The Ocean Floor - Final Review

Question 1

An echo sounder operates by measuring the time required for a ________.

Answer 1

sound pulse to travel from a ship to the seafloor and back

Question 2

Geologically, ________ are actually submerged parts of the continents.

Answer 2

continental shelves

Question 3

The ________ lies at the base of the continental slope.

Answer 3

continental rise

Question 4

The gently sloping submerged surface extending from the shoreline toward the ocean is termed the ________.

Answer 4

continental shelf

Question 5

________ is the oceanward edge of a continental shelf.

Answer 5

The top of the continental slope

Question 6

Oceans cover approximately ________ of Earth’s surface area?

Answer 6

70%

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT true of deep ocean trenches?

Answer 7

They are geologically very stable.

Question 8

Seamounts ________.

Answer 8

are volcanoes that form on the ocean floor

Question 9

________ are not associated with a mid-ocean ridge.

Answer 9

Deep ocean trenches

Question 10

Where in the oceans are biological communities thriving without sunlight?

Answer 10

around seafloor, hot spring vents

Question 11

Which plate does not contain significant areas of continental landmass?

Answer 11

Pacific plate

Question 12

Which feature of mid-ocean ridge is absent when the spreading rate is fast along a divergent plate boundary?

Answer 12

Rift valley

Question 13

What changes have occurred to Farallon plate since 56 million years ago?

Answer 13

It has subducted into mantle and got smaller and smaller

Question 14

What is the most top layer of ophiolite complex of the oceanic crust?

Answer 14

Deep sea sediments

Question 15

True or False?

The west coast of South America and the east coast of North America have very different continental margins.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

True or False?

Submerged, flat-topped seamounts are known as guyots.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

True or False?

The Atlantic and Pacific basins have oceanic ridges; the Indian Ocean has no oceanic ridge.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

True or False?

Passive continental margins typically exhibit wide, extensive, continental shelves.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

True or False?

A passive continental margin marks the site where old, oceanic lithosphere begins its descent into a subduction zone.

Answer 19

False

Question 20

True or False?

Seawater circulates downward through the highly fractured oceanic crust

Answer 20

True

Question 21

True or False?

There is no faulting along mid ocean ridge system.

Answer 21

False

Question 22

True or False?

Abyssal plains are likely the most leveled places on Earth.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

True or False?

Deep ocean trenches are considered the deepest part of the oceans.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Order of ocean floor features

Answer 24

Continental Shelf
Continental Slope
Continental Rise
Abyssal Plain
Mid-Ocean Ridge