Deck 1: The Home Planet

Question 1

What is the Big Bang Theory?

A) A single explosion that will destroy the universe
B) The point at which the universe began to expand
C) An asteroid that smashed the Earth to create the Moon
D) Climate change that occurs during volcanic winter

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What is the most accurate description of our Solar System?

A) Our solar system is situated in the exact center of the Milky Way Galaxy.
B) Each of the planets in our system is composed of rock and water.
C) Our solar system is composed of eight planets orbiting around our Sun.
D) Each of the planets in our system receive the same amount of Sun's energy.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What aspect of the Earth's orbit is responsible for the seasons experienced on Earth each year?

A) Rotation
B) Revolution
C) Tilt
D) Elliptical shape

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What aspect of the Earth's orbit does NOT influence long-term climate changes?

A) rotation
B) Revolution
C) Tilt
D) Elliptical shape

Question 5

Where on the Earth's surface would you see the greatest difference in seasonal change between summer and winter?

A) Polar Greenland
B) Temperate China
C) Subtropical Egypt
D) Equatorial Brazil

Question 6

What is responsible for the formation of the moon?

A) The Big Bang
B) Gravitational compression
C) Asteroid impact
D) Meteor caught in orbit

Question 7

What phenomenon on Earth is a result of the Moon's gravitational effect?

A) Aurora borealis
B) Shooting stars
C) Tsunamis
D) Tides

Question 8

What is the most accurate statement about Seasonal Affective Disorder?

A) The effects are quite pronounced during the Summer.
B) Its incidence does not vary by latitude in either hemisphere.
C) Mood changes occur during transition seasons, like Spring and Fall.
D) The associated winter blues are more common in northern latitudes.

Question 9

What is the driver of plate tectonics?

A) Movement of subterranean mantle currents
B) Fission energy generated from the Earth's inner core
C) Centrifugal spinning of the Earth's lithosphere
D) Mechanical force of the oceans on the crust

Question 10

Where do earthquakes and volcanoes primarily occur?

A) Plate interiors
B) Base of mountains
C) Plate boundaries
D) Middle of oceans

Question 11

What is NOT one of the aftereffects of a volcanic eruption that has significant impacts for all life on Earth?

A) Tsunami
B) Volcanic winter
C) Climate change
D) Extinctions

Question 12

What is the most accurate statement about the evolution of life on Earth?

A) Life on Earth began when the planet was formed in the solar system.
B) As soon as life emerged, it successfully proliferated and evolved diversity.
C) Life on Earth began when the first land animals appeared 418 million years ago.
D) As soon as life emerged, it soon after suffered the first of many mass extinctions.

Question 13

What is NOT one of the causes of mass extinction in Earth's history of life?

A) Early human colonization
B) Volcanic eruption
C) Climate change
D) Magnetic field shift

Question 14

What is the basis for the Out of Africa Theory?

A) Local peoples' high genetic diversity
B) African landmass' central situation
C) Local peoples' low genetic diversity
D) African environment's ideal site

Question 15

What was Wallace's Line?

A) the boundary between the mantle and the asthenosphere
B) the tectonic boundary between the Eurasian and Australian plates
C) the biogeographical boundary line separating biotic realms
D) the route early human groups took across the land bridge

Question 16

What is the most accurate statement illustrating the distance-decay effect?

A) Genetic and language variation decline with increasing distance from Africa.
B) Genetic and language variation increase with increasing distance from Africa.
C) Genetic variation declines but language variation increases away from Africa.
D) There is no change to genetic or language variation with distance from Africa.

Question 17

What is NOT true regarding human diffusion during the Pleistocene era? LO 1.5

A) Massive glacial cover restricted movement northward.
B) The ice age reduced sea level and exposed a land bridge between Asia and America.
C) Early human migrations traveled up rivers, along the coasts, but never across the sea.
D) Early routes only traversed deserts and over mountains after easier paths explored.

Question 18

What climate event in the past 1,000 years would have coincided with a reduction in sea level? LO 1.5

A) Medieval Warm Period
B) Little Ice Age
C) Past 100 years warming
D) Future 100 years warming

Question 19

What is the arctic amplitude? LO 1.5

A) Increased power of the Earth's magnetic field in the Arctic
B) The interaction of solar energy with the Earth's Arctic atmosphere
C) Greater near-surface warming in the Arctic than at other latitudes
D) Concentration of greenhouse gases in the ozone hole over the Arctic

Question 20

What is the best example of human adaptations to climate change? LO 1.5

A) Building a storm barrier to handle increased flooding
B) Removing grass lawns and replacing with low-water plants
C) Changing transportation preferences to reduce emissions
D) Home insurance no longer covering low-lying coastal towns