Earth Science Exam

Scientists can use instruments to predict the likelihood of a volcanic eruption. Why would scientists MOST LIKELY want to predict the likelihood of a volcanic eruption?

• to study weather changes
• to warn people who live nearby
• to protect nearby houses and buildings
• to estimate the amount of lava that will flow

Which processes are MOST LIKELY described in the table?

• process 1 is a volcanic eruption, and process 2 is deposition.
• process 1 is deposition, and process 2 is a volcanic eruption.
• process 1 is a volcanic eruption, and process 2 is an earthquake
• process 1 is an earthquake, and process 2 is a volcanic eruption�.

A teacher shows her class a sketch of a river flowing out to an ocean.
A student thought that the landform was caused by a volcanic eruption.  The teacher said he was incorrect. Which statement BEST describes what the landform is and how it was created?

• A fault was formed as the river eroded the beach.
• An island was formed as the river eroded the beach.
• A dune was formed as the river deposited sediment from upstream.
• A delta was formed as the river deposited sediment from upstream.

A group of students visit the coast with their science class.
A year later the students return to the same spot and observe that the beach is much smaller. Student 1 says that the coastline was affected by erosion. Student 2 says it was affected by deposition. Which student is correct and why?

• Student 1, due to erosion caused by ocean water
• Student 2, due to deposition caused by ocean water
• Student 1, due to erosion caused by fault movement
• Student 2, due to deposition caused by fault movement

A scientist recently sent this e-mail:
Why is the scientist recommending dredging?

•  It acts as a flood control measure.
• It protects the wildlife in the ocean.
• It reclaims beaches lost to water erosion.
• It forms a barrier to reduce wind erosion.

For five months, a scientist measured the depth of sand in a certain part of coastal shoreline. She recorded her observations in a table.
What is the BEST explanation of the data?

• water eroding sand to create a gully
• wind depositing sand to form a dune
• rock being deposited by ocean waves
• shells washing ashore from the ocean

Which of these landforms is formed by deposition?

• a mountain near a lake
• a canyon between two cliffs
• a delta near the mouth of a river
•  a pool at the bottom of a waterfall

A dam constructed on a river can store large amounts of water behind it.
Which of these describes another reason for building a dam?

• dams help prevent forest fires.
• dams help prevent floods near rivers.
• dams help prevent erosion along riverbanks.
• dams help prevent pollution from getting into rivers.

A student went to a river in the mountains and observed that some rocks were smooth and round, while others were rough and jagged. She noticed that the rocks were all made from the same type of mineral.
Which of these BEST explains the student’s observations?

• the rough, jagged rocks are from a volcanic eruption far away.
• the rough, jagged rocks were blown into the water by wind erosion.
• the smooth, round rocks are much newer than the rough, jagged rocks.
• the smooth, round rocks have been weathered longer than the rough, jagged rocks.

Which causes sand dunes to drift from their original positions?

• gravity
• rain
• water
• wind