Deck 1: Essentials of Geography

Question 1

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

A)the production of paper and digital maps using remote sensing,GPS,and GIS
B)memorization of place names and region on a world map
C)understanding the imports and exports of major countries in the world
D)study of the nature and character of physical space and the distribution of things within it
E)socioeconomic analysis of regions to determine similarities and differences across the planet

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Relative to the five themes of geographic science,latitude and longitude refer to

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

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Scale in the context of examining physical geographic patterns and processes is best described as the

A)distance or area on a map relative to actual distance or area in the "real world."
B)direct measurements of spatial distributions natural phenomena.
C)relative spatial and/or temporal size or extent of some attribute.
D)simple,organized steps leading to concrete,objective decisions.
E)communication of the findings of scientific research in peer reviewed forums.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which is not true of geographers?

A)Geographers may utilize Earth systems science.
B)Geographers are primarily concerned with place names.
C)Geographers are concerned with spatial and temporal relationships.
D)Geographers utilize various technologies,such as GIS,remote sensing,and GPS.
E)Geographers often analyze the overlap between human-Earth connections.

Question 5

The main methodology governing geographic inquiry

A)is behavioral analysis.
B)involves spatial analysis.
C)uses chronological organization.
D)is field work based.
E)utilizes ecological concepts.

Question 6

The term "geography" (geo graphein)literally means

A)place names.
B)the study of rocks.
C)map making.
D)to write (about)Earth.
E)spatial reasoning and cognition.

Question 7

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

A)physical versus human
B)physical versus economic
C)economic versus political
D)political versus environmental
E)environmental versus social

Question 8

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

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

Question 9

Relative to the five themes of geographic science,characteristics of a location refers to

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

Question 10

Relative to the five themes of geographic science,resource management and sustainable growth refer to

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

Question 11

Relative to the five themes of geographic science,areas that display uniform human or physical characteristics refer to

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

Question 12

A physical geographer would likely not study

A)the impact of a hurricane's landfall to coastal areas.
B)vulnerability of human populations to landslides.
C)effects of drought and changing climate on regional water supplies.
D)the diffusion of various religions from the so-called Middle East.
E)human influences on native ecosystems.

Question 13

A hypothesis is best describe as

A)a tentative explanation for an observed phenomenon.
B)an explanation of the natural world based on extensive testing.
C)the experimental phase of the scientific process.
D)observations of particular phenomena.
E)the peer review stage of the scientific process.

Question 14

The majority of the world's human population lives primarily

A)in less-developed countries (LDCs).
B)in more-developed countries (MDCs).
C)in rural areas.
D)in the United States.
E)in Europe.

Question 15

Which of the following is not true of scientific theories?

A)They are based on repeated testing of a hypothesis without being rejected.
B)They are broad in scope because they unify several known facts about the world.
C)They have undergone rigorous peer review by other members in the scientific community.
D)They are absolute truths and can never be proven wrong.
E)They stimulate continued observation,testing,understanding,and pursuit of knowledge with scientific fields.

Question 16

Relative to the five themes of geography,communication and diffusion refer to

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

Question 17

is the practice of using public participation for scientific data collection and monitoring.

A)Citizen science
B)Public engagement
C)Amateur analysis
D)Participatory observations
E)Micronetting

Question 18

The key idea behind the scientific method is

A)the use of intuition in testing hypotheses.
B)an appeal to supernatural explanations when natural explanations have not yet been found for a phenomenon.
C)the testing of ideas through controlled observations and experiments.
D)unbridled speculation about the world.
E)an acceptance of other scientists explanations based on their expert knowledge.

Question 19

The word "spatial" refers to

A)the nature and character of physical space and the distribution of things within it.
B)the organization of human societies in relationship to the physical environment.
C)the point at which a system can no longer maintain its character and lurches into a new operational level.
D)the chronological organization of Earth's major geological events.
E)system operations,such as feedback loops,that influence its own operations.

Question 20

The scientific method is described by which of the following?

