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Oceans Test
Oceans Test
Part I: Multiple Choice - Directions: Read each of the following statements carefully, choosing the
best answer to each statement.
2. The body of water below with the lowest density would be:
A. Pacific Ocean B. Southern Ocean
C. Dead Sea D. Lake Huron
5. Scientists believe that the water vapor which eventually condensed and formed the
Earth’s oceans came from _________.
A. Volcanoes B. Comets and Meteorites
C. The Great Lakes D. Both A & B
6. Due to landforms and the Earth’s rotation, ocean currents form huge circles in the world’s oceans
called:
A. currents B. tides
C. gyres D. Coriolis Effect
8. The zone of ocean water near the sea’s surface, where sunlight penetrates is known as:
A. the benthic zone B. the abyssal plain
C. the aphotic zone D. the photic zone
9. Refer to #8 - This zone would most likely be located on which portion of the ocean floor?
10. The oceans contain approximately _____% of all the Earth’s water.
A. 71% B. 3%
C. 97% D. 3.5%
11. When the Sun, Moon and Earth are all aligned, a _______ is formed.
A. spring tide B. neap tide
C. longshore current D. low tidal range
14. Slow-moving cold ocean currents may rise to the surface. This ________ of cold water carries
food particles to the surface, resulting in areas of good fishing.
A. upwelling B. crest
C. tide D. trough
15. The eastern coast of most continents are _________ due to ocean currents.
A. soaked B. warmed
C. flooded D. cooled
16. Waters off the western coasts of continents are usually colder because of their _____ origin.
A. polar B. tropical
C. equatorial D. warm
17. When wind blows across a body of water, _______ between the air and water causes water to
move.
A. surface currents B. friction
C. gravity D. density
18. A ______ is a wave that forms when a rising tide enters a shallow, narrow river sending water
rushing inland.
A. neap tide B. spring tide
C. tidal bore D. rip current
19. A structure that is constructed out in the ocean, parallel to shore, which blocks much of the wave
energy from reaching the beach is called a(n):
A. groin B. breakwater
C. barrier island D. jetty
20. The distance that the wind travels across open water is known as:
A. fetch B. gyre
C. current D. drift
23. The distance between two crests or two troughs of a wave is called the:
A. wavelength B. wave height
C. wave period D. wave speed
24. Ships are able to travel between two bodies of water that are at different elevations by using
___________.
A. Canals B. Locks
C. Elevators D. Currents
27. The cool ocean current which flows off the west coast of the United States is called the:
A. Gulf Stream B. California current
C. Peru current D. Canary current
29. The warm ocean current that flows off the east coast of Africa is called the:
A. Brazil B. Benguela
C. Peru D. Agulhas
__________ 32. Mid-ocean ridges are formed where one tectonic plate is forced under another.
__________ 33. Estuaries have water with a lower salinity than the rest of the ocean.
__________ 34. Tides are caused by the gravitational pull from the Sun and moon.
__________ 35. Drinking seawater will not keep you alive if you were stranded in the middle of the
ocean.
__________ 36. The entire ocean has the exact same salinity.
__________ 37. Presque Isle sand is entirely black because the sand is formed from black, volcanic
rocks.
__________ 39. The circular patterns of the surface currents are caused by wind.
__________ 40. A sea sponge is a producer that makes its own food by using photosynthesis.
__________ 41. Surface currents are an example of horizontal movement.
__________ 42. Humans often live on volcanic islands called seamounts, such as Hawaii and Iceland.
__________ 43. At the beginning of the Earth’s existence, the oceans were very similar to the way
they are today in depth, location and salinity.
__________ 44. Breakwaters are natural features that slow down longshore erosion.
__________ 45. Two of the currents that make up the North Atlantic Gyre are the Brazil and
Benguela currents.
Part III: Short Answer - Directions: Read the followings questions below carefully and respond.
46. Draw and label a neap tide (be sure to show where the tides are!).
47. Draw and label a spring tide (be sure to show where the tides are!).
48. During which of the tides above would the tidal range be lower?
49. We call water near estuaries with a salinity between freshwater and saltwater ____________
54. Describe how the direction of ocean gyres differs in the North Pacific and South Pacific.
55. What are the two factors which control the density of seawater? What type of currents are formed
by these differences? Are they horizontal or vertical currents?
56. Explain what happens to a wave as it approaches the shore and what will form (3 pts).
57. Clayton has graciously volunteered to walk along the ocean floor from Florida to Africa in the
name of Science (Thanks, Clayton!). After being outfitted with oxygen tanks, a pressured, weighted
suit/helmet, a flashlight and his teddy bear, Clayton is going to take on this great adventure. Please tell
me the parts of the ocean floor in order that he will be traversing on his epic trek (7 points).
58. How could you tell the temperature of an ocean current on an uncolored surface current map?
(be specific)
59. Explain how the audience at a sporting event “doing the wave” is similar to a wave travelling in
the open ocean.