Ocean Organisms
Ocean Floor & Dynamics
Happens in Virginia
Minerals, Rocks, & Ores
The Earth
100
Which statement BEST describes an ocean?
A) a body of fresh water containing Earth's largest organisms
B) a body of salt water that covers about 70% of Earth's surface
C) Earth's largest source of drinking water, located under ground
D) a body of water containing large pieces of ice called glaciers
B) a body of salt water that covers about 70% of Earth's surface
100
The continents do not end at the shoreline. Landforms continue under the sea extending from the continental shelf to the deep ocean floor with a vast variety of life.
Where would the highest number of plant and animal life be found on the ocean floor?
A) abyssal plain
B) continental rise
C) continental slope
D) continental shelf
D) continental shelf
100
Deforestation is a problem in maintaining healthy watersheds. Which of these is NOT a way that forests protect watersheds?
A) Forests cause watersheds to flood.
B) Forests help prevent bank erosion.
C) Trees and plants in forests help filter the storm water.
D) Forests help rain water to move more slowly preventing flooding.
A) Forests cause watersheds to flood.
100
Which rock or mineral is primarily used to produce energy?
A) coal
B) granite
C) limestone
D) sand
A) coal
100
What plate tectonic movement is the reason there are seashell fossils found at the top of the Himalayas?
A) Divergent
B) Transform
C) Convergent
D) Subduction
C) Convergent
200
Trash flies out of a boat into the ocean. The plastic rings from a 6-pack of soda cans land in the ocean water. How does this affect birds that live in the ocean habitat?
A) They use the rings as food.
B) The use the rings as a home.
C) They use the rings as a float.
D) The rings become tangled on their bodies.
D) The rings become tangled on their bodies.
200
Mid-ocean ridges are underwater mountainous regions formed by the separation of ___________.
A) tsunamis
B) tectonic plates
C) continental divides
D) subatomic particles
B) tectonic plates
200
Based on this map of Virginia's watersheds, which is Virginia's largest watershed?
A) New
B) James
C) Holston
D) Albemarle Sound
B) James
200
Use the map of rock layers to determine the region of Virginia where this rock was most likely to be found.
A) The Piedmont region
B) The Coastal Plain region
C) The Valley and Ridge region
D) The Appalachian Plateau region
B) The Coastal Plain region
200
Which location shown on the diagram identifies Earth's hottest layer?
A) location A
B) location B
C) location C
D) location D
A) location A
300
Which list correctly identifies three organisms that all live in the Chesapeake Bay?
A) shrimp, whales, and octopus
B) dolphins, clams, and barracuda
C) salmon, rainbow trout, and halibut
D) oysters, blue crabs, and striped bass
D) oysters, blue crabs, and striped bass
300
In the picture of the ocean floor, letter C marks what landform?
A) rift zone
B) ocean trench
C) deep ocean basin
D) continental shelf
C) deep ocean basin
300
Which plant is considered an invasive species in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia?
A) Blackberries and raspberries are found blooming along open areas of the park. These provide food for hungry bears.
B) The tree-of-heaven is originally from China. It produces a chemical that prevents other plants from growing around it.
C) The American chestnut tree was once the most common tree to see in the park. All of the mature trees of this species are now gone.
D) Poison ivy can cause red, itchy bumps on a hiker's skin when contact is made with its leaves. This vine grows naturally from Canada south to Florida.
B) The tree-of-heaven is originally from China. It produces a chemical that prevents other plants from growing around it.
300
Which of the rock types are likely to be found in Virginia's rivers?
A) coal
B) igneous
C) metamorphic
D) sedimentary
D) sedimentary
300
Scientists use data like this to traces waves that move through the earth. This data is used to predict -
A) earthquakes.
B) flooding.
C) tsunamis.
D) volcanoes.
A) earthquakes.
400
Overfishing of predators, like sharks, can affect the populations of their prey. If too many of these top predators are killed, what could happen to the seal population in the area?
A) The seal population will decrease.
B) The seal population will increase.
C) The seal population will not change.
D) The seal population will have a rapid decline and then will stabilize.
B) The seal population will increase.
400
Which factor MOST directly affects the flow of ocean currents?
A) differences in pressure
B) differences in temperature
C) Earth's revolution round the Sun
D) the Moon's revolution round Earth
B) differences in temperature
400
This collection of photos could be included in a flyer advertising which Virginia location?
A) Lake Anna
B) Blue Ridge Parkway
C) Shenandoah National Park
D) Assateague Island National Seashore
D) Assateague Island National Seashore
400
Ores with iron, copper, lead, gold, and silver have all been mined in Virginia. Which statement best describes the role of these ores in Virginia's economy?
A) They are no longer mined in Virginia because there is no use for these ores.
B) They are mined throughout Virginia, and they are the main export for the state.
C) They were all mined in the past but now have little impact on Virginia's economy.
D) They are all still heavily mined today but are no longer valuable like they once were.
C) They were all mined in the past but now have little impact on Virginia's economy.
400
The movement of the tectonic plates is caused by-
A) convection currents in Earth's mantle.
B) the gravity of the iron-nickel core.
C) the rotation of the Earth.
D) the Moho discontinuity.
A) convection currents in Earth's mantle.
500
Dolphins are mammals that live in the ocean. They look a lot like fish, but they don't have gills, they breathe through a blowhole instead. This means they need to come to the surface of the ocean in order to breathe.
All dolphins have the ability to dive and hunt for prey. When a dolphin is born that can hold more oxygen in its lungs than its parents, this is a potential survival advantage because-
A) it will let the dolphin adapt to a new habitat.
B) it will let the dolphin eventually develop gills.
C) it will make the dolphin more aware of when a predator is near.
D) it will let the dolphin dive and hunt for longer periods of time.
D) it will let the dolphin dive and hunt for longer periods of time.
500
Which statement BEST describes why warm ocean currents are usually surface currents?
A) Warm water is less dense than cold water.
B) Ocean tides bring warm water to the surface.
C) Warm water contains more salt than cold water.
D) Ocean water loses heat to the air at the surface.
A) Warm water is less dense than cold water.
500
Which is these is NOT a product created from Virginia's forests?
A) copy paper
B) dish towels
C) telephone poles
D) construction lumber
B) dish towels
500
Which statement BEST describes this rock?
A) The rock is composed of only one type of mineral.
B) The rock is metamorphic and is composed of layers of different minerals.
C) The rock is composed of igneous rocks as shown by the dark, shiny layers.
D) The rock is sedimentary and is composed of many minerals that were combined into one rock.
B) The rock is metamorphic and is composed of layers of different minerals.
500
In some areas of the world, like California and Japan, earthquakes are a common occurrence. How can this best be explained?
A) The strong ocean currents are undermining both areas causing earthquakes.
B) Both areas are subjected to strong ocean wind and waves that causes earthquakes.
C) Both areas are located near the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the unstable sand causes earthquakes.
D) Both areas are on the boundary of active plate margins, the motion of the plates causes earthquakes.
D) Both areas are on the boundary of active plate margins, the motion of the plates causes earthquakes.