A)A single,definitive method for doing science.
B)The acceptance of supernatural explanations for phenomena until science proves otherwise.
C)Organized processes and procedures for analyzing phenomena and acquiring new knowledge.
D)Irreproducible results accepted as theory.
E)Conjecture of how phenomena operate based on cursory observations.

Question 21

With respect to air,water,and material resources,which of the following is true?

A)A forest is a closed system.
B)A forest is an open system.
C)A forest is an open system in terms of air,but closed in terms of material resources.
D)A forest is an open system in terms of water,but closed in terms of energy resources.
E)A forest cannot be considered either on open or closed system.

Question 22

A large flood in a river may cause abrupt shifts leading to the carving of a new channel.The point at which this change occurs is a(n)

A)type of dynamic equilibrium condition.
B)type of metastable equilibrium.
C)threshold.
D)input.
E)ouput.

Question 23

Which of the following is incorrect?

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.
E)Systems in nature are generally not self-contained.

Question 24

Predator/prey relationships are an example of

A)positive feedback,because more predation leads to higher prey populations as they increase reproduction to insure survival.
B)positive feedback,as more prey discourages further predation allowing prey populations to flourish.
C)negative feedback,because prey populations tend to achieve a balance with the number of predators.
D)negative feedback,because more predators equal fewer prey and people tend to like prey more than predators.
E)positive feedback,because top predators are rare and have been hunted to near extinction allowing prey populations to proliferate.

Question 25

Human population growth rates are expected to

A)continue to increase into the foreseeable future in both LDCs and MDCs.
B)increase in MDCs,but decrease in LDCs.
C)decrease with virtually all new population growth in LDCs.
D)increase rapidly until about 2040,then stabilize with moderate growth in MDCs.
E)universally decrease in both LDCs and MDCs due to famine and war.

Question 26

As arctic temperatures rise,summer sea ice and glacial melt accelerates;lighter color surfaces are thereby replaced with darker-colored surfaces leading to more absorption and surface heating.This is an example of a(n)feedback.

A)negative
B)positive
C)reverse
D)dynamic
E)closed

Question 27

The name given to the most recent geological epoch to reflect the human influence on climate and ecosystems is the

A)Holocene.
B)Anthropocene.
C)Pleistocene.
D)Pliocene.
E)Miocene.

Question 28

If Earth warmed up,and more snow fell because of more water vapor in the atmosphere,and that snow then reduced Earth's temperature,which increased snow cover,then the initial increase in snow fall would be feedback,while the continued increase in snow fall would be feedback.

A)positive;positive
B)positive;negative
C)negative;positive
D)negative;negative
E)open;closed

Question 29

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 a 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
E)closed;open

Question 30

The carbon dioxide absorbed by plants is an example of a(n)to a forest and an from the atmosphere.

A)input;input
B)input;output
C)output;output
D)output;input
E)feedback;equilibrium

Question 31

Systems encountered in nature at Earth's surface,such as a forest,are

A)open systems in terms of energy.
B)closed systems in terms of energy.
C)open systems in terms of matter.
D)both open systems in terms of energy and open systems in terms of matter.
E)both closed systems in terms of energy and open systems in terms of matter.

Question 32

The capacity to change the motion of,or to do work on,matter is the definition of

A)energy.
B)plasma.
C)thermodynamics.
D)acceleration.
E)system.

Question 33

Sustainable development seeks to

A)meet a growing populations needs now without consideration of the future.
B)severely limit human development to protect the environment.
C)restrict economic activity in MDCs to foster more economic activity in LDCs.
D)enforce mandates to strongly curtail economic activities that are environmentally detrimental.
E)advance the condition of human society while maintaining functioning Earth systems.

Question 34

A system is best described as

A)the capacity to change the motion of,or to do work on,matter.
B)mass that assumes a physical shape and occupies space.
C)the point at which characteristics can no longer be maintained and a new state is adopted.
D)any set of ordered,interrelated components working as a unified whole.
E)a form of energy that is transferred between two substances at different temperatures.

Question 35

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
D)open
E)closed

Question 36

Which of the following is correctly matched?

