Physical geography; The Planet Earth - Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

1 - The Earth is not quite spherical, because:

a. the polar radius is a little larger than the equatorial radius

b. the equatorial radius is a little larger than the polar radius

c. there are mountains in the northern hemisphere that make the surface uneven

d. there are depressions on the surface making it look more like a golfball

2 - The ocean makes up about _____ percent of the Earth's surface. a. 30

b. 45

c. 60

d. 71

e. 91

3 - The cryosphere includes _____. 

a. all forms of water on the Earth's surface

b. the highest layers of the atmosphere

c. all forms of frozen water

d. the deepest regions of the ocean

e. all of these

4 - The biosphere includes all of the following except: 

a. plants

b. animals

c. atmosphere

d. people

e. ecosystems

5 - What feature covers the largest portion of the Earth's surface? 

a. Antarctica

b. Asia

c. Africa

d. North America

e. Pacific Ocean

6 - The large, flat portion of the ocean basin at great depth is called the: 

a. ocean floor

b. ocean basement

c. abyssal plain

d. lower plains

e. Davey Jones' locker

7 - The very gently sloping, relatively shallow, submerged plain at the edge of the continent is the: 

a. continental slope

b. continental shelf

c. continental rise

d. shallow sea

8 - The deepest part of the ocean floor occurs along the: 

a. abyssal plain

b. trenches

c. middle of the Pacific

d. middle of the Indian Ocean

9 - Mid-oceanic ridges are: 

a. active volcanic features

b. found in most oceans basins

c. high, uplifted features

d. geologically active

e. all of the above

10 - Which is the largest landmass on Earth? 

a. Africa

b. Eurasia

c. North America

d. South America

e. Antarctica

11 - The hydrosphere includes the: 

a. ocean

b. atmospheric water

c. surface water

d. ground water

e. all of these

12 - Because of the shape of the Earth, you would weigh: 

a. more at the equator than at the poles because you are closer to the center of the Earth

b. more at the poles than at the equator because you are closer to the center of the Earth

c. more on a mountain top than at sea level because gravity increases with elevation

d. exactly the same at the equator as at the poles since the Earth is perfectly round

13 - This portion of the ocean consists of large and long, submarine volcanic mountain features. a. abyssal plain

b. seamounts

c. midoceanic ridges

d. Atlantis

ANSWERS:

1 - b. the equatorial radius is a little larger than the polar radius.

2 - d. 71.

3 - c. all forms of frozen water.

4 - c. atmosphere.

5 - e. Pacific Ocean.

6 - c. abyssal plain.

7 - b. continental shelf.

8 - b. trenches.

9 - e. all of the above.

10 - b. Eurasia.

11 - e. all of these.

12 - a. more at the equator than at the poles because you are closer to the center of the Earth.

13 - c. midoceanic ridges.