OCE 1001 Exam 2 Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: In terms of temperature for high-latitude regions, which layer is absent?
a) Halocline
b) Pycnocline
c) Mixing zone
d) Thermocline
Answer: D. Thermocline
Question 2: Is there relatively high or low seawater salinity in the high latitudes? What combination of
factors explains the salinity at high latitudes?
a) Lower salinity due to high precipitation and runoff and melting icebergs, and low evaporation due to cooler
temperatures
b) Higher salinity due to low evaporation and low runoff
c) Higher salinity due to high precipitation and runoff and melting icebergs, and low evaporation due to cooler
temperatures
d) Lower salinity due to warm temperatures, which leads to high evaporation and low precipitation and runoff
Answer: A. Lower salinity due to high precipitation and runoff and melting icebergs, and low evaporation
due to cooler temperatures
Question 3: Is there relatively high or low seawater salinity in the low latitudes? What combination of
factors explains the salinity at low latitudes?
a) Salinity is uniformly high due to the high levels of evaporation.
b) There is not much of a relative difference in the seawater salinity between high latitudes and low latitudes;
the variation in low-latitude salinity averages out to be about the same as in high latitudes.
c) Compared to high latitudes, there is lower salinity due to higher evaporation, but the salinity is slightly lower
close to the equator due to an increase in runoff there.
d) Compared to high latitudes, there is higher salinity due to higher evaporation, but the salinity is slightly
lower close to the equator due to an increase in runoff there.
Answer: D. Compared to high latitudes, there is higher salinity due to higher evaporation, but the salinity is
slightly lower close to the equator due to an increase in runoff there.
Page 1
,Question 4: As climate change causes global rises in temperature, which of the following processes
affecting sea surface salinity are likely to occur? Choose all that apply.
a) Decreased sea ice formation will decrease sea surface salinity.
b) Higher levels of evaporation from the ocean will increase sea surface salinity.
c) Higher levels of precipitation and runoff will decrease sea surface salinity.
d) Increased melting of glacial ice and sea ice will decrease sea surface salinity
e) Increased sea ice formation will increase sea surface salinity.
Answer: Decreased sea ice formation will decrease sea surface salinity. Higher levels of evaporation from
the ocean will increase sea surface salinity. Higher levels of precipitation and runoff will decrease sea
surface salinity. Increased melting of glacial ice and sea ice will decrease sea surface salinity
Question 5: The correct order of substances from most acidic to most alkaline is _______, ________,
__________.
a) seawater, pure water, rainwater
b) pure water, rainwater, seawater
c) seawater, rainwater, pure water
d) rainwater, pure water, seawater
e) rainwater, seawater, pure water
Answer: D. rainwater, pure water, seawater
Question 6: Which of the following is the smallest reservoir of the Earth's hydrologic cycle?
a) Groundwater and soil moisture
b) World ocean
c) Streams and lakes
d) Ice caps, glaciers, and snow
e) Atmospheric water vapor
Answer: E. Atmospheric water vapor
Question 7: Which of the following gases in the atmosphere is the most abundant percentage by
volume?
a) Oxygen
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Methane
d) Nitrogen
Answer: D. Nitrogen
Page 2
,Question 8: If all the water in the ocean was evaporated and only the solid salt was left behind, how
much salt would there be?
a) enough to blanket North America in a foot of salt
b) enough to form a layer about 500 feet thick that covers all of Earth
c) enough to fill one 50-story building
d) enough to create a 1-inch-thick coating on the ocean floor
e) enough to replace the volume of all the water in the oceans with salt
Answer: B. enough to form a layer about 500 feet thick that covers all of Earth
Question 9: Which statement accurately describes the interaction between a water molecule and
sodium chloride as it dissolves?
a) The negative oxygen end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive chloride ion.
b) The positive oxygen end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive sodium ion.
c) The negative oxygen end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive sodium ion.
d) The negative hydrogen end of the water molecule is attracted to the negative chloride ion.
e) The positive hydrogen end of the water molecule is attracted to the negative sodium ion.
Answer: C. The negative oxygen end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive sodium ion.
Question 10: Why is water able to dissolve salt?
a) Water molecules are polar and are attracted to the electrically charged ions that form salts.
b) Salt is composed of two different elements that are not bonded to one another, so it dissolves easily.
c) The water molecule is bent so that salt attaches to the oxygen side of the molecule and is dissolved.
d) Polar water molecules are attracted to nonpolar salt molecules, causing them to separate.
e) Oxygen atoms are negatively charged and attract other negatively charged elements like salts.
