Chapter 1—Physical Geography: Earth Environments and Systems
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The examination of the relationships between organisms and their environment is the science
known as:
a. ecology.
b. environmental protection.
c. ecosystemics.
d. oncology.
ANS: A PTS: 1
2. Which of the following best describes absolute location?
a. A location anywhere on Earth's surface
b. A location 400 kilometers (250 mi) southwest of Chicago
c. A location at 40 degrees north latitude and 90 degrees west longitude
d. A location at the base of the Rocky Mountains
ANS: C PTS: 1
3. The extent of an area or areas where a feature exists and the arrangements of the features in Earth
space are central to the study of:
a. physical geography.
b. human geography.
c. biogeography.
d. all of these
ANS: D PTS: 1
4. The arrangement of features in space is a(n):
a. absolute location.
b. spatial distribution.
c. spatial interaction.
d. spatial pattern.
ANS: D PTS: 1
5. The term "system," as defined by geographers, means:
a. a set of objects whose size, shape, and temperature can be measured.
b. a set of objects linked together by their relationships to one another.
c. a set of objects comprised of continents, oceans, forests, and deserts.
d. all of these
ANS: B PTS: 1
6. The waters of the Earth system constitute the:
a. atmosphere.
b. lithosphere.
c. hydrosphere.
d. biosphere.
, ANS: C PTS: 1
7. Because its various parts are always in flux, an ecosystem is said to be:
a. cathartic.
b. lethargic.
c. static.
d. dynamic.
ANS: D PTS: 1
8. All living things of the Earth system constitute:
a. atmosphere.
b. lithosphere.
c. hydrosphere.
d. biosphere.
ANS: D PTS: 1
9. Geography is often called the ____ science because it includes the recognition, analysis, and
explanation of variations in phenomena as they are distributed on Earth's surface.
a. Earth
b. special
c. spatial
d. social
ANS: C PTS: 1
10. Physical geography's major function is to study and learn about:
a. human activity and the results thereof.
b. Earth's environments and the processes that influence them.
c. the physical and human features of a region.
d. the composition of Earth's crust.
ANS: B PTS: 1
11. The chain of processes in a system that operate in repeating or changing cycle is called:
a. positive feedback.
b. negative feedback.
c. steady state.
d. feedback loop.
ANS: D PTS: 1
12. Equilibrium in most natural Earth subsystems generally means:
a. the factors in a system are in a static balance.
b. interrelated factors in a system are in a state of continual adjustment to each other.
c. that all factors in a system are equally important to the way that the system functions.
d. none of these
ANS: B PTS: 1
13. A decrease in the levels of ozone in the ozone layer:
a. may be related to human use of chlorofluorocarbons.
, b. is not a cause for concern to humans because the ozone layer is in the stratosphere.
c. cannot possibly be related to any human activities.
d. is completely unrelated to the incidence of skin cancers in humans.
ANS: A PTS: 1
14. Which of the following best describes physical geography?
a. Memorizing the precise locations of all the major natural features on Earth.
b. Knowing major Earth records (longest river, smallest ocean, tallest mountain, deepest
lake, fastest wind speed ever recorded, largest hailstone, driest desert, etc.).
c. Integrating knowledge about a wide variety of features and processes involving all four of
Earth's major subsystems.
d. The statements above are all essential to physical geography.
ANS: C PTS: 1
15. A condition that causes a system to change dramatically is a ____.
a. feedback
b. threshold
c. model
d. subsystem
ANS: B PTS: 1
16. Useful simplifications of a more complex reality do NOT include:
a. photographs, diagrams, and satellite image.
b. maps and globes.
c. areas of land smaller than 259 square kilometers (100 square mi.).
d. conceptual models.
ANS: C PTS: 1
17. Changes that vary within a range of tolerance is:
a. output.
b. feedback.
c. dynamic equilibrium.
d. threshold.
ANS: C PTS: 1
18. In a systems model, movement of energy or matter into the system is a(n):
a. subsystem.
b. output.
c. input.
d. closed system.
ANS: C PTS: 1
19. A condition or a process in one place generally has an impact on other places, this is known as:
a. spatial distribution.
b. a model.
c. spatial interaction.
d. spatial pattern.
, ANS: A PTS: 1
20. The individual components of a system are called:
a. natural resources.
b. variables.
c. absolute location.
d. pictorial models.
ANS: B PTS: 1
21. Describing Pike’s Peak as being located 36 kilometers (22 mi) west of Colorado Springs
is an example of a(n):
a. global address
b. absolute location
c. relative location
d. geospatial address
ANS: C PTS: 1
22. Scientific perspectives that pertain to Physical Geography include:
a. A Spatial Perspective
b. An Environmental Perspective
c. A Physical Science Perspective
d. All of these
ANS: D PTS: 1
23. Giving consideration to all of the human and natural phenomena related to an
environmental problem or to understanding an environment is called a:
a. simplistic approach.
b. scientific method.
c. holistic approach.
d. humanistic approach.
ANS: C PTS: 1
24. A spatial variable (example of spatial data) that is measurable everywhere in an area of
interest is called a(n):
a. ongoing variable.
b. continuous variable.
c. contiguous variable
d. none of these.
ANS: B PTS: 1
25.
When we refer to Earth and its subsystems as dynamic, this means that they are:
a. indestructible.
b. always unpredictable.
c. holistic.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The examination of the relationships between organisms and their environment is the science
known as:
a. ecology.
b. environmental protection.
c. ecosystemics.
d. oncology.
ANS: A PTS: 1
2. Which of the following best describes absolute location?
a. A location anywhere on Earth's surface
b. A location 400 kilometers (250 mi) southwest of Chicago
c. A location at 40 degrees north latitude and 90 degrees west longitude
d. A location at the base of the Rocky Mountains
ANS: C PTS: 1
3. The extent of an area or areas where a feature exists and the arrangements of the features in Earth
space are central to the study of:
a. physical geography.
b. human geography.
c. biogeography.
d. all of these
ANS: D PTS: 1
4. The arrangement of features in space is a(n):
a. absolute location.
b. spatial distribution.
c. spatial interaction.
d. spatial pattern.
ANS: D PTS: 1
5. The term "system," as defined by geographers, means:
a. a set of objects whose size, shape, and temperature can be measured.
b. a set of objects linked together by their relationships to one another.
c. a set of objects comprised of continents, oceans, forests, and deserts.
d. all of these
ANS: B PTS: 1
6. The waters of the Earth system constitute the:
a. atmosphere.
b. lithosphere.
c. hydrosphere.
d. biosphere.
, ANS: C PTS: 1
7. Because its various parts are always in flux, an ecosystem is said to be:
a. cathartic.
b. lethargic.
c. static.
d. dynamic.
ANS: D PTS: 1
8. All living things of the Earth system constitute:
a. atmosphere.
b. lithosphere.
c. hydrosphere.
d. biosphere.
ANS: D PTS: 1
9. Geography is often called the ____ science because it includes the recognition, analysis, and
explanation of variations in phenomena as they are distributed on Earth's surface.
a. Earth
b. special
c. spatial
d. social
ANS: C PTS: 1
10. Physical geography's major function is to study and learn about:
a. human activity and the results thereof.
b. Earth's environments and the processes that influence them.
c. the physical and human features of a region.
d. the composition of Earth's crust.
ANS: B PTS: 1
11. The chain of processes in a system that operate in repeating or changing cycle is called:
a. positive feedback.
b. negative feedback.
c. steady state.
d. feedback loop.
ANS: D PTS: 1
12. Equilibrium in most natural Earth subsystems generally means:
a. the factors in a system are in a static balance.
b. interrelated factors in a system are in a state of continual adjustment to each other.
c. that all factors in a system are equally important to the way that the system functions.
d. none of these
ANS: B PTS: 1
13. A decrease in the levels of ozone in the ozone layer:
a. may be related to human use of chlorofluorocarbons.
, b. is not a cause for concern to humans because the ozone layer is in the stratosphere.
c. cannot possibly be related to any human activities.
d. is completely unrelated to the incidence of skin cancers in humans.
ANS: A PTS: 1
14. Which of the following best describes physical geography?
a. Memorizing the precise locations of all the major natural features on Earth.
b. Knowing major Earth records (longest river, smallest ocean, tallest mountain, deepest
lake, fastest wind speed ever recorded, largest hailstone, driest desert, etc.).
c. Integrating knowledge about a wide variety of features and processes involving all four of
Earth's major subsystems.
d. The statements above are all essential to physical geography.
ANS: C PTS: 1
15. A condition that causes a system to change dramatically is a ____.
a. feedback
b. threshold
c. model
d. subsystem
ANS: B PTS: 1
16. Useful simplifications of a more complex reality do NOT include:
a. photographs, diagrams, and satellite image.
b. maps and globes.
c. areas of land smaller than 259 square kilometers (100 square mi.).
d. conceptual models.
ANS: C PTS: 1
17. Changes that vary within a range of tolerance is:
a. output.
b. feedback.
c. dynamic equilibrium.
d. threshold.
ANS: C PTS: 1
18. In a systems model, movement of energy or matter into the system is a(n):
a. subsystem.
b. output.
c. input.
d. closed system.
ANS: C PTS: 1
19. A condition or a process in one place generally has an impact on other places, this is known as:
a. spatial distribution.
b. a model.
c. spatial interaction.
d. spatial pattern.
, ANS: A PTS: 1
20. The individual components of a system are called:
a. natural resources.
b. variables.
c. absolute location.
d. pictorial models.
ANS: B PTS: 1
21. Describing Pike’s Peak as being located 36 kilometers (22 mi) west of Colorado Springs
is an example of a(n):
a. global address
b. absolute location
c. relative location
d. geospatial address
ANS: C PTS: 1
22. Scientific perspectives that pertain to Physical Geography include:
a. A Spatial Perspective
b. An Environmental Perspective
c. A Physical Science Perspective
d. All of these
ANS: D PTS: 1
23. Giving consideration to all of the human and natural phenomena related to an
environmental problem or to understanding an environment is called a:
a. simplistic approach.
b. scientific method.
c. holistic approach.
d. humanistic approach.
ANS: C PTS: 1
24. A spatial variable (example of spatial data) that is measurable everywhere in an area of
interest is called a(n):
a. ongoing variable.
b. continuous variable.
c. contiguous variable
d. none of these.
ANS: B PTS: 1
25.
When we refer to Earth and its subsystems as dynamic, this means that they are:
a. indestructible.
b. always unpredictable.
c. holistic.
