Question 1

Water is a good solvent because

Accepted Answer

A)  Of the charge asymmetry of the water molecule 
B)  It is a good polar solvent 
C)  Of its high transparency 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Of the charge asymmetry of the water molecule 
B)  It is a good polar solvent 
C)  Of its high transparency 
D)  All of the above A

Question 2

The abyssal plain

Accepted Answer

A)  Drains large river systems such as the Amazon River 
B)  Is an average of about 4,000 m deep 
C)  Actually has a slope of 3 degrees seaward 
D)  Never connects with an oceanic trench 
A)  Drains large river systems such as the Amazon River 
B)  Is an average of about 4,000 m deep 
C)  Actually has a slope of 3 degrees seaward 
D)  Never connects with an oceanic trench B

Question 3

Sea water is oxygenated on the deep-sea bottom because

Accepted Answer

A)  Bottom sea water originates in shallow water in the tropics, where oxygen is abundant 
B)  Wind mixes oxygenated water from the surface to the deep sea 
C)  A small amount of photosynthesis occurs on the deep-sea bed 
D)  Sea water in the deep sea originates at the surface in high latitudes 
A)  Bottom sea water originates in shallow water in the tropics, where oxygen is abundant 
B)  Wind mixes oxygenated water from the surface to the deep sea 
C)  A small amount of photosynthesis occurs on the deep-sea bed 
D)  Sea water in the deep sea originates at the surface in high latitudes D

Question 4

Seasonal temperature changes are the greatest in

Accepted Answer

A)  Polar waters 
B)  The equatorial region 
C)  Midlatitudes 
D)  The deep sea 
A)  Polar waters 
B)  The equatorial region 
C)  Midlatitudes 
D)  The deep sea

Question 5

The motion of wind-driven waves affects the bottom

Accepted Answer

A)  At all depths 
B)  Only in water depths less than 20 m 
C)  At depths less than half the wave length 
D)  At depths less than two times the wave length 
A)  At all depths 
B)  Only in water depths less than 20 m 
C)  At depths less than half the wave length 
D)  At depths less than two times the wave length

Question 6

A study of oceanic geology shows that there are few oceanic crustal rocks found that are older than 80 million years. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oceanic crust was not formed until the beginning of the Precambrian, 80 my ago. 
B)  Current radiometric dating techniques cannot date rocks older than 50 million years. 
C)  Subduction remelts oceanic rock and most has been destroyed of that age 
D)  Oceanic crust is only found at the ridges, which are mostly unsampled. 
A)  Oceanic crust was not formed until the beginning of the Precambrian, 80 my ago. 
B)  Current radiometric dating techniques cannot date rocks older than 50 million years. 
C)  Subduction remelts oceanic rock and most has been destroyed of that age 
D)  Oceanic crust is only found at the ridges, which are mostly unsampled.

Question 7

Lows in dissolved oxygen are usually found

Accepted Answer

A)  At the bottom of trenches 
B)  In mid-water depths in the eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean 
C)  In estuaries in summer 
D)  All of the above 
A)  At the bottom of trenches 
B)  In mid-water depths in the eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean 
C)  In estuaries in summer 
D)  All of the above

Question 8

Western ocean boundary currents such as the Gulf Stream owe their origin partially to

Accepted Answer

A)  The eastward rotation of the Earth 
B)  A local reversal of the Coriolis effect 
C)  Thermohaline convection effects 
D)  All of the above 
A)  The eastward rotation of the Earth 
B)  A local reversal of the Coriolis effect 
C)  Thermohaline convection effects 
D)  All of the above

Question 9

Parts of the oceanic crust where new crust originates are known as

Accepted Answer

A)  Subduction zones 
B)  Mid-oceanic ridges 
C)  Transform faults 
D)  Plates 
A)  Subduction zones 
B)  Mid-oceanic ridges 
C)  Transform faults 
D)  Plates

Question 10

Gyres revolve

Accepted Answer

A)  clockwise near the Antarctic peninsula 
B)  clockwise in the North Pacific 
C)  clockwise around the Equator 
D)  counterclockwise in the North Atlantic 
A)  clockwise near the Antarctic peninsula 
B)  clockwise in the North Pacific 
C)  clockwise around the Equator 
D)  counterclockwise in the North Atlantic

Question 11

Salt has the following effect on sea water

Accepted Answer

A)  Reduces the bulk density 
B)  Decreases its light transmission 
C)  Lowers its freezing point 
D)  Causes it to rise to the surface 
A)  Reduces the bulk density 
B)  Decreases its light transmission 
C)  Lowers its freezing point 
D)  Causes it to rise to the surface

Question 12

Tidal forces on the ocean are affected the most by

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun in winter 
B)  The Sun during summer solstice 
C)  The Moon 
D)  The Moon, but only at new moon 
A)  The Sun in winter 
B)  The Sun during summer solstice 
C)  The Moon 
D)  The Moon, but only at new moon

Question 13

Which of the following is the deepest?

