ES-Aug 2015 Q41-50

Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the diagrams below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagrams, labeled A, B, and C, represent equal-sized portions of the Sun’s rays striking Earth’s surface at 23.5° N latitude at noon at three different times of the year. The angle at which the Sun’s rays hit Earth’s surface and the relative areas of Earth’s surface receiving the rays at the three different angles of insolation are shown.
As viewed in sequence from A to B to C, these diagrams represent which months and which change in the intensity of insolation?

• December → March → June; and decreasing intensity
•  December → March → June; and increasing intensity
• June → September → December; and decreasing intensity
•  June → September → December; and increasing intensity

Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the diagrams below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagrams, labeled A, B, and C, represent equal-sized portions of the Sun’s rays striking Earth’s surface at 23.5° N latitude at noon at three different times of the year. The angle at which the Sun’s rays hit Earth’s surface and the relative areas of Earth’s surface receiving the rays at the three different angles of insolation are shown.
As the angle of the Sun’s rays striking Earth’s surface at noon changes from 90° to 43°, the length of a shadow cast by an object will

• decrease
• increase
• decrease, then increase
•  increase, then decrease

Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the diagrams below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagrams, labeled A, B, and C, represent equal-sized portions of the Sun’s rays striking Earth’s surface at 23.5° N latitude at noon at three different times of the year. The angle at which the Sun’s rays hit Earth’s surface and the relative areas of Earth’s surface receiving the rays at the three different angles of insolation are shown.
Which graph best shows the duration of insolation at this location as the angle of insolation changes?

• graph 1
• graph 2
• graph 3
• graph 4

Base your answers to questions 4 through 7 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the Moon at four positions, labeled A, B, C, and D, in its orbit around Earth. The position of the full-Moon phase is labeled.
Approximately how many days (d) does it take for the Moon to move from the phase shown at position A to the full-Moon phase?

• 7.4 d
• 14.7 d
• 27.3 d
• 29.5 d

Base your answers to questions 4 through 7 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the Moon at four positions, labeled A, B, C, and D, in its orbit around Earth. The position of the full-Moon phase is labeled.
Which phase of the Moon could be observed from New York State when the Moon is at position C?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Base your answers to questions 4 through 7 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the Moon at four positions, labeled A, B, C, and D, in its orbit around Earth. The position of the full-Moon phase is labeled.
The same side of the Moon always faces Earth because the Moon’s period of revolution

• is longer than the Moon’s period of rotation
• equals the Moon’s period of rotation
• is longer than Earth’s period of rotation
•  equals Earth’s period of rotation

Base your answers to questions 4 through 7 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the Moon at four positions, labeled A, B, C, and D, in its orbit around Earth. The position of the full-Moon phase is labeled.
 Solar and lunar eclipses rarely happen during a cycle of phases because the

• Moon’s orbit is circular and Earth’s orbit is elliptical
• Moon’s orbit is elliptical and Earth’s orbit is elliptical
• plane of the Moon’s orbit is different from the plane of Earth’s orbit
• plane of the Moon’s orbit is the same as the plane of Earth’s orbit

Base your answers to questions 8 through 10 on the maps and data table below and on your knowledge of Earth science. Map I shows the Outer Banks and part of North Carolina along the southeastern coast of the United States. Maps II and III show enlargements of the Avon-Buxton section of the Outer Banks indicated by box X on map I. Map II shows the land and shoreline in 1852. Map III shows the land and shoreline in 1998. The dotted line on map III shows the location of the 1852 shoreline. The data table shows the average width, in meters, at various years, of the Avon-Buxton section.
The Outer Banks were formed primarily from sediments eroded and deposited by ocean waves. Which type of landform are the Outer Banks?

• outwash plains
• moraine deposits
• river deltas
• barrier islands

Base your answers to questions 8 through 10 on the maps and data table below and on your knowledge of Earth science. Map I shows the Outer Banks and part of North Carolina along the southeastern coast of the United States. Maps II and III show enlargements of the Avon-Buxton section of the Outer Banks indicated by box X on map I. Map II shows the land and shoreline in 1852. Map III shows the land and shoreline in 1998. The dotted line on map III shows the location of the 1852 shoreline. The data table shows the average width, in meters, at various years, of the Avon-Buxton section.
Which bar graph best shows the average width of the Avon-Buxton section of the Outer Banks from 1852 to 1998?

• bar graph 1
• bar graph 2
• bar graph 3
• bar graph 4

Base your answers to questions 8 through 10 on the maps and data table below and on your knowledge of Earth science. Map I shows the Outer Banks and part of North Carolina along the southeastern coast of the United States. Maps II and III show enlargements of the Avon-Buxton section of the Outer Banks indicated by box X on map I. Map II shows the land and shoreline in 1852. Map III shows the land and shoreline in 1998. The dotted line on map III shows the location of the 1852 shoreline. The data table shows the average width, in meters, at various years, of the Avon-Buxton section.
Which ocean current has the greatest warming influence on the climate of the Outer Banks of North Carolina?

• Gulf Stream Current
• North Atlantic Current
• Labrador Current
• Canary Current