.
D)the depth of this trench is estimated at 11,022 meters (~36,161 feet).
E)this trench is called the Mariana Trench.

Question 26

The salinity of the oceans has been steadily increasing.

Question 27

The four principal ocean basins (plus an additional ocean)on Earth are the:

A)Atlantic, Arctic, Mediterranean, Southern, and Pacific Oceans.
B)Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern, and Arctic Oceans.
C)Atlantic, Antarctic, Southern, Mediterranean, and Pacific Oceans.
D)Antarctic, Caspian, Southern, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
E)Antarctic, Arctic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans.

Question 28

Most of the explorations by northern and western Europeans during the Middle (Dark)Ages were undertaken by:

A)Italy.
B)Portugal.
C)Vikings of Scandinavia.
D)France.
E)Spain.

Question 29

Layers of the earth separated based on density differences.

Question 30

The Earth formed around 4.6 billion years ago.

Question 31

Anaerobic organisms require oxygen to survive.

Question 32

Earth developed the first ocean by about 4 billion years ago.

Question 33

All of the following are characteristics of seas except:

A)seas are smaller and shallower.
B)seas are usually somewhat enclosed by land.
C)seas are composed of salt water.
D)seas are directly connected to the world ocean.
E)all of the above are correct.

Question 34

In general, the salinity content of ocean water has remained constant throughout the majority of Earth's history.

Question 35

The largest of the ocean basins, which currently covers more than half of the ocean surface, is the:

A)Arctic Ocean.
B)Atlantic Ocean.
C)Indian Ocean.
D)Pacific Ocean.
E)Southern Ocean.

Question 36

Free oxygen was present in the Earth's primordial atmosphere.

Question 37

The European "Age of Discovery" began with:

A)Christopher Columbus' discovery of the "New World."
B)Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe.
C)Phoenician exploration of the Mediterranean.
D)Polynesian colonization of Pacific Islands.
E)Viking voyages to North America.

Question 38

Oceanic crust is less dense than continental crust because it is made of silica and manganese.

Question 39

The average depth of the world's oceans is approximately:

A)11,022 meters (36,161 feet).
B)840 meters (2,756 feet).
C)3,682 meters (12,080 feet).
D)2,172 meters (7,126 feet).
E)none of the above.

Question 40

Heterotrophic organisms can make their own food from inorganic carbon sources.

Question 41

A tentative, testable statement about the general nature of a phenomenon is called a/an:

A)guess.
B)law.
C)observation.
D)hypothesis.
E)theory.

Question 42

The separation of the Earth into layers while it was molten was the result of the:

A)decrease in temperature downward toward the core.
B)differing densities of the elements that make up the Earth.
C)gravitational force created by the rotating Earth.
D)initial collection of materials and their position in Earth.
E)presence of water at Earth's surface.

Question 43

Current scientific knowledge indicates that the most likely origin of most of Earth's oceans was due to:

A)comets from outer space.
B)release of liquid water from the core.
C)water vapor released from volcanic outgassing.
D)all of the above.
E)none of the above.

Question 44

The nebular hypothesis suggests that:

A)all bodies in the solar system formed from an enormous gas cloud.
B)Earth's moon is an asteroid captured by the Earth's gravity.
C)galaxies such as the Milky Way form independent of one another.
D)the Earth was formed by a cosmic explosion, a "big bang."
E)the moon is derived from a protoplanet.

Question 45

One of the reasons that free oxygen in our atmosphere is important to the development and maintenance of life on Earth is because oxygen:

A)combines with iron in volcanic rocks.
B)can form ozone and block some UV radiation.
C)is necessary for photosynthesis to occur.
D)reduces atmospheric temperature.
E)was very abundant in Earth's early atmosphere.

Question 46

Radioactive materials can sometimes be used to determine the:

A)origin of rocks.
B)chemical composition of rocks.
C)formation method.
D)metamorphism.
E)ages of rocks.

Question 47

The scientific method includes all of the following except:

A)data collection.
B)evaluation of data.
C)hypothesis formation.
D)hypothesis testing.
E)validation of a theory.

Question 48

Which of the following statements regarding continental and oceanic crust is TRUE?

A)Continental crust and oceanic crust have equivalent densities.
B)Continental crust is thicker and denser than oceanic crust.
C)Continental crust is thinner and denser than oceanic crust.
D)Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.
E)Continental crust is thinner and less dense than oceanic crust.

Question 49

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Adriatic
B) Black
C) Caspian
D) Indian
E) Mediterranean

Question 50

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Eratosthenes
B) Herodotus
C) Ptolemy
D) Pytheas
E) Magellan

Question 51

Plate tectonics and evolution, which are held with a high degree of confidence because of rigorous testing and verification, are examples of:

A)guesses.
B)laws.
C)observations.
D)hypotheses.
E)theories.

Question 52

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Vasco de Gama
B) Ptolemy
C) Christopher Columbus
D) John Cabot
E) Ferdinand Magellan

Question 53

Earth's primordial atmosphere most likely included:

A)ammonia, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.
B)carbon dioxide, water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and methane.
C)hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.
D)nitrogen, ozone, and sulfur dioxide.
E)all of the above.

Question 54

Oceanic crust is primarily:

A)basalt.
B)carbonate sedimentary rocks.
C)clay minerals.
D)granite.
E)siltstone.

Question 55

The European "Age of Discovery" ended with:

A)Christopher Columbus' discovery of the "New World."
B)Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe.
C)Phoenician exploration of the Mediterranean.
D)Polynesian colonization of Pacific Islands.
E)Viking voyages to North America.

Question 56

Earth is about:

A)6,000 years old.
B)4)6 billion years old.
C)4)6 million years old.
D)40 billion years old.
E)400,000 years old.

Question 57

All of the following were accomplishments of Captain James Cook except:

A)exploring the Southern Ocean near Antarctica.
B)mapping of unknown islands, including Hawaii, in the Pacific.
C)determining the outline of the Pacific Ocean.
D)measuring environmental characteristics such as water temperature.
E)all of the above are correct.

Question 58

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Mediterranean
B) Arctic
C) Atlantic
D) Indian
E) Pacific

Question 59

The Sun and the rest of the solar system formed about 5 billion years ago from a huge cloud of dust and gas called a:

A)nebula.
B)solar system.
C)protoplanet.
D)quasar.
E)supernova.

Question 60

The mechanism by which populations evolve and new species develop is called:

A)adaptation.
B)evolution.
C)descent with modification.
D)intelligent design.
E)natural selection.

Question 61

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. granite
B) asthenosphere
C) continental crust
D) basalt
E) oceanic crust

Question 62

Discuss advances in oceanographic navigation occurring over the course of human history.

Question 63

Describe Stanley Miller's landmark experiment. How did the results of this experiment change hypothesis regarding the evolution of life on Earth?

Question 64

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. autotrophs
B) chemosynthesis
C) photosynthesis
D) heterotrophs
E) plants

Question 65

Contrast oceanic and continental crust.

Question 66

Discuss the origin of the Solar System using the nebular hypothesis.

Question 67

Differentiate between a hypothesis and a theory.

Question 68

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. observation
B) hypothesis
C) belief
D) theory
E) testing

Question 69

Describe how the half-live of radioactive elements can be used to determine the age of rock through radiometric dating.

Question 70

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. atmosphere
B) lithosphere
C) asthenosphere
D) mesosphere
E) core

Question 71

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. oxygen
B) water vapor
C) carbon dioxide
D) methane
E) ammonia

Question 72

Discuss the origin of Earth's oceans and how is it related to the origin of our atmosphere.

Question 73

List some of the major achievements of Captain James Cook.

Question 74

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Devonian
B) Jurassic
C) Ordovician
D) Permian
E) Silurian

Question 75

Explain why the presence of free oxygen in our atmosphere marks an important step in the evolution of life on Earth.

Question 76

Distinguish between an ocean and a sea.