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GCE O/L Geography study materials
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GCE O/L Geography practice questions

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Question 1Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Which layer of the Earth lies directly beneath the crust and is composed mainly of solid silicate rock that can flow slowly over long periods?

  1. The atmosphere
  2. The outer core
  3. The mantle Correct answer.
  4. The inner core

Explanation

The Earth is divided into crust, mantle, outer core and inner core. The mantle sits immediately below the crust and consists of hot silicate rock that deforms slowly, allowing convection currents to move tectonic plates.

Question 2Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

The theory of plate tectonics explains that the Earth's rigid outer shell is broken into large slabs called plates. What name is given to this rigid outer shell?

  1. The biosphere
  2. The asthenosphere
  3. The hydrosphere
  4. The lithosphere Correct answer.

Explanation

The lithosphere is the rigid outer shell made of the crust plus the uppermost mantle, and it is broken into tectonic plates. It rests on the weaker, slowly flowing asthenosphere beneath it.

Question 3Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Igneous rocks are classified by their origin. Which statement correctly describes an intrusive igneous rock?

  1. It forms from magma that cools slowly beneath the surface, giving large crystals Correct answer.
  2. It forms from compressed layers of sand and mud
  3. It forms from lava that cools quickly at the surface, giving fine crystals
  4. It forms when limestone is heated and recrystallised

Explanation

Intrusive igneous rocks solidify from magma trapped underground, where slow cooling allows crystals to grow large, as in granite. Extrusive rocks cool quickly at the surface and have fine crystals.

Question 4Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

A student finds a rock containing fossils of marine shells high on a mountain. Which rock type is most likely to contain such fossils?

  1. Volcanic glass
  2. Igneous rock
  3. Metamorphic rock
  4. Sedimentary rock Correct answer.

Explanation

Fossils are preserved mainly in sedimentary rocks because these form by the gentle layering of deposited material that can trap and preserve remains. Heat and pressure in igneous and metamorphic processes usually destroy fossils.

Question 5Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

At which type of plate boundary do two plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and form new crust?

  1. A subduction zone
  2. A conservative (transform) boundary
  3. A constructive (divergent) boundary Correct answer.
  4. A destructive (convergent) boundary

Explanation

At a constructive or divergent boundary, plates separate and magma rises into the gap, creating new oceanic crust such as at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Convergent and transform boundaries involve collision or sliding rather than new crust formation.

Question 6Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Which of the following is a direct result of the movement of tectonic plates?

  1. The formation of rain shadows
  2. The formation of sand dunes
  3. The formation of fold mountains Correct answer.
  4. The formation of oxbow lakes

Explanation

Fold mountains form when tectonic plates collide and compress sedimentary layers, buckling them upward. Rain shadows, oxbow lakes and sand dunes are produced by atmospheric and river or wind processes, not plate movement.

Question 7Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

What is the name of the supercontinent that is thought to have existed about 250 million years ago before breaking apart?

  1. Laurasia
  2. Pangaea Correct answer.
  3. Gondwanaland
  4. Tethys

Explanation

Pangaea was the single large landmass that later split into the northern Laurasia and the southern Gondwanaland. Matching fossils and rock formations on separate continents support this idea.

Question 8Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Which process in the mantle is the main driving force that moves tectonic plates?

  1. Convection currents Correct answer.
  2. Tidal action
  3. Chemical weathering
  4. Glacial erosion

Explanation

Heat from the core and mantle generates convection currents in the slowly flowing mantle rock. These currents drag the overlying plates, helping them to move apart or collide.

Question 9Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

A geologist observes a lava flow that cooled rapidly at the Earth's surface. Which rock type and texture would be expected?

  1. Sedimentary rock with rounded pebbles
  2. Intrusive igneous rock with large crystals
  3. Extrusive igneous rock with fine crystals Correct answer.
  4. Metamorphic rock with foliation bands

Explanation

Lava that cools quickly at the surface does not allow crystals much time to grow, producing fine-grained extrusive igneous rock such as basalt. Slow cooling underground would instead produce large crystals.

