APEs unit 4

A farm is experiencing extensive crop loss due to high rains causing overly saturated soils. Which of the following approaches would best help the farmer alleviate the problem?

• Fertilizing the area with manure to eliminate the need for inorganic chemical fertilizers

• Amending the soil with clay to increase the water-holding capacity of the soil

• Amending the soil with sand to increase the permeability of the soil

• Using contour plowing to decrease soil erosion

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following correctly characterizes one of Earth’s atmospheric layers?

• Layer A

  is the stratosphere, where meteors are found.

• Layer B

  is the troposphere, where weather occurs.

• Layer C

  is the stratosphere, where the ozone layer is found.

• Layer D

  is the thermosphere, where auroras are found.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The location where one tectonic plate is being forced beneath another, creating a volcanic arc.

• A

• B

• C

• D

• E

Brown pelicans are fish-eating birds. As a result of an El Niño event, the population of brown pelicans in southern California declines. Which of the following best explains the relationship between the El Niño event and the population decline?

• Warmer ocean temperatures can cause fish to move to colder water farther from pelican nest sites.

• Lower sea surface heights can result in pelican nest sites being isolated too far from their food supply in the ocean.

• The female reproductive tract of birds does not function at the lower water temperatures of El Niño.

• Male pelicans get disoriented due to the lack of moisture and fail to return to the nest with food.

• Predatory seal populations increase dramatically due to decreased rainfall.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Item 1

El Niño and La Niña are natural phenomena associated with changing water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. The occurrence of these events can result in changes in global weather and ocean circulation patterns.

Which of the following is a positive effect likely to result from an El Niño event?

• Increased droughts in Central and South America

• Reduced chance of winter floods in California and the Pacific Northwest

• Fewer hurricanes forming in the Central Atlantic basin

• Fewer heat waves in Australia

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following factors is fundamentally responsible for seasons on Earth?

• The varying distance of Earth from the Sun

• The tilt of Earth's axis of rotation

• The latitudinal variation in temperature and precipitation

• The tidal pull of the Sun and Moon

• The anthropogenic greenhouse effect

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Item 1

Earth currently rotates on an axis at an angle of 23.5 degrees. If that axis changed to 20 degrees, so that the axis was closer to vertical, which of the following would be expected to occur?

• The number of days in a year would be reduced.

• Earth would experience increased volcanic activity.

• The amount of energy Earth receives from the Sun would increase.

• Earth would experience a change in seasonal timing and length.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Most deserts on Earth are located near the 30° north and 30° south latitudes because humidity is lower at 30°. The best explanation for the lower humidity is that

• warm air rises at 90° latitude, cools, and sinks at 30°

• cool air rises at 30° latitude, warms, and sinks at the equator

• warm air rises at the equator, cools, and sinks at 30° latitude

• trade winds transfer moisture away from 30° latitude

• rain-shadow effects are most pronounced at 30° latitude

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Of the following, which has the greatest permeability?

• clay

• silt

• sand

• humus

• loam

Which soil composition would be the best choice for lining a landfill?

• Point T

• Point U

• Point V

• Point W

• Point X

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2