Chapter 3 Quiz

1.  Gases are ________ of the atmosphere.
  unevenly mixed throughout all levels 
  evenly mixed throughout all levels 
  evenly mixed in the upper layers 
  unevenly mixed in the lower layers 
  evenly mixed in the lower layers 
 

2. A two-part figure showing the natural formation and breakdown of ozone because of ultraviolet energy.

This figure shows the breakdown of ozone in the stratosphere. This breakdown is the result of ________.
  a chemical solution 
  the absorption of ultraviolet energy 
  CFCs joining with ozone 
  the reflection of photons 
  photosynthetic activity 
 

3. The order of the atmospheric layers from the earth’s surface upwards is ________.
  thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and troposphere 
  troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and thermosphere 
  troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere 
  stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and troposphere 
  exosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, and mesosphere 
 

4. The ozone layer is in that portion of the atmosphere known as the ________.
  heterosphere 
  mesosphere 
  stratosphere 
  troposphere 
  ionosphere 
 

5. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
  Oceans and land can store about the same amount of heat per volume. 
  Oceans and land cool at about the same rate. 
  Cities near oceans tend to have warmer summers than cities inland. 
  Land cools more quickly than water. 
  Oceans cool more quickly than land. 
 

6. Which of the following is NOT considered a pollutant when released by the actions of humans?
  Carbon monoxide 
  Sulfur compounds 
  Water vapor 
  Chlorofluorocarbons 
  Photochemical smog 
 

7. A “hole” in the ozone layer was first discovered over ________.
  Antarctica 
  Africa 
  the equator 
  Hollywood 
  the United States 
 
8.  “Weather” and “climate” are ________.
  synonyms 
  differentiated because climate studies the long-term 
  differentiated because weather is not covered in your textbook 
  differentiated because climate studies the stratosphere 
  both atmospheric studies based on many decades of data 
 

9. Which of the following climatic controls can be considered the most important?
  Distribution of land and water 
  Elevation 
  Longitude 
  Storms 
  Latitude 
 

10. The present atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is approximately 400 ________.
  parts per hundred 
  parts per thousand 
  parts per billion 
  parts per trillion 
  parts per million 
 

11 Which of the following is NOT an atmospheric gas?
  Carbon dioxide 
  Oxygen 
  Water vapor 
  Clouds 
  Nitrogen 
 

12. The main impact of ozone on life on the Earth’s surface is to ________.
  initiate violent storms 
  provide oxygen for the atmosphere 
  act as a lid preventing gases from escaping 
  reduce ultraviolet solar radiation 
  serve as a nucleus for cloud formation 
 
13  Which of the following is NOT an important function of Earth’s atmosphere?
  Insulates the surface against temperature extremes 
  Maintains a water supply 
  Screens out much of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation
  Maintains an envelope of pure oxygen 
  Supplies the oxygen for life 
 

14. The influence of carbon dioxide on the climate is mainly due to its ability to absorb ________.
  infrared radiation 
  water 
  ions 
  helium 
  argon 
 

15. Which of the following is NOT a “weather element”?
  Pressure 
  Moisture 
  Latitude 
  Temperature 
  Wind 
 

16. The main component of the lower atmosphere by total volume is ________.
  helium 
  water vapor 
  nitrogen 
  argon 
  oxygen 
 

17. The atmospheric layer in which gases do not maintain a uniform composition is the ________.
  ionosphere 
  homosphere 
  heterosphere 
  troposphere 
  stratosphere 
 

18. Ozone is actually ________.
  a naturally occurring substance 
  more healthy to breathe than oxygen 
  a pollutant caused by the burning of fossil fuels 
  a form of carbon dioxide 
  a form of oxygen 
 

19. Photochemical ________ is (are) the result of gases reacting to ultraviolet solar energy in strong sunlight, and forming secondary pollutants.
  precipitation 
  smog 
  wind 
  aerosols 
  erosion 
 

20. ________ is (are) crucial to the formation of clouds in the atmosphere.
  Argon 
  Particulates 
  Lightning 
  Neon 
  Ozone 
 

21. After water vapor, ________ is the most plentiful of the variable gases in the atmosphere.
  carbon monoxide 
  sulfur dioxide 
  argon 
  ozone 
  carbon dioxide 
 

22. Oxygen (O2) is being added to the atmosphere by ________.
  vegetation 
  the burning of coal 
  animal decomposition 
  meteorites 
  solar radiation 
 

23. Mountains act as major climatic barriers with the sheltered or ________ side receiving less moisture than the exposed side.
  leeward 
  north 
  struck 
  windward 
  Coriolis 
 

24. Climatic controls include all but which of the following?
  Altitude 
  Plane of the equator 
  General circulation of the ocean’s currents
  Distribution of land and water 
  Latitude 

Chapter 3 Quiz Answers

1.  Gases are ________ of the atmosphere.
  unevenly mixed throughout all levels 
  evenly mixed throughout all levels 
  evenly mixed in the upper layers 
  unevenly mixed in the lower layers 
  evenly mixed in the lower layers 
 

Answers:    evenly mixed in the lower layers