Question 10Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Marble is formed when limestone is subjected to great heat and pressure. Into which rock group does marble fall?

  1. Sedimentary
  2. Metamorphic Correct answer.
  3. Volcanic
  4. Igneous

Explanation

Metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are changed by heat and pressure without melting. Limestone recrystallises into marble, a classic example of a metamorphic rock.

Question 11Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

At a destructive plate boundary where an oceanic plate meets a continental plate, what happens to the denser oceanic plate?

  1. It slides sideways past the continental plate
  2. It splits apart to form a rift valley
  3. It rises above the continental plate to form a plateau
  4. It is forced down beneath the continental plate into a subduction zone Correct answer.

Explanation

Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, so when they collide the oceanic plate is pushed down into the mantle at a subduction zone. This produces deep ocean trenches and volcanic mountain chains on the continent.

Question 12Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Which feature is most characteristic of a conservative (transform) plate boundary?

  1. A chain of volcanic islands formed by rising magma
  2. A deep ocean trench with active subduction
  3. A mid-ocean ridge with new crust forming
  4. A fault line where plates slide past each other, producing earthquakes Correct answer.

Explanation

At a conservative boundary the plates neither separate nor collide; they grind past each other along a fault. Friction builds up and is released as earthquakes, as along the San Andreas Fault.

Question 13Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

The Himalayas are a major fold mountain range. Which plate interaction produced them?

  1. Collision between two continental plates Correct answer.
  2. Subduction of an oceanic plate under an island arc
  3. Divergence of two oceanic plates
  4. Sliding of two plates past each other

Explanation

The Himalayas formed when the Indian continental plate collided with the Eurasian plate, compressing and folding sedimentary layers upward. Continental collision produces fold mountains rather than volcanic island arcs.

Question 14Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

A rock sample is made of distinct rounded pebbles cemented together. Which rock group does this sample belong to?

  1. Igneous
  2. Sedimentary Correct answer.
  3. Metamorphic
  4. Plutonic

Explanation

Rounded pebbles cemented together indicate a conglomerate, which is a clastic sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks form from the compaction and cementing of deposited fragments.

Question 15Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Which evidence was used by Alfred Wegener to support the idea that continents once drifted apart?

  1. The measured salinity of the world's oceans
  2. The layering of the atmosphere above the continents
  3. The daily movement of tides along coastlines
  4. Matching fossils and rock formations found on continents now separated by oceans Correct answer.

Explanation

Wegener noted that identical fossils and similar rock structures occur on continents now far apart, such as South America and Africa. This matching evidence supported his continental drift idea.

Question 16Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

The Mohorovičić discontinuity, or Moho, marks a boundary within the Earth. Which two layers does it separate?

  1. The crust and the mantle Correct answer.
  2. The lithosphere and the atmosphere
  3. The outer core and the inner core
  4. The mantle and the outer core

Explanation

The Moho is the boundary where seismic waves change speed, marking the base of the crust and the top of the mantle. It lies deeper under continents than under oceans.

Question 17Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Why do the deepest ocean trenches occur along destructive plate boundaries?

  1. New crust is being pushed upward along a ridge
  2. Wind and waves are eroding the sea floor rapidly
  3. The descending oceanic plate bends sharply downward into the mantle Correct answer.
  4. Two plates are sliding horizontally past each other

Explanation

Where a dense oceanic plate sinks beneath another plate, it bends downward and creates a very deep trench, such as the Mariana Trench. This trench lies parallel to the subduction zone.

Question 18Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Which statement best explains why sedimentary rocks often occur in layers called strata?

  1. Material is deposited in successive horizontal layers over long periods Correct answer.
  2. Meteorites strike the surface in regular intervals
  3. Magma intrudes repeatedly into the crust
  4. Heat and pressure recrystallise minerals in bands

Explanation

Sediments such as sand and mud settle in successive horizontal layers, and each layer is later compacted and cemented. The resulting strata record changes in the environment over time.

