Oceania & Antarctica

What forms low islands?

• Sand drifts

• Tectonic Collisions

• Glacial activity
• Coral reefs and volcanic activity.

Answer explanation

In Oceania, "low islands" are primarily coral islands, formed from the accumulation of coral reefs, and are typically situated at or very near sea level

Where are atolls usually located around?

• around population centers

• around larger continents

• around rich iron deposits

• around submerged, extinct volcanoes

Answer explanation

Atolls are usually found in tropical areas of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, in warmer waters where there is volcanic activity: 

This circular type of coral reef, called an atoll, is created as a ring of coral surrounds an undersea volcano that has risen above the water's surface. Long after the volcano has receded into the ocean, the atoll remains. The habitat inside the atoll, protected from the open sea by the sturdy reef, is called a lagoon.

Who was the first person to reach the South Pole?

• Roald Amundsen
• Robert Falcon Scott
• Ernest Shackleton
• James Cook

Answer explanation

15 December 1911 At 3pm Roald Amundsen (commander of gropup) becomes the first person to reach the South Pole. The five men – Amundsen, Helmer Hanssen, Olav Bjaaland, Sverre Hassel and Oscar Wisting – make careful observations of the site for the next two days

Which region in the world is highlighted in green on this map?

• Oceana

• Antarctica

• Australia

• New Zealand

Which of these islands is likely to have the richest soil?

• Papua New Guinea

• low islands

• Bikini Atoll

• Palmyra Atoll

Answer explanation

New Guinea is considered to have some of the richest soil in the world primarily due to its high volcanic activity, which has deposited a large amount of nutrient-rich volcanic ash across the island, creating fertile soil particularly in the highland regions; this ongoing volcanic activity also contributes to the diverse plant life found there. 

How thick are some of the ice caps over Antarctica?

• 2 miles

• 100 feet

• 500 feet

• 1 mile

Answer explanation

The ice averages one and a half miles in thickness. Antarctica's ice is so heavy that it compresses the land surface over much of the continent to below sea level.

Together, the Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheets contain more than 99 percent of the land ice and over 68 percent of the fresh water on Earth. Ice sheets are an important resource because they contribute vital ecosystem services, such as keeping fresh water frozen as ice—acting as global water towers.

Which item is a major export of many islands in Oceania?

• coconuts

• bananas

• oranges

• pineapples

Answer explanation

Coconuts are a naturally abundant crop in the tropical climate of the region, providing a versatile source of food, oil, fiber, and building materials, making them a vital component of the local economy and a readily exportable commodity, especially in the form of copra (dried coconut meat), which can be easily processed and transported.

Most islands within Oceania have what type of climate?

• Tundra

• Tropical Island

• Humid Continental

• Desert

Susie is a scientist who studies climate change. As part of a larger experiment, her work requires her to travel. Her company makes sure to send her in January, as the conditions in the area to which she is traveling are inhospitable in June. Where is Sonja traveling?

• Fiji

• Antarctica

• Tahiti

• Polynesia

Answer explanation

In Antarctica, January is considered the peak of summer, with significantly warmer temperatures and almost constant daylight, while June is the coldest month with near-total darkness and much lower temperatures

In what century did Europeans first began exploring Oceania?

• 18th century
• 15th century
• 16th century
• 17th century