biosci 100 EXPLORATION mcq prep

the frozen continent 2026 s2 mid sem test

the first circumnavigation of antarctica was completed by: a) james ross b) james cook c) thaddeus von bellingshausen d) antoine de la roche

james cook

on cook's discovery expedition (searching for terra australis incognita), cook was first to: a) sight the antarctic continent b) find the south magnetic pole c) define the extent of the antarctic continent d) cross the antarctic circle

cross the antarctic circle

the first party to reach the south pole (1911) included: a) james clark ross b) robert scott c) ernest shackleton d) roald amundsen

roald amundsen

on the polar map, the geographical feature closest to 77°s, 104°e is: a) pole of inaccessibility b) weddell sea c) lake vostok d) ross ice shelf

lake vostok

on the polar map, the geographical feature closest to 70°s, 77°w is: a) weddell sea b) ross ice shelf c) antarctic peninsula d) pole of inaccessibility

antarctic peninsula

mount erebus is located: a) on the antarctic peninsula b) in the dry valleys c) on ross island d) in victoria land

on ross island

the antarctic polar front (convergence): a) is a politically specified latitude circumscribing the antarctic continent b) is an imaginary line south of which the sun does not set for part of the year c) delineates the southern boundary of the southern ocean d) shifts with the seasons

shifts with the seasons

on the polar map (lines a/b/c/d), the line representing the antarctic convergence/polar front is: a) line a b) line b c) line c d) line d

line a — the outermost line, furthest from the pole

true or false: the antarctic circle is the northernmost point at which the sun can be seen at the winter solstice.

false

true or false: the antarctic circle is the northernmost point at which the midnight sun is visible in the summer solstice.

true

true or false: on the antarctic circle there is one whole day in which the sun does not set.

true

true or false: on the antarctic circle there is one whole day in which the sun does not rise.

true

which combination of statements about the antarctic circle is correct? a) only (i) and (iii) are correct b) only (ii), (iii) and (iv) are correct c) only (i) is correct d) only (ii) and (iv) are correct

b) only (ii), (iii), and (iv) are correct — statement (i) is false

starting at the south geographic pole, the direction to travel to reach the south magnetic pole is: a) north-west b) east c) west d) north

north

the south magnetic pole is: a) moving because the ice cap itself is moving b) the point on earth's surface where the geomagnetic field is vertical c) moving irregularly in a southerly direction for the last 160 years d) currently located in victoria land

the point on earth's surface where the geomagnetic field is vertical

the south magnetic pole: a) is in west antarctica b) circles around the south geographic pole about once per year c) has drifted away from the continent in recent years d) has been getting closer to the south geographic pole for the past 100 years

has drifted away from the continent in recent years

the landmark not named for or by james clark ross's expedition is: a) ross island b) mount erebus c) mcmurdo sound d) beardmore glacier

beardmore glacier (it's named after shackleton's expedition instead)

the first explorer to cross the antarctic circle was: a) sir francis drake b) ernest shackleton c) james clark ross d) captain james cook

captain james cook

which statement about latitude and longitude is correct? a) meridians of longitude converge at the equator b) lines of latitude converge at the geographical south pole c) lines of longitude form parallel circles running north and south over earth's surface d) meridians of longitude converge at the geographical south pole

d) meridians of longitude converge at the geographical south pole

which location could experience continuous sunlight for 24+ hours? a) hobart, tasmania (42°54's) b) campbell island (52°33's) c) south magnetic pole (64°31's) d) balleny islands (67°s)

balleny islands (67°s) — furthest south / closest to the antarctic circle

the position of the geographic south pole: a) is the southerly convergence of all great circles other than the equator b) moves about 10m per year because the ice cap is moving c) is fixed at 90°s d) takes a wobbly course because earth's rotation is not perfect

c) is fixed at 90°s — it does not move

which of these does not apply to antarctica? a) it is the highest continent on earth b) it is the least populated continent on earth c) it is the wettest continent on earth d) it is a continent surrounded by an ocean

c) it is the wettest continent — antarctica is actually the driest continent (a polar desert)

which is correct with respect to the antarctic circle? a) it is the northernmost point at which the midnight sun can be seen at the southern summer solstice b) south of the antarctic circle the sun does not set for six months c) on the antarctic circle there is one day each year in which the sun does not rise d) it is the northernmost point at which the sun can be seen at the southern winter solstice

a) midnight sun at southern summer solstice

the explorer first to visit the antarctic region was: a) roald amundsen b) robert falcon scott c) james clark ross d) james cook

james cook (crossed the antarctic circle in 1773, before ross, scott, or amundsen)

the "coreless winter" of antarctica means: a) summer and winter average temperatures are similar b) there is no daily variation in temperature during winter c) the winter months have similar average temperatures d) it is always winter at the core of antarctica

c) the winter months have similar average temperatures — unlike temperate climates, there's no single sharp coldest month/"core"

if the antarctic convergence is the northern boundary of antarctica, which islands (i-campbell is., ii-south georgia, iii-south sandwich is., iv-snow hill is., v-berkner is.) are in antarctica? a) only (iv) and (v) b) only (i) is excluded c) all of these islands d) only (v)

b) only campbell island (i) is excluded — the other four lie south of the convergence

the meridian 45°e is opposite (antipodal to): a) 90°w b) 45°w c) 180°e d) 135°w

d) 135°w (45° + 180° = 225°, which converts to 135°w)

which statement correctly compares scott's and amundsen's approaches in the 1911 race for the pole? a) both allowed similar rations; amundsen laid depots, scott hauled his throughout b) amundsen's route was longer but less difficult, crossing the axel heiberg glacier c) amundsen's sole purpose was reaching the pole; scott's had dual scientific and exploration goals d) amundsen used dogs; scott used dogs, ponies, and motor sleds to the pole and back

c) amundsen's expedition existed solely to reach the south pole, while scott's had dual goals of reaching the pole and scientific/geographical discovery

which location could experience continuous sunlight for 24+ hours? a) campbell island b) balleny islands c) hobart d) south magnetic pole

b) balleny islands (67°s)

many ross sea landmarks were first observed on james clark ross's 1841 expedition. which was not observed? a) ross ice shelf b) mount erebus and mount terror on ross island c) the south magnetic pole d) continental mountains and victoria land

c) the south magnetic pole — ross calculated its approximate position but was blocked by the ice shelf and never actually reached it

whose expedition purpose was solely to reach the south pole? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

roald amundsen

who visited antarctica in 1773? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

james cook

who visited the ross sea region in two expeditions? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

james clark ross

whose expedition purpose was to discover the great southern landmass (terra australis incognita)? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

james cook

whose expedition purpose was to determine the position of the south magnetic pole? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

james clark ross

who discovered the victoria barrier (the great ice barrier / ross ice shelf)? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

james clark ross

who was first to circumnavigate the continent? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

james cook

who was first to reach the south pole? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

roald amundsen

whose voyages triggered large sealing and whaling industries in the region? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

james cook

which explorer perished in antarctica? (options: james cook / robert falcon scott / roald amundsen / james clark ross)

robert falcon scott