Question 19Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

A region has frequent shallow earthquakes but no volcanoes, and the land shows a long straight valley where two crustal blocks have moved sideways. Which boundary type is most likely present?

  1. Conservative (transform) boundary Correct answer.
  2. Constructive (divergent) boundary
  3. Destructive boundary with subduction
  4. Hotspot boundary

Explanation

Sideways movement along a fault produces shallow earthquakes without volcanism, and a linear valley may mark the fault line. Conservative boundaries lack the magma generation seen at divergent or subduction zones.

Question 20Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Which sequence correctly describes part of the rock cycle?

  1. Sedimentary rock is melted into magma, which cools into sedimentary rock
  2. Igneous rock is compacted into sediment without any weathering
  3. Igneous rock is weathered into sediment, which is compacted into sedimentary rock Correct answer.
  4. Metamorphic rock is eroded into sediment, which melts into igneous rock directly

Explanation

Weathering breaks igneous rock into sediment, which is deposited, compacted and cemented to form sedimentary rock. The rock cycle links all three rock groups through melting, cooling, weathering and metamorphism.

Question 21Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

The outer core of the Earth is believed to be liquid. Which evidence best supports this conclusion?

  1. S-waves cannot pass through the outer core, creating a seismic shadow zone Correct answer.
  2. The crust is thinner under the oceans than under continents
  3. P-waves travel faster through the crust than through the mantle
  4. Volcanoes erupt lava at the surface

Explanation

S-waves are shear waves and cannot travel through liquids, so their absence beyond a certain angle shows that the outer core is liquid. P-waves are also refracted at the core boundary, producing a shadow zone.

Question 22Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Two plates of oceanic crust meet at a convergent boundary. Which combination of features is most likely to develop?

  1. A fold mountain range of continental rock
  2. A transform fault with no volcanic activity
  3. A deep trench and a chain of volcanic island arcs Correct answer.
  4. A mid-ocean ridge and a rift valley

Explanation

When two oceanic plates converge, one subducts beneath the other, forming a deep trench. Melting above the descending slab feeds volcanoes that build an island arc, such as the Japanese islands.

Question 23Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

A geologist finds a metamorphic rock containing aligned mineral bands. Which condition most likely produced these bands?

  1. Directed pressure during metamorphism causing minerals to align Correct answer.
  2. Deposition of sand in shallow water
  3. Rapid cooling of lava at the surface
  4. Cementation of pebbles by mineral cement

Explanation

Foliation, the alignment of minerals into bands, develops when rocks are subjected to directed pressure during metamorphism. The platy minerals recrystallise perpendicular to the pressure, producing visible banding.

Question 24Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Magnetic stripes recorded in oceanic crust on either side of a mid-ocean ridge are symmetrical. What does this pattern most strongly indicate?

  1. New crust forms at the ridge and spreads outward, recording reversals of the Earth's magnetic field Correct answer.
  2. Oceanic crust is being pushed inward toward the ridge from both sides
  3. The Earth's magnetic field has never changed direction
  4. The ocean floor is a single unbroken block of ancient continental rock

Explanation

As magma rises and cools at a ridge, magnetic minerals align with the field at that time, and the crust then moves away on both sides. The symmetrical stripes of alternating polarity record past reversals and support sea-floor spreading.

Question 25Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

Why are the oldest rocks on the ocean floor generally much younger than the oldest continental rocks?

  1. Oceanic crust is continuously created at ridges and destroyed at subduction zones Correct answer.
  2. The ocean floor has been drilled in only a few places
  3. Ocean water dissolves all old rocks on the sea floor
  4. Continental rocks are never affected by erosion

Explanation

Oceanic crust is recycled: it forms at mid-ocean ridges and is consumed at subduction zones, so most of it is less than about 200 million years old. Continental crust is lighter and is not usually subducted, so it survives far longer.

Question 26Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

The Earth's internal structure is divided into layers. Which layer lies directly below the crust and is composed mainly of solid rock rich in silicate minerals?

