Climate and Climate Change Chapter Test A Multiple Choice Write the letter of the correct answer on the line at the left. 1. Climates are classified according to two major factors: a. elevation and precipitation. b. latitude and temperature. c. elevation and latitude. d. precipitation and temperature. 2. The Japanese satellite GOSAT measures the levels of the major greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ). How does being able to track greenhouse gases make life better? a. It can help scientists learn about climate change. b. It can help scientists determine the size of Earth. c. It can keep track of the sunspots on the sun. d. It can keep track of the movement of continents. 3. Permafrost and mosses, lichens, and wildflowers are common in the a. tundra climate. b. subtropical climate. c. temperate climate. d. ice cap climate. 4. Which of the following has caused repeating 100,000-year cycles of ice ages in the past? a. an increase in sun spots b. several major volcanic eruptions c. changes in Earth s orbit and the tilt of its axis d. continental drift 5. The farther you live from an ocean, the more likely your climate will be a a. marine climate. b. tropical climate. c. continental climate. d. subtropical climate. 6. Over the past 200 years, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has a. decreased slightly. b. increased until recently, and then decreased. c. increased steadily. d. stayed about the same. 1
7. Clues to what ancient climates were like come from all of the following except a. ice cores. b. thickness of rock layers. c. fossil tree rings. d. plant pollens. 8. What are some reasonable safety precautions for conducting field investigations in polar climates? a. None; there are no hazards in polar climates. b. Always wear goggles and aprons. c. Be prepared for cold weather and use common sense. d. Always go into the field alone. 9. Sea and land breezes over a large region that change direction with the seasons are called a. savannas. b. prevailing winds. c. monsoons. d. desert winds. 10. Which branch of engineering would be MOST involved in investigating climate change? a. computer science engineering b. mechanical engineering c. environmental engineering d. chemical engineering Completion Fill in the line to complete each statement. 11. Streams of water called ocean move warm or cold water, warming or cooling the nearby land. 12. Climate changes may be linked to changes in the number of on the surface of the sun. 13. The gradual increase in the temperature of the atmosphere is known as _. 14. The land on the side of a mountain range is in a rain shadow. 15. are forests in which plenty of rain falls all year. 2
True or False If the statement is true, write true. If it is false, change the underlined word or words to make the statement true. 16. An arid or semiarid climate occurs where precipitation is greater than potential evaporation. 17. Scientists assume that an organism s ancestors required a climate similar to the climate required by the present-day organism. 18. Oceans make the temperatures of nearby land more extreme. 19. The main factors that affect an area s temperature are prevailing winds and mountains. 20. Temperate continental climates have cold winters. Using Science Skills Use the diagram to answer each question. 21. Which zones are polar zones? 22. Which zones are temperate zones? 23. Which continent lies almost completely within the tropical zone? 3
Essay Write an answer for each of the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. 24. Briefly describe three theories scientists have proposed to explain natural climate changes. 25. Describe temperate continental climates. Using Science Skills Use the diagram to answer questions 26 through 28. 26. In which states does the marine west coast climate occur? 27. Which climate regions would you cross if you traveled from west to east across the widest part of Texas? 28. Compare the climates of Las Vegas and New Orleans. 4
Essay Write an answer for each of the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. 29. Prevailing winds blow from the Pacific Ocean toward two cities separated by mountains. City A is on the leeward side of the mountains and city B is on the windward side. Which city is likely to have a wetter climate? Explain your answer. 30. Describe some of the effects of global warming. What are some possible solutions to this problem? 5