Salt Lake Community College - Geography 1000
A. J. Allred, Adjunct
Student Name __________________
Section
___________
Score
______
Mid-Term Exam
1. Which of the following best describes the diameter of the earth?
a. A distance equal to about 1/3 the circumference of the earth
b. 8,000 times π
c. 24,000 times π
d. 24,800 divided by 7,900
e. C times π
2. Unlike deserts that typically receive steady light rain, tropical regions usually experience occasional and intense
rainfall.
True ___
False __X_
3. Which of the following represents the highest relative humidity?
a. 7/10
b. 6/8
c. 1/5
d. 2/4
e. 5/5
4. GPS compiles layers of data, while GIS provides position or location for that data.
True ___
False _X__
5. Ice releases heat when it melts into water .
True ___
False _X__
6. Water is unusual for which of several reasons:
a. Unlike many other substances, water contracts when frozen
b. Water has low capacity for heat absorption
c. Water is necessary for most, but not all living things
d. Water has little effect on weather processes
e. None of the above
7. A location near the ocean will usually have a climograph with a relatively steep annual temperature curve.
True ___
False _X__
8. In Utah, cold fronts are common. They tend to move quickly from the east, bringing cold, descending air masses
that are usually dry and stable.
True ___
False _X__
9. Atmospheric ozone:
a. is air pollution produced by chlorofluorocarbons
b. helps keep the surface of the earth warmer than otherwise
c. is corrosive, poisonous and noxious
d. b and c above
e. a and c above
10. Convective rainfall predominates in Utah, while orographic and frontal weather systems produce most of the
precipitation that occurs near the equator.
True ___
False _X__
11. Utah is dominated by two general climate zones:
a. A and B
b. B and H
c. C and D
d. A and D
e. A and C, with some E
12. The change in climate resulting from moving thousands of miles further north or further south of the equator may
also be accomplished in a general way by moving closer to the coast of any ocean.
True ___
False _X__
13. Hurricanes help ensure a relatively milder climate in equatorial regions and prevention of drought in many subtropical areas.
True _X__
False ___
14. Which of the following options is/are represented by this generalized chemical relationship?
[water + carbon dioxide + solar energy => fuel and oxygen]
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Storage of carbohydrate fuels
Storage of sunshine
A warmer planet than otherwise
All of the above
Only ‘a’ and ‘b’ above
15. Solar energy reaching the earth’s surface is reduced:
a. when the earth is twice as far from the sun during winter months
b. by ozone depletion
c. by dust in the atmosphere
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
16. In Utah, what side of a mountain is more likely to be greener than the other options?
a. Northwest
b. Northeast
c. Southeast
d. Southwest
17. The continental United States exhibits two kinds of ‘B’ climate and at least three kinds of ‘C’ climate.
True _X__
False ___
18. Citrus crops are found further north in Florida than in California because much of the U.S. southeast and gulf
coasts are tropical ‘A’ climate zones.
True ___
False _X__
19. National agriculture policy and energy policy in the United States has been promoting the conversion of food
crops into fuel even though doing so typically consumes more energy than it produces and may contribute to
starvation in poor countries.
True _X__
False ___
20. Which of the following lines follow “great circles” of the earth?
a. the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
b. a typical line of latitude
c. a typical, unadjusted time zone boundary
d. the Arctic Circle (or Antarctic Circle)
e. All of the above
21. The earth’s atmosphere acts as a type of “blanket” that keeps electromagnetic energy out and also keeps it in. So,
widespread volcanic activity can tip the balance between temporary atmospheric warming or temporary cooling
and climate change.
True _X__
False ___
22. The inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is related to:
a. Masses of rising air in the middle of mid-latitude land masses
b. Year-round rain in high latitudes
c. Hurricanes and tornadoes at the equator
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
23. During a weather inversion:
a. High mountain areas can be warmer than lower valleys
b. Air quality is often poor
c. There is relatively little chance of significant precipitation
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
24. A “frontal” weather pattern can occur any time cooler, drier air meets warmer, wetter air, except in mountainous
areas like Utah where orographic (mountain) conditions prevent weather fronts from pushing through.
True ___
False _X__
25. A region that spans four time zones represents:
a. A little more than a third of the earth’s circumference
b. About nine hours at the Arctic Circle, or about 4.5 hours near the equator
c. About 60 degrees of longitude, at all latitudes
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
26. About half of the United States is characterized as:
a. A, tropical
b. B, dry
c. H, highland
d. D, continental severe
e. C, Mediterranean
27. In North America, at about 45 degrees north latitude a city near the east coast of a continent will likely have a
more severe climate than a city on the west coast of that continent.
True _X__
False ___
28. A change in the sun’s output of electromagnetic energy can have the following effects:
a. Long-term climate change
b. Changes in short-term weather.
c. Damage to, or disruption of commercial electrical transmission and communication services.
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
29. A climograph that shows a temperature curve with a substantial dip in the middle probably represents a climate:
a. In the tropics
b. In the northern hemisphere
c. Somewhere in southern Africa
d. Somewhere along the Oregon coast
e. none of the above
30. A climograph for Singapore should show very small variations in monthly average temperature and precipitation.
True _X__
False ___
31. Wind tends to flow toward high pressure regions, and tends to flow away from low pressure areas, resulting in
Hadley cells and deserts.
True ___
False _X__
32. Many soils in Utah have a pH of about 8.0, and can be improved for farming by making them more acid.
True _X__
False ___
33. The U.S. has much of the world’s best farm soil because climate conditions are in the middle range of the scale
for pH and a variety of other chemical and structural characteristics.
