Chapter 1
Which of
the following statements about the Earth's crust is correct?
(a)
The Earth has three types of crust: continental, oceanic and isostatic.
(b)
Continental crust is thinner and less dense than oceanic crust.
(c)
Continental crust is thinner and denser than oceanic crust.
(d)
Continental crust is thicker and denser than oceanic crust.
(e)
Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.
Which of
the following statements concerning the Mariana Trench is correct?
(a)
It is less than 36,000 feet deep.
(b)
If you put
(c)
It was visited by the '
(d)
It is located in the
(e)
All of the above are correct.
Which of
the following is a CORRECT statement about the deep ocean submersible called '
(a)
It holds the record for the deepest ocean dive.
(b)
It has made more than 4000 dives.
(c)
It was used in the discovery of the 'Titanic'.
(d) a) and b) above.
(e)
b) and c) above.
Which of
the following statements concerning the Earth's early atmosphere is NOT correct?
(a)
The early atmosphere is thought to have formed from gases that came out the
Earth's interior.
(b)
The very first atmospheric gases were probably blown away by the solar wind.
(c)
The evolution of the first photosynthetic organisms created significant changes
in the Earth's atmosphere.
(d)
Oxygen was abundant in the early atmosphere, thus allowing the earliest life
forms to evolve.
(e)
The early atmosphere gave the Earth very little protection from the Sun's
ultraviolet radiation.
Imagine
all of the nearly five billion years of geological time represented by a
single, 500-sheet roll of toilet paper. Each sheet on the roll thus represents
10 million years. In this analogy, the amount of time that humans have existed
on Earth is represented by
(a)
less than one sheet.
(b)
about one sheet.
(c)
about two sheets.
(d)
about five sheets.
(e)
about six sheets.
The
evidence suggests that the Solar System (the Sun and its orbiting planets,
including the Earth) formed
(a)
from a nebula.
(b)
at the moment of the "big bang".
(c)
from the capture of the planets one-by-one by the
Sun's immense gravity.
(d)
a huge spinning planet that broke apart to form the
present planets.
(e)
by the process of density stratification.
The Age of Discovery is the time period in ocean exploration
history when
(a)
Leif Eriksson reached
(b)
the Phoenicians explored the Mediterranean, the Red
Sea, and the
(c)
people from western Europe like Columbus and Magellan
began making extended ocean voyages.
(d)
Robert Ballard discovered the 'Titanic'.
(e)
Earth-orbiting satellites were first launched into outer space.
The theory
that life evolved from chemical reactions early in the earth's history is
supported by
(a)
the discovery that life on Mars formed by chemical
reactions like those that might have occurred on the early Earth.
(b)
experiments in which primitive bacteria grew under
conditions that might have been like the conditions present in the early
atmosphere and oceans.
(c)
experiments in which organic molecules were created
under conditions that might have been like the conditions present in the early
atmosphere and oceans.
(d)
the Einstein - Rawlins experiment, in which electrical sparks were used to
produce complex proteins under conditions that might have been like the
conditions present in the early atmosphere and oceans.
(e)
All of the above support the theory.
Which of
the following illustrates the concept of isostatic
adjustment?
(a)
The oceanic crust floats lower in the mantle than does
continental crust.
(b)
Mountains form where the continental crust is particularly thick.
(c)
The weight of ice sheets causes the continental crust to sag down; when the ice
melts, the crust rises up--a process called isostatic
rebound.
(d) a), b) and c) above.
(e)
None of the above.
Density
stratification
(a)
is the process by which the Earth's interior became
separated into concentric spheres, or layers, based on density.
(b)
occurred recently in the Earth's history.
(c)
produced the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere.
(d) a), b), and c) above.
(e)
None of the above.
From
where did the Earth's ocean water probably come?
(a)
From water vapor released to the atmosphere during volcanic outgassing.
(b)
As a by-product of biosynthesis.
(c)
From the fusion (combining) of oxygen (O) and and
hydrogen (H) atoms in the early atmosphere to form H2O.
(d)
From water released through mineral formation as the Earth's crust solidified.
(e)
None of the above.
Which of
the following correctly describes the Earth's oxygen levels and the effects of
those levels on life?
(a)
The Earth's atmosphere today contains about 21% oxygen.
(b)
Oxygen levels in the past have been both higher and lower than they are today.
(c)
Sudden drops in atmospheric oxygen levels in the past often correspond to mass
extinctions of organisms.
(d) a), b) and c) above are all correct.
(e)
None of the above are correct.
Which of
the following best summarizes what James Cook contributed to human knowledge?
(a)
He showed that the Pacific islands could have been colonized by people from
South America, not from
(b)
He was the first to calculate the circumference of the Earth using the angle of
the Sun.
(c)
He conducted an experiment which showed how electrical discharges in the
Earth's early atmosphere might have produced organic molecules.
(d)
He invented the chronometer, the first accurate clock that allowed explorers to
calculate longitude.
(e)
He initiated much scientific discovery of the oceans, including measurements of
water temperature, wind, currents, and water depth.
The ages
of the geologic eras and the establishment of the geologic time scale are based
on what?
(a)
Changes in the salinity of seawater over geologic time.
(b)
How much the earth has cooled down since its formation.
(c)
Radiometric age dating: the changes in radioactive atoms within rocks over
time.
(d)
The thickness of sediment layers building up over time in the ocean basins.
(e)
Counting generations of people back through time.
(a)
thinking really hard while sitting around in his
(b)
traveling with William Beebe and Otis Barton.
(c)
zapping mixtures of various gases using electricity.
(d)
while sailing the world with Ferdinand Magellan.
(e)
observing the variation among life forms from place to
place as he traveled the world by ship.
Chapter 2
The
outermost rigid, solid layer of the earth, which is broken up into moving
tectonic plates, is called the
(a)
oceanic crust
(b)
lithosphere.
(c)
asthenosphere.
(d)
mantle.
(e)
continental crust.
A
volcanic arc forms near where there is
(a)
subduction
(b)
isostatic rebound
(c)
transform faulting
(d)
sea floor spreading
(e)
a hotspot
The
Wilson Cycle (named after John Tuzo Wilson) describes
(a)
how the earth became differentiated into its present
core, mantle, and two types of crust.
(b)
how sediments and rocks are continuously recycled by
plate movements.
(c)
how the movements of tectonic plates causes ocean
basins to form, grow in size, and eventually become destroyed.
(d)
how hot mantle rock gradually cycles around by
convection.
(e)
None of the above.
Which of
the following things occur as you move in either direction away from the center
(axis) of a mid-ocean ridge?
(a)
the ocean floor gets older.
(b)
less heat flows out of the ocean floor.
(c)
the ocean floor gets deeper.
(d) (a), (b) and (c) above are all correct.
(e)
None of the above are correct.
Which of
the following is correct regarding the age of the ocean floor? (Hint: check
Figure 2.12.)
(a)
In general, the rock of the ocean floor is younger the rock of the continents.
(b)
In general, the youngest ocean floor lies on the edges of ocean basins, and the
oldest lies in the middle of the ocean basins.
(c)
The rock of the ocean floor is older than the Earth’s ocean water itself.
(d) (a), (b) and (c) above are all correct.
(e)
None of the above are correct.
Alfred
Wegener is discussed in Chapter 2 because
(a)
He was the first person to propose the concept of sea floor spreading.
(b)
He gathered evidence that the continents on both sides of the
(c)
He discovered tablemounts (guyots)
and explained how they form.
(d)
He discovered ocean trenches and explained how they form.
(e)
He was a great baseball player; a renowned clutch hitter and excellent fielder
who deserves to be mentioned in a book.
What
contribution did Harry Hess make to our understanding of the earth?
(a)
He discovered the asthenosphere.
(b)
He proposed that the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon drives the
movements of the tectonic plates.
(c)
He discovered that the earth's magnetic field reverses periodically over time.
(d)
He discovered that the oldest ocean floor lies in the
(e)
He proposed that mid-ocean ridges are places where the sea floor spreads apart.
