Q&A Hero

Q: Because scientific ideas are tested, they can be corrected when they are wrong.

Q: Scientific theories are capable of generating testing predictions.

Q: Pure science frequently involves the making of value judgments about the moral or political correctness of a fact, idea, or theory.

Q: Migration and diffusion across the Earth's surface is described under the principal geographic theme of movement.

Q: Areas that display a degree of uniformity are called regions.

Q: The essential approach in geographic studies is spatial analysis.

Q: Geography is a discipline primarily concerned with place names.

Q: Which of the following best describes geographic information science (GISci)?A) Techniques for adjusting geospatial datasets in real time.B) Deriving accurate measurements from photographs.C) Field that develops the capabilities of GIS for use within geography and other disciplines.D) Computer-based tool for management and analysis of geographic information.

Q: The techniques of adjusting geospatial datasets in real time to make changes to maps and other visual models is called A) remote sensing. B) geographic information systems. C) geovisualization. D) GPS.

Q: Which of the following best describes Geographic Information Systems? A) A constellation of satellites for accurately determining location anywhere near the Earth's surface. B) Deriving accurate measurements from photographs. C) Acquiring information about objects without having physical contact with them. D) Computer-based tool for management and analysis of geographic information.

Q: Which of the following is false? A) GIS stands for geographic information system. B) Satellite weather images are an example of remote sensing. C) GIS represents an important planning tool. D) A GIS model does not require the use of a map.

Q: Which of the following is an example of an active remote sensing device? A) film B) infrared sensor C) video camera D) LiDAR

Q: A satellite imaging system that beams electromagnetic energy at the surface and then records the energy that is reflected is classified as a(n) ________ system. A) active B) passive C) photographic D) holographic

Q: Which of the following satellite remote sensing platforms was launched in 2013? A) Goes-12 B) Landsat 8 C) Radarsat-1 D) Topex Poseidon

Q: Remote sensing is A) a subjective determination of temperature. B) the monitoring of a distant object without physical contact. C) an earthbound technique not used in modern satellites. D) based on the principle that surfaces must be physically handled and directly measured for study.

Q: Which of the following is true about Global Positioning System (GPS)? A) GPS helped accurately determined the height of Mt. Everest. B) GPS is the same as remote sensing. C) GPS is used solely by the military, who share information with physical geographers. D) GPS has no scientific uses, but are great for recreational purposes.

Q: GPS units are A) accurately allow determination of longitude and latitude. B) a metric version of longitude and latitude. C) th of a Greenwich Precision Second. D) not available to the public; they are only available to the military.

Q: Which of the following is the most popular and widely used map prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey? A) a topographic map B) a Robinson projection C) a resources map D) portolan chart

Q: Which map projection is best at reducing distortion? A) All map projections distort. B) Mercator projection. C) Robinson projection. D) Albers equal-area projection.

Q: On the Mercator projection, areas at high latitudes appear A) larger than areas of the same size located nearer to the equator. B) smaller than areas of the same size located nearer to the equator. C) the same size as areas of the same size located nearer to the equator.

Q: On which one of the following projections do great circle routes appear as straight lines? A) Mercator projection B) Goode's homolosine projection C) any conic projection D) a gnomonic projection

Q: A line of tangency (also called a standard line) is a line A) that always corresponds to a great circle. B) along which shearing occurs. C) along which no distortion occurs. D) divides Earth into two equal halves.

Q: Where does the greatest distortion in a Mercator projection occur? A) the equator. B) towards the poles. C) it varies. D) there is no distortion in a Mercator projection.

Q: Which of the following possesses all of Earth's properties of area, shape, direction, proximity, and distance, correctly? A) Mercator projection B) Alber's equal-area conic projection C) Robinson projection D) a world globe

Q: Which map project preserves the property of true shape? A) equivalent B) conformal C) proximal D) equidistant

Q: Which of the following describes the property of equal area on a map? A) equivalence B) conformality C) proximity D) equidistance

Q: The amount of detail on large scale maps is generally ________ than on than on small scale maps. A) greater B) less C) It is impossible to compare the relative detail of the same features on maps of different scales.

Q: The larger the denominator in a representative fraction, the ________ the scale of the map. A) larger B) smaller

Q: The larger the scale of a map, the ________ the area covered by the map and the ________ detail it provides. A) larger; more B) larger; less C) smaller; more D) smaller; less

Q: Which type of map scale would be appropriate to use if the map were to be enlarged by photocopying? A) written B) graphic C) representative fraction D) relative

Q: A scale given as "one centimeter to one kilometer" is an example of a A) representative fraction. B) graphic scale. C) written scale. D) relative scale.

Q: The transformation of a spherical global to a 2D surface is a A) diagram. B) cone. C) map projection. D) globe.

Q: A map scale of 1:63,360 is equivalent to A) one inch on the map equals 2,000 feet on the ground. B) one inch on a map equals 1 mile on the ground. C) one inch on a map equals 5 miles on the ground. D) one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches on the ground.

Q: If you wanted a map with a lot of detail of a small area you would want a A) a large scale map. B) a small scale map. C) an intermediate scale. D) a world globe.

Q: A scale of 1:900,000 is ________a scale of 1:24,000. A) larger than B) equal to C) smaller than D) twice as much as

Q: A scale of 1:24,000 is regarded as A) a large scale. B) a small scale compared to a scale of 1:20,900,000. C) an intermediate scale. D) a scale appropriate for a world globe.

Q: A scale of 1 inch = 8 miles is an example of a A) representative fraction. B) graphic scale. C) written scale. D) relative scale.

Q: The part of geography that embodies map making is known as A) theodesy. B) geodesy. C) cartography. D) calligraphy.

Q: Earth's equator is an example of A) a small circle. B) a great circle. C) a prime meridian. D) a line of equal longitude.

Q: A great circle is A) any parallel of latitude. B) the longest distance between two places on the surface of Earth. C) a circle of circumference whose center coincides with the center of Earth. D) a correct magnetic compass direction on a flat map.

Q: The practice of setting time ahead or behind during the year, out of coordination with the Sun, is termed A) Coordinated Universal Time. B) Daylight Saving Time. C) Standard time. D) Greenwich Mean Time.

Q: UTC is based on A) very precise pendulum motion in Greenwich, U.K. B) Big Ben C) average time calculations from atomic clocks collected worldwide D) the pulse rate of pulsar stars.

Q: UTC refers to A) the International Date Line. B) Universal Time Conference. C) Coordinated Universal Time. D) Universal Time Circles.

Q: Which of the following is true of the 1884 treaty establishing the prime meridian (0)? A) Each country selected its own prime meridian for their marine maps. B) The Greenwich meridian was established as the prime meridian by the treaty. C) The United States designated the Washington meridian for land maps and marine maps. D) No consensus was met at the 1884 treaty, putting off the decision until a 1907 treaty was passed.

Q: If it is 10:00 A.M. in Miami, Florida (Eastern time zone), what time is it in Los Angeles, California, located 3 time zones to the west in the Pacific Time zone? A) 7 A.M. B) 8 A.M. C) 1 P.M. D) 2 P.M.

Q: Standard time zones A) have yet to be generally established. B) are 15 wide because Earth rotates through that distance in one hour. C) are only used in the developed countries. D) are spaced at 5 intervals of longitude in North America.

Q: Travelers flying west from Los Angeles (118 W) to Tokyo (139 E) will cross the ________ and, as a result, they will ________ when crossing this meridian. A) International Dateline; gain a day (Example: Sunday becomes Saturday.) B) International Dateline; lose a day (Example: Saturday becomes Sunday.) C) prime meridian; gain a day (Example: Sunday becomes Saturday.) D) prime meridian; lose a day (Example: Saturday becomes Sunday.)

Q: If it is 10:00 PM on July 3rd at 30 west, what date and time is it at 15 east? A) July 3rd; 11 P.M. B) July 3rd; 9 P.M. C) July 3rd; 6 P.M. D) July 4th; 1 A.M. E) July 4th; 2 A.M.

Q: If you began a trip at 60 west, 20 north and traveled 120 farther west and 50 south, your new position would be A) the International Dateline at 70 north latitude. B) the International Dateline at 30 south latitude. C) the Greenwich meridian at 70 north latitude. D) the Greenwich meridian at 30 south latitude. E) 30 north, 120 west.

Q: If a clock on a ship indicates that it is 2:00 P.M. in its home port, while another clock on the ship indicates that it is 12:00 noon at the ship's present location, what is the difference in longitude between the ship's position and its home port? A) The ship is 2 east of its home port. B) The ship is 2 west of its home port. C) The ship is 30 east of its home port. D) The ship is 30 west of its home port. E) The ship is 45 west of its home port.

Q: The difference in Sun time between two places located 30 in longitude apart from one another is A) 30 seconds. B) 30 minutes. C) one hour. D) two hours. E) three hours.

Q: If City A is located 35 west of City B, the time at City A is ________ that at City B. A) earlier than B) later than C) the same as D) earlier during daylights saving only than

Q: Which of the following is true of the length (as measured in kilometers) of a degree of latitude? A) It is mostly constant at all latitudes. B) It is longer near the equator than near the poles. C) It is shorter near the equator than near the poles. D) It is shorter near the prime meridian than near the international dateline.

Q: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is A) the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). B) established 24 standard meridians around the globe at equal intervals from the prime meridian. C) replaced Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and became the legal reference for official time in all countries. D) two-hours ahead of Zulu time, indicating the single moment when all locations on the planet are on the same calendar day.

Q: The letters P.M. stand for A) prior majolica. B) previous morning. C) post meridiem. D) possible meridian.

Q: The letters A.M. stand for A) after midnight. B) after morning. C) ante majolica. D) ante meridiem. E) after meridian.

