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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 4.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did the volcano explosion in Sumatra affect life on Earth?
(a) It caused an incredible explosion of genetic diversity, producing many new species.
(b) It caused an evolutionary bottleneck in which much genetic diversity was lost.
(c) It was connected with the beginning of the evolution of modern humans.
(d) It caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

2. When President Ronald Reagan visited Brazil, where did he tell people he was happy to be?
(a) Bahrain.
(b) Belgium.
(c) The Bahamas.
(d) Bolivia.

3. Why does de Blij feel that American students need to study geography?
(a) To better understand plate tectonics.
(b) To protect national security.
(c) To better understand history.
(d) To receive a well-rounded education.

4. What historical event may have given rise to the stories in many cultures of a Great Flood?
(a) The Postglacial Optimum.
(b) The flooding of the Black Sea area.
(c) Seismic waves after the eruption of Thira.
(d) The Medieval Optimum.

5. How will Earth's population in the year 2015 compare with Earth's population in "the year without a summer"?
(a) Earth will have double the number of people in 2015 than it did then.
(b) Earth will have seven times more people than it did then.
(c) Earth had seven times more people that year than it does now.
(d) Earth will have about the same number of people in 2015 as it did then.

Short Answer Questions

1. How do scientists measure the movement of North America each year?

2. Who formulated a grid that is still used to make map projections of the world?

3. How is topography shown in United States Geological Survey maps?

4. What do geographers analyze using the gravity model?

5. What phase of Earth's geologic history are we in today?

(see the answer key)

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