Answer: A. Water molecules are polar and are attracted to the electrically charged ions that form salts.
Question 11: Which attributes of the water molecule arise from the unique bend in its geometry?
a) Both sides are negatively charged.
b) The oxygen end has a positive charge, and the hydrogen end has a negative charge.
c) Both sides are positively charged.
d) The hydrogen end has a positive charge, and the oxygen end has a negative charge.
Answer: D. The hydrogen end has a positive charge, and the oxygen end has a negative charge.
Page 3
, Question 12: Why does the water molecule have polarity?
a) Water contains two hydrogen atoms, which outnumber the one oxygen atom.
b) Water contains two elements that have opposite charges from one another.
c) Water is geometrically bent to give one side, or pole, a positive charge and the opposite side a negative
charge.
d) Both sides of the water molecule can help to dissolve substances.
Answer: C. Water is geometrically bent to give one side, or pole, a positive charge and the opposite side a
negative charge.
Question 13: The states of matter in which water exists is primarily determined by:
a) pH.
b) density.
c) salinity
d) chlorinity
e) temperature.
Answer: E. temperature.
Question 14: The Principle of Constant Proportions states that:
a) the percentage of chloride varies with geographical location.
b) the percentage of sodium varies with ocean depth.
c) the relative concentrations of the major ions in seawater does not change.
d) ocean salinity varies with geographical location.
e) ocean salinity varies as a function of season.
Answer: C. the relative concentrations of the major ions in seawater does not change.
Question 15: We might expect to encounter brackish ocean surface water __________.
a) in the trade wind belt of the North Pacific Ocean
b) off the coast of Washington and Oregon
c) in the middle latitudes of the North Atlantic Ocean
d) in the Persian Gulf
e) in the Mediterranean Sea
Answer: B. off the coast of Washington and Oregon
Question 16: Hydrogen bonds form between neighboring water molecules because of:
a) the viscosity of water.
b) surface tension.
c) electron transfer.
d) electron sharing.
e) the polarity of water molecules.
Answer: E. the polarity of water molecules.
Page 4
Question 1: In terms of temperature for high-latitude regions, which layer is absent?
a) Halocline
b) Pycnocline
c) Mixing zone
d) Thermocline
Answer: D. Thermocline
Question 2: Is there relatively high or low seawater salinity in the high latitudes? What combination of
factors explains the salinity at high latitudes?
a) Lower salinity due to high precipitation and runoff and melting icebergs, and low evaporation due to cooler
temperatures
b) Higher salinity due to low evaporation and low runoff
c) Higher salinity due to high precipitation and runoff and melting icebergs, and low evaporation due to cooler
temperatures
d) Lower salinity due to warm temperatures, which leads to high evaporation and low precipitation and runoff
Answer: A. Lower salinity due to high precipitation and runoff and melting icebergs, and low evaporation
due to cooler temperatures
Question 3: Is there relatively high or low seawater salinity in the low latitudes? What combination of
factors explains the salinity at low latitudes?
a) Salinity is uniformly high due to the high levels of evaporation.
b) There is not much of a relative difference in the seawater salinity between high latitudes and low latitudes;
the variation in low-latitude salinity averages out to be about the same as in high latitudes.
c) Compared to high latitudes, there is lower salinity due to higher evaporation, but the salinity is slightly lower
close to the equator due to an increase in runoff there.
d) Compared to high latitudes, there is higher salinity due to higher evaporation, but the salinity is slightly
lower close to the equator due to an increase in runoff there.
Answer: D. Compared to high latitudes, there is higher salinity due to higher evaporation, but the salinity is
slightly lower close to the equator due to an increase in runoff there.
Page 1
,Question 4: As climate change causes global rises in temperature, which of the following processes
affecting sea surface salinity are likely to occur? Choose all that apply.
a) Decreased sea ice formation will decrease sea surface salinity.
b) Higher levels of evaporation from the ocean will increase sea surface salinity.
c) Higher levels of precipitation and runoff will decrease sea surface salinity.
d) Increased melting of glacial ice and sea ice will decrease sea surface salinity
e) Increased sea ice formation will increase sea surface salinity.