A)threshold - balance of inputs and outputs
B)steady state equilibrium - small fluctuations about an average condition
C)dynamic equilibrium - large fluctuations that changes abruptly over time
D)tipping point - same as steady state equilibrium
E)negative feedback - encourages change in a system

Question 37

Which of the following is an example of a closed system?

A)a forest
B)a river drainage basin
C)an automobile
D)the Earth (in terms of matter)
E)the Earth (in terms of energy)

Question 38

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.
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.
E)Systems lurch to new operational levels when they can no longer maintain their character.

Question 39

As we burn fossil fuels and release carbon dioxide,the temperature of our planet and the oceans will increase.When the oceans warm they will release more carbon dioxide,further warming the planet and oceans.This is an example of a feedback loop and may result in the crossing of a(n).

A)positive;equilibrium
B)positive;disequilibrium
C)negative;equilibrium
D)positive;threshold
E)negative;threshold

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)open
E)closed

Question 41

Living systems are considered

A)biotic.
B)inorganic.
C)lithospheric.
D)abiotic.
E)anaerobic.

Question 42

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 43

Who made a significant,early contribution to cartography by dividing the circumference of Earth into 360° with each degree comprising 60 minutes,and each minute comprising 60 seconds?

A)Pythagoras-in the sixth century B.C.
B)Sir Isaac Newton-in the seventeenth century A.D.
C)Magellan-in the sixteenth century A.D.
D)Ptolemy-in the second century A.D.
E)Mercator-in the sixteenth century A.D.

Question 44

The oblateness of Earth occurs at the

A)poles.
B)equator.
C)subtropics.
D)prime meridian.
E)International Date Line.

Question 45

A parallel of latitude

A)is used to measure distances east and west of the equator.
B)measures longitude.
C)is called a meridian.
D)is used to measure distances north or south of the equator.
E)is a line which passes through both poles.

Question 46

If you were standing at 20° North you would be within which latitudinal geographic zone?

A)Tropical
B)Midlatitude
C)Equatorial
D)Subarctic
E)Subtropical

Question 47

If you were standing at 60° North you would be within which latitudinal geographic zone?

A)Subantarctic
B)Midlatitude
C)Arctic
D)Subarctic
E)Subtropical

Question 48

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.
E)azimuth.

Question 49

Which of the following is true of the biosphere?

A)It includes Earth's crust and a portion of the upper mantle.
B)It exists on other planets in the solar system.
C)It is not connected to the overlapping inorganic spheres.
D)It extends from the floor of the oceans to 8 km (5 mi. )into the atmosphere.
E)It encompasses all of Earth's water,including that in the atmosphere and subsurface.

Question 50

Isaac Newton reasoned that Earth was not perfectly spherical because of

A)centrifugal force created by Earth's more rapid rotation at the equator.
B)centrifugal force created by Earth's more rapid rotation at the poles.
C)gravitational force created by Earth's more rapid rotation at the equator.
D)gravitational force created by Earth's more rapid rotation at the poles.
E)both gravitational force and centrifugal force created by Earth's more rapid rotation at the poles.

Question 51

If you were standing at 33° South you would be within which latitudinal geographic zone?

A)Subantarctic
B)Midlatitude
C)Antarctic
D)Subarctic
E)Subtropical

Question 52

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.
E)azimuth.

Question 53

The actual distance on the ground spanned by a degree of longitude is greatest at the

A)equator.
B)prime meridian.
C)International Date Line.
D)poles.
E)subtropics.

Question 54

Which of the following statements about Earth's shape is correct?

A)Earth is perfectly spherical.
B)The polar diameter is 42 km (26 mi. )greater than the equatorial diameter.
C)The equatorial diameter is 42 km (26 mi. )greater than the polar diameter.
D)Earth is a prolate spheroid.
E)The polar diameter is 10 km (6 mi. )greater than the equatorial diameter.

Question 55

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

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

Question 56

The three inorganic Earth "spheres" around which Geosystems is designed are the

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

Question 57

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 58

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 B.C.
D)was made by Isaac Newton.
E)was ascertained after the launch of Sputnik.

Question 59

The diameter of Earth is largest when measured around the

A)poles.
B)equator.
C)subtropics.
D)prime meridian.
E)International Date Line.