  1. The mantle Correct answer.
  2. The inner core
  3. The outer core
  4. The hydrosphere

Explanation

The Earth is layered by composition and density. Beneath the crust lies the mantle, a thick zone of hot, mostly solid silicate rock that extends down to the core. The core lies deeper still and is dominated by iron and nickel rather than silicates.

Question 27Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

A student is told that a particular rock was formed from magma that cooled slowly deep underground. Which set of properties would best match this rock?

  1. Large interlocking crystals with no layering Correct answer.
  2. Fine-grained texture with many fossils
  3. Aligned bands of light and dark minerals
  4. Rounded pebbles cemented together

Explanation

Slow cooling deep underground gives crystals time to grow large, and the crystals interlock as the melt solidifies. This produces a coarse-grained igneous rock such as granite. Layering, fossils and aligned bands belong to other rock groups or processes.

Question 28Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

At a constructive (divergent) plate boundary, two plates move apart. Which landform is built up directly above such a boundary on the ocean floor?

  1. A fold mountain chain
  2. A mid-ocean ridge Correct answer.
  3. A volcanic island arc
  4. A deep ocean trench

Explanation

Where plates diverge, magma rises to fill the gap and solidifies, building a broad underwater mountain system called a mid-ocean ridge. New oceanic crust is created along the ridge axis. Trenches, fold mountains and island arcs are linked to convergent boundaries instead.

Question 29Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

A geologist maps a region where a continental plate is colliding with another continental plate. Neither plate is dense enough to sink. Which combination of features is most likely to be found there?

  1. A wide rift valley with basalt lava flows
  2. Symmetrical magnetic stripes on the sea floor
  3. A chain of ocean trenches and a volcanic island arc
  4. Thickened crust, fold mountains and shallow earthquakes Correct answer.

Explanation

When two continental plates collide, the crust is compressed and thickened rather than subducted, raising fold mountains. Earthquakes are common but shallow, and volcanic activity is limited because little material sinks into the mantle.

Question 30Physical Geography: Earth structure, plate tectonics, rocks and landforms

A sedimentary rock is found to contain well-rounded sand grains that are cemented together, and the grains show clear sorting by size. Which conclusion about its history is best supported?

  1. The rock was squeezed and heated until its minerals aligned
  2. The sediment was transported a long way before being deposited Correct answer.
  3. The rock was melted and then recrystallised underground
  4. The sediment was deposited directly by a melting glacier

Explanation

Rounding and sorting increase as grains are carried by water or wind, because abrasion wears off corners and currents separate grains by size. Long transport therefore produces well-rounded, well-sorted sediment. Melting, glacial deposition and metamorphic alignment would each leave different evidence.

Question 31Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which instrument is used to measure the amount of rainfall received at a weather station over 24 hours?

  1. A hygrometer
  2. A rain gauge Correct answer.
  3. A barometer
  4. An anemometer

Explanation

A rain gauge collects precipitation in a calibrated cylinder so that the depth of water can be read in millimetres. Barometers measure air pressure and hygrometers measure humidity, so neither records rainfall depth.

Question 32Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

At which of these places would you expect the highest average annual rainfall?

  1. A hot desert interior such as the Sahara
  2. A continental interior grassland such as the steppes
  3. A polar plateau such as central Antarctica
  4. A tropical rainforest coast such as the Amazon lowlands Correct answer.

Explanation

Tropical rainforest coasts receive heavy convectional rainfall almost daily because hot, humid air rises and condenses. Deserts, polar plateaus and continental interiors all have little moisture supply or little rising air, so they stay dry.

Question 33Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

What is the main cause of the seasonal monsoon winds of South Asia?

  1. The presence of mountain ranges
  2. The movement of ocean currents
  3. The rotation of the Earth on its axis
  4. The difference in heating between land and sea Correct answer.

Explanation

Land heats and cools faster than water, so in summer the land becomes hotter than the ocean and low pressure draws moist air onshore. In winter the pattern reverses and dry air blows seaward. This pressure contrast, not the Earth's rotation alone, drives the monsoon.

