Ocean Vocabulary

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Date:

Instructions: Dive into marine and ocean-related terms — from 'archipelago' to 'bioluminescence' and beyond!

1.
What is an 'archipelago'?
A
An underwater volcano
B
A large whale
C
A chain or group of islands
D
A type of coral
2.
What does 'bioluminescence' refer to in the ocean?
A
Moonlight on the waves
B
The production of light by living organisms
C
Sunlight reflecting off water
D
The color of deep water
3.
What is a 'fjord'?
A
A type of boat
B
A long, narrow inlet with steep cliffs, created by glacial erosion
C
An ocean current
D
A large wave
4.
What does 'tidal bore' mean?
A
A strong wave that travels up a river caused by incoming tide
B
A hole in the ocean floor
C
A boring day at the beach
D
A type of marine drill
5.
What is a 'reef'?
A
A ridge of rock, coral, or sand at or near the surface of water
B
A fishing technique
C
A type of seaweed
D
A deep ocean trench
6.
What does 'pelagic' mean?
A
Relating to the open sea, away from the coast or bottom
B
Relating to freshwater lakes
C
Relating to the shore
D
Relating to frozen water
7.
What is a 'tsunami'?
A
A gentle ocean breeze
B
A type of fish
C
A tropical rainstorm
D
An extremely large ocean wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake
8.
What does 'brackish' mean when describing water?
A
Crystal clear
B
Slightly salty, a mix of fresh and salt water
C
Frozen solid
D
Extremely deep
9.
What is a 'continental shelf'?
A
A museum display
B
The shallow underwater extension of a continent before the ocean floor drops steeply
C
The edge of a tectonic plate
D
A bookshelf about geography
10.
What does 'estuary' refer to?
A
A type of sea creature
B
A seaside resort
C
An underwater cave
D
The area where a river meets the sea and freshwater mixes with saltwater
11.
What is 'plankton'?
A
A type of anchor
B
Wooden boards on a ship
C
Tiny organisms that drift in water and form the base of the ocean food chain
D
Sand on the ocean floor
12.
What does 'maritime' mean?
A
Related to the military
B
Connected with the sea, especially in relation to navigation or commerce
C
Related to marriage
D
A type of weather pattern
13.
What is an 'atoll'?
A
A deep-sea fish
B
A ring-shaped coral reef enclosing a lagoon
C
A toll bridge over water
D
A type of lighthouse
14.
What does 'neap tide' refer to?
A
A tide that only happens at night
B
A very strong tide
C
A tide caused by a storm
D
A tide with the smallest difference between high and low water
15.
What is the 'abyssal zone' of the ocean?
A
The tidal zone
B
The surface layer
C
The warmest part of the ocean
D
The very deep zone of the ocean, typically below 4,000 meters

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