Question 1

Why is the energy of the sun less intense at the poles as compared to the equator?

Accepted Answer

A)  The tilt of the Earth moves the poles farther away from the most intense sunlight.
B)  Because the Earth is spherical and the sun shines toward the equator,the sunlight is more spread out at the poles and therefore less intense.
C)  The movement of wind across the face of the Earth pulls cooler air from over the oceans and blows it toward the poles.This cools the poles while leaving the region around the equator hot.
D)  The movement of cool waters in ocean currents flows away from the equator and cools the air farther from the equator,causing the polar regions to be cooler than the equatorial region.
E)  The Earth shifts in its orbit periodically and at times it moves farther from the sun.This movement coincides with times that the Earth is tilted toward the sun so the poles never receive as much sunlight as the equator.F) D) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 2

Which of the following biomes has the overall harshest conditions for organism survival?

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical rain forest
B)  eastern deciduous forest
C)  arctic tundra
D)  grasslands
E)  savannaF) C) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 3

The Earth is actually slightly farther from the sun during the period when the Northern Hemisphere is having summer.How can this be explained?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sun grows more powerful on a half-year cycle.
B)  There is a six-month lag phase between sunlight being absorbed and lost.
C)  The tilt of the Earth presents the Northern Hemisphere in a more perpendicular angle and this increased sunlight per surface area more than offsets the decrease from added distance.
D)  There must be some mistake in measuring the Earth's orbit because if the Earth was farther away,we would be cooler.
E)  During the summer in the northern hemisphere the Earth is actually closer to the sun even though the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun.F) A) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 4

The mixing of oxygenated water with nutrient laden water that occurs in lakes is called

Accepted Answer

A)  intertidal zonation.
B)  upwelling.
C)  pelagic division.
D)  fall overturn.
E)  eutrophication.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 5

The coral reef community would be best described as

Accepted Answer

A)  a hard,stony desert that is nevertheless beautiful.
B)  a common view of the ocean bottom but only seen in shallow water near the shoreline.
C)  a densely populated community that only occurs in shallow water near the shoreline.
D)  a community based on animals that migrate from one area of the ocean to another.
E)  undersea flowers.F) A) and B)
G) D) and E)

Question 6

When moist air from over an ocean moves inland and up a mountain slope,it causes heavy precipitation on the windward side.On the leeward side of the mountain,the region receives far less rain.This is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  lake effect.
B)  eutrophication.
C)  a montane successional gradient.
D)  a monsoon climate.
E)  rain shadow.F) A) and C)
G) B) and D)

Question 7

In the water cycle,evaporated equatorial air masses that rise lose most of their water.The air immediately then flows

Accepted Answer

A)  all the way to the poles where it causes snow.
B)  all the way to the poles if it does not encounter mountain ranges,which it usually does.
C)  to about 60  °\degree°    north or south and then cool and condense,supporting a band of moist vegetation.
D)  to about 30  °\degree°     north or south and then descends,creating a band of deserts.
E)  to the west. F) None of the above
G) B) and D)

Question 8

In the desert,plants and animals are adapted to withstand

Accepted Answer

A)  heat.
B)  dryness.
C)  cold.
D)  earthquakes.
E)  heat and dryness.F) C) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 9

A foul-smelling lake that is rich in algae and rooted plants but lacks oxygen is

Accepted Answer

A)  oligotrophic.
B)  eutrophic.
C)  benthic.
D)  pelagic.
E)  limnetic.F) C) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 10

Explain how a mountain range,located near the ocean,can lead to the formation of a desert on the leeward side of the mountain.

Accepted Answer

When cool,moist air carrying condensatio...

Question 11

The taiga is a

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical rain forest.
B)  temperate deciduous forest.
C)  chaparral.
D)  grassland.
E)  coniferous forest.F) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 12

When an ocean current brings rich nutrients to the surface,it is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  eutrophication.
B)  lake effect.
C)  upwelling.
D)  monsoon.
E)  profundal zone.F) A) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 13

Trees such as oak and maple and animals such as foxes and deer are found in the

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical rain forest.
B)  tundra.
C)  taiga.
D)  chaparral.
E)  temperate deciduous forest.F) B) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 14

What drives the movement of winds across the face of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  the unequal heating of the surface of the Earth by the sun
B)  the currents of the oceans
C)  the distribution of mountains and valleys
D)  the rotation of the Earth
E)  the greenhouse effectF) B) and C)
G) A) and D)

Question 15

Tundra is divided into alpine tundra at the top of mountains and arctic tundra found close to the North Pole.These two biomes have similar plants and animals even though they can be located in vastly different regions of the world.What causes these two biomes to be similar?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both are found close to coniferous forests.
B)  One is cold and dry because it is at a high latitude and the other is cold and dry because it is at a high altitude.
C)  Both are located in areas of intense sunshine.
D)  One grows mostly grasses because the soil is poor and the other grows mostly grasses because the soil is frozen.
E)  Both have large grazing herds that keep the grasses clipped short.F) None of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 16

Arctic winds blowing over inland reservoirs become saturated and then lose their moisture as they move across land.This is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  lake effect.
B)  eutrophication.
C)  a montane successional gradient.
D)  a monsoon climate.
E)  rain shadow.F) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 17

What causes an ocean breeze to blow?

Accepted Answer

A)  the presence of mountain ranges along the shoreline
B)  the fact that water heats rapidly
C)  the differential heating of land and water
D)  the fact that lands heats much more slowly than water
E)  the heating of the air around the equatorF) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 18

The ocean

Accepted Answer

A)  lacks life below the first several hundred feet.
B)  has zooplankton but not phytoplankton.
C)  covers little of the Earth's surface.
D)  is not affected by freshwater pollution.
E)  covers three-fourths of the planet.F) C) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 19

Which is NOT a correct characterization of tundra?

Accepted Answer

A)  All precipitation in the tundra remains permanently frozen,hence the name "permafrost."
B)  The landscape of pools and mires in the tundra is due to melted snow that does not evaporate.
C)  The long periods of darkness,sometimes even six months of night,prevents trees and other photosynthetic producers from growing.
D)  In the summer,the tundra is alive with insects and birds.
E)  Most animals found in the tundra live there year round.F) A) and B)
G) A) and D)

Question 20

Which of the following communities will have the highest net primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A)  prairie grassland
B)  temperate deciduous forest
C)  tropical rain forest
D)  tundra
E)  tropical rain forest and estuariesF) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Exam 36: The Biosphere

When moist air from over an ocean moves inland and up a mountain slope,it causes heavy precipitation on the windward side.On the leeward side of the mountain,the region receives far less rain.This is referred to as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following communities will have the highest net primary productivity?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What causes an ocean breeze to blow?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The ocean

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following biomes has the overall harshest conditions for organism survival?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The coral reef community would be best described as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the desert,plants and animals are adapted to withstand

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which is NOT a correct characterization of tundra?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When an ocean current brings rich nutrients to the surface,it is called a(n)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Arctic winds blowing over inland reservoirs become saturated and then lose their moisture as they move across land.This is referred to as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Tundra is divided into alpine tundra at the top of mountains and arctic tundra found close to the North Pole.These two biomes have similar plants and animals even though they can be located in vastly different regions of the world.What causes these two biomes to be similar?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Trees such as oak and maple and animals such as foxes and deer are found in the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is the energy of the sun less intense at the poles as compared to the equator?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What drives the movement of winds across the face of the Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The taiga is a

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A foul-smelling lake that is rich in algae and rooted plants but lacks oxygen is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Earth is actually slightly farther from the sun during the period when the Northern Hemisphere is having summer.How can this be explained?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The mixing of oxygenated water with nutrient laden water that occurs in lakes is called

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the water cycle,evaporated equatorial air masses that rise lose most of their water.The air immediately then flows

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain how a mountain range,located near the ocean,can lead to the formation of a desert on the leeward side of the mountain.

Correct AnswerverifiedWhen cool,moist air carrying condensatio...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
When cool,moist air carrying condensatio...
View Answer