Question 1

What is the name of a long,winding crack in a lunar mare?

Accepted Answer

A)  rille 
B)  caldera 
C)  rift zone 
D)  regolith 
A)  rille 
B)  caldera 
C)  rift zone 
D)  regolith

Question 2

MOST of the mountain ranges on the Moon are the:

Accepted Answer

A)  result of the buildup of meteoritic dust by winds on the Moon. 
B)  result of water flow and erosion on the Moon's soft surface. 
C)  circular edges and rims of large maria that have been formed by impacts from large objects. 
D)  result of plate tectonic movement similar to that on Earth. 
A)  result of the buildup of meteoritic dust by winds on the Moon. 
B)  result of water flow and erosion on the Moon's soft surface. 
C)  circular edges and rims of large maria that have been formed by impacts from large objects. 
D)  result of plate tectonic movement similar to that on Earth.

Question 3

What did the 1998 spacecraft Mars Orbiter find when it looked at the "face" on Mars?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Orbiter found that the face had two noses, showing that it had been carved by a non-human sculptor. 
B)  The Orbiter found that the shifting sands had uncovered two other, smaller faces on either side of it. 
C)  The Orbiter found nothing-the face and the rocks around it were either gone or buried by sand. 
D)  The Orbiter showed the face to be a natural rock formation. 
A)  The Orbiter found that the face had two noses, showing that it had been carved by a non-human sculptor. 
B)  The Orbiter found that the shifting sands had uncovered two other, smaller faces on either side of it. 
C)  The Orbiter found nothing-the face and the rocks around it were either gone or buried by sand. 
D)  The Orbiter showed the face to be a natural rock formation.

Question 4

What appears to be the "impact history" of cratering on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  more or less constant bombardment from the earliest times to the present 
B)  short periods of heavy bombardment alternating with long periods of light bombardment throughout the Moon's life 
C)  heaviest bombardment when the Moon first formed, gradually decreasing to light bombardment today 
D)  early period of heavy bombardment, then very light bombardment to the present 
A)  more or less constant bombardment from the earliest times to the present 
B)  short periods of heavy bombardment alternating with long periods of light bombardment throughout the Moon's life 
C)  heaviest bombardment when the Moon first formed, gradually decreasing to light bombardment today 
D)  early period of heavy bombardment, then very light bombardment to the present

Question 5

If the greenhouse gases in a planet's atmosphere are reduced,the planet will:

Accepted Answer

A)  become cooler. 
B)  become hotter. 
C)  remain unchanged in temperature, but increase in atmospheric pressure. 
D)  remain unchanged in temperature, but decrease in atmospheric pressure. 
A)  become cooler. 
B)  become hotter. 
C)  remain unchanged in temperature, but increase in atmospheric pressure. 
D)  remain unchanged in temperature, but decrease in atmospheric pressure.

Question 6

Which clause CORRECTLY describes the mantle of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  hot, semimolten rock that flows upward in hotter parts of the mantle and downward in cooler parts 
B)  hot, semimolten rock that flows downward in hotter parts of the mantle and upward in cooler parts 
C)  hot, semimolten rock that flows upward at the equator and downward at the poles because of Earth's rotation 
D)  hot, semimolten rock that flows downward at the equator and upward at the poles because of Earth's rotation 
A)  hot, semimolten rock that flows upward in hotter parts of the mantle and downward in cooler parts 
B)  hot, semimolten rock that flows downward in hotter parts of the mantle and upward in cooler parts 
C)  hot, semimolten rock that flows upward at the equator and downward at the poles because of Earth's rotation 
D)  hot, semimolten rock that flows downward at the equator and upward at the poles because of Earth's rotation

Question 7

Which process was important for melting the entire Earth about 4.6 billion years ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  heat released by the condensation of water vapor into liquid water to form the ocean 
B)  radioactivity, or the spontaneous breaking apart of heavier nuclei into lighter ones 
C)  nuclear fusion, or the combining of lighter nuclei to form heavier ones 
D)  tidal heating of Earth due to the combined gravitational pulls of the Sun and the Moon 
A)  heat released by the condensation of water vapor into liquid water to form the ocean 
B)  radioactivity, or the spontaneous breaking apart of heavier nuclei into lighter ones 
C)  nuclear fusion, or the combining of lighter nuclei to form heavier ones 
D)  tidal heating of Earth due to the combined gravitational pulls of the Sun and the Moon

Question 8

How does the speed of Earth's tectonic plates compare with the speed at which the Moon is receding from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are comparable in size. 
B)  Continental drift is many orders of magnitude larger than the Moon's drift speed. 
C)  The Moon's drift speed is many orders of magnitude larger than continental drift. 
D)  It is not possible to compare because the speed of the Moon's recession has never been measured. 
A)  They are comparable in size. 
B)  Continental drift is many orders of magnitude larger than the Moon's drift speed. 
C)  The Moon's drift speed is many orders of magnitude larger than continental drift. 
D)  It is not possible to compare because the speed of the Moon's recession has never been measured.

Question 9

The mountains on the Moon were MOSTLY caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  impacts from interplanetary bodies from outer space. 
B)  volcanic eruption and the buildup of lava. 
C)  the collisions of crustal plates under tectonic motion. 
D)  tidal distortion and uplift. 
A)  impacts from interplanetary bodies from outer space. 
B)  volcanic eruption and the buildup of lava. 
C)  the collisions of crustal plates under tectonic motion. 
D)  tidal distortion and uplift.

Question 10

Viking 1 and Viking 2,the planet-exploring spacecraft,were sent to which planet?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

Lunar rilles are:

Accepted Answer

A)  large irregular lava basins. 
B)  central peaks of lunar craters. 
C)  meandering, canyonlike valleys. 
D)  bright streaks radiating from large impact craters. 
A)  large irregular lava basins. 
B)  central peaks of lunar craters. 
C)  meandering, canyonlike valleys. 
D)  bright streaks radiating from large impact craters.

Question 12

An "ozone hole" is:

Accepted Answer

A)  a region centered on the equator where ozone levels are always very low because of destruction by direct sunlight. 
B)  a region of the stratosphere, often above the South Pole, where ozone levels occasionally drop to very low levels. 
C)  the name given to small pits or holes on the aluminum surface of an aircraft, etched by the corrosive ozone encountered in the stratosphere and requiring regular maintenance. 
D)  a permanent region of very low ozone content in the stratosphere centered over the south pole that has been there for thousands of years; the resulting transparency to UV radiation accounts for the lack of life-forms there. 
A)  a region centered on the equator where ozone levels are always very low because of destruction by direct sunlight. 
B)  a region of the stratosphere, often above the South Pole, where ozone levels occasionally drop to very low levels. 
C)  the name given to small pits or holes on the aluminum surface of an aircraft, etched by the corrosive ozone encountered in the stratosphere and requiring regular maintenance. 
D)  a permanent region of very low ozone content in the stratosphere centered over the south pole that has been there for thousands of years; the resulting transparency to UV radiation accounts for the lack of life-forms there.

Question 13

The great mountain ranges of Earth have been produced by:

Accepted Answer

A)  collisions between tectonic plates. 
B)  volcanic eruptions. 
C)  asteroid impacts because they are just worn-down crater walls. 
D)  wrinkling of the crust as the interior cools and contracts. 
A)  collisions between tectonic plates. 
B)  volcanic eruptions. 
C)  asteroid impacts because they are just worn-down crater walls. 
D)  wrinkling of the crust as the interior cools and contracts.

Question 14

Which planet or planetary group occupies the next orbital position beyond Saturn?

Accepted Answer

A)  Neptune 
B)  Uranus 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  asteroid belt 
A)  Neptune 
B)  Uranus 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  asteroid belt

Question 15

How does the number of impact craters seen on Venus compare with the number seen on Mercury and the Moon,both of which are significantly smaller than Venus?

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus has more than either Mercury or the Moon. 
B)  Venus has more than the Moon but fewer than Mercury. 
C)  Venus has more than Mercury but fewer than the Moon. 
D)  Venus has fewer than either Mercury or the Moon. 
A)  Venus has more than either Mercury or the Moon. 
B)  Venus has more than the Moon but fewer than Mercury. 
C)  Venus has more than Mercury but fewer than the Moon. 
D)  Venus has fewer than either Mercury or the Moon.

Question 16

What effect does an increase in pressure have on the temperature at which rock melts?

Accepted Answer

A)  We do not know yet-the temperature needed to melt rock has not yet been achieved in the laboratory. 
B)  An increase of pressure increases the melting temperature. 
C)  An increase of pressure has no effect on the melting temperature because the melting temperature is independent of pressure. 
D)  An increase of pressure lowers the melting temperature. 
A)  We do not know yet-the temperature needed to melt rock has not yet been achieved in the laboratory. 
B)  An increase of pressure increases the melting temperature. 
C)  An increase of pressure has no effect on the melting temperature because the melting temperature is independent of pressure. 
D)  An increase of pressure lowers the melting temperature.

Question 17

MOST of the planets orbit the Sun on or close to the:

Accepted Answer

A)  plane of the Milky Way Galaxy. 
B)  ecliptic plane. 
C)  plane containing both north and south celestial poles and the zenith at Greenwich, England. 
D)  equatorial plane. 
A)  plane of the Milky Way Galaxy. 
B)  ecliptic plane. 
C)  plane containing both north and south celestial poles and the zenith at Greenwich, England. 
D)  equatorial plane.

