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Weather and Climate

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 
What element of air determines its temperature?
a.
the arrangement of air molecules
c.
the composition of air molecules
b.
the direction of air molecules
d.
the average motion of air molecules
 

 2. 
What do we call the scale that is used to measure tornadoes?
a.
the Richter scale
c.
the Fish scale
b.
the Fujita scale
d.
the Bathroom scale
 

 3. 
What conditions are necessary for the formation of a thunderstorm?
a.
warm, dry stable air
c.
cold, dry stable air
b.
warm, humid unstable air
d.
cold, dry unstable air
 

 4. 
What are the large waves caused by hurricane winds called?
a.
tsunamis
c.
nor’easters
b.
storm surges
d.
monsoons
 

 5. 
What instrument measures atmospheric pressure?
a.
A thermometer
c.
A Richter scale
b.
A barometer
d.
An anemometer
 

 6. 
Why do thunderstorms often occur in the afternoon?
a.
Surface cooling throughout the day causes unstable conditions in the troposphere.
c.
Surface cooling throughout the day causes stable conditions in the troposphere.
b.
Surface warming throughout the day causes unstable conditions in the troposphere.
d.
Surface warming throughout the day causes stable conditions in the troposphere.
 

 7. 
What causes weather to change?
a.
lightning and thunder
c.
the interaction of air masses
b.
the phases of the moon
d.
Thor the god of thunder
 

 8. 
In a thunderstorm what happens to cool dense air?
a.
it rises upward from the ground
c.
it dissipates quickly
b.
it descends from the upper atmosphere to the ground
d.
it forms a temperature inversion
 

 9. 
What are tornadoes?
a.
whirling columns of air
c.
lightning storms
b.
heavy rains
d.
a type of car
 

 10. 
Weather refers to the state of the atmosphere__________.
a.
at a specific temperature
c.
at a specific time and place
b.
over a long period of time
d.
over a short period of time
 

 11. 
Which of the following is a description of a blizzard?
a.
a large, swirling, low-pressure system that forms over the warm Atlantic Ocean
c.
a winter storm with winds at least 56 km/h and low visibility
b.
a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground
d.
a boundary between two air masses of different density, moisture, or temperature
 

 12. 
____ is the measure of amounts of moisture in the air compared to the amount needed for saturation at a certain temperature.
a.
Humidity
c.
Saturation
b.
Relative humidity
d.
Air pressure
 

 13. 
Which of the following characteristics is not used to decide whether a winter storm is a blizzard?
a.
the wind speed
c.
the accumulation of new snow
b.
the temperature
d.
visibility
 

 14. 
In a thunderstorm what happens to warm humid air?
a.
it rises upward from the ground
c.
it dissipates quickly
b.
it descends from the upper atmosphere to the ground
d.
it creates a temperature inversion
 

 15. 
The first signs of the approach of a warm front are often
a.
cumulonimbus clouds
c.
nimbostratus clouds
b.
altostratus clouds
d.
cirrus clouds
 

 16. 
What is a scientist who studies climate called?
a.
Paleogeologist
c.
Marine Biologist
b.
Climatologist
d.
Weather man
 

 17. 
What type of front forms when warm air moves into an area with cooler air?
a.
cold front
c.
stationary front
b.
warm front
d.
pressure front
 

 18. 
Because of the rainforest’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, it has earned the following nickname:
a.
The lungs of the planet.
c.
The nose of the planet.
b.
The heart of the planet.
d.
Harvey
 

 19. 
Which air mass would cause a hot, humid spell in the northeastern United States during the summer?
a.
maritime tropical
c.
continental tropical
b.
maritime polar
d.
continental polar
 

 20. 
Deserts are also know as
a.
Arid regions
c.
Arrant regions
b.
Acrid regions
d.
Ice cream and cake
 

 21. 
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow
a.
clockwise around low-pressure areas
c.
into high pressure areas
b.
counterclockwise around high-pressure areas
d.
counterclockwise around low pressure areas
 

 22. 
Continental tropical (cT) air masses can be characterized by
a.
cold and dry air
c.
cold and damp air
b.
hot and dry air
d.
warm and moist air
 

 23. 
What does water vapor condense around to form clouds?
a.
air molecules
c.
snow
b.
small particles like dust and salt
d.
space
 

 24. 
When two air masses of different densities collide, it's called__________.
a.
a front
c.
a high pressure zone
b.
a hurricane
d.
a thunderstorm
 

 25. 
What causes wind
a.
thunder and lightning
c.
a difference in pressure between two air masses
b.
rain and snow
d.
evaporation
 

 26. 
Which of the following instruments is used to measure wind speed?
a.
thermometer
c.
anemometer
b.
barometer
d.
rain gauge
 

 27. 
What is climate?
a.
What is going on in the atmosphere at a particular point in time.
c.
An area’s pattern of weather over a long period of time.
b.
The type of weather that occurs during a particular season.
d.
It is the same thing as weather.
 

 28. 
What data do infrared satellites use to create images?
a.
temperature measurements
c.
humidity measurements
b.
pressure measurements
d.
visible light measurements
 

 29. 
Why do hurricanes weaken over land?
a.
They gain heat energy from the land.
c.
Their winds are counteracted by the land and sea breezes.
b.
They no longer have a source of humid air to provide heat from condensation.
d.
They have changed their path.
 

 30. 
Which of the following factors is NOT something climatologist consider in determining an area’s climate?
a.
Population density
c.
Temperature
b.
Air pressure
d.
Precipitation
 

 31. 
What causes wind?
a.
high pressure
c.
low pressure
b.
Air moves from regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure.
d.
weather patterns
 

 32. 
In what direction do most weather systems move across the United States?
a.
north to south
c.
west to east
b.
south to north
d.
east to west
 

 33. 
Why does it tend to be cool at Earth’s poles?
a.
because sunlight strikes them at an extreme angle
c.
because they are further from the sun
b.
because they have the worst weather
d.
because Santa needs snow for his reindeer
 

 34. 
Continental arctic (cA) air masses can be characterized by
a.
cold and dry air
c.
cold and damp air
b.
hot and cry air
d.
warm and moist air
 

 35. 
What is the relationship between air temperature and water vapor?
a.
There is no relationship between the two.
c.
As temperature drops it can hold less water.
b.
As temperature rises it can hold less water.
 

 36. 
Which of the following statements best describes the characteristics of an air mass when it first moves into a new region?
a.
The air mass has the characteristics of its place of origin.
c.
The air mass has a higher temperature and a lower level of humidity than the region where it originated.
b.
The air mass has the characteristics of the new region into which it has traveled.
d.
The air mass has a lower temperature and a higher level of humidity then the region where it originated.
 

 37. 
What is the main cause for the two belts of deserts at around 20 to 30 degrees north and south latitudes?
a.
Permanent zones of high pressure
c.
High elevation
b.
Warm ocean currents
d.
Lots of cacti
 

 38. 
What is a front?
a.
a region where temperatures and humidities stay the same
c.
a boundary between two air masses
b.
an area where warmer air slides under colder air
d.
a vertical zone between colder and warmer air
 

 39. 
What causes thunder?
a.
Humid air turning into precipitation too quickly.
c.
Giant bowling balls and pins.
b.
Clouds falling from the sky.
d.
Rapid expansion of air from the heat of lightning.
 

 40. 
The driving force for weather on Earth is the
a.
Moon
c.
difference in air temperatures
b.
Sun
d.
dew point
 

 41. 
What is true of all arid climates?
a.
They are very hot.
c.
They are near the ocean.
b.
They receive very little precipitation.
d.
They are very windy.
 

