HSA Practice Test

Which of the following best describes the inner planets of the solar system?

• Large gas planets with thick atmospheres
• Small planets of ice with elliptical orbits
• Dense, rocky planets with few moons
• Barren planets with rings of gas and dust

The atmospheres of which two planets are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium gases?

• Mars and Mercury
• Mars and Saturn
• Saturn and Neptune
• Venus and Neptune

The atmospheres of which two planets are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium gases?

• Mars and Mercury
• Mars and Saturn
• Saturn and Neptune
• Venus and Neptune

What element is produced as a result of hydrogen fusion within stars?

• Beryllium (Be)
• Helium (He)
• Iron (Fe)
• Neon (Ne)

Black holes are objects that are formed by the gravitational collapse of large stars.
Why are these objects black holes?

• They have a mass of zero
• They fill a gap between planets
• They are to far to be seen
• They absorb all radiation

Which of the following best describes Earth's tectonic plates?

• They move away from each other at the equator.
• They move because of convection currents in the mantle.
• They collide at mid-ocean ridges.
• They form at subduction zones.

Many stars in the universe, includes the sun, maintain fusion reactions in their cores. Such stars are known as main sequence stars.
What is the primary fuel of main sequence stars?

• Uranium
• Hydrogen
• Oxygen
• Carbon

A rock is pushed deep underground in an area where mountain-building is occurring, and undergoes the following process.
⋄ First, the rock experiences high pressure that causes its minerals to align themselves in bands
⋄ Second, the rock is pushed further underground and completely melts, then erupts from a volcano and hardens.
⋄  Third, the rock is broken down by wind and water into small particles, which flow into a river and get compressed into rock
Which order correctly shows this progression of rock types?

• igneous to
  metamorphic to sedimentary
• metamorphic to igneous to sedimentary
• metamorphic to sedimentary to igneous
• sedimentary to igneous to metamorhic

A geologist checks her seismometer for activity after an earthquake that occurs on the other side of Earth. The instrument records P-waves, but not S-waves.
What statement explains why S-waves are not recorded?

• Seismometers do not record evidence of S-waves.
• S-waves travel in a different direction than P-waves.
• The earthquake was not strong enough to produce S-waves
• The S-waves were stopped by a liquid interior layer

Scientist are able to study all of Earth's surface using electromagnetic radiation and special cameras on satellites. This is called remote sensing. Before remote sensing provided this data, scientists had to hike, dive, or fly airplanes over hard to reach places.
Which is a benefit of using remote sensing instead of older technologies ? 

• Scientists are able to draw conclusions without having to analyze data
• Scientists are able to predict earthquakes in distant locations
• Scientists can study layers above Earth's surface more easily
• Scientists can study layers beneath Earth's surface more easily