Q2 Benchmark Exam Practice

The weather can vary from day to day. Through the use of observations, knowledge of air

masses, and technology, certain kinds of scientists study the weather. What kind of

scientist studies and predicts the weather?

• hydrologist

• climatologist

• biologist

• meterologist

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Amounts of air pollution are increasing all over the world. Continuing studies show that the

increased carbon dioxide from a variety of factors can affect regional weather. What is

one possible effect of air pollution?

• increased temperature

• decreased rain

• increased winds

• a hurricane

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Hurricanes are very powerful storms that form over the ocean. They bring heavy rain and

wind and potential storm surges, which cause flooding. Why do hurricanes form in oceans

with southern latitudes?

• Northern oceans are not rough enough to create the energy needed to form a hurricane.

• Colder northern oceans cannot provide the warm, moist air needed to fuel hurricanes.

• Warmer southern ocean air provides the high pressure and low winds needed to form a hurricane.

• Southern oceans are wider and provide more space for hurricanes to form.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Developers want to remove water from the ground on a piece of land and then build

houses on it. There is a layer of limestone under the surface of this piece of land. Which

landform could form under these circumstances?

• a sand dune

• a sinkhole

• a valley

• a volcano

Ms. Mack wants to move her filing cabinet from one side of the classroom to the other.

She pushes the cabinet as hard as she can, but it does not move. Which best explains

why the cabinet may not be moving?

• The force of gravity is too strong to overcome.

• There is an unbalanced force acting on the cabinet.

• Only a non-contact force will be able to move the cabinet.

• The other forces acting on the cabinet are stronger than her force.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Turtle Beach is made up of coarse-grained dark sand. Nearby rocks in the area form

mountains near the coastline. Which of the following statements describe what forces

helped shape the coastline?

• Destructive forces formed the mountains, then constructive forces eroded the sediments to form the beach.

• Destructive forces formed the mountains and eroded them to form beach sediments due to depositional processes.

• Constructive forces and depositional processes formed sediments at Turtle Beach, then destructive forces created the mountains.

• Constructive forces created mountains that then eroded under destructive forces, resulting in the deposition of eroded sediments to form Turtle Beach.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Mason lives in Arizona, a place that sometimes experiences extreme temperatures in his region of the United States. He knows that different kinds of air masses influence temperature. Why would the range of temperatures be more extreme in his part of the country?

• Maritime