Answer: Decreased sea ice formation will decrease sea surface salinity. Higher levels of evaporation from
the ocean will increase sea surface salinity. Higher levels of precipitation and runoff will decrease sea
surface salinity. Increased melting of glacial ice and sea ice will decrease sea surface salinity
Question 5: The correct order of substances from most acidic to most alkaline is _______, ________,
__________.
a) seawater, pure water, rainwater
b) pure water, rainwater, seawater
c) seawater, rainwater, pure water
d) rainwater, pure water, seawater
e) rainwater, seawater, pure water
Answer: D. rainwater, pure water, seawater
Question 6: Which of the following is the smallest reservoir of the Earth's hydrologic cycle?
a) Groundwater and soil moisture
b) World ocean
c) Streams and lakes
d) Ice caps, glaciers, and snow
e) Atmospheric water vapor
Answer: E. Atmospheric water vapor
Question 7: Which of the following gases in the atmosphere is the most abundant percentage by
volume?
a) Oxygen
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Methane
d) Nitrogen
Answer: D. Nitrogen
Page 2
,Question 8: If all the water in the ocean was evaporated and only the solid salt was left behind, how
much salt would there be?
a) enough to blanket North America in a foot of salt
b) enough to form a layer about 500 feet thick that covers all of Earth
c) enough to fill one 50-story building
d) enough to create a 1-inch-thick coating on the ocean floor
e) enough to replace the volume of all the water in the oceans with salt
Answer: B. enough to form a layer about 500 feet thick that covers all of Earth
Question 9: Which statement accurately describes the interaction between a water molecule and
sodium chloride as it dissolves?
a) The negative oxygen end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive chloride ion.
b) The positive oxygen end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive sodium ion.
c) The negative oxygen end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive sodium ion.
d) The negative hydrogen end of the water molecule is attracted to the negative chloride ion.
e) The positive hydrogen end of the water molecule is attracted to the negative sodium ion.
Answer: C. The negative oxygen end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive sodium ion.
Question 10: Why is water able to dissolve salt?
a) Water molecules are polar and are attracted to the electrically charged ions that form salts.
b) Salt is composed of two different elements that are not bonded to one another, so it dissolves easily.
c) The water molecule is bent so that salt attaches to the oxygen side of the molecule and is dissolved.
d) Polar water molecules are attracted to nonpolar salt molecules, causing them to separate.
e) Oxygen atoms are negatively charged and attract other negatively charged elements like salts.
Answer: A. Water molecules are polar and are attracted to the electrically charged ions that form salts.
Question 11: Which attributes of the water molecule arise from the unique bend in its geometry?
a) Both sides are negatively charged.
b) The oxygen end has a positive charge, and the hydrogen end has a negative charge.
c) Both sides are positively charged.
d) The hydrogen end has a positive charge, and the oxygen end has a negative charge.
Answer: D. The hydrogen end has a positive charge, and the oxygen end has a negative charge.
Page 3
, Question 12: Why does the water molecule have polarity?
a) Water contains two hydrogen atoms, which outnumber the one oxygen atom.
b) Water contains two elements that have opposite charges from one another.
c) Water is geometrically bent to give one side, or pole, a positive charge and the opposite side a negative
charge.
d) Both sides of the water molecule can help to dissolve substances.
Answer: C. Water is geometrically bent to give one side, or pole, a positive charge and the opposite side a
negative charge.
Question 13: The states of matter in which water exists is primarily determined by:
a) pH.
b) density.
c) salinity
d) chlorinity
e) temperature.
Answer: E. temperature.
Question 14: The Principle of Constant Proportions states that:
a) the percentage of chloride varies with geographical location.
b) the percentage of sodium varies with ocean depth.
c) the relative concentrations of the major ions in seawater does not change.
d) ocean salinity varies with geographical location.
e) ocean salinity varies as a function of season.
Answer: C. the relative concentrations of the major ions in seawater does not change.
Question 15: We might expect to encounter brackish ocean surface water __________.
a) in the trade wind belt of the North Pacific Ocean
b) off the coast of Washington and Oregon
c) in the middle latitudes of the North Atlantic Ocean
d) in the Persian Gulf
e) in the Mediterranean Sea
Answer: B. off the coast of Washington and Oregon
Question 16: Hydrogen bonds form between neighboring water molecules because of:
a) the viscosity of water.
b) surface tension.
c) electron transfer.
d) electron sharing.
e) the polarity of water molecules.
Answer: E. the polarity of water molecules.
Page 4
