Chapter 15: World Climates

1) The humid subtropical climate

A) has relatively cool summers

B) does not affect the United States

C) sees significant rainfall throughout the year

D) is, in winter, similar to the wet tropics

E) all of these

3) The most important determinant of temperature overall is

A) distribution of land and water

B) position of mountains and highlands

C) prevailing winds

D) latitude

E) ocean currents

4) In the wet tropics:

A) the annual temperature range usually exceeds daily temperature ranges

B) daily and annual temperature ranges are nearly identical

C) the warmest month is always June or July

D) daily temperature ranges usually exceed the annual temperature range

8) A perusal of a world climate map shows that similar climates are located

A) at similar latitudes

B) at similar elevations

C) at similar longitudes

D) a, b, and c

E) none of these

16) When comparing west coast tropical deserts like the Namib and Atacama with more typical tropical deserts like the Sahara, we can say that west coast tropical deserts are:

A) drier (less precipitation)

B) more humid

C) foggier

D) all of these (a, b, and c)

E) both a and b but not c

17) The latitude of a place is important for its climate since latitude determines

A) sun angle

B) elevation

C) length of daylight

D) distance from sun

E) both a) and c)

20) Which of these is closely linked to the location of the major pressure and wind systems?

A) location of mountains and highlands B) evaporation sources

C) ocean currents D) rainfall patterns

28) Mountain ranges play an important role in determining climates because of their influence upon

A) solar heating

B) air density

C) land and water contrasts

D) rainfall distribution

E) air pressure

31) The locations of the major pressure and wind systems on the Earth

A) are fixed by the poles and equator

B) are denoted by parallels of latitude

C) do not change with the seasons

D) are fixed by astronomy

E) move as they follow the vertical rays of the sun

35) Deserts such as the Sahara exist because of:

A) the desiccating influence of the trade winds

B) the rain shadow effect of mountains

C) extreme continentality

D) the influence of the subtropical highs

E) none of these

36) The dry-summer subtropical climate is also called the ______climate.

A) taiga

B) Mediterranean

C) savanna

D) monsoon

E) none of these

39) All of the cities described below are in North America and are classified as humid continental climates. Which of the three cities would have the highest annual temperature range?

A) City C, a city in the interior of the continent at 50degree north latitude

B) City A, a leeward coastal city at 40degree north latitude

C) City B, a city in the interior of the continent at 40degree north latitude

D) all of these

41) Although the subarctic and tundra climates generally have small precipitation totals, they are considered humid. The reason for this is:

A) permafrost does not let the water escape

B) low temperatures mean only a small loss to evaporation

C) these regions have great reserves of underground water that can be used for irrigation

D) most of the precipitation falls in the winter

E) since there are no trees present, little or no water is lost because of transpiration

42) The primary factor which determines whether a place will have a dry climate is

A) whether evaporation exceeds precipitation

B) how much evaporation occurs

C) its distance to a large water body

D) its elevation

45) The tropical rainforest is characterized by

A) deciduous trees

B) a great diversity of plant species

C) the dominance of conifers

D) wet winters and dry summers

E) none of these