True _X__
False ___
34. Nitrogen is vital to producing hydrocarbon fuels but can be a nuisance when those fuels are oxidized.
True _X__
False ___
35. The islands of Great Britain have a milder climate than locations at the same latitude that are deep within large
land masses.
True _X__
False ___
36. The main source of energy for electric lighting in this classroom is:
a. from nature’s storage of ancient solar electromagnetic energy
b. not from nuclear power, photo-voltaic or wind power
c. from fossilized remnants of old lake beds and swamps
d. not from geothermal heat from the earth’s interior
e. all of the above are true statements
37. Which of the following pairs of earth elements is coming out of fossil ‘storage’ and being blamed for alleged
global warming?
a. nitrogen and oxygen
b. carbon and nitrogen
c. hydrogen and oxygen
d. carbon and hydrogen
e. oxygen and carbon
38. Which combination of nature’s elements is most needed for U.S. electricity generation?
a. carbon and nitrogen
b. nitrogen and sulfur
c. hydrogen and sulfur
d. oxygen and nitrogen
e. hydrogen and carbon
39. Which of the following is not true:
a. Oxides of nitrogen are an incidental result of burning of fossil fuels at high temperatures
b. Oxides are a vital part of the carbon cycle wherein solar energy is stored and then combusted later
c. Riding a bicycle is no better for the environment than driving a car because both activities involve
combustion, oxidation and production of greenhouse gases
d. Natural decay of dead plants and animals produces air emissions similar to power plants
e. Natural gas cars produce most of the same types and quantities of ‘air pollution’ as do gasoline and diesel
cars.
40. If ice floating on the ocean melts due to climate change, the result will be a rise in sea level.
True ___
False _X__
41. World-wide, oceans are becoming colder as icebergs break loose, drift away and melt.
True ___
False _X__
42. An increase in world average surface temperature:
a. is more likely to be noticed in low latitudes where the solar energy is concentrated
b. will probably increase agricultural productivity in many high-latitude regions
c. will be easily noticed in Arizona
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
43. Flooding of sea water into places like Houston, Texas might not be caused by melting of polar ice.
True _X__
False ___
44. A storm front that includes a “dry line” boundary can produce some of the world’s most dangerous weather.
True _X__
False ___
45. Which of the following combinations is most likely to produce a tornado associated with “dry line” conditions:
a. 92°F and 55% humidity on one side and 96°F and 60%
b. 60°F and 45% humidity on one side and 96°F and 65%
c. 40°F and 95% humidity on one side and 50°F and 75%
d. No combination above is different enough to provoke stormy conditions
e. All of the above are substantial enough to produce violate weather
46. Clouds are often flat on the bottom and rough on the top because:
a. The cloud bottom represents the lowest altitude where the humidity “bucket” becomes full
b. The cloud top shows were the air is relatively drier and/or cooler than below
c. Clouds often form when air rises to the point where water vapor condenses and becomes visible
d. Air is rising
e. All of the above
47. Lightning is caused by:
a.
Electrical charges that build-up when air moves
b.
Clouds acting as storage ‘batteries’
c.
Differences in positive and negative electrical charges from cloud to cloud or between ground and sky.
d.
All of the above
e.
None of the above
48. Flood control is often the most important reason for building a dam in the desert.
True _X__
False ___
49. Oceans are becoming more acidic. One cause involves the release of carbon from storage in rocks.
True _X__
False ___
50. The term “Doppler radar” refers to:
a. the ability of weather forecasters to detect water in the air using radio waves
b. objects moving away having ‘slower’ radar signatures than objects moving toward the radar
c. reflections, noises and other energy waves seeming to be higher frequency when the source is moving
closer to the antenna or other receiver
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
Essay Options. Answer any, all or none, as you like. You can use the back sides of these papers
for more writing and/or drawings.
A. Describe the climate pattern that would appear on a large continent centered over the Tropic of Cancer and
extending 30 degrees of latitude both north and south. Add any details that you want.
____Draw a picture showing a circle with a line drawn through the middle at 23 North. The top of the circle will be
about 53 degrees north latitude, or southern Canada. In the middle of that top area should be ‘continental severe D
climate, with a steep climograph for temperature and wide seasonal swings andfrequent severe weather. Further
south there ought to be more C climate (mild continental) with flatter climograph and potential for tornadoes and
hurricane influence. A marine west coast climate © could appear on the northwestern side of the circle. Near the
bottom the continent crosses the equator, where tropical A climate should exhibit year-round rain and mild
temperatures. _____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
B.
What are the implications for gradual climate ‘warming’ for Utah?
__Interiors of continents should show more evaporate due to higher temperatures, but not necessarily more rain, so
deserts and dry regions could expand. The growing season may be longer in the north as temperatures increase, but
southern Utah could see more periods of drought or temperatures so high that plants can’t photosynthesize. Animal
and plant species may migrate northward, and palm trees could appear closer to Salt Lake City. Lakes and
reservoirs could dry up. People may have to turn yards into ‘xeriscape’ designs dominated by rocks rather than
grass. Forest and woodlands may diminish, wildfires could get worse, and the cost of public services could rise
even as natural gas consumption declines. Electrical cost could go up for summer cooling, leading to additional air
pollution that contributes to acid rain
elsewhere.________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
C.
What have you learned in Geography 1000 that helps understand the daily weather report?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
D. Say something about water.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______See my list of at least 13 points or factors, posted on my personal Geog 1000 Website at
www.smartmap.us. ________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
51. What does “clean fuel” mean to the environment and the U.S. economy?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
52. What does “climate change” mean for you personally?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
53. Design your own question and then answer it: _____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________