Question 1

Which statement accurately describes active continental margins?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are regions of great geological stability.
B)  They are characteristic of the margins of the Atlantic Basin.
C)  They are areas of frequent earthquakes and volcanoes, where lithospheric plates are converging.
D)  They are areas where lithospheric plates are actively moving apart.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 2

How can a satellite sense the contours of the ocean bottom from space?

Accepted Answer

A)  By shining a laser through the ocean to see the bottom
B)  By using radar to sense the height of the sea surface over submerged features
C)  By using sonar to measure ocean bottom contours directly
D)  By sensing changes in gravity as it flies over trenches and mountain rangesE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 3

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover about 25% of the surface of Earth. What are the characteristics of each of these features?

Accepted Answer

About 25% of the surface of the Earth is covered by abyssal hills and plains. Abyssal plains are extraordinarily flat expanses of the ocean floor consisting of layers of sediment. Most of the sediment layers originated from shallow water or continental margins, and in some areas can be over 1000 meters thick. Abyssal plains lie between 3,700 and 5,500 meters beneath the surface, and are located between the continental margins and oceanic ridges. In some areas, the sediment layer may not be thick enough to cover the basaltic oceanic floor, especially near the edges of the ridges. In these areas, small abyssal hills are formed as sediment covers extinct volcanoes that once spewed molten rock. Abyssal hills are usually only about 200 meters high and are most commonly associated with sea floor spreading areas. They form when newly formed crust moves away from the center of a ridge, stretches, and cracks. Some blocks of the crust drop to form valleys, and others remain higher as hills.

Question 4

Hydrothermal vents such as black smokers are found at spreading centers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The apron of accumulated sediment at the base of the continental slope is known as the ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  continental rise
B)  abyssal hills
C)  abyssal plains
D)  mid-ocean mountainsE) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 6

The origin of submarine canyons is not well understood, but is most likely to be ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  erosional, caused by a combination of stream erosion and turbidity currents
B)  tectonic, representing down-folds of rock within the continental shelf
C)  organic, resulting from the activities of burrowing organisms
D)  glacial, through the process of depositing rock debris on the shelfE) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 7

The Emperor Sea Mounts are found in the ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  Sagasso Sea
B)  South Pacific
C)  North West Pacific
D)  coastal region of AustraliaE) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 8

The submerged outer edge of a continent is called the ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  abyssal plain
B)  continental margin
C)  ocean basin
D)  continental convergence zoneE) A) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 9

The landscape of the seafloor away from the continental margins could best be described as ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  a single featureless plain
B)  a smooth descent with the deepest portions farthest from land
C)  similar in rock type, sediment thickness, and erosional processes to those found on the land
D)  oceanic ridge systems and huge abyssal plains with hills, volcanoes, and trenchesE) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 10

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover a quarter of Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Guyots are often formed near spreading centers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Intense offshore drilling for oil and gas takes place primarily on the ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  abyssal plain
B)  continental shelf
C)  continental rise
D)  Mid-Atlantic RidgeE) None of the above
F) All of the above B

Question 13

The deep-ocean basin includes which of the following features?

Accepted Answer

A)  continental shelf
B)  coral reefs
C)  abyssal plains
D)  the shelf breakE) All of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 14

Where is the widest continental shelf located?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Arctic Sea north of Siberia
B)  The western edge of South America
C)  The margin surrounding the Hawaiian Islands
D)  The Emperor SeamountsE) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 15

Which statement most accurately describes how the continental rise is formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  From the convergence of oceanic plates at passive continental margins
B)  From volcanic activity at active continental margins
C)  From the accumulation of sediments at the base of the continental slope
D)  From sedimentation surrounding spreading centersE) All of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 16

One of the widest and thickest continental rises is found ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  in the Red Sea
B)  in the Pacific at the active margin called the "Ring of Fire"
C)  in the Bay of Bengal
D)  off the east coast of FloridaE) None of the above
F) A) and D) C

Question 17

The mid-ocean mountains, such as the ridges and rises, are ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  similar in origin to the Alps, the Rockies, and the Appalachians
B)  composed of folded and faulted marine sedimentary rocks
C)  constructed of volcanic basalt
D)  similar in size and features to most continental mountainsE) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 18

Water depth over continental shelves averages only about ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  16 meters(50 feet) 
B)  35 meters(115 feet) 
C)  75 meters (250 feet) 
D)  100 meters (300 feet) E) C) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 19

The transition between the shelf and the deep seafloor is the ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  littoral zone
B)  continental slope and rise
C)  abyssal plain
D)  mid-ocean ridgeE) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 20

Abyssal hills are small extinct volcanoes commonly associated with ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  seafloor spreading
B)  convergent zones
C)  active continental margins
D)  continental shelvesE) C) and D)
F) None of the above

Exam 4: Ocean Basins

Which statement accurately describes active continental margins?

Correct Answer
verified

How can a satellite sense the contours of the ocean bottom from space?

Correct Answer
verified

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover about 25% of the surface of Earth. What are the characteristics of each of these features?

Hydrothermal vents such as black smokers are found at spreading centers.

Correct Answer
verified

The apron of accumulated sediment at the base of the continental slope is known as the ____.

Correct Answer
verified

The origin of submarine canyons is not well understood, but is most likely to be ____.

Correct Answer
verified

The Emperor Sea Mounts are found in the ____.

Correct Answer
verified

The submerged outer edge of a continent is called the ____.

Correct Answer
verified

The landscape of the seafloor away from the continental margins could best be described as ____.

Correct Answer
verified

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover a quarter of Earth's surface.

Correct Answer
verified

Guyots are often formed near spreading centers.

Correct Answer
verified

Intense offshore drilling for oil and gas takes place primarily on the ____.

Correct Answer
verified
B

The deep-ocean basin includes which of the following features?

Correct Answer
verified

Where is the widest continental shelf located?

Correct Answer
verified

Which statement most accurately describes how the continental rise is formed?

Correct Answer
verified

One of the widest and thickest continental rises is found ____.

Correct Answer
verified
C

The mid-ocean mountains, such as the ridges and rises, are ____.

Correct Answer
verified

Water depth over continental shelves averages only about ____.

Correct Answer
verified

The transition between the shelf and the deep seafloor is the ____.

Correct Answer
verified

Abyssal hills are small extinct volcanoes commonly associated with ____.

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 4: Ocean Basins

Which statement accurately describes active continental margins?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How can a satellite sense the contours of the ocean bottom from space?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover about 25% of the surface of Earth. What are the characteristics of each of these features?

Hydrothermal vents such as black smokers are found at spreading centers.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The apron of accumulated sediment at the base of the continental slope is known as the ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The origin of submarine canyons is not well understood, but is most likely to be ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Emperor Sea Mounts are found in the ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The submerged outer edge of a continent is called the ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The landscape of the seafloor away from the continental margins could best be described as ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover a quarter of Earth's surface.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Guyots are often formed near spreading centers.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Intense offshore drilling for oil and gas takes place primarily on the ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedB

The deep-ocean basin includes which of the following features?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Where is the widest continental shelf located?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement most accurately describes how the continental rise is formed?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One of the widest and thickest continental rises is found ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedC

The mid-ocean mountains, such as the ridges and rises, are ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Water depth over continental shelves averages only about ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The transition between the shelf and the deep seafloor is the ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Abyssal hills are small extinct volcanoes commonly associated with ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
B

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
C

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified