Chapter 1
The Earth’s Atmosphere
Multiple Choice Exam Questions
1. The most abundant gases in the earth's atmosphere by volume are
a. carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
b. oxygen and water vapor.
c. nitrogen and oxygen.
d. oxygen and helium.
e. oxygen and ozone.
ANSWER: c
2. Which of the following gases could be found in the atmosphere with a concentration
greater than 1%?
a. hydrogen (H)
b. water vapor (H2O)
c. carbon dioxide (CO2)
d. ozone (O3)
ANSWER: b
3. In a volume of air near the earth's surface, occupies 78% and nearly 21%.
a. nitrogen, oxygen
, b. hydrogen, oxygen
c. oxygen, hydrogen
d. nitrogen, water vapor
e. hydrogen, helium
ANSWER: a
4. Water vapor
a. is invisible.
b. colors the sky blue.
c. makes clouds white.
d. is very small drops of liquid water.
ANSWER: a
5. The only substance near the earth's surface that is found naturally in the atmosphere as a
solid, liquid, and a gas.
a. carbon dioxide
b. water
c. molecular oxygen
d. ozone
e. methane
ANSWER: b
6. Which of the following is considered a variable gas in the earth's atmosphere?
a. water vapor
, b. nitrogen
c. oxygen
d. argon
e. all of the above
ANSWER: a
7. The gas that shows the most variation in concentration from place to place and from time
to time in the lower atmosphere.
a. ozone (O3)
b. carbon dioxide (CO2)
c. water vapor (H2O)
d. methane (CH4)
e. argon (Ar)
ANSWER: c
8. The concentration of this gas in the atmosphere can range from about 0% to near 3 or 4%.
a. oxygen (O2)
b. ozone (O3)
c. carbon dioxide (CO2)
d. water vapor (H2O)
ANSWER: d
9. In the atmosphere, tiny solid or liquid suspended particles of various composition are
called
, a. aerosols.
b. carcinogens.
c. greenhouse gases.
d. fog.
ANSWER: a
10. Since the turn of this century, CO2 in the atmosphere has
a. disappeared entirely.
b. been decreasing in concentration.
c. remained at about the same concentration from year to year.
d. been increasing in concentration.
ANSWER: d
11. The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is relatively low compared
to some of the other constituents. CO2 is important none the less because
a. it dissolves in water to form acid rain.
b. it is a greenhouse gas.
c. it is the main ingredient in photochemical smog.
d. it is toxic.
ANSWER: b
12. This greenhouse gas is used as a refrigerant, a solvent, and during the manufacture of
foam.
a. water vapor (H2O)
The Earth’s Atmosphere
Multiple Choice Exam Questions
1. The most abundant gases in the earth's atmosphere by volume are
a. carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
b. oxygen and water vapor.
c. nitrogen and oxygen.
d. oxygen and helium.
e. oxygen and ozone.
ANSWER: c
2. Which of the following gases could be found in the atmosphere with a concentration
greater than 1%?
a. hydrogen (H)
b. water vapor (H2O)
c. carbon dioxide (CO2)
d. ozone (O3)
ANSWER: b
3. In a volume of air near the earth's surface, occupies 78% and nearly 21%.
a. nitrogen, oxygen
, b. hydrogen, oxygen
c. oxygen, hydrogen
d. nitrogen, water vapor
e. hydrogen, helium
ANSWER: a
4. Water vapor
a. is invisible.
b. colors the sky blue.
c. makes clouds white.
d. is very small drops of liquid water.
ANSWER: a
5. The only substance near the earth's surface that is found naturally in the atmosphere as a
solid, liquid, and a gas.
a. carbon dioxide
b. water
c. molecular oxygen
d. ozone
e. methane
ANSWER: b
6. Which of the following is considered a variable gas in the earth's atmosphere?
a. water vapor
, b. nitrogen
c. oxygen
d. argon
e. all of the above
ANSWER: a
7. The gas that shows the most variation in concentration from place to place and from time
to time in the lower atmosphere.
a. ozone (O3)
b. carbon dioxide (CO2)
c. water vapor (H2O)
d. methane (CH4)
e. argon (Ar)
ANSWER: c
8. The concentration of this gas in the atmosphere can range from about 0% to near 3 or 4%.
a. oxygen (O2)
b. ozone (O3)
c. carbon dioxide (CO2)
d. water vapor (H2O)
ANSWER: d
9. In the atmosphere, tiny solid or liquid suspended particles of various composition are
called
, a. aerosols.
b. carcinogens.
c. greenhouse gases.
d. fog.
ANSWER: a
10. Since the turn of this century, CO2 in the atmosphere has
a. disappeared entirely.
b. been decreasing in concentration.
c. remained at about the same concentration from year to year.
d. been increasing in concentration.
ANSWER: d
11. The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is relatively low compared
to some of the other constituents. CO2 is important none the less because
a. it dissolves in water to form acid rain.
b. it is a greenhouse gas.
c. it is the main ingredient in photochemical smog.
d. it is toxic.
ANSWER: b
12. This greenhouse gas is used as a refrigerant, a solvent, and during the manufacture of
foam.
a. water vapor (H2O)