 42. 
Which category of hurricane is the strongest?
a.
category 1
c.
category A
b.
category 2
d.
category 5
 

 43. 
Hurricanes do not form near the equator because
a.
the Coriolis effect is too weak there
c.
the air above the equator is too humid
b.
the air above the equator is not humid enough
d.
the water near the equator is too warm
 

 44. 
How long does it take for a typical mid-latitude low to move through its life cycle?
a.
about 4 hours
c.
about 4 days
b.
about 12 hours
d.
about 12 days
 

 45. 
A tornado’s funnel cloud results when
a.
Air pressure at the center of the funnel is high.
c.
The air sucked into the funnel expands and cools.
b.
Air around the edges of the funnel is cold.
d.
The air sucked into the funnel contracts and heats.
 

 46. 
When a cold front passes,
a.
the temperature begins to rise
c.
the wind changes direction
b.
the air pressure begins to fall
d.
All of the above occur.
 

 47. 
Which of the following is not a basic type of front?
a.
stationary front
c.
cold front
b.
warm front
d.
pressure front
 

 48. 
What is weather
a.
The state of the atmosphere at any one point in time.
c.
The number of clouds in the sky.
b.
The amount of moisture in the air.
d.
The amount of insolation.
 

 49. 
What are the characteristics of a high pressure system?
a.
Wind and rain
c.
Humidity and thunder
b.
Clear sky and sun
d.
Snow storms
 

 50. 
What is the difference between a tornado and a hurricane?
a.
They are the same things.
c.
Tornadoes occur over land and hurricanes occur over sea.
b.
Tornadoes occur over sea and hurricanes occur over land.
d.
Tornadoes happen during winter and hurricanes happen in the summer.
 

 51. 
How do isobars help meteorologists predict weather?
a.
They help meteorologists predict dry weather.
c.
They help meteorologists see areas of equal temperature.
b.
They show where the clouds are..
d.
They help meteorologists tell how fast wind is blowing by noting how closely isobars are placed on a weather map.
 

 52. 
What type of storm is a hurricane?
a.
a nor’easter
c.
a tropical cyclone
b.
a tornado
d.
a mid latitude low
 

 53. 
Why do we experience lightning and thunder at different times?
a.
Because sound travels faster than light.
c.
Scientists don’t really know.
b.
Because light travels faster than sound.
d.
We always experience them at exactly the same time.
 

 54. 
Where is the earth’s temperature predictably warm year round?
a.
Along the prime meridian
c.
In Madera
b.
At the South Pole
d.
Along the equator
 

 55. 
What causes lightning?
a.
Thunder
c.
Differences in electrical charge inside a cloud.
b.
Large amounts of rain falling in a short time.
d.
Thor, the god of thunder.
 

 56. 
All deserts are
a.
hot
c.
sandy
b.
dry
d.
cold
 

 57. 
What is the Gulf Stream?
a.
A warm air current over North America
c.
A warm current in the Gulf of India
b.
A warm current in the Atlantic Ocean
d.
A type of jet
 

 58. 
What human activities endanger the rainforest?
a.
Logging and mining
c.
Both a and b.
b.
Farming and grazing animals
d.
Nothing endangers the rainforest
 

 59. 
What reading would a barometer give in Madison, Wisconsin?
mc059-1.jpg
a.
1024
c.
1016
b.
1000
d.
1008
 

 60. 
What is a stationary front?
a.
a front that moves continuously
c.
a front that takes over a cold front
b.
a front that takes over an occluded front
d.
a front that does not move
 

 61. 
Which of these events always happens first?
a.
Thunder
c.
Neither, they both always happen at exactly the same time.
b.
Lightning
 

 62. 
When do storm clouds develop?
a.
When humid air rises and cools, so that the moisture inside condenses.
c.
When moisture from space dissolves as it enters the atmosphere.
b.
When dry air falls to Earth.
d.
The do not develop, they are always there, they just move around.
 

 63. 
Which of the following statements is true?
a.
Cold fronts usually have more gentle slopes than warm fronts.
c.
Rains of cold fronts usually last longer than rains of warm fronts.
b.
Cold fronts usually move more quickly than warm fronts.
d.
Clouds of cold fronts are usually stratiform.
 



 
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