Chapter 1The Origin of the Ocean
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. About ____ percent of Earth's water is found in the Ocean.
a. 97.5
b. 71
c. 67.4
d. 30.1
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 1.1 Earth Is an Ocean World
2. The average depth of the ocean is about ____.
a. 760 meters (2,500 feet)
b. 3,700 meters (12,000 feet)
c. 200 meters (650 feet)
d. 1,200 meters (4,000 feet)
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 1.1 Earth Is an Ocean World
3. The world ocean:
a. plays a minor role in the weather and shape of landmasses of the Earth.
b. does not influence the way organisms live on land.
c. is the dominant feature of the Earth and most of its living organisms.
d. represents over half of the Earth's radius.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1.1 Earth Is an Ocean World
4. Our sun and its family of planets were formed about:
a. 6,000 to 10,000 years ago.
b. 5 billion years ago.
c. 45 million years ago.
d. 40 billion years ago.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars Form Seas
5. After Earths formation, the planets ocean did not form for nearly:
a. 13 billion years.
b. 1 billion years.
c. 4 billion years.
d. 200 million years.
ANS: C PTS: 1
REF: 1.4 Earth, Ocean, and Atmosphere Accumulated in Layers Sorted by Density
6. In the scientific method, scientific theories:
a. must be tested and verified by observations.
b. must be verified by the leading authorities in the field.
c. must be consistent with previous, universally accepted scientific
concepts.
d. must be consistent with the fact that the ocean is of great age.
ANS: A PTS: 1
REF: 1.2 Marine Scientists Use the Logic of Science to Study the Ocean
7. Life on Earth probably evolved in the ocean. All of the following evidence supports
this statement EXCEPT:
a. the cellular makeup of all living organisms depends on a saline solution
to dissolve and transport chemicals.
b. biosynthesis cannot occur without high concentrations of free oxygen,
similar to the condition of Earths early atmosphere and ocean.
c. the basic molecules of life (simple sugars and amino acids) form
spontaneously in a solution similar to that of Earths early ocean.
d. the thermal and chemical characteristics of water allow intricate
biochemical reactions to occur, such as those required for biosynthesis.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 1.5 Life Probably Originated in the Ocean
8. The most abundant form of matter in the universe appears to be:
a. water molecules.
b. planets and planet-like bodies.
c. dust and debris.
d. hydrogen.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars Form Seas
9. The ocean originated from:
a. volcanic gases.
b. radioactive heating of the Earth's interior, and the heating of the surface
by meteorites striking and melting the outer layers of the Earth.
c. capture by the Earth's gravity of water molecules in space.
d. volcanic gases, radioactive heating of the Earth's interior, and a barrage
of icy comets or asteroids striking and melting the outer layers of the
Earth.
ANS: D PTS: 1
REF: 1.4 Earth, Ocean, and Atmosphere Accumulated in Layers Sorted by Density
10. Evidence suggests the universe began about 13.7 billion years ago in a:
a. slow accretion of atoms.
b. very large galaxy.
c. cataclysmic expansion of energy and matter.
d. protostar.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars Form Seas
11. Which of the following best describes biosynthesis?
a. The discovery of organic molecules in space.
b. The evolution of living organisms from simple organic building blocks.
c. The evolution of inorganic molecules in seawater.
d. Experiments that show that early organisms lived in an oxygen-free
environment.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 1.5 Life Probable Originated in the Ocean
12. The first life forms on Earth arose:
a. more than 3.5 billion years ago.
b. at the same time as the formation of the Earth.
c. relatively recently - about 250,000,000 years ago.
d. about 10,000 years ago.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 1.5 Life Probably Originated in the Ocean
13. Based on evidence that supports the hypothesis regarding an ocean on Mars,
which of the following statements is TRUE?
a. Mars has an ocean today.
b. Mars has an ocean, and it is probably hidden in vast caverns beneath the
surface of the planet.
c. Mars may have had an ocean in ancient times, perhaps 1-3 billion years
ago.
d. Mars may have had an ocean until very recently.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1.7 Are There Other Ocean Worlds?
