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.   polar climates  
  c.   tropical climates  
  d.   high elevation  
      
  2.The climates of coastal zones are affected by __________.  
  a.   the polar zones  
  b.   the tropics  
  c.   orogenic lifting  
  d.   topographic effects  
      
  3.During the last Ice Age, which climates shown in this map grew the most?



  
  a.   mediterranean  
  b.   ice cap  
  c.   tropical, wet  
  d.   arid  
      
  4.What region are meteorological normals correctly describing?  
  a.   All the area within a 50 mile radius of where the meteorologic data were collected.  
  b.   Only the specific place where the meteorologic data were collected.  
  c.   The entire state where the meteorologic data were collected.  
  d.   Only the specific climate zone where the meteorologic data were collected.  
      
  5.Throughout geologic time, Earth has been __________.  
  a.   warmer and colder than the present  
  b.   always colder then the present  
  c.   only warmer than the present  
  d.   a steady temperature  
      
  6.What is a heat island?  
  a.   a subtropical island  
  b.   an island that is warmer than the surrounding ocean  
  c.   an area where climate is warmer due to concrete and asphalt  
  d.   an area where the climate is colder due to an increase in elevation  
      
  7.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 Y has a higher average temperature.  
  b.   City X has consistent rainfall throughout the year.  
  c.   City X is in a very cold area.  
  d.   City Y has more mild weather.  
      
  8.Approximately how long is a sunspot cycle?  
  a.   100 years  
  b.   14,000 years  
  c.   10,000 years  
  d.   11 years  
      
  9.What minimum length of time is used to make normals for an area?  
  a.   30 months  
  b.   10 years  
  c.   1 year  
  d.   30 years  
      
  10.The natural heating of Earth's surface by the atmosphere is called __________.  
  a.   the greenhouse effect  
  b.   the ozone hole  
  c.   El Nino  
  d.   global warming  
      
  11.Which of the following can increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?  
  a.   all of these answers are correct  
  b.   deforestation  
  c.   automobile exhaust  
  d.   industrial burning of fossil fuels  
      
  12.What is the Köppen classification system based on?  
  a.   mean monthly values of temperature  
  b.   mean yearly values of temperature and precipitation only  
  c.   mean monthly values of temperature and precipitation, and vegetation  
  d.   vegetation and precipitation  
      
  13.What can block solar radiation and have a short-term effect on climate?  
  a.   the ashes in the atmosphere from a volcanic eruption  
  b.   the wobble of Earth's axis  
  c.   the shape of Earth's orbit  
  d.   the intensity of sunspots  
      
  14.If global warming continues too far, which climates shown in the figure will be affected?  
  a.   arid  
  b.   ice cap  
  c.   tundra  
  d.   all of the above  
      
  15.A steppe is a subtype of __________ climates.  
  a.   polar  
  b.   dry  
  c.   subtropical  
  d.   temperate  
      
  16.The increase in temperature caused by an increase of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere is called __________.  
  a.   global warming  
  b.   the greenhouse effect  
  c.   the ozone hole  
  d.   El Nino  
      
  17.Most scientists agree that __________.  
  a.   Earth's temperature is rising due to human effects  
  b.   global warming is occurring  
  c.   the greenhouse gases are decreasing  
  d.   Earth's temperature is decreasing due to natural effects  
      
  18.What characterizes tropical climates of Köppen's classification?  
  a.   little precipitation  
  b.   palm trees  
  c.   wet and dry zones  
  d.   constant high temperatures  
      
  19.How is climate different than weather?  
  a.   Climate describes only the average weather.  
  b.   Climate describes the long-term weather patterns.  
  c.   Weather is easier to predict.  
  d.   Weather is more variable.  

 
   
McGraw-Hill / Glencoe
The McGraw-Hill Companies