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Oceans

Total questions: 14

Worksheet time: 7mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why are Earth’s oceans salty?

a)

Rain washed salts into them.

b)

They contain a lot of water vapor.

c)

Algal blooms in the ocean produced salt.

2.

Which description best characterizes the seafloor?

a)

A. mostly flat

b)

B. full of life-forms

c)

C. similar to the continents

3.

Ocean waves move water

a)

to form tides.

b)

long distances.

c)

in a circular motion.

4.

Ocean surface currents are caused by

a)

wind.

b)

gravity.

c)

density.

5.

Density currents move ocean water

a)

upward.

b)

downward.

c)

horizontally.

6.

Which situation describes a point-source ocean pollutant?

a)

nitrates mixed in runoff

b)

a nearby volcanic eruption

c)

oil spills from several ships

7.

What causes coral bleaching?

a)

slight changes in water temperature

b)

an increase in carbon dioxide in the water

c)

strong winds that blow for long periods of time

8.

The salinity of Earth’s oceans is the result of

a)

ancient volcanism.

b)

point-source pollutants.

c)

weathering by acid rain.

d)

condensation of water vapor.

9.

Seafloor topography

a)

A. is the result of the Coriolis effect.

b)

is a vast expanse of only abyssal plains.

c)

includes plains, mountains, and trenches.

d)

was produced by upwelling and surface currents.

10.

Density currents are the result of

a)

upwelling during cold months.

b)

wind blowing over a large area

c)

changes in salinity or temperature.

d)

particle circulation in surface waves.

11.

Density currents

a)

can form if salinity increases or decreases.

b)

are caused by strong winds in the open ocean.

c)

have much longer wavelengths than surface currents.

d)

move water horizontally in the northern hemisphere

12.

Which statement is NOT true of surface currents?

a)

They are affected by wind velocity.

b)

They break when their bases drag on the seafloor.

c)

They are highest at spring tide and lowest at neap tide.

d)

Their particle motion depth is about one-half their wavelength.

13.

Ocean currents help regulate Earth’s temperature because they

a)

flow counterclockwise.

b)

have long wavelengths in the deep ocean.

c)

are deflected as the result of the Coriolis effect.

d)

release different amounts of thermal energy and moisture.

14.

Which statement is true of tides?

a)

Neap tides are most common during full moon.

b)

High tide on every beach is 12 hours later than low tide.

c)

High tides would be higher if the Moon were closer to Earth.

d)

The Sun has a greater affect on tides because of its size than the Moon has.