1.
Rising air generally indicates __________ pressure. 4.e A) changing B) higher C) lower D) equalized 2.
Density currents occur when __________. 4.a A) winds blow across the surface of the water B) more dense seawater sinks beneath less dense seawater C) the Coriolis effect is in action D) surface water begins to warm up 3.
As altitude decreases, air pressure __________. 4.e A) stays the same B) decreases C) increases D) falls 4.
As altitude decreases, air pressure __________. 4.e A) decreases B) increases C) falls D) stays the same 5.
Climate is the pattern of __________ in an area over many years. 4.e A) sun B) plants C) rain D) weather 6.
Deep trenches occur along __________ zones. 7.f A) subduction B) transform C) volcanic D) continental 7.
__________ occurs when one molecule comes in contact with another. 3.c A) Condensation B) Absorption C) Conduction D) Convection 8.
The presence of _______ cause low rainfall in some parts of California. 4.e A) fog B) rain shadows C) winds D) heat 9.
What determines the intensity of light waves? 3.d A) direction B) frequency C) energy D) pitch 10.
Which one of the following is NOT a function of the atmosphere? 4.b A) It provides necessary gases to support life. B) It absorbs and distributes warmth. C) It protects living things from X-ray radiation. D) It keeps us from floating into space. 11.
What must animals that live on a beach adapt to? 2.c A) new plants growing on the beach B) changing shape of the beach C) deep water D) dry habitats 12.
Which layer of the atmosphere contains nearly all clouds and weather? 4.e A) thermosphere B) stratosphere C) ionosphere D) troposphere 13.
What causes the change in seasons? 4.e A) the distance from the Earth to the Sun B) the tilt of Earth's axis C) the position of the Moon D) the orbit of the Moon around the Sun 14.
Which breeze generally results during daytime due to temperature differences between the ocean and the land? 4.a A) sea breeze B) land breeze C) valley breeze D) mountain breeze 15.
High energy waves eroding California's cliffs causes the beaches to be ______. 4.a A) clay-like B) sandy C) rocky D) full of soil 16.
All warm bodies emit _______ waves. 4.b A) radio B) infrared C) light D) ultraviolet 17.
Nitrogen and oxygen make up __________ percent of the atmosphere. 4.e A) 11 B) 84 C) 50 D) 99 18.
Shoreline erosion can be a result of all of the following EXCEPT __________. 4.a A) waves B) density currents C) longshore currents D) hurricanes 19.
What kind of climate does California have? 4.e A) neither mediterranean nor highland B) only mediterranean C) only highland D) mediterranean and highland 20.
Where does most of the energy come from that fuels ocean life? 4.a A) land animals B) the Sun C) dissolved gases D) land plants 21.
The entire range of electromagnetic wave frequencies is known as __________. 3.d A) ultraviolet radiation B) magnetism C) the electromagnetic spectrum D) visible light 22.
What occurs at a mid-ocean ridge? 7.f A) a new seafloor B) underwater mountains C) the continental shelf D) the continental slope 23.
Ozone found in the stratosphere is important because it absorbs __________ from the Sun. 4.a A) sunlight B) X-ray radiation C) ultraviolet radiation D) ions 24.
Earth would be too cold to support life as we know it without. 3.d A) global warming B) the greenhouse effect C) the ozone layer D) geothermal energy 25.
Meteorologists refer to some floods as flash floods because __________. 4.e A) they know about them far in advance B) they often occur during lightning storms C) they last for extended periods of time D) there is often little warning before they occur 26.
Temperature measures the __________ of air molecules. 3.c A) type B) speed C) location D) size 27.
Temperature measures the __________ of air molecules. 4.a A) size B) type C) location D) speed 28.
Which of these would you expect to find in an area of the ocean where warm and cold water come together? 4.a A) no marine life B) little marine life C) lots of marine life D) only marine plants 29.
Where does the continental shelf begin? 7.f A) at the shoreline B) at the ocean floor C) at the bottom of the continental slope D) at the mid-ocean ridge 30.
Which is longer, the continental shelf or the continental slope? 7.f A) They are the same length. B) continental slope C) continental shelf D) Their lengths differ. 31.