Tablemounts, or guyots
(pronounced "ghee - ohs")
(a)
are oceanic volcanoes whose tops have been eroded flat
by waves.
(b)
are carried away from mid-ocean ridges as the sea
floor spreads, so that they gradually sink below sea level.
(c)
are most commonly found near ocean trenches, where
subduction creates a great deal of volcanic activity.
(d) (a) and (b) above.
(e)
(b) and (c) above.
If
someone stuck gun to your head, handed you a blank map of the earth, and told you
to draw in the boundaries of the tectonic plates, or else!....what is the one
thing from the list below that would most likely save your life?
(a)
A world map showing mountains.
(b)
A world map showing hot spots.
(c)
A world map showing earthquakes.
(d)
A world map showing transform faults and fracture
zones.
(e)
Some bubble gum, because maybe the guy with the gun really likes bubble gum.
Magnetic
"stripes" (parallel bands of similar magnetism) on the sea floor near
mid-ocean ridges provide excellent evidence of what?
(a)
Isostatic adjustment of the oceanic crust.
(b)
Changes in the earth's axis of rotation.
(c)
Seafloor spreading taking place over millions of years.
(d)
Subduction.
(e)
The Wilson Cycle.
The
Earth's mid-ocean ridges are _____________, while the Earth's ocean trenches
are _____________.
(Choose the answer with the correct pair of phrases to fill in the two blanks.)
(a)
convergent plate boundaries ... divergent plate
boundaries
(b)
areas of subduction ... areas of sea floor spreading
(c)
areas of sea floor spreading ... areas of subduction
(d)
transform plate boundaries ... hot spot plate
boundaries
(e)
mantle plume boundaries... divergent plate boundaries
The
(a)
is an example of a volcanic arc.
(b)
formed due to the slow movement of the Pacific Plate
toward the northwest.
(c)
exists because there is thought to be a hot spot
(mantle plume) underneath the Pacific Plate.
(d) (a) and (b) above.
(e)
(b) and (c) above.
Alfred
Wegener used all of the following lines of evidence in support of drifting
continents, EXCEPT which?
(a)
Geomagnetic reversals and polar wandering curves for Europe and
(b)
Evidence of glaciers in areas that are now far from the poles.
(c)
The matching fit of the coastlines of continents on either side of the
(d)
Matching of rock types and mountain chains on continents on either side of the
(e)
Similar fossils on continents now separated by large areas of ocean.
Which of
the following is true (correct) about subduction zones?
(a)
They are areas of frequent earthquakes.
(b)
They occur at ocean trenches.
(c)
Lines of volcanoes called volcanic arcs form near them.
(d) (a), (b) and (c) above are all correct.
(e)
None of the above are correct.
The
largest mountains on the continents will most likely be found
(a)
where two plates slide side-by-side past each other.
(b)
where two plates converge (move toward each other).
(c)
where two plates diverge (move away from each other).
(d)
in the centers of continents, away from any plate
boundaries.
(e)
over hot spots.
Chapter 3
A turbidity current is
(a)
a fast current that flows along shore parallel to
beaches (hazardous to swimmers).
(b)
a current caused by violent atmospheric storms (like
hurricanes).
(c)
a dense mixture of water and sediment that flows down
slope like an underwater avalanche.
(d)
a powerful flow of dense fresh water out of river
mouths during floods.
(e)
None of the above.
Which of
the following relates most closely to the formation of both submarine canyons
and graded bedding?
(a)
turbidity currents
(b)
abyssal hills
(c)
mid-ocean ridges
(d)
active continental margins
(e)
passive continental margins
Which of
the following best describes where ocean trenches occur in the
(a)
Most Pacific Ocean trenches lie in the center of the
(b)
(c)
(d)
Most Pacific Ocean trenches lie along the edges of the
(e)
Most Pacific Ocean trenches on the east side of the
Imagine
that you are crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a ship from North America to
(a) continental shelf, continental slope, ocean trench,
abyssal plain
(b)
continental shelf, continental slope, continental
rise, ocean trench
(c)
continental shelf, mid-ocean ridge, abyssal plain, tablemount
(d)
continental shelf, mid-ocean ridge, continental rise,
mid-ocean ridge
(e)
continental shelf, continental slope, continental
rise, abyssal plain, mid-ocean ridge
Thick
accumulations of sediment forming graded bedding at the base of the continental
slope form the
(a)
continental rise.
(b)
abyssal hills.
(c)
abyssal plains.
(d)
oceanic ridges.
(e)
ocean trenches.
The
Atlantic coast of the
(a)
has a narrow continental shelf ... has a wide continental
shelf
(b)
has few submarine canyons ... has many submarine
canyons
(c) has excellent surf ... has lousy surf
(d)
is a passive continental margin ... is an active
continental margin
(e)
is a convergent plate boundary ... is a divergent
plate boundary
Methods
used measure bathymetry (the depth of the oceans) have included
(a)
weighted ropes dropped to the bottom to measure the
depth.
(b)
sound waves bounced off of the sea floor by moving
ships.
(c)
measuring the ocean surface using satellites.
(d) (a), (b), and (c) above.
(e)
None of the above.
How do
satellites measure bathymetry—the depth to the ocean floor?
(a)
They detect changes in water currents caused by seamounts, ridges and trenches.
(b)
They detect changes in the density of ocean water over seamounts, ridges and
trenches.
(c)
They detect how the ocean surface rises up in a mound over seamounts and
ridges, and forms low spots over trenches.
(d)
They detect how the ocean surface forms low spots over seamounts and ridges,
and rises up in a mound over trenches.
(e)
None of the above.
All of
the following features are associated with the mid-ocean ridges EXCEPT which
one?
(a)
a central rift valley
(b)
hydrothermal vents
(c)
black smokers and metal sulfide deposits
(d)
pillow lava
(e)
turbidity currents
Which of
the following is most closely related to the submarine USS
(a)
It was hit by a turbidity current triggered by the
(b)
It rammed into an uncharted seamount.
(c)
It has explored the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in detail.
(d)
It has explored the
(e)
It carries the most sophisticated precision depth recorder ever for charting
the ocean floor.
Which of
the following best describes a volcanic arc?
(a)
A line of volcanic islands that form from continuous, relatively quite
eruptions of basalt lava at mid-ocean ridges.
(b)
A line of islands that gradually sinks on a moving plate, so that it forms
first fringing reefs, then barrier reefs, then atolls.
(c)
A line of active volcanoes running parallel to an ocean trench.
(d)
A line of active volcanoes running parallel to a fracture zone.
(e)
A line of active volcanoes formed over a hotspot.
Hydrothermal
vents
(a)
occur near mid-ocean ridges, and result from cold sea
water coming in contact with hot rock.
(b)
occur near mid-ocean ridges, and result from hot sea
water coming in contact with cold rock.
(c)
occur near ocean trenches, and result from cold sea
water coming in contact with hot rock.
(d)
occur near ocean trenches, and result from hot sea
water coming in contact with cold rock.
(e)
None of the above.
The
average depth of the world's oceans is close to _______________, and the average
elevation of the world's land is close to _________________. (Choose the answer
with the best pair of numbers to fill in the blanks.)
(a) 3700 meters ... 840 meters
(b) 6600 meters ... 590 meters
(c) 2200 meters ... 990 meters
(d) 300 meters ... 670 meters
(e)
being figured out as I read this ... causing a social revolution
Seismic
reflection profiles
(a)
let us measure water depth.
(b)
allow us to detect sea floor features over a wide area
along the path of a survey ship.
(c)
are the main thing produced by systems like Sea MARC
and GLORIA.
(d)
are made by satellites.
(e)
let oceanographers detect rock layers and structures
beneath the sea floor.
The 1929
Grand Banks earthquake in the
(a)
volcanic island arcs can sometimes form independent of
subduction.
(b)
turbidity currents can travel long distances across
the sea floor with great force.
(c)
suspension setting is not nearly as important in
spreading sediment out on the continental shelf as are storms or floods from
rivers.
(d)
hydrothermal events can occur in cold water as well as
in warm water.
(e)
None of the above.