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Oceancetera, etc. Trivia Quiz

I have created another quiz on one of my favorite subjects, oceanography. Some questions may be harder than others. Enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by leviathan2000. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
leviathan2000

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
122,238

Updated
Sep 09 23

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
16 / 25

Plays
5775

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. What is the science that studies the ocean called? Hint

Oceanography

Hydrology

Geology

Icthyology

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Question 2 of 25

2. The most abundant element in the universe makes up almost two-thirds of the atoms in the ocean. What is it? Hint

nitrogen

oxygen

hydrogen

methane

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Question 3 of 25

3. New communities have been found near hydrothermal vents located deep on the ocean floor. How do scientists believe life exists in these areas? Hint

chemosynthesis

pyrosynthesis

photosynthesis

aquasynthesis

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Question 4 of 25

4. In early marine history, what group of people made the longest voyages? Hint

The Polynesians

The Greeks

The Phoenicians

The Vikings

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Question 5 of 25

5. What is the name of the scientific device used to sample water? Hint

Nansen bottle

Mansen bottle

Hansen bottle

Jansen bottle

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Question 6 of 25

6. Fjords are created by tsunamis.

True

False

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Question 7 of 25

7. What is the name of the ship that embarked on the first scientific expedition studying the deep ocean? Hint

HMS Columbia

HMS Yorktown

HMS Beagle

HMS Challenger

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Question 8 of 25

8. Regarding plate tectonics, what is the Pacific Rim Plate colloquially known as? Hint

The Ring of Fire

The Ring of Water

The Ring of Lava

The Ring of Volcanoes

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Question 9 of 25

9. A flat-topped, submerged volcanic mountain is called a guyot.

True

False

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Question 10 of 25

10. What is the name of the range of underwater mountains that run between the North American continent and Europe? Hint

European Ridge

Oceanic Ridge

North American Ridge

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

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Question 11 of 25

11. What is the mass, horizontal flow of water in the oceans called? Hint

floods

tidal waves

currents

tsunamis

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Question 12 of 25

12. The short-term changes of depth of water close to shore are called ____________?

Answer: (One Word ... they change with the moon cycle)

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Question 13 of 25

13. Dangerous, seaward currents are sometimes called rip tides.

True

False

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Question 14 of 25

14. Seaweeds are classified into three groups: Chlorophyta (green), Rhodophyta (red) and ____________________? Hint

Silverphyta (silver)

Aquaphyta (blue)

Phaeophyta (brown)

Orophyta (gold)

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Question 15 of 25

15. In what two forms do Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) occur? Hint

medusa and polyps

tear-shaped and triangular

flat and round

ribbon and bulbous

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Question 16 of 25

16. The order Cephalopoda includes nautiluses, octopuses, cuttlefish and squid.

True

False

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Question 17 of 25

17. The largest ray, sometimes called a devilfish, is known by which name?

Colossal ray

Manta ray

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Question 18 of 25

18. The lamprey is from which superclass? Hint

Chondrichthyes

Osteichthyes

Arthropoda

Agnatha

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Question 19 of 25

19. What is the part of a fish which detects low-frequency vibrations? Hint

swim bladders

barbels

pectoral fins

lateral line

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Question 20 of 25

20. There is a species of crocodile that lives in the ocean.

True

False

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Question 21 of 25

21. How do seabirds excrete salt water? Hint

through their noses

through their throats

through their excrement

through special saltwater excretion glands

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Question 22 of 25

22. What are the horny, bristly "teeth" of animals of the suborder Mysticeti called? Hint

odontica

osteotica

sieves

baleen

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Question 23 of 25

23. Some dolphins live in fresh water.

True

False

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Question 24 of 25

24. What animals make up the order Sirenia? Hint

lobster and crab

dolphins and whales

manatees and dugongs

sharks and rays

25. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution surveyed the amount of solid waste pollution off the northeast coast of the U.S. How many pieces of plastic did the survey show polluted each square mile of ocean in that area? Hint

460,000

460

46,000

4,600

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the science that studies the ocean called?

Answer: Oceanography

This science includes marine animals, plants, weather, currents, and everything else related to the ocean.

2. The most abundant element in the universe makes up almost two-thirds of the atoms in the ocean. What is it?

Answer: hydrogen

Scientists believe that hydrogen was created with the Big Bang.

3. New communities have been found near hydrothermal vents located deep on the ocean floor. How do scientists believe life exists in these areas?

Answer: chemosynthesis

The life forms near the hydrothermal vents rely on the chemicals produced by volcanic action. Since these areas are devoid of light, most of the animals living in this environment rely on bioluminescence to find mates and food.

4. In early marine history, what group of people made the longest voyages?

Answer: The Polynesians

The Polynesians started from the islands now called the Philippines, and inhabited islands as far north as Hawaii, and as far west as Easter Island. These voyages were taken without navigation aids, or any other scientific means.

5. What is the name of the scientific device used to sample water?

Answer: Nansen bottle

This device was created by the Norwegian explorer, Fridtjof Nansen.

6. Fjords are created by tsunamis.

Answer: False

Fjords occur where glaciers form undersea U-shaped valleys, consequently, they are found in the northern latitudes.

7. What is the name of the ship that embarked on the first scientific expedition studying the deep ocean?

Answer: HMS Challenger

HMS Challenger began its first voyage on December 21, 1872. The space shuttle which exploded on take off on January 28, 1986 was named after this ship.

8. Regarding plate tectonics, what is the Pacific Rim Plate colloquially known as?

Answer: The Ring of Fire

This plate represents the largest of the plates.

9. A flat-topped, submerged volcanic mountain is called a guyot.

Answer: true

Pronounced "ghee-OH", these were first discovered by USN Cmdr. Harry Hess during World War II. They are named after Professor Arnold Guyot, Princeton's first professor of Geology.

10. What is the name of the range of underwater mountains that run between the North American continent and Europe?

Answer: Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Many of the mountains are actively volcanic, resulting in seafloor spreading.

11. What is the mass, horizontal flow of water in the oceans called?

Answer: currents

Ocean currents occur in many layers of the ocean, from the surface to the seafloor. Sometimes, the visible current on the surface is flowing in the opposite direction lower in the water column.

12. The short-term changes of depth of water close to shore are called ____________?

Answer: tide

Tidal ranges can vary significantly. Spring tides are unusually high tides (and don't only occur in the spring). Neap tides are unusually low tides.

13. Dangerous, seaward currents are sometimes called rip tides.

Answer: true

Although they are commonly called rip tides, the more correct name is rip current as they are created by strong undercurrents which flow out to sea.

14. Seaweeds are classified into three groups: Chlorophyta (green), Rhodophyta (red) and ____________________?

Answer: Phaeophyta (brown)

Comparatively, little research has been done on seaweeds.

15. In what two forms do Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) occur?

Answer: medusa and polyps

Medusa (long tentacled) cnidaria include jellyfish; polyp (many-footed) cnidaria include anemones and corals.

16. The order Cephalopoda includes nautiluses, octopuses, cuttlefish and squid.

Answer: true

The largest of the cephalopods is the giant squid. Although a living one has not been seen, scientists believe they still exist because their beaks are found in stomachs of their arch-enemies, sperm whales.

17. The largest ray, sometimes called a devilfish, is known by which name?

Answer: Manta ray

They were nicknamed devilfish because of the protuberances of the head. They are sometimes called devil rays for the same reason.

18. The lamprey is from which superclass?

Answer: Agnatha

The Agnatha superclass is of the oldest fish, lampreys and hagfishes. They have round, jawless mouths with tiny teeth; they use them to suction themselves to their prey, and then rip the flesh by tying themselves into knots.

19. What is the part of a fish which detects low-frequency vibrations?

Answer: lateral line

The lateral line consists of series of canals in the skin and bones that run around the eyes, over the head and down the sides of a fish.

20. There is a species of crocodile that lives in the ocean.

Answer: True

Marine male crocodiles in Australia and Indonesia can reach lengths of 23 feet and can weigh up to a ton!

21. How do seabirds excrete salt water?

Answer: through special saltwater excretion glands

As with marine reptiles, seabirds must get rid of the extra salt in their bodies taken in while feeding.

22. What are the horny, bristly "teeth" of animals of the suborder Mysticeti called?

Answer: baleen

The largest of the Cetacean family, Mysticeti are the largest of the whales, and eat the smallest of animals: plankton and krill. The largest of the Mysticeti, the blue whale, can reach 90 feet.

23. Some dolphins live in fresh water.

Answer: true

There are several species of dolphin that live in fresh water, including the Boto, and Fransciscana of South America, the Baiji of China, and the Indus and Ganges River dolphins of India.

24. What animals make up the order Sirenia?

Answer: manatees and dugongs

Early seafarers often mistook these animals as the mythological being called a Siren, which lured men to their death on the rocks with their songs.

Answer: 46,000

These pieces of plastic include styrofoam cups, fishing line, netting, and plastic foodware, just to name a few. 100,000 marine mammals and 2 million seabirds die each year from this waste.

Source: Author leviathan2000

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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