Accepted Answer

A)  Abyssal 
B)  Hadal 
C)  Continental slope 
D)  Continental rise 
A)  Abyssal 
B)  Hadal 
C)  Continental slope 
D)  Continental rise

Question 14

The Coriolis effect causes a deflection to the right in

Accepted Answer

A)  The Southern Hemisphere 
B)  The Equator 
C)  The Northern Hemisphere 
D)  The Poles 
A)  The Southern Hemisphere 
B)  The Equator 
C)  The Northern Hemisphere 
D)  The Poles

Question 15

Which of the following is true about tides?

Accepted Answer

A)  There are always two high and low tides each day 
B)  Tidal heights are always equal 
C)  Tidal currents are strongest during spring tides 
D)  Tidal currents are strongest during neap tides 
A)  There are always two high and low tides each day 
B)  Tidal heights are always equal 
C)  Tidal currents are strongest during spring tides 
D)  Tidal currents are strongest during neap tides

Question 16

Plate boundaries include

Accepted Answer

A)  Trenches 
B)  Mid-oceanic ridges 
C)  Transform faults 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Trenches 
B)  Mid-oceanic ridges 
C)  Transform faults 
D)  All of the above

Question 17

Estuaries often do not have a discrete layer of low-salinity water on top of high-salinity water because of

Accepted Answer

A)  Wind mixing 
B)  Tidal motion 
C)  Basin shape 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Wind mixing 
B)  Tidal motion 
C)  Basin shape 
D)  All of the above

Question 18

Trace elements in sea water include

Accepted Answer

A)  Chlorine and potassium 
B)  Sodium and aluminum 
C)  Iron and strontium 
D)  Sodium and chlorine 
A)  Chlorine and potassium 
B)  Sodium and aluminum 
C)  Iron and strontium 
D)  Sodium and chlorine

Question 19

Oxygen is added to sea water in

Accepted Answer

A)  respiration 
B)  photosynthesis 
C)  rapid swimming by fish 
D)  increasing the temperature 
A)  respiration 
B)  photosynthesis 
C)  rapid swimming by fish 
D)  increasing the temperature

Question 20

Wave motion affects the bottom

Accepted Answer

A)  When the water depth is 10 m or less 
B)  When a wave arrives on shore 
C)  When the water depth is half the wave length or less 
D)  When the water depth is half the wave length or more 
A)  When the water depth is 10 m or less 
B)  When a wave arrives on shore 
C)  When the water depth is half the wave length or less 
D)  When the water depth is half the wave length or more

Exam 2: The Oceanic Environment

Water is a good solvent because

The abyssal plain

Sea water is oxygenated on the deep-sea bottom because

Seasonal temperature changes are the greatest in

The motion of wind-driven waves affects the bottom

A study of oceanic geology shows that there are few oceanic crustal rocks found that are older than 80 million years. Why?

Lows in dissolved oxygen are usually found

Western ocean boundary currents such as the Gulf Stream owe their origin partially to

Parts of the oceanic crust where new crust originates are known as

Gyres revolve

Salt has the following effect on sea water

Tidal forces on the ocean are affected the most by

Which of the following is the deepest?

The Coriolis effect causes a deflection to the right in

Which of the following is true about tides?

Plate boundaries include

Estuaries often do not have a discrete layer of low-salinity water on top of high-salinity water because of

Trace elements in sea water include

Oxygen is added to sea water in

Wave motion affects the bottom

Sounding the Deep

Climate Oscillations and Climate Change

Ecological and Evolutionary Principles of Marine Biology

The Chemical and Physical Environment

Life in a Fluid Medium

Reproduction, Dispersal, and Migration

Plankton

Marine Vertebrates and Other Nekton

The Open Sea: Distributions and Adaptations

Processes in the Water Column

Productivity, Food Webs, and Global Climate Change

Benthic Microorganisms, Seaweeds, and Sea Grasses

The Diversity of Benthic Marine Invertebrates

Benthic Life Habits

The Tidelands: Rocky Shores, Soft-Substratum Shores, Marshes, Mangroves, Estuaries, and Oyster Reefs

The Shallow Coastal Subtidal: Sea Grass Beds, Rocky Reefs, Kelp Forests, and Coral Reefs

Benthos From the Continental Shelf to the Deep Sea

Polar Marine Biology

Biodiversity and Conservation of the Ocean

Fisheries and Food From the Sea

Environmental Impacts of Industrial Activities and Human Populations

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