Question 1

Which of these lunar features is the oldest?

Accepted Answer

A)  lunar soil 
B)  rayed craters like Copernicus 
C)  lunar highlands 
D)  maria basins 
A)  lunar soil 
B)  rayed craters like Copernicus 
C)  lunar highlands 
D)  maria basins

Question 2

Which of these planets has rings?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Neptune 
D)  All of these 
A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Neptune 
D)  All of these

Question 3

Most of the Moon's craters were produced by ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  faulting 
B)  volcanic eruptions 
C)  the impact of meteoroids 
D)  radial implosions 
A)  faulting 
B)  volcanic eruptions 
C)  the impact of meteoroids 
D)  radial implosions

Question 4

Pluto is now classified as a ___________ in our solar system.

Accepted Answer

A)  dwarf planet 
B)  terrestrial planet 
C)  comet 
D)  Jovian planet 
A)  dwarf planet 
B)  terrestrial planet 
C)  comet 
D)  Jovian planet

Question 5

Although its atmosphere is less dense than Earth's, dust storms and sand dunes indicate wind action occurs on___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth 
B)  Mars 
C)  Mercury 
D)  Venus 
A)  Earth 
B)  Mars 
C)  Mercury 
D)  Venus

Question 6

In the science fiction book series "Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars" the author spins a story of "terraforming" Mars with the formation of oceans and a breathable atmosphere by the end of the series. The author describes a scenario, however, where the inhabitants of this fictional world were able to live relatively normally on most of the world but not on Olympus Mons and the Tharsus region. Assuming you could create a breathable atmosphere as described in the books, is the description of where you might live on Mars realistic, or just spinning a yarn?

Accepted Answer

A)  No, it is absurd. Even with an atmosphere, it would be too cold to live anywhere on Mars. 
B)  No, because these regions are so rugged it would be impossible to live in the Martian mountains, regardless of an atmosphere or not. 
C)  No, because you could use water ice from these high altitude sites whereas there is no water at lower elevations on Mars. 
D)  Yes, because Olympus Mons and the Tharsus region are higher above the Martian plains than Mt. Everest, so the air would always be dramatically thinner and colder there, even with an Earth atmosphere. 
A)  No, it is absurd. Even with an atmosphere, it would be too cold to live anywhere on Mars. 
B)  No, because these regions are so rugged it would be impossible to live in the Martian mountains, regardless of an atmosphere or not. 
C)  No, because you could use water ice from these high altitude sites whereas there is no water at lower elevations on Mars. 
D)  Yes, because Olympus Mons and the Tharsus region are higher above the Martian plains than Mt. Everest, so the air would always be dramatically thinner and colder there, even with an Earth atmosphere.

Question 7

The largest known volcano in the solar system is on___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth 
B)  Mars 
C)  Mercury 
D)  Venus 
A)  Earth 
B)  Mars 
C)  Mercury 
D)  Venus

Question 8

___________disintegrate and burn up as shooting stars; ___________ survive an impact event and a trip through Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  Meteoroids; meteorites 
B)  Meteors; meteoroids 
C)  Meteorites; meteors 
D)  Meteors; meteorites 
A)  Meteoroids; meteorites 
B)  Meteors; meteoroids 
C)  Meteorites; meteors 
D)  Meteors; meteorites

Question 9

Which of the following characterizes the history of impacts on Earth as deduced by impact history on other terrestrial planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  All major impacts occurred in the first 100 million years after the solar system formed. 
B)  Impacts were more intense in the early history of Earth but have continued at about half the rate of bombardment since about 4.4 billion years ago. 
C)  Impacts continued at a fairly constant rate throughout the 4.5 billion year history of the solar system. 
D)  Impact rates were very high in the early history of Earth, but dropped off after about the first 1 billion years of Earth history to a nearly constant rate since that time. 
A)  All major impacts occurred in the first 100 million years after the solar system formed. 
B)  Impacts were more intense in the early history of Earth but have continued at about half the rate of bombardment since about 4.4 billion years ago. 
C)  Impacts continued at a fairly constant rate throughout the 4.5 billion year history of the solar system. 
D)  Impact rates were very high in the early history of Earth, but dropped off after about the first 1 billion years of Earth history to a nearly constant rate since that time.

Question 10

The surface features of ___________are known only through satellite radar mapping.

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Mercury 
D)  Venus 
A)  Mars 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Mercury 
D)  Venus

Question 11

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  Callisto 
B)  Titan 
C)  Phobos 
D)  Pluto 
A)  Callisto 
B)  Titan 
C)  Phobos 
D)  Pluto

Question 12

What atmospheric gas is common in the outer planets but rare in the inner planets?