Question 18

Which phrase CORRECTLY describes the mantle of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  molten iron 
B)  solid rock that is hot enough to become semimolten and fluid 
C)  molten rock 
D)  solid, immovable rock upon which the crustal plates can slide 
A)  molten iron 
B)  solid rock that is hot enough to become semimolten and fluid 
C)  molten rock 
D)  solid, immovable rock upon which the crustal plates can slide

Question 19

One reason there are very few impact craters on the surface of Venus compared with the surfaces of Mercury and Mars is thought to be that:

Accepted Answer

A)  wind erosion from the dense atmosphere of Venus and chemical action from its corrosive clouds and mist have destroyed most craters. 
B)  the thick atmosphere of Venus has protected it from most incoming objects, and the surface has melted periodically to obliterate old craters. 
C)  plate tectonic motions have recycled the whole surface of Venus several times since the main bombardment of the planetary system occurred. 
D)  ocean waters that covered Venus at earlier times washed away any evidence of cratering. 
A)  wind erosion from the dense atmosphere of Venus and chemical action from its corrosive clouds and mist have destroyed most craters. 
B)  the thick atmosphere of Venus has protected it from most incoming objects, and the surface has melted periodically to obliterate old craters. 
C)  plate tectonic motions have recycled the whole surface of Venus several times since the main bombardment of the planetary system occurred. 
D)  ocean waters that covered Venus at earlier times washed away any evidence of cratering.

Question 20

"Continental drift" on Earth is now thought to be caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  tidal flexing of Earth's solid crust by the Moon's gravitational pull. 
B)  circulation currents in the deep interior, causing slabs of Earth's crust to move slowly. 
C)  precession of Earth's spin axis. 
D)  the forces of oceanic tides on the continental shelves around the landmasses. 
A)  tidal flexing of Earth's solid crust by the Moon's gravitational pull. 
B)  circulation currents in the deep interior, causing slabs of Earth's crust to move slowly. 
C)  precession of Earth's spin axis. 
D)  the forces of oceanic tides on the continental shelves around the landmasses.

What is the name of a long,winding crack in a lunar mare?

MOST of the mountain ranges on the Moon are the:

What did the 1998 spacecraft Mars Orbiter find when it looked at the "face" on Mars?

What appears to be the "impact history" of cratering on the Moon?

If the greenhouse gases in a planet's atmosphere are reduced,the planet will:

Which clause CORRECTLY describes the mantle of Earth?

Which process was important for melting the entire Earth about 4.6 billion years ago?

How does the speed of Earth's tectonic plates compare with the speed at which the Moon is receding from Earth?

The mountains on the Moon were MOSTLY caused by:

Viking 1 and Viking 2,the planet-exploring spacecraft,were sent to which planet?

Lunar rilles are:

An "ozone hole" is:

The great mountain ranges of Earth have been produced by:

Which planet or planetary group occupies the next orbital position beyond Saturn?

How does the number of impact craters seen on Venus compare with the number seen on Mercury and the Moon,both of which are significantly smaller than Venus?

What effect does an increase in pressure have on the temperature at which rock melts?

MOST of the planets orbit the Sun on or close to the:

Which phrase CORRECTLY describes the mantle of Earth?

One reason there are very few impact craters on the surface of Venus compared with the surfaces of Mercury and Mars is thought to be that:

"Continental drift" on Earth is now thought to be caused by:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 6: The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

What is the name of a long,winding crack in a lunar mare?

MOST of the mountain ranges on the Moon are the:

What did the 1998 spacecraft Mars Orbiter find when it looked at the "face" on Mars?

What appears to be the "impact history" of cratering on the Moon?

If the greenhouse gases in a planet's atmosphere are reduced,the planet will:

Which clause CORRECTLY describes the mantle of Earth?

Which process was important for melting the entire Earth about 4.6 billion years ago?

How does the speed of Earth's tectonic plates compare with the speed at which the Moon is receding from Earth?

The mountains on the Moon were MOSTLY caused by:

Viking 1 and Viking 2,the planet-exploring spacecraft,were sent to which planet?

Lunar rilles are:

An "ozone hole" is:

The great mountain ranges of Earth have been produced by:

Which planet or planetary group occupies the next orbital position beyond Saturn?

How does the number of impact craters seen on Venus compare with the number seen on Mercury and the Moon,both of which are significantly smaller than Venus?

What effect does an increase in pressure have on the temperature at which rock melts?

MOST of the planets orbit the Sun on or close to the:

Which phrase CORRECTLY describes the mantle of Earth?

One reason there are very few impact craters on the surface of Venus compared with the surfaces of Mercury and Mars is thought to be that:

"Continental drift" on Earth is now thought to be caused by:

Discovering the Night Sky

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters