,1. Which of the following is (are) external drivers of Earth's climate?
A) atmospheric greenhouse gas levels
B) solar strength variation
C) ice
D) surface reflectivity
E) All of the above are external drivers.
2. Earth's average surface temperature is:
A) 76°F.
B) 273 K.
C) 15.5°C.
D) represented by the temperature at the equator.
E) Both A and C are correct.
3. Climate science:
A) is exclusively studied by meteorologists.
B) requires an Earth system perspective.
C) spans vast temporal scales.
D) spans vast spatial scales.
E) All but A are correct.
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,4. Examine the following figure to determine which of the statements is correct.
A) Regardless of the scale, global temperature changes display a regular, cyclic
pattern.
B) Rapid climate change is characteristic of large-scale (tectonic) climate trends.
C) Millennial climate variations are resolvable on tectonic time scales.
D) Historical changes in global temperature are small relative to those that have
previously occurred during Earth's long history.
E) None of the answers is correct.
5. Which of the following internal Earth system components has the fastest climate
response time?
A) the atmosphere
B) ice sheets
C) sea ice
D) the deep ocean
E) These have the same response time because they all contain water in some form.
6. Climate differs from weather in that climate:
A) refers only to temperature conditions, while weather addresses temperature as well
as precipitation, snow and ice cover, and wind conditions.
B) is a broad composite of the average condition of a region, while weather
fluctuations last a short time.
C) is exclusively global, whereas weather is exclusively regional.
D) and weather do not differ, they are interchangeable terms.
E) All of the above are correct.
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, 7. What causes Earth's climate to change?
A) changes in Earth's orbit around the Sun
B) changes in the strength of the Sun
C) changes in plate tectonics
D) human activities
E) All of these cause changes.
8. Consider the analogy of heating water with a Bunsen burner. How does the response of
the water to the external heating change over time?
A) Response time is faster when the system is further from equilibrium.
B) Response time is slower when the system is further from equilibrium.
C) Response time is constant, but the absolute amount of change within the system
decreases with time.
D) Response time is constant, but the absolute amount of change within the system
increases with time.
E) None of the answers is correct.
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A) atmospheric greenhouse gas levels
B) solar strength variation
C) ice
D) surface reflectivity
E) All of the above are external drivers.
2. Earth's average surface temperature is:
A) 76°F.
B) 273 K.
C) 15.5°C.
D) represented by the temperature at the equator.
E) Both A and C are correct.
3. Climate science:
A) is exclusively studied by meteorologists.
B) requires an Earth system perspective.
C) spans vast temporal scales.
D) spans vast spatial scales.
E) All but A are correct.
Page 1
,4. Examine the following figure to determine which of the statements is correct.
A) Regardless of the scale, global temperature changes display a regular, cyclic
pattern.
B) Rapid climate change is characteristic of large-scale (tectonic) climate trends.
C) Millennial climate variations are resolvable on tectonic time scales.
D) Historical changes in global temperature are small relative to those that have
previously occurred during Earth's long history.
E) None of the answers is correct.
5. Which of the following internal Earth system components has the fastest climate
response time?
A) the atmosphere
B) ice sheets
C) sea ice
D) the deep ocean
E) These have the same response time because they all contain water in some form.
6. Climate differs from weather in that climate:
A) refers only to temperature conditions, while weather addresses temperature as well
as precipitation, snow and ice cover, and wind conditions.
B) is a broad composite of the average condition of a region, while weather
fluctuations last a short time.
C) is exclusively global, whereas weather is exclusively regional.
D) and weather do not differ, they are interchangeable terms.
E) All of the above are correct.
Page 2
, 7. What causes Earth's climate to change?
A) changes in Earth's orbit around the Sun
B) changes in the strength of the Sun
C) changes in plate tectonics
D) human activities
E) All of these cause changes.
8. Consider the analogy of heating water with a Bunsen burner. How does the response of
the water to the external heating change over time?
A) Response time is faster when the system is further from equilibrium.
B) Response time is slower when the system is further from equilibrium.
C) Response time is constant, but the absolute amount of change within the system
decreases with time.
D) Response time is constant, but the absolute amount of change within the system
increases with time.
E) None of the answers is correct.
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