Question 34Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which gas makes up the largest proportion of the Earth's atmosphere?

  1. Carbon dioxide
  2. Nitrogen Correct answer.
  3. Oxygen
  4. Water vapour

Explanation

Nitrogen accounts for roughly 78 per cent of dry air, making it by far the most abundant gas. Oxygen is about 21 per cent, while carbon dioxide and water vapour are present only in small and variable amounts.

Question 35Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which type of rainfall occurs when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range?

  1. Frontal rainfall
  2. Convectional rainfall
  3. Relief rainfall Correct answer.
  4. Cyclonic rainfall

Explanation

Relief (orographic) rainfall forms when air is pushed up a slope, cools and condenses, giving heavy rain on the windward side. Convectional rainfall comes from surface heating and frontal rainfall from meeting air masses.

Question 36Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which biome is characterised by tall trees in several layers, high temperatures and rainfall throughout the year?

  1. Savanna grassland
  2. Tropical rainforest Correct answer.
  3. Mediterranean scrubland
  4. Tundra

Explanation

Tropical rainforests have year-round high temperatures and heavy rain, supporting dense multi-layered canopies and great biodiversity. Savanna, tundra and Mediterranean scrub all experience marked dry seasons or cold seasons that prevent such structure.

Question 37Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

A weather station records 30 mm of rain in a day and a maximum temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. Which of these statements describes the day's conditions using the recorded data only?

  1. The day was windy and cloudy
  2. The day was frosty and calm
  3. The day was cold and dry
  4. The day was warm and wet Correct answer.

Explanation

A maximum of 32 degrees Celsius indicates a warm day, and 30 mm of rain indicates substantial rainfall, so warm and wet is the only description supported. Wind, cloud and frost cannot be inferred because no such measurements are given.

Question 38Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Why does a barometer reading usually fall before a storm arrives?

  1. Temperature always rises sharply before rain
  2. Rainwater pushes the mercury down the tube
  3. Approaching low-pressure air causes the pressure to drop Correct answer.
  4. Wind speed increases the air pressure

Explanation

Storms are associated with low-pressure systems, so as such a system approaches, atmospheric pressure falls and the barometer reading drops. Rain, temperature and wind do not directly push the column down in the way described.

Question 39Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which combination of factors best explains why the windward slope of a mountain is wetter than the leeward slope?

  1. Air descends and warms on the windward side, then rises and cools on the leeward side
  2. The leeward slope faces the Sun for more of the day
  3. The windward slope is closer to the sea and therefore warmer
  4. Air rises and cools on the windward side, then descends and warms on the leeward side Correct answer.

Explanation

Forced ascent on the windward slope cools the air to its dew point, producing condensation and rain. On the leeward side the air descends, warms and becomes drier, creating a rain shadow.

Question 40Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which statement best explains why coastal locations usually have a smaller annual temperature range than inland locations at the same latitude?

  1. The sea heats and cools more slowly than land, moderating coastal temperatures Correct answer.
  2. Sea breezes prevent any change in temperature at the coast
  3. Coastal areas receive more hours of sunshine than inland areas
  4. Inland areas are always at higher altitude

Explanation

Water has a higher heat capacity than land, so the sea warms and cools slowly and keeps nearby coasts cooler in summer and milder in winter. This maritime influence reduces the annual range compared with continental interiors.

Question 41Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

A place has hot, wet summers and cool, dry winters, with deciduous woodland. Which climate type does this describe?

  1. Tundra climate
  2. Monsoon climate Correct answer.
  3. Mediterranean climate
  4. Equatorial climate

Explanation

A monsoon climate has a strong seasonal reversal, bringing heavy rain in the hot summer and a marked dry season in the cooler winter. Equatorial climates are wet all year, Mediterranean climates are dry in summer, and tundra is cold throughout.

Question 42Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which process in the water cycle transfers water vapour from plants into the atmosphere?

