Fundamentals of Earth's Geography and Structure Quiz

A continent is a large, continuous landmass above water on Earth. It is geographically defined and distinct from bodies of water or groups of islands.

The Solar System consists of the Sun and the eight known planets that revolve around it. The Moon is Earth's natural satellite and not part of the Solar System. The Milky Way galaxy is much larger than the Solar System and contains billions of stars.

The correct answer is that the center of the Earth is made of iron and nickel, not gold and silver, diamonds and rubies, or cheese and chocolate.

The atmosphere is made up of a layer of gases that surround the Earth, playing a crucial role in supporting life and regulating temperature.

The lithosphere refers to the solid rock portion of the Earth's surface, which includes the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. It is distinct from the atmosphere or the liquid layers beneath the crust.

The hydrosphere specifically refers to the total amount of water or aqueous components on Earth, including bodies of water and water vapor in the atmosphere, not landforms, gases, living organisms, or solid structures.

The biosphere is the ecosystem in which living organisms exist - it is made up of the lithosphere (Earth's solid surface), hydrosphere (water in all its forms), and atmosphere (the layer of gases surrounding Earth). While the other options mentioned are parts of Earth's structure or atmospheric layers, they do not collectively form the biosphere where plants and animals thrive.

Continental drift is the theory that explains how continents have moved and shifted positions over millions of years, eventually leading to the formation of the current continents we see today. Pangea was the supercontinent that existed around 335 million years ago before it started breaking apart.

The hydrologic cycle refers to the movement of water between the atmosphere, earth, and oceans in a continuous manner to maintain water balance on Earth.

A drainage basin refers to the area of land that is drained by a river and its tributaries. It is also known as a watershed or catchment area.

Groundwater is the water that fills the spaces between particles of soil, sand, and rock underground. It is not the same as water flowing in underground rivers, found in lakes and oceans, or collected in clouds and rain.

The water table refers to the level at which rock is fully saturated with water.

Landforms refer to naturally occurring features on the Earth's surface, such as mountains, valleys, plains, and plateaus. These are formed through processes like erosion, deposition, volcanic activity, and tectonic movements.

The continental shelf refers to the Earth's surface extending from the edge of a continent into the ocean, gradually sloping down to the deep ocean floor. It is characterized by relatively shallow waters compared to the deeper parts of the ocean.

Relief, in geography, refers to the variations in elevation and slope of the land surface in a particular region.

Topography refers to the physical features of an area, such as its elevation, landforms, and geological composition. It is not related to celestial bodies, weather prediction, or agriculture.

Magma is molten rock found beneath the Earth's surface, typically in the mantle, and can erupt as lava during volcanic activity.

The crust in this context refers to the thin layer of rock at the earth's surface, not to pastry or bread.