Name __________________________________________________ Date _________________________
Assessment: The Pacific Islands: Adap ng to Life Surrounded
by Ocean
Mastering the Content
Select the best answer..
1. How are con nental islands different from other types of islands?
A. They are mountainous.
B. They are protected by coral reefs.
C. They were once part of a larger landmass. CORRECT
D. They were formed by lava flowing on the seabed.
2. Which of these descrip ons best fits a volcanic island?
A. large and varied in landforms
B. cone shaped with steep slopes CORRECT
C. ring shaped with a central lagoon
D. low and sandy with li le vegeta on
3. A body of shallow water partly cut off from the ocean by coral reefs is called which of the following?
A. a basin
B. a bay
C. a gulf
D. a lagoon CORRECT
4. Based on the climagraph below, which type of climate is found in Tahi ?
A. tropical wet and dry CORRECT
B. marine west coast
C. humid con nental
D. tropical wet
5. Oceans provide all of the following except
A. food.
B. medicines.
C. fossil fuels.
D. human habitat. CORRECT
6. Which physical feature are you least likely to find on or near an atoll?
A. reef
B. river CORRECT
C. beach
D. lagoon
7. Which of these conclusions is best supported by the map of Tahi below?
A. It has few year-round rivers.
B. It was formed by two volcanoes. CORRECT
C. It is o en hit by tropical cyclones.
D. It was once covered by grasslands.
8. Why are some species of ocean fish becoming endangered species?
A. accidental pollu on
B. ozone deple on
C. overfishing CORRECT
D. saliniza on
9. What are the three groups geographers categorize the Pacific Islands into?
A. Micronesia, Hawaii, and Polynesia
B. Tonga, Micronesia, and Samoa
C. Polynesia, Hawaii, and Melanesia
D. Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia CORRECT
10. What direc on do the trade winds blow?
A. from the north
B. from the south
C. toward the equator
D. all of the above CORRECT
Field Photograph
Use the field photograph to answer ques ons 11–13.
11. This numerous different species in this photo highlights the ______ of coral reefs.
A. biodiversity CORRECT
B. uniformity
C. climate
D. all of the above
12. No ce the scuba diver in the photo. What is one economic advantage of coral reefs for countries in the Pacific Ocean?
A. increased shipping routes
B. mining
C. increased rainfall
D. tourism CORRECT
13. Marine life, including coral reefs, helps provide ______ to the people of the South Pacific.
A. jobs
B. food
C. trade
D. all of the above CORRECT
Applying Geography Skills: Analyzing Data
Use this map, graph, and your knowledge of Geography to answer ques ons 14-16.
14. Based on the climagraph, what kind of climate does Kwajalein have?
ANSWER: Tropical wet climate
15. Examine the eleva on table. Can you envision a problem that Kwajalein’s eleva on poses? (Hint: The highest points on
Kwajalein Atoll are only 12 to 15 feet above sea level.)
ANSWER: Because atolls are so low, they can flood easily during storms.
16. Kwajalein Atoll is the largest coral atoll in the world, but even so, its 97 islands have a total land area of around 6 square
miles. Can you imagine a problem caused by its small size?
ANSWER: Answers will vary. Example: There may be no rivers or springs to provide fresh water. In the past, islanders had to rely
on catching rainwater for drinking. The small size may mean there is li le to no land for farming, which means that islanders must
depend on fish for much of their food.
Applying Geography Skills: Analyzing Maps
Use this map and your knowledge of Geography to answer ques ons 17-19.
17. Examine the map carefully. Find and circle the names of three cold currents.
ANSWER: Students should have circled the names of three cold currents.
18. Examine the ocean currents in the Indian Ocean.Beginning at the equator,describe the pa ern of movement you see. Tell
what happens to the temperature of the current as it moves.
ANSWER: Star ng at the equator,the current flows counterclockwise,south along the east coast of Africa and then north again
along the west coast of Australia. The current starts warm at the equator,loses heat as it moves east,and returns to the equator as
a cool current.
19. Explain how the ocean currents in the Indian Ocean affect climates in parts of Africa and Australia.
ANSWER: The current warms the climate along the southeast coast of Africa and cools the climate along the west coast of
Australia.
Exploring the Essen al Ques on: How do people adapt to life in an island region?
In this lesson, you explored the physical geography of three types of Pacific islands. Now you will use what you learned. Use
this illustra on and your knowledge of geography to complete the task below.
The Task: Wri ng a Travel Ar cle About a Pacific Island
Your task is to write a travel ar cle about one of these types of islands. Travel ar cles appear in many newspapers and
magazines. Their purpose is to interest readers in traveling to places they may know li le about.
20. This illustra on shows the rela ve size and shape of three types of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Circle the type of island you
want to write about. Give your island a name. It can be a real island name or one that you make up for your ar cle. Write its
name next to it.
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
21. Step 1: List three physical features of your island. These should include landforms and bodies of water.
Step 2: List two facts about your island's climate. Base these facts on what you know about ocean currents and extreme
weather in the Pacific.
Step 3: List three facts about life on your island. They might include facts about the economy, food, housing, recrea on, or
transporta on.
ANSWER: Accept any reasonable answer based on the type of island iden fied.
22. Write a short travel ar cle about your island. Your ar cle should include the following:
a. an opening paragraph that will excite readers to learn more about your island.
b. a second paragraph about the physical features and climate of your island
c. a third paragraph about life on your island
d. a concluding paragraph that tells readers why they should visit your island
ANSWER: The ar cle should include the elements listed in the prompt. These elements
are iden fied by le er in the sample response below.
a. I had heard good things about the island of Teal. But I was not prepared for
my first sight of this island. As my plane approached the island, I saw crystal
blue waters surrounding a majes c, black volcano. When the plane came in
to land, I could see green fields edged by white sand beaches. Everything I had
heard about Teal was coming true before my eyes.
b. A thin band of sparkling white sand surrounds the island like a bracelet. Inside
that band, a deep, green forest marches up the steep mountain slopes. The
lush forest is home to brightly colored birds and sweet-smelling flowers. Small
trails lead to waterfalls that cascade down cliffs to deep blue pools. The warm
sunny days o en end with a short downpour. At mes, the rain sounds like a
drum bea ng on roo ops. Then the skies clear again.
c. Near the beach is a quiet village. Its friendly people s ll fish in tradi onal
ways. They also plant crops on any flat land they can find. Teal’s people are
very welcoming to the few tourists who come here. Visitors are honored
guests at local celebra ons. On those occasions, the smell of roas ng fish and
vegetables fills the air. Everyone dances to island music.
d. My few days on Teal were unforge able. Yours will be too. For a step back in
me, Teal is a perfect vaca on des na on.
