Climate
Practice Test
1.
According to the table, which of these climates are most likely to be found near the equator?
Type of Climates
Description
TitleDefining Characteristics
Tropical climates
Tropical wet
High temperatures year round
High rates of precipitation
Tropical wet and dry
High temperatures year round
Wet summers, dry winters
Mild climates
Marine west coast
Cool summers, mild winters
Abundant precipitation
Mediterranean
Warm summers, mild winters
Moderate precipitation
Humid subtropical
Wet, warm summers
Dry, cool winters
Dry climates
Semiarid
Scarce vegetation
Little precipitation
Arid
Very scarce vegetation
Very little precipitation
Continental climates
Warm summer
Warm summers, relatively cold winters
Moderate precipitation
Cool summer
Cool summers, relatively cold winters
Moderate precipitation
Subartic
Cold summers, cold winters
Moderate precipitation
Polar climates
Tundra
Cold year-round
Scarce vegetation
Ice cap
Very cold year-round
No vegetation
High elevation
Highlands
Variation of polar climate on mountains
Uplands
Variation of polar climate on high plateaus
a.
mild climates
b.
high elevation
c.
polar climates
d.
tropical climates
2.
The climates of coastal zones are affected by __________.
a.
orogenic lifting
b.
the polar zones
c.
topographic effects
d.
the tropics
3.
What region are meteorological normals correctly describing?
a.
The entire state where the meteorologic data were collected.
b.
Only the specific climate zone where the meteorologic data were collected.
c.
All the area within a 50 mile radius of where the meteorologic data were collected.
d.
Only the specific place where the meteorologic data were collected.
4.
Most scientists agree that __________.
a.
the greenhouse gases are decreasing
b.
Earth's temperature is decreasing due to natural effects
c.
Earth's temperature is rising due to human effects
d.
global warming is occurring
5.
According to the map, which climates are found near the poles?
a.
tropical wet and tropical dry
b.
semiarid and arid
c.
highlands and uplands
d.
tundra and ice caps
6.
What type of climate is common in the southeastern United States?
a.
dry-summer subtropical
b.
temperate
c.
humid subtropical
d.
tropical
7.
Approximately how long is a sunspot cycle?
a.
10,000 years
b.
14,000 years
c.
100 years
d.
11 years
8.
The natural heating of Earth's surface by the atmosphere is called __________.
a.
global warming
b.
the ozone hole
c.
El Nino
d.
the greenhouse effect
9.
If global warming continues too far, which climates shown in the figure will be affected?
a.
tundra
b.
ice cap
c.
all of the above
d.
arid
10.
The increase in temperature caused by an increase of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere is called __________.
a.
El Nino
b.
global warming
c.
the ozone hole
d.
the greenhouse effect
11.
What characterizes tropical climates of Köppen's classification?
a.
little precipitation
b.
palm trees
c.
wet and dry zones
d.
constant high temperatures
12.
The area of the globe that receives the most solar radiation year round is called the __________?
a.
temperate region
b.
south pole
c.
north pole
d.
tropics
13.
How is climate different than weather?
a.
Weather is easier to predict.
b.
Weather is more variable.
c.
Climate describes the long-term weather patterns.
d.
Climate describes only the average weather.
14.
During the last Ice Age, which climates shown in this map grew the most?
a.
ice cap
b.
arid
c.
tropical, wet
d.
mediterranean
15.
What type of climate is common along the western coast of the United States?
a.
tropical
b.
humid, subtropical
c.
dry-summer, subtropical
d.
temperate
16.
Which of the following can increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
a.
deforestation
b.
industrial burning of fossil fuels
c.
automobile exhaust
d.
all of these answers are correct
17.
What can block solar radiation and have a short-term effect on climate?
a.
the intensity of sunspots
b.
the shape of Earth's orbit
c.
the wobble of Earth's axis
d.
the ashes in the atmosphere from a volcanic eruption
18.
These graphs compare the average temperature and precipitation of two cities. What is the most significant difference between the climates of City X and City Y?
a.
City X is in a very cold area.
b.
City Y has a higher average temperature.
c.
City Y has more mild weather.
d.
City X has consistent rainfall throughout the year.
19.
Throughout geologic time, Earth has been __________.
a.
only warmer than the present
b.
always colder then the present
c.
warmer and colder than the present
d.
a steady temperature
