A hypsometric curve shows that
A)a little more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean.
B)the average ocean depth is sea level.
C)oceanic trenches occupy about 30 percent of Earth's surface.
D)the highest mountains on Earth are about a kilometer high.

Question

A hypsometric curve shows that 
A)a little more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean. 
B)the average ocean depth is sea level. 
C)oceanic trenches occupy about 30 percent of Earth's surface. 
D)the highest mountains on Earth are about a kilometer high.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A hypsometric curve shows the distribution of Earth's surface by elevation and depth. The curve shows that oceans occupy about 70% of the Earth's surface, indicating that choice A is correct. The curve does not provide information on the average ocean depth or the percentage of Earth's surface occupied by oceanic trenches or the height of the highest mountains, therefore choices B, C, and D are incorrect.

A Hypsometric Curve Shows That