Question 60

Which of the following is true of models?

A)They complicate our understanding of Earth system science.
B)They perfectly replicate the real world,but at a different scale.
C)They are simplified,idealized representations of the real world.
D)They are never used in physical geography because of their inherent limitations.
E)Since the advent of geospatial technologies like GIS and GPS,models are no longer used in physical geography.

Question 61

The letters A.M.stand for

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

Question 62

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

A)secondary meridian.
B)the anti-meridian.
C)the equator.
D)the International Date Line.
E)subsolar point.

Question 63

Which of the following is true regarding the prime meridian?

A)The prime meridian passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich,England.
B)While latitude can be represented as both degrees,minutes and seconds and decimal degrees,longitude is always represented using decimal degrees.
C)International agreement regarding the location of the prime meridian was not resolved until the 1980s when a treaty was completed.
D)The key to measuring angular distances east and west of the prime meridian was the development of accurate compasses.
E)The prime meridian is a small circle.

Question 64

A great circle is

A)any parallel of latitude.
B)the longest 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.
E)the same as a rhumb line.

Question 65

Which of the following is not true of meridians?

A)They cross parallels at right angles.
B)They are lines that run in an east-west direction.
C)All meridians are the same length.
D)They are used to measure east-west angular distances.
E)Every meridian is one half a great circle.

Question 66

The difference in Sun time between two places located 30° in longitude apart from one another is

A)30 seconds.
B)30 minutes.
C)one hour.
D)two hours.
E)three hours.

Question 67

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

A)July 3rd;11 P.M.
B)July 3rd;9 P.M.
C)July 3rd;6 P.M.
D)July 4th;1 A.M.
E)July 4th;2 A.M.

Question 68

If it is 10:00 A.M.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 A.M.
B)8 A.M.
C)1 P.M.
D)2 P.M.
E)12 P.M.

Question 69

If a clock on a ship indicates that it is 2:00 P.M.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° east of its home port.
B)The ship is 2° west of its home port.
C)The ship is 30° east of its home port.
D)The ship is 30° west of its home port.
E)The ship is 45° west of its home port.

Question 70

Travelers flying west from Los Angeles (118° W)to Tokyo (139°)will cross the and,as a result,they will when crossing this meridian.

A)International Dateline;gain a day (Example: Sunday becomes Saturday. )
B)International Dateline;lose a day (Example: Saturday becomes Sunday. )
C)prime meridian;gain a day (Example: Sunday becomes Saturday. )
D)prime meridian;lose a day (Example: Saturday becomes Sunday. )
E)Equator;lose a day (Example: Saturday becomes Sunday. )

Question 71

The letters P.M.stand for

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

Question 72

UTC is based on

A)very precise pendulum motion in Greenwich,U.K.
B)Big Ben.
C)average time calculations from atomic clocks collected worldwide.
D)the pulse rate of pulsar stars.
E)average local times calculated at 300 different locations around the globe.

Question 73

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.
E)a rhumb line.

Question 74

Standard time zones

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

Question 75

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

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

Question 76

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)

A)is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
B)established 24 standard meridians around the globe at equal intervals from the prime meridian.
C)replaced Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)and became the legal reference for official time in all countries.
D)is two hours ahead of Zulu time,indicating the single moment when all locations on the planet are on the same calendar day.
E)is determined using astronomical clocks that rely on Earth's rotation.

Question 77

If City A is located 35° west of City B,the time at City A is _ that at City B.

A)earlier than
B)later than
C)the same as
D)earlier during daylights saving only
E)earlier in the summer months,later in the winter months.

Question 78

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.
E)Zulu Time.

Question 79

The basis for our global time system is

A)Earth rotates east to west as viewed from Polaris.
B)Earth moves through 365.25 days a year in its orbit about the Sun.
C)Earth rotates 15° of longitude per hour.
D)the oblateness of Earth.
E)rotational speed at each parallel.

Question 80

UTC refers to

A)the International Date Line.
B)Universal Time Conference.
C)Coordinated Universal Time.
D)Universal Time Circles.
E)Greenwich Mean Time.