Benchmark Difficulties

Which position of Earth shows summer in North America?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Which is a major difference between the life cycles of different types of plants?

• the way they reproduce
• the energy they use
• the way they die
• the way they make food

Which stimulus causes a responding plant to demonstrate phototropism?

• length of day
• time of day
• direction of light
• intensity of light

The nitrogen cycle is important to plants because

• plants need ammonia to photosynthesize.
• nitrogen in the water is healthy.
• most nitrogen comes from rocks in the soil.
• plants cannot use nitrogen as it is.

Which layers of Earth are mostly made of solid material?

• inner core and outer core
• crust and inner core
• crust and mantle
• mantle and outer core

In which characteristic does Earth differ from the other planets?

• It is dense and small.
• It is made up of rocky material.
• It has liquid water.
• It is surrounded by atmosphere.

Which of the following is a reason life in the outermost planets is less likely than life on planets nearer the Sun?

• They have too little mass.
• They have too much mass.
• Their surfaces are extremely hot.
• Their surfaces are extremely cold.

Certain flowers will open for 12 hours and then close.  Which stimulus do the flowers respond to when they open and then when they close for that time period?

• light levels
• moon phases
• seasonal temperatures
• carbon dioxide levels

Which of the following can only be seen with a telescope?

• the phases of Earth's moon
• a solar eclipse
• a lunar eclipse
• the moon-like phases of Venus

If Florida and tropical areas have large populations of coconut palm trees, which factor is the MOST likely reason coconut palm trees have trouble growing in the states to the far north?

• less sunlight
• less rainfall
• cooler climate
• poor soil nutrients