Final answer:
The default slide layout that appears in a new PowerPoint presentation is the Title slide. It provides an introductory space for the title and subtitle of the presentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you create a new presentation in PowerPoint, the default slide layout that appears is the Title slide. This slide is designed to introduce the presentation with a title and often includes a subtitle or the presenter's name and affiliation. PowerPoint uses the Title slide as the starting point for lectures and presentations, and it sets the stage for the information to follow. Instructors commonly use this slide as a foundation to build upon with their own images, learning objectives, and descriptions, as mentioned in the PowerPoint lecture slides references you provided.