Q: Which of the following is true of the prime meridian? A) It is used to determine latitude using lines that run east and west. B) It was first used in the 1500s at the time of initial circumnavigation voyages. C) It was not established until 1884 and is centered on an observatory near London. D) It is that place on Earth where the days officially change.

Q: Which of the following is not true of meridians? A) They cross parallels at right angles. B) They are lines that run in an east-west direction. C) All meridians are the same length. D) They are used to measure east-west angular distances.

Q: Longitude is conveniently determined at sea using A) a clock without a pendulum (i.e. a marine chronometer). B) noon Sun angles. C) magnetic compasses. D) sextants.

Q: A line connecting all points along the same longitudinal angle is called a A) meridian. B) parallel. C) prime latitudinal angle. D) great circle.

Q: If you were standing at 60 north latitude you would be within which latitudinal geographic zone? A) subantarctic B) midlatitude C) antarctic D) subarctic E) subtropical

Q: If you were standing at 20 north latitude you would be within which latitudinal geographic zone? A) tropical B) midlatitude C) equatorial D) subarctic E) subtropical

Q: Longitude is A) an angular distance measured north or south of the equator. B) an angular distance measured east or west of a prime meridian. C) the basis for establishing parallels. D) determined by Sun altitude above the horizon.

Q: Latitude is A) the angular distance measured north or south of the equator. B) the angular distance measured east or west of a prime meridian. C) the basis for establishing meridians. D) portrayed on a globe as lines that cross the equator at right angles.

Q: The meridian opposite of Earth's prime meridian (0 longitude) is called A) secondary meridian. B) the anti-meridian. C) the equator. D) the International Date Line.

Q: The basis for defining the length of a day is the fact that A) Earth rotates east to west. B) Earth moves through 365.25 days a year in its orbit about the Sun. C) Earth rotates on its axis in 24 hours; i.e., it rotates 15 of longitude per hour. D) Earth does not rotate; rather, it revolves.

Q: Which of the following is true regarding the 0 prime meridian? A) There was no way of determining this meridian at sea until as late as AD 1760. B) The prime meridian passes through Paris, France. C) International agreement regarding the location of the prime meridian was not resolved until the 1980s when a treaty was completed. D) The key to measuring angular distances east and west of the prime meridian was the development of accurate compasses.

Q: How far north you live from the equator is measured as your ________, whereas an imaginary line marking all those places at that same distance north of the equator is called a ________. A) longitude; meridian B) meridian; longitude C) latitude; parallel D) parallel; latitude E) location; place

Q: An angular distance measured east or west of a prime meridian from the center of Earth is termed A) longitude. B) latitude. C) zenith. D) Greenwich distance.

Q: A degree of longitude at the equator is roughly________ in length. A degree of longitude at the poles is ________ in length A) 111 km; 111 km B) 0 km; 111 km C) 111 km; 0 km D) 0 km; 56 km E) 56 km; 0 km

Q: An angular distance measured north or south of the equator from the center of Earth is termed A) longitude. B) latitude. C) zenith. D) Greenwich distance.

Q: A parallel of latitude A) is used to measure distances east and west of the equator. B) measures longitude. C) is called a meridian. D) is used to measure distances north or south of the equator. E) is a line which passes through both poles.

Q: Which of the following is easily determined using the position of the Sun or stars? A) longitude B) latitude C) altitude D) mean sea level

Q: Who made a significant, early contribution to cartography by adding a grid and orienting the map with north at the top? He also divided the circumference of Earth into 360, with each degree comprising 60 minutes, and each minute comprising 60 seconds. A) Pythagorasin the sixth century B.C. B) Sir Isaac Newtonin the seventeenth century A.D. C) Magellanin the sixteenth century A.D. D) Ptolemyin the second century A.D.

Q: The science that specifically attempts to determine Earth's shape and size by surveys and mathematical means is called A) geography. B) geology. C) cartography. D) astronomy. E) geodesy.

Q: Isaac Newton reasoned that Earth was not perfectly spherical because of A) centrifugal force created by Earth's more rapid rotation at the equator. B) centrifugal force created by Earth's more rapid rotation at the poles. C) gravitational force created by Earth's more rapid rotation at the equator. D) gravitational force created by Earth's more rapid rotation at the poles.

Q: The diameter of Earth is largest when measured around the A) poles. B) equator. C) subtropics. D) prime meridian.

Q: The oblateness of Earth occurs at the A) poles. B) equator. C) subtropics. D) prime meridian.

Q: Which of the following statements about Earth is correct? A) It is elongated. B) Earth is the second largest planet in the solar system. C) The equatorial diameter is 42 km (26 mi.) greater than the polar diameter. D) Earth is perfectly spherical.

Q: The realization that Earth was a sphere A) did not occur in Europe until the first voyages of Columbus. B) had to wait until the modern era (1800s). C) was first made by Pythagoras, 580-500 B.C. D) was made by Isaac Newton.