Name: 
 

Weather


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

1. 
The two most abundant gases in the atmosphere are
a.
carbon dioxide and oxygen.
b.
carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
c.
nitrogen and oxygen.
d.
nitrogen and hydrogen.
 

2. 
In addition to gases, air also contains
a.
water vapor.
b.
ozone.
c.
particles.
d.
carbon dioxide.
 

3. 
Air in the atmosphere has pressure because
a.
the stratosphere is thick.
b.
air has mass.
c.
wind moves the air.
d.
temperature warms the air.
 

4. 
The less mass in a given volume of air, the
a.
more the air weighs.
b.
greater the air pressure.
c.
more dense the air.
d.
less dense the air.
 

5. 
The National Weather Service measures air pressure in units called
a.
aneroids.
b.
barometers.
c.
millibars.
d.
pressure bars.
 

6. 
Instruments used to measure air pressure are called
a.
thermometers.
b.
hygrometers.
c.
hydrometers.
d.
barometers.
 

7. 
As you rise farther in the atmosphere, air pressure
a.
increases.
b.
decreases.
c.
doesn’t change.
d.
first increases, then decreases.
 

8. 
When climbing a high mountain, you get out of breath easily because
a.
the percentage of oxygen in the air decreases.
b.
the air is more dense.
c.
there is less oxygen in each cubic meter of air.
d.
air pressure is greater.
 

9. 
The layer in our atmosphere in which weather occurs is the
a.
troposphere.
b.
stratosphere.
c.
mesosphere.
d.
exosphere.
 

10. 
Earth’s atmosphere contains about four times as much nitrogen as
a.
carbon dioxide.
b.
oxygen.
c.
hydrogen.
d.
helium.
 

11. 
Most of the energy that heats Earth’s atmosphere is
a.
visible light.
b.
ultraviolet light.
c.
blue light.
d.
infrared radiation.
 

12. 
The greenhouse effect is
a.
the absorption of energy by clouds.
b.
a gradual increase in the temperature of the atmosphere.
c.
the reflection of solar energy into the atmosphere.
d.
the process by which gases hold heat in the atmosphere.
 

13. 
The total energy of motion in the molecules of a substance is called
a.
radiation.
b.
absorbed energy.
c.
thermal energy.
d.
temperature.
 

14. 
Heat from a campfire reaches you by
a.
conduction.
b.
light emission.
c.
convection.
d.
radiation.
 

15. 
Convection takes place because
a.
warm air is more dense than light air.
b.
warm and cold air have the same density.
c.
cold air is less dense than warm air.
d.
warm air is less dense than cold air.
 

16. 
Winds are caused by differences in
a.
precipitation.
b.
humidity.
c.
air pressure.
d.
turbulence.
 

17. 
Cool air masses tend to
a.
be less dense and flow over warm air masses.
b.
be lifted up by more dense warm air masses.
c.
be more dense and flow under warm air masses.
d.
mix easily with warm air masses.
 

18. 
Local winds differ from global winds because they
a.
are caused by unequal heating within a small area.
b.
are caused by differences in cloud cover.
c.
are due to unequal rainfall.
d.
are not influenced by air masses.
 

19. 
Land breezes occur because
a.
land cools off faster than water.
b.
land cools off more slowly than water.
c.
land heats up faster than water.
d.
land heats up more slowly than water.
 

20. 
The doldrums are characterized by
a.
high pressure.
b.
cool temperatures.
c.
weak winds.
d.
heavy air.
 

21. 
Relative humidity can be measured with a(an)
a.
radiometer.
b.
barometer.
c.
psychrometer.
d.
thermometer.
 

22. 
Moisture will form faster on a glass when
a.
the air is dry and the glass is cold.
b.
the air is humid and the glass is cold.
c.
the air is dry and the glass is warm.
d.
the air is humid and the glass is warm.
 

23. 
Clouds form when water vapor in the air
a.
falls to the ground.
b.
is deposited as ice onto a solid surface.
c.
condenses onto a solid surface.
d.
becomes liquid water or ice crystals.
 

24. 
When an air mass rises up a mountain side,
a.
the temperature increases and the relative humidity decreases.
b.
the temperature increases and the relative humidity increases.
c.
the temperature decreases and the relative humidity increases.
d.
the temperature decreases and the relative humidity decreases.
 

25. 
Large clouds that often produce thunderstorms are called
a.
stratus clouds.
b.
cumulonimbus clouds.
c.
cirrus clouds.
d.
nimbostratus clouds.
 

