(McClenic) UCPS_SCI8_Hydrosphere 2021-2022

Which best describes 97% of the Earth’s water?

• It is stored in aquifers.

• It is stored in polar ice caps.

• It exists in the form of fresh groundwater.

• It exists in the form of saltwater in the ocean.

Which best explains why the water cycle mostly occurs over the oceans?

• Most of Earth’s water is located in the oceans.

• Salt water evaporates more quickly than freshwater.

• The temperatures over the oceans are cooler than over land.

• The temperatures over the oceans are warmer than over land.

Which best describes how groundwater is obtained from an aquifer?

• by pumping water into a river basin

• by drilling a well below the water table

• by digging into unsaturated flood zones

• by extracting large amounts of minerals

Which best explains how a watershed compares to a river basin?

• A watershed is a ridge of land separating bodies of water, and a river basin flows over the ground surface like runoff.

• A watershed is a river connecting to a larger river, and a river basin is a land area supplying water to the watershed.

• A watershed is a land area supplying water to small rivers, and a river basin is comprised of many interconnected watersheds and their tributaries.

• A watershed flows over the ground surface as runoff, and a river basin is a layer of permeable rock and soil in which water fills the cracks and pores.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

How does the amount of salt in the ocean compare to the amount of salt in an estuary?

• There is more salt in an estuary.

• There is more salt in the ocean.

• Neither the ocean nor an estuary contains salt.

• There is the same amount of salt in both types of waters.

Which best explains why upwellings are beneficial to sea life?

• They bring warm waters to the surface.

• They bring needed nutrients to the surface to feed ocean life-forms.

• They help sea creatures move more quickly through strong currents.

• They create turbidity currents that muddy the water and hide sea creatures from predators.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Why are remotely operated vehicles more effective for researching deep sea regions than using scuba techniques?

• Remotely operated vehicles allow divers more flexibility in colder temperatures.

• Remotely operated vehicles can explore areas that are considered unsafe for humans.

• Remotely operated vehicles can explore areas that are considered unsafe for humans.

• Scuba technology is more effective in freshwater.

Which ocean condition is best monitored by satellites placed in Earth’s orbit?

• algae growth patterns

• direction of winds

• ozone layer holes

• percentage of salinity

Which government agency is most responsible for setting standards for the concentration levels of harmful substances in the nation’s water sources?

• city councils

• the Pollution Control board

• the Environmental Protection Agency

• the American Nuclear Regulatory Agency

How can heavy rain create difficulties for a sewage treatment system?

• It can overload the pipes and cause flooding.

• It can knock down tree branches.

• It can destroy agricultural crops.

• It can create electrical outages.

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NGSS.MS-ETS1-1