Which of these is responsible for the cold water off the coast of California? 4.d A) the Davidson Current B) the California Current C) the Southern California Bight D) northern glaciers 32.
Regions with a __________ closer to the equator receive more solar radiation. 4.e A) landform B) longitude C) climate D) latitude 33.
__________ distribute heat from one region to another. 4.d A) Surface currents B) Density layers C) Surface layers D) Density currents 34.
When two air masses of different densities collide, it's called__________. 4.e A) a storm B) a high pressure zone C) a front D) a hurricane 35.
Heat is transferred through the atmosphere by the process of __________. 4.d A) reflection B) convection C) conduction D) absorption 36.
Which type of current runs parallel to the shoreline? 2.c A) sediment B) shortshore C) tidal D) longshore 37.
__________ form over a particular region of Earth's surface. 4.e A) Air masses B) Convection zones C) Jet streams D) Fronts 38.
Light waves are _______ waves. 4.b A) energy B) sound C) compressional D) electromagnetic 39.
The __________ of an electromagnetic light wave determines the color of the light. 3.d A) pitch B) frequency C) amplitude D) compression speed 40.
The intertidal zone is between _________. 4.a A) the highest low-tide line and the highest high-tide line B) the highest low-tide line and the lowest high-tide line C) the lowest low-tide line and the lowest high-tide line D) the lowest low-tide line and the highest high-tide line 41.
What causes waves? 4.a A) volcanoes B) wind C) tides D) gravity 42.
Which is a deposit of sediment that is parallel to the shore? 2.c A) wave B) tide C) current D) beach 43.
__________ powers the water cycle. 4.a A) Sunlight B) Water vapor C) Evaporation D) Condensation 44.
__________ powers the water cycle. 4.a A) Evaporation B) Condensation C) Sunlight D) Water vapor 45.
__________ is the transfer of energy by the motion of heated particles in a gas or liquid. 3.c A) Collision B) Conduction C) Radiation D) Convection 46.
Wind is created by changes in all of the following EXCEPT __________. 4.e A) density B) conduction C) pressure D) temperature 47.
Violent storms can occur along __________ fronts. 4.e A) occluded B) warm C) stationary D) cold 48.
Why do warm currents begin near the equator? 4.a A) The equator receives the most direct sunlight. B) because all currents, warm and cool, begin near the equator C) Scientists are still unsure. D) because cool air rises and warm air falls 49.
What provides a shield for California against hurricanes? A) tsunami activity B) warm water along the coast C) cold water along the coast D) the California landscape 50.
A major force that has an effect on a shoreline is __________. 2.c A) tides B) waves C) currents D) all of the above 51.
Large bodies of water can cause areas to be __________ in the winter and __________ in the summer. 4.a A) cooler, warmer B) warmer, cooler C) cooler, humid D) warmer, cloudier 52.
Large bodies of water affect coastal regions by __________. 4.a A) causing the region to experience inhospitable conditions B) providing leisure activities C) increasing tourism D) absorbing or giving off heat 53.
Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere__________. 4.e A) over a long period of time B) at a specific time and place C) at a specific temperature D) over a short period of time 54.
Water is set in motion by __________. 4.a A) upwellings B) the Coriolis effect C) stationary objects D) wind 55.
__________ measures the amount of water actually in the air and compares it to what could be there. 4.e A) Relative humidity B) Dew point C) Convection current D) Temperature 56.
Saturation and condensation of water occurs at the __________. 4.e A) aerosol state B) relative humidity C) dew point D) evaporation spot 57.
What is created when colder air sinks below warmer air and pushes warmer air upward? 4.d A) precipitation B) humus C) omnivores D) air currents 58.
Water currents in the ocean curve because of __________. 4.a A) wind B) the Coriolis effect C) the Sun D) upwellings 59.
Factors of weather include all of the following EXCEPT __________. 4.e A) water pressure B) temperature C) wind speed D) wind direction 60.
Wind is impacted by all of the following EXCEPT ________. 4.e A) jet streams B) the heating of Earth's surface C) the Coriolis effect D) ultraviolet radiation