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen 
B)  argon 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  carbon dioxide 
A)  hydrogen 
B)  argon 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  carbon dioxide

Question 13

Regolith is not a true soil because it___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  is not on Earth 
B)  has no rock material 
C)  lacks organic material 
D)  is not formed in a dense atmosphere 
A)  is not on Earth 
B)  has no rock material 
C)  lacks organic material 
D)  is not formed in a dense atmosphere

Question 14

Why do geologists use the radiometric age of meteorites as a guide to age of the solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  The meteorites have been isolated in the cold vacuum of space since their formation, so they have seen no significant heating since the time of their formation. 
B)  The meteorites have compositions close to Earth materials, so we assume they formed at the same time. 
C)  The geologists are guessing because they yield some of the oldest radiometric ages. 
D)  The meteorites date the time of formation of a dead planet and don't have anything to do with the age of the solar system. 
A)  The meteorites have been isolated in the cold vacuum of space since their formation, so they have seen no significant heating since the time of their formation. 
B)  The meteorites have compositions close to Earth materials, so we assume they formed at the same time. 
C)  The geologists are guessing because they yield some of the oldest radiometric ages. 
D)  The meteorites date the time of formation of a dead planet and don't have anything to do with the age of the solar system.

Question 15

Why has it been so difficult to examine the surface of Venus with unmanned probes?

Accepted Answer

A)  The air pressure at the surface is equivalent to a water depth of nearly 1km on Earth, and temperatures are very high, which tends to destroy the probes. 
B)  Solar radiation is so intense that probes are lost before they reach Venus. 
C)  The atmosphere is so cloudy that it interferes with radio wave signals from earth, making communication with a probe difficult. 
D)  The Venesian magnetic field is so strong it destroys electronics on the probes. 
A)  The air pressure at the surface is equivalent to a water depth of nearly 1km on Earth, and temperatures are very high, which tends to destroy the probes. 
B)  Solar radiation is so intense that probes are lost before they reach Venus. 
C)  The atmosphere is so cloudy that it interferes with radio wave signals from earth, making communication with a probe difficult. 
D)  The Venesian magnetic field is so strong it destroys electronics on the probes.

Question 16

___________has the great, dark spot on its surface.

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter 
B)  Uranus 
C)  Venus 
D)  Mars 
A)  Jupiter 
B)  Uranus 
C)  Venus 
D)  Mars

Question 17

The planet with the highest density is a___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  Jovian planet 
B)  planetessimal 
C)  terrestrial planet 
D)  dwarf planet 
A)  Jovian planet 
B)  planetessimal 
C)  terrestrial planet 
D)  dwarf planet

Question 18

Which one of the following is most likely to be associated both with impact craters and with volcanic calderas that originate by collapse?

Accepted Answer

A)  landslides and other mass wasting movements along the walls of the depression 
B)  sharp rims that rise well above the surrounding area far away from the edge of the depression 
C)  outwardly radiating, fragmental, bright, surface streaks 
D)  sharp, central peaks that rise above the floor of the depression 
A)  landslides and other mass wasting movements along the walls of the depression 
B)  sharp rims that rise well above the surrounding area far away from the edge of the depression 
C)  outwardly radiating, fragmental, bright, surface streaks 
D)  sharp, central peaks that rise above the floor of the depression

Question 19

Rayed craters on the Moon, such as Copernicus, formed ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)  around the time of the Big Bang 
B)  early in Moon's history 
C)  relatively recently in the Moon's history 
D)  prior to the formation of the maria 
A)  around the time of the Big Bang 
B)  early in Moon's history 
C)  relatively recently in the Moon's history 
D)  prior to the formation of the maria

Question 20

Which one of the following statements is believed to be true of comets?

Accepted Answer

A)  Their bright, glowing appearance in the night sky is due to frictional heating in Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  They have highly elliptical orbits around the Sun. 
C)  They may gain slightly in mass with each orbit around the Sun. 
D)  They are composed mostly of dense rock particles. 
A)  Their bright, glowing appearance in the night sky is due to frictional heating in Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  They have highly elliptical orbits around the Sun. 
C)  They may gain slightly in mass with each orbit around the Sun. 
D)  They are composed mostly of dense rock particles.

Exam 22: Touring Our Solar System

Which of these lunar features is the oldest?

Which of these planets has rings?

Most of the Moon's craters were produced by ___________.

Pluto is now classified as a ___________ in our solar system.

Although its atmosphere is less dense than Earth's, dust storms and sand dunes indicate wind action occurs on___________ .

The largest known volcano in the solar system is on___________ .

___________disintegrate and burn up as shooting stars; ___________ survive an impact event and a trip through Earth's atmosphere.

Which of the following characterizes the history of impacts on Earth as deduced by impact history on other terrestrial planets?

The surface features of ___________are known only through satellite radar mapping.

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

What atmospheric gas is common in the outer planets but rare in the inner planets?

Regolith is not a true soil because it___________ .

Why do geologists use the radiometric age of meteorites as a guide to age of the solar system?

Why has it been so difficult to examine the surface of Venus with unmanned probes?

___________has the great, dark spot on its surface.

The planet with the highest density is a___________ .

Which one of the following is most likely to be associated both with impact craters and with volcanic calderas that originate by collapse?

Rayed craters on the Moon, such as Copernicus, formed ___________.

Which one of the following statements is believed to be true of comets?

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters

_disintegrate and burn up as shooting stars; _ survive an impact event and a trip through Earth's atmosphere.