Compared to the terrestrial planets, the Jovian planets are

• larger and less dense
• smaller and more dense
• closer to the Sun and less rocky
• farther from the Sun and more rocky

 Earth, the Sun, and billions of stars are contained within

• a single constellation
• the Milky Way galaxy
•  the solar system
• a giant cloud of gas

The diagram below represents a globe that is spinning to represent Earth rotating. The globe is spinning in the direction indicated by the arrow. Points A, B, C, D, X, and Y are locations on the globe.
A student attempted to draw a straight line from point X to point Y on the spinning globe. Due to the Coriolis effect, the student’s drawn line most likely passed through point

• A
• B
• C
• D

Flash flooding is most likely to occur when heavy rain falls on

• deforested landscapes with clay soils
•  deforested landscapes with sandy soils
• forested landscapes with clay soils
• forested landscapes with sandy soils

Radioactive decay of 40K atoms in an igneous rock has resulted in a ratio of 25 percent 40K atoms to 75 percent 40Ar and 40Ca atoms. How many years old is this rock?

• 0.3 x 10⁹ y
• 1.3 x 10⁹ y
• 2.6 x 10⁹ y
• 3.9 x 10⁹ y

 A student using a sling psychrometer measured a wet-bulb temperature of 10°C and a dry-bulb temperature of 16°C. What was the dewpoint?

• -10°C 
• 45°C
• 6°C
• 4°C

Most of the hurricanes that affect the east coast of the United States originally form over the

• warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean in summer
• warm land of the southeastern United States in summer
• cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean in spring
• cool land of the southeastern United States in spring

The ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation. The ozone layer is located between 17 kilometers and 35 kilometers above Earth’s surface in which atmospheric temperature zone?

• troposphere
• stratosphere
• mesosphere
•  thermosphere

Which weather map symbol is associated with extremely low air pressure?

• symbol 1
• symbol 2
• symbol 3
• symbol 4

Which two elements make up the greatest percentages by mass in Earth’s crust?

• oxygen and potassium
•  oxygen and silicon
• aluminum and potassium
• aluminum and silicon