Package Title: Testbank
Course Title: Introducing Physical Geography 6e
Chapter Number: 01

Question Type: Multiple Choice

01) The Sun’s rays strike the surface of the Earth at 90 degrees at the ____________ on December 22.

a) Tropic of Cancer
b) Equator
c) Tropic of Capricorn
d) Arctic Circle
e) Antarctic Circle

Answer: c

Difficulty: Medium
Section Reference 1: The Earth’s Revolution around the Sun
Learning Objective 1: 1.6: Describe Earth’s seasons using its revolution around the Sun. 

02) The Earth’s axis is always tilted at an angle of _________ degrees to the plane of the ecliptic.

a) 15
b) 23.5
c) 33.3
d) 66.5
e) 90

Answer: b

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: The Earth’s Revolution around the Sun
Learning Objective 1: 1.6: Describe Earth’s seasons using its revolution around the Sun. 

03) In the southern hemisphere, the vernal equinox occurs on or around:

a) June 22
b) December 22
c) March 21
d) September 23
e) January 4

Answer: d

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: The Earth’s Revolution around the Sun
Learning Objective 1: 1.6: Describe Earth’s seasons using its revolution around the Sun. 

04) Latitude:

a) describes the east-west locations on the globe
b) is a measure of the rotation of the Earth
c) lines (parallels )are all the same length
d) lines (parallels )include the Equator
e) lines (parallels )include the International Date Line

Answer: d

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: The Geographic Grid
Learning Objective 1: 1.3: Describe the features of the geographic grid

05) The meridian at 0 degrees is:

a) the prime meridian
b) the Equator
c) the Arctic Circle
d) the Antarctic Circle
e) the International Date Line

Answer: a

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: The Geographic Grid
Learning Objective 1: 1.3: Describe the features of the geographic grid

06) When the subsolar point is located at its highest latitude in the northern hemisphere it is:

a) the summer solstice
b) the winter solstice
c) the autumnal equinox
d) the vernal equinox
e) the spring equinox

Answer: a

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: The Earth’s Revolution around the Sun
Learning Objective 1: 1.6: Describe Earth’s seasons using its revolution around the Sun. 

07) At the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere:

a) more solar radiation reaches the northern hemisphere
b) more solar radiation reaches the southern hemisphere
c) equal amounts of solar radiation reach both hemispheres
d) regions north of the Arctic Circle receive 24 hours of daylight
e) regions north of the Arctic Circle receive 24 hours of night

Answer: c

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: The Earth’s Revolution around the Sun
Learning Objective 1: 1.6: Describe Earth’s seasons using its revolution around the Sun. 

08) The point on the Earth’s surface where the Sun is directly overhead is:

a) subsolar point
b) circle of illumination
c) great circle
d) small circle
e) Arctic Circle

Answer: a

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: The Earth’s Revolution around the Sun
Learning Objective 1: 1.6: Describe Earth’s seasons using its revolution around the Sun. 

09) At the moment of the aphelion, the Earth’s position in its orbit is: 

a) directly between the plane of the ecliptic and the Tropic of Capricorn
b) farthest from the Sun
c) closest to the Sun
d) farther from the Moon than at the perihelion
e) closer to the Moon than at the aphelion 

Answer: b

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: The Earth’s Revolution around the Sun
Learning Objective 1: 1.6: Describe Earth’s seasons using its revolution around the Sun. 

10) What forces cause the Earth to assume the shape of an oblate ellipsoid?

a) Gravitational pull of the Sun
b) Outward force of the Earth’s rotation 
c) Earth’s revolution around the Sun
d) Tectonic forces
e) Gravitational influence of the Moon

Answer: b

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: The Shape of the Earth
Learning Objective 1: 1.1: Describe the shape of the Earth

11) On which of the following projections does a straight line represent a true and constant compass bearing?

a) conic
b) cylindrical
c) isarithmic
d) equal-area
e) Mercator

Answer: e

Difficulty: Easy
Section Reference 1: Map Projections
Learning Objective 1: 1.4: Explain different types of map projections

12) Which of the following statements is incorrect?

a) The Earth rotates counterclockwise on its axis when viewed from the North Pole.
b) The circumference of the Earth at the Equator is greater than the circumference of the Earth around the poles.  
c) The distance traveled during a complete rotation of the Earth by a person standing on one of the poles is approximately the same as someone else standing at the Equator.
d) The rotation of the Earth on its axis determines the length of a calendar day.
e) The lines of longitude converge at the poles.

Answer: c