26. 
Very high feathery clouds are called
a.
stratus clouds.
b.
cumulonimbus clouds.
c.
cirrus clouds.
d.
nimbostratus clouds.
 

27. 
Any form of water that falls from clouds is called
a.
dew.
b.
evaporation.
c.
condensation.
d.
precipitation.
 

28. 
Layered clouds that often cover much of the sky are called
a.
stratus clouds.
b.
cumulonimbus clouds.
c.
cirrus clouds.
d.
cumulus clouds.
 

29. 
Global winds generally
a.
are not influenced by heating of Earth’s surface.
b.
are unpredictable.
c.
change directions from day to day.
d.
blow from specific directions over long distances.
 

30. 
Earth’s rotation makes winds seem to curve. This is called the
a.
convection effect
b.
global effect
c.
Coriolis effect.
d.
rotational effect.
 

31. 
Cold, dry air affecting the northern United States in winter often comes from
a.
maritime polar air masses.
b.
maritime tropical air masses.
c.
continental polar air masses.
d.
continental tropical air masses.
 

32. 
When a rapidly moving cold air mass runs into a slow moving warm air mass, the result is a(an)
a.
cold front.
b.
occluded front.
c.
warm front.
d.
stationary front.
 

33. 
When a warm air mass and a cold air mass meet and no movement occurs, the result is a(an)
a.
occluded front.
b.
warm front.
c.
stationary front.
d.
cold front.
 

34. 
One difference between cyclones and anticyclones is
a.
their size.
b.
where they occur.
c.
the direction of their winds.
d.
how often they occur.
 

35. 
Weather associated with an anticyclone is generally
a.
cloudy but dry.
b.
unpredictable.
c.
wet and cloudy.
d.
dry and clear.
 

36. 
A funnel-shaped cloud that touches Earth’s surface is called a
a.
hurricane.
b.
cyclone.
c.
tornado.
d.
thunderhead.
 

37. 
One of the best places to seek protection during a tornado is
a.
in the attic.
b.
beside either the stove or the refrigerator.
c.
in the garage.
d.
in the basement of a well-built building.
 

38. 
Sudden storms, broken dams, and ice jams that break can produce
a.
flash floods.
b.
spring floods.
c.
slowly rising rivers and streams.
d.
little or no local damage.
 

39. 
People who study weather and try to predict it are called
a.
astronomers.
b.
climatologists.
c.
meteorologists.
d.
weather forecasters.
 

40. 
Isobars are lines on a map joining places that have the same
a.
wind speed.
b.
temperature.
c.
humidity.
d.
air pressure.
 

41. 
On weather maps, a line with half circles indicates
a.
a hurricane.
b.
a cold front.
c.
a warm front.
d.
snow.
 

42. 
An air mass that formed over northern Mexico and affected the southwestern United States would be a
a.
maritime polar air mass.
b.
maritime tropical air mass.
c.
continental polar air mass.
d.
continental tropical air mass.
 

43. 
When a warm air mass overtakes a cold air mass, it forms a(n)
a.
occluded front.
b.
warm front.
c.
stationary front.
d.
cold front.
 

44. 
Thunderstorms form within
a.
high altocumulus clouds.
b.
high cirrocumulus clouds.
c.
large cumulonimbus clouds.
d.
low cirrus clouds.
 

45. 
Collecting of weather data in the last 40 years has been improved mostly by
a.
balloons and satellites.
b.
more people who study clouds.
c.
military aircraft.
d.
astronaut observations.
 

46. 
Small lines at the end of the shaft that represents wind direction on a weather map indicate
a.
temperature.
b.
wind speed.
c.
pressure.
d.
humidity.
 

47. 
The eye of a hurricane
a.
has the highest winds.
b.
has dense clouds.
c.
produces the storm surge.
d.
is calm.
 

48. 
A cloud cover symbol that is 3/4 black and 1/4 white represents
a.
20–30 percent cloud cover.
b.
50–60 percent cloud cover.
c.
70–80 percent cloud cover.
d.
90–100 percent cloud cover.
 

49. 
Places shown on a weather map that have the same temperature are connected by
a.
thermolines.
b.
isobars.
c.
thermobars.
d.
isotherms.
 

50. 
Warm moist air masses that affect the south coast of the United States are called
a.
maritime polar air masses.
b.
maritime tropical air masses.
c.
continental polar air masses.
d.
continental tropical air masses.
 



 
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