  1. Transpiration Correct answer.
  2. Infiltration
  3. Percolation
  4. Condensation

Explanation

Transpiration is the loss of water vapour through small openings in leaves, adding moisture to the air. Infiltration and percolation move water into and through the soil, while condensation changes vapour back into liquid.

Question 43Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Why does a tropical rainforest support a far greater number of species than a coniferous forest?

  1. Coniferous forests receive no sunlight
  2. Rainforests offer a warm, moist climate with many distinct habitats Correct answer.
  3. Rainforest soils are richer in nutrients
  4. Coniferous trees produce chemicals that kill all wildlife

Explanation

Constant warmth and moisture allow year-round growth and a layered canopy that provides many separate niches, supporting high biodiversity. Rainforest soils are actually often nutrient-poor, and coniferous forests do support wildlife.

Question 44Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which human activity is most directly responsible for the enhanced greenhouse effect?

  1. Planting trees in urban parks
  2. Recycling paper and glass
  3. Building reservoirs for hydropower
  4. Burning fossil fuels for energy Correct answer.

Explanation

Burning coal, oil and gas releases large quantities of carbon dioxide, adding to the greenhouse gases that trap outgoing heat. Planting trees and recycling reduce emissions or absorb carbon rather than enhancing the effect.

Question 45Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which explanation best accounts for the dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range?

  1. The leeward side is further from the Sun
  2. Descending air cools and releases its moisture
  3. Descending air warms and its relative humidity falls Correct answer.
  4. The leeward side has thinner soil

Explanation

Air that has lost its moisture on the windward side descends on the leeward side and warms, so its relative humidity drops and little rain falls. This creates the rain-shadow effect.

Question 46Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

An isobar map shows closely spaced lines around a centre. What weather would you expect at that centre?

  1. A complete absence of cloud
  2. Heavy snowfall only
  3. Strong winds Correct answer.
  4. Calm, settled conditions

Explanation

Closely spaced isobars indicate a steep pressure gradient, which produces strong winds. Calm conditions occur where isobars are far apart, and cloud or snow cannot be deduced from spacing alone.

Question 47Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which factor most strongly determines the type of natural vegetation that grows in a region?

  1. The number of rivers crossing the region
  2. The colour of the local soil
  3. The climate, especially temperature and rainfall Correct answer.
  4. The age of the underlying rocks

Explanation

Temperature and rainfall control which plants can survive, so climate is the dominant influence on major vegetation zones. Soil and drainage modify local detail but do not determine the broad biome.

Question 48Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

A city records a mean monthly temperature of 28 degrees Celsius in July and 4 degrees Celsius in January, with rain spread evenly through the year. Which climate is most likely?

  1. Cool temperate western margin Correct answer.
  2. Equatorial
  3. Hot desert
  4. Polar

Explanation

A cool temperate western margin climate has warm summers, mild winters and year-round rainfall from passing depressions. Equatorial climates show little seasonal temperature change, deserts are dry, and polar regions are cold all year.

Question 49Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Which statement correctly describes the transfer of energy in the atmosphere?

  1. Conduction is the main way heat moves through the upper atmosphere
  2. Convection moves warm air upward and advection moves it horizontally Correct answer.
  3. Energy is transferred only by radiation from the Sun to the ground
  4. Latent heat is released when water evaporates

Explanation

Convection carries warm, less dense air upward while advection carries it sideways, together redistributing heat around the globe. Conduction is important only near the surface, and latent heat is absorbed on evaporation and released on condensation.

Question 50Weather, Climate and Ecosystems

Why do equatorial regions receive more solar energy per year than polar regions?

  1. The Sun's rays strike the equator more directly, concentrating energy Correct answer.
  2. The atmosphere is thicker over the equator
  3. The equator is closer to the Sun than the poles
  4. The poles are shaded by the Moon for most of the year

Explanation

Near the equator the Sun's rays arrive almost vertically, so the same amount of energy is spread over a smaller area and passes through less atmosphere. At the poles the rays strike at a low angle and are spread thinly.