Questions and Answers
Which of the following continents is the largest?
Two-thirds of all continental mass lies in the Southern Hemisphere.
False
What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by continents?
29
The continent that is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean is _____
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Match the following continents with their corresponding oceans:
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What is the thickness range of the Earth's crust?
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The asthenosphere is the uppermost solid part of the Earth's mantle.
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What theory explains the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea?
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The concept of __________ describes the movement of the continents from the supercontinent Pangaea.
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Match the types of tectonic plate movements with their descriptions:
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Which of the following continents is the largest?
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The Plateau of Tibet is known as the Roof of the World.
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What is the highest point in Asia?
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Africa is the only continent that lies in all four ______ hemispheres.
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Match the following geographical features to their descriptions:
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Which of the following rivers is the longest in the world?
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The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in Africa.
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What natural feature is known as the world's largest body of freshwater?
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Antarctica is located entirely to the ______ of the Southern Hemisphere.
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Match each continent with its unique feature:
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What is the longest mountain range in the world?
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The Amazon River is considered the largest river in the world.
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Which continent is known as the 'White Continent'?
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Lake Titicaca is the world's highest _____
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Match the following features with their locations:
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Which continent is known as the 'Island Continent'?
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Europe is entirely located in the Southern Hemisphere.
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What is the world's largest coral formation located in Australia?
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Europe does not have any _____ (type of landscape).
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Match the following regions of Oceania with their descriptions:
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Study Notes
Major Layers of the Earth
- The Earth's outer layer is the crust, varying in thickness from 5 km to 100 km.
- Below the crust lies the mantle, composed of the lithosphere (crust + upper mantle) and the asthenosphere (weaker part of the upper mantle).
- Other layers include the outer core at 2900 km depth and the inner core at 5100 km.
Continental Drift and Tectonic Plates
- Continents are large landmasses surrounded by oceans, with Pangaea being the ancient supercontinent.
- Tectonic Plate theory explains the movement of Earth's crust, which is divided into tectonic plates that can diverge, converge, or slide past each other.
- These movements have shaped current continents and landforms.
Continents
- Earth has seven continents, listed by size: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia & Oceania.
- Continents cover 29% of the Earth's surface, with two-thirds of continental mass located in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Large Northern Hemisphere landmasses taper south; the arrangement creates oceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
Oceans Surrounding Continents
- The major oceans with their corresponding continents include:
- North America - North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans
- South America - South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans
- Africa - Indian Ocean
- Australia & Oceania - Pacific Ocean
- Antarctica - Southern and Arctic Oceans
Asia
- The largest continent, covering one-third of Earth's surface, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Highest point: Mount Everest (8848 m); Lowest point: Dead Sea (400 m below sea level).
- Notable features include Plateau of Tibet, Lake Baikal (world's deepest lake), and Cherrapunji (highest average rainfall).
- Significant rivers (Ganga, Brahmaputra) form the largest delta; ancient civilizations originated in Tigris-Euphrates, Indus, and Huang He river valleys.
Africa
- The second-largest continent, located at the intersection of all four hemispheres.
- Known as the "Dark Continent" due to its uninhabitable terrains, ancient geological formation from Gondwanaland.
- Prime geographical features include the Nile (longest river), Sahara Desert (largest desert), and the Great Rift Valley (6440 km long).
North America
- Third-largest continent, entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Formerly connected to South America via the Isthmus of Panama before the Panama Canal was built.
- Renowned for natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon and Great Lakes, the largest body of freshwater.
South America
- Fourth largest continent, straddling the Equator.
- Dominated by the Andes, the longest mountain range and home to diverse ecosystems including the Amazon rainforest.
- Notable geographical points: Mount Chimborazo (highest mountain), Angel Falls (highest waterfall), and Atacama Desert (one of the driest regions).
Antarctica
- Fourth largest continent, located entirely south of the Southern Hemisphere, known for its extensive ice coverage.
- Contains about 90% of the Earth’s fresh water; considered the "White Continent" due to its icy landscape.
- Unique for its lack of native human population; research bases are the only human settlements.
Europe
- Sixth largest continent, mainly in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Known as the birthplace of Western civilization, characterized by fertile land and navigable rivers.
Australia
- Smallest continent and only one nation, known as the "Island Continent".
- Features iconic natural landmarks such as the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock (Uluru).
- Considered a living laboratory due to its unique flora and fauna resulting from millions of years of isolation.
Oceania
- Collective term for islands in the Pacific Ocean, including New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
- Divided into four regions: Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
Additional Notes
- Europe and Asia are divided by the Ural Mountains and Ural River.
- The Americas were termed "The New World" upon discovery in the 15th century.
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Description
Explore the different layers of the Earth in this quiz. Understand the characteristics of the lithosphere, mantle, and asthenosphere, which form the outer structure of our planet. Test your knowledge about the Earth's composition and its major landforms.