14. To recreate an environment for biosynthesis, scientists included all of the following
EXCEPT:
a. unstable chemical conditions.
b. oxygen.
c. sparks.
d. dissolved compounds and gases thought to be present in the early
atmosphere.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 1.5 Life Probably Originated in the Ocean
15. The earliest known fossils were discovered in northwestern Australia and resemble
modern-day:
a. bacteria.
b. animals.
c. fungi.
d. viruses.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 1.5 Life Probable Originated in the Ocean
16. An example of another body in our solar system that has an ocean is:
a. the moon of Earth.
b. Europa.
c. Mars.
d. none of these.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 1.7 Are There Other Ocean Worlds?
17. About 1.5 billion years ago, oxygen began to accumulate as a byproduct of ____,
drastically changing the composition of the Earth's atmosphere.
a. biosynthesis
b. cellular respiration
c. methane synthesis
d. photosynthesis
ANS: D PTS: 1
REF: 1.4 Earth, Ocean, and Atmosphere Accumulated in Layers Sorted by Density
18. Volcanic venting of substances including water vapor is called ____.
a. outgassing
b. fissure
c. fusion
d. condensation
ANS: A PTS: 1
REF: 1.4 Earth, Ocean, and Atmosphere Accumulated in Layers Sorted by Density
19. The death of a star is characterized by a massive release of energy called a ____.
a. nebula
b. protostar
c. supernova
d. comet
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars Form Seas
20. All of the following statements are true about the formation of our solar system
and planet EXCEPT:
a. As a nebula contracts, stars are formed in the center of the spinning disc
of gas and dust.
b. Planets form as gases and materials condense.
c. The Big Bang occurred about 5.6 billion years ago.
d. Gaseous planets form on the outer regions of the solar system.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars from Seas
21. The primary physical property that sorts the Earth, ocean, and atmosphere is ____.
a. density stratification
b. radioactive decay
c. gravity
d. mass
ANS: A PTS: 1
REF: 1.4 Earth, Ocean, and Atmosphere Accumulated in Layers Sorted by Density
22. The hypothesis that best explains how the universe was formed is called the ____.
a. Condensation Theory
b. Scientific Method
c. Outgassing Theory
d. Big Bang Theory
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars Form Seas
23. Scientists predict that our planet in its current form will exist for about another:
a. 5 billion years.
b. 1 million years
c. 500 million years
d. 13 billion years
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 1.6 What Will Be Earth's Future
24. Planets other than Earth with liquid on or near the surface are _______.
a. nonexistent
b. less rare than we thought
c. extremely common but only in the form of water
d. extremely common but only as ice
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 1.7 Are There Other Ocean Worlds?
25. Evidence suggests that the first biomolecules or living molecules may have
formed near:
a. the continents.
b. subduction zones.
c. the surface of the ocean.
d. mineral-rich seeps on the ocean floor.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 1.5 Life Probably Originated in the Ocean
26. The inner core of the Earth is primarily made of__________.
a. magnesium
b. water
c. iron
d. silicates
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars Form Seas
27. Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the scientific method?
a. Hypotheses can never be revised.
b. Hypotheses are commonly revised especially considering new
technologies.
c. Scientific laws summarize experimental observations.
d. Science is a circular process.
ANS: A PTS: 1
REF: 1.2 Marine Scientists Use the Logic of Science to Study the Ocean
28. A galaxy is a huge rotating aggregation of stars, dust, gas and other debris held
together by ___________.
a. nebulae
b. gravity
c. moons
d. vapor
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars form Seas
29. Which of the following statements is TRUE concerning the temperature of the
ocean about 4 billion years ago?
a. The temperature was about the same as todays ocean.
b. The temperature was much colder than that of todays ocean.
c. The temperature was extremely hot as compared with todays ocean.
d. The temperature was only slightly warmer than todays ocean
ANS: C PTS: 1
REF: 1.4 Earth, Ocean, and Atmosphere Accumulated in Layers Sorted by Density
30. On a planetary scale, the ocean comprises about ________ of the Earths mass.
a. 8%
b. 71%
c. 20%
d. 0.02%
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 1.1The Earth is an Ocean World
TRUE/FALSE
1. The ocean holds more than 97 percent of Earth's water.
ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 1.1 Earth Is an Ocean World
2. The average height of the continents above sea level is greater than the average
depth of the ocean.
ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 1.1 Earth Is an Ocean World
3. Of all the planets in the solar system, the Earth is the only planet to currently have
large quantities of liquid water on its surface.
ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 1.7 Are There Other Ocean Worlds?
4. The ocean is divided up into distinct natural divisions called oceans and seas.
ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: 1.1 Earth Is an Ocean World
5. Marine science draws on information from disciplines of geology, biology,
chemistry, and physics.
ANS: T PTS: 1
REF: 1.2 Marine Scientists Use the Logic of Science to Study the Ocean
6. Scientific hypotheses are never revised or updated.
ANS: F PTS: 1
REF: 1.2 Marine Scientists Use the Logic of Science to Study the Ocean
7. The universe began to form around 13 billion years ago.
ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars Form Seas
8. Gravity was important in the formation of our planet because it pulled dense
metals such as iron and nickel inward, forming the Earth's core.
ANS: T PTS: 1
REF: 1.4 Earth, Ocean, and Atmosphere Accumulated in Layers Sorted by Density
9. Deep-sea fossils suggest that life evolved within the last million years.
ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: p. 14
10. There is convincing evidence that there was once water on Mars.
ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: 1.7 Are There Other Ocean Worlds?
ESSAY
1. Explain what is meant by "one world ocean."
ANS:
The ocean comprises about 71% of the surface of the Earth and exists as a single
large continuous mass of water. The ocean has very few dependable, natural and
permanent divisions. The artificial compartments we generally refer to as oceans
(i.e., Pacific, Atlantic or Indian Ocean) or seas are based on either the position of
the continents or on imaginary boundaries or lines such as the equator.
PTS: 1 REF: 1.1 The Earth Is an Ocean World
2. Describe the basic processes and timeline that led to the formation of Earth and its
ocean and atmosphere.
ANS:
The Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago through the accretion of particles
orbiting in our solar system. Earth was initially molten and layers only formed
once planet began to cool. Density stratification allowed the least dense elements
to escape to Earths surface and atmosphere, while the most dense elements sunk
to form the internal layers of Earth, the mantle and core. The ocean and the
atmosphere formed together as the planet cooled sometime between 4.4 and 3.8
billion years ago. The ocean formed as water vapor trapped in the Earths outer
layers escaped to the surface via volcanic activity, a process called outgassing. This
vapor cooled and condensed to form an ocean.
PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars Form Seas
3. Describe the Big Bang theory.
ANS:
Our universe had a beginning that is described as the big bang event. This event
occurred about 13.7 billion years ago and marks the beginning of a series of events
that formed our Earth, ocean and eventually allowed for the evolution of life on
our planet. The big bang specifically refers to the moment when the expansion of
the universe began. All of the mass and energy of the universe is thought to have
been concentrated at a geometric point at the beginning of space and time.
PTS: 1 REF: 1.3 Stars form Seas
4. Discuss the early atmosphere and how it could have lead to the evolution of life on
Earth.
ANS:
The Earths atmosphere formed as hot gases escaped from deep within the planet.
This early atmosphere included gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,
methane and ammonia (note that molecular oxygen was absent in the atmosphere
until about 2.2 billion years ago). Experiments have shown that organic molecules
necessary for life could have formed as the dissolved compounds in the
atmosphere were exposed to light, heat and electrical sparks. These energized
mixtures can produce simple sugars and amino acids, proteins and nucleotides - all
biologically important molecules.
PTS: 1 REF: 1.5 Life Probably Evolved in the Ocean
5. Describe the primary (or traditional) branches of oceanography and give an
example of how modern technology has been used to advance our knowledge in
the field.
ANS:
Like most disciplines of science today, marine science integrates diverse fields of
study including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering and geology.
Marine scientists currently use technology to study questions that are directly
relevant to humans: the origins of the ocean basins, the relationship between the
ocean and the atmosphere, global climate change and the nature of biodiversity in
the ocean just to name a few. Although most marine scientists specialize within
their given disciplines, most agree that the study of the ocean and the
understanding of processes occurring in the ocean are extremely important.
PTS: 1 REF: 1.2 Marine Scientists Use the Logic of Science to Study the
Ocean
