Question 1

A characteristic feature of the stratosphere is the presence of

Accepted Answer

A)  clouds.
B)  dust.
C)  ozone.
D)  ions. C

Question 2

The higher the temperature of a volume of air, the

Accepted Answer

A)  more water vapor it can hold.
B)  less water vapor it can hold.
C)  greater its possible relative humidity.
D)  lower its possible relative humidity. A

Question 3

On a summer night, coastal land cools below the temperature of the nearby sea.The result is a "land breeze" that blows

Accepted Answer

A)  onshore.
B)  offshore.
C)  parallel to the shore.
D)  Any of these choices could be correct, depending on the region. B

Question 4

Ice ages

Accepted Answer

A)  have occurred only a few times in the past.
B)  have occurred often in the past.
C)  are unlikely to occur again.
D)  cover the entire earth with sheets of ice.

Question 5

Of the following gases, the least abundant in the atmosphere is

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen.
B)  nitrogen.
C)  carbon dioxide.
D)  argon.

Question 6

If nothing else changed, an increase in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere would cause its

Accepted Answer

A)  temperature to increase.
B)  temperature to decrease.
C)  pressure to increase.
D)  pressure to decrease.

Question 7

CFC and HCFC gases, which are widely used in refrigeration and in foam plastics, catalyze the breakdown in the upper atmosphere of

Accepted Answer

A)  water vapor.
B)  carbon dioxide.
C)  oxygen.
D)  ozone.

Question 8

The Gulf Stream is an ocean current that warms the

Accepted Answer

A)  Gulf coast of the United States.
B)  west coast of the United States.
C)  west coast of Europe.
D)  west coast of Africa.

Question 9

The cloud streaks left by aircraft at high altitudes consist of

Accepted Answer

A)  water droplets.
B)  ice crystals.
C)  carbon dioxide crystals.
D)  unburned fuel.

Question 10

Water covers

Accepted Answer

A)  less than half the earth's surface.
B)  roughly half the earth's surface.
C)  more than half the earth's surface.
D)  Any of these choices could be correct, depending on the season.

Question 11

Of the following gases, the most abundant in the atmosphere is

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen.
B)  nitrogen.
C)  carbon dioxide.
D)  argon.

Question 12

A wind in the Northern Hemisphere begins to blow toward the north.Because of the Coriolis effect the wind is deflected

Accepted Answer

A)  toward the south.
B)  toward the east.
C)  toward the west.
D)  upward.

Question 13

A very narrow cyclonic storm is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  hurricane.
B)  typhoon.
C)  tornado.
D)  tsunami.

Question 14

A temperature inversion that acts to trap smog in localities such as Los Angeles consists of

Accepted Answer

A)  cold air above a layer of warm air.
B)  warm air above a layer of cold air.
C)  dry air above a layer of moist air.
D)  moist air above a layer of dry air.

Question 15

At an equinox, the noon sun is

Accepted Answer

A)  overhead at the north pole.
B)  overhead at the equator.
C)  at its highest point in the sky in the northern hemisphere.
D)  at its highest point in the sky in the southern hemisphere.

Question 16

The atmosphere constituent chiefly responsible for absorbing solar ultraviolet radiation is

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide.
B)  water vapor.
C)  ozone.
D)  helium.

Question 17

An isobar is

Accepted Answer

A)  a line of constant pressure on a weather map.
B)  a line of constant temperature on a weather map.
C)  a unit of atmospheric pressure.
D)  the path followed by a wind.

Question 18

Rain is not usually associated with

Accepted Answer

A)  a warm front.
B)  a cold front.
C)  a cyclone.
D)  an anticyclone.

Question 19

A wind in the Southern Hemisphere begins to blow toward the north.Because of the Coriolis effect the wind is deflected

Accepted Answer

A)  toward the south.
B)  toward the east.
C)  toward the west.
D)  downward.

Question 20

Atmospheric pressure is half its sea-level value at an altitude of about

Accepted Answer

A)  1 km (3300 ft) .
B)  5 km (16,400 ft) .
C)  20 km (12.4 mi) .
D)  100 km (62 mi) .

Exam 14: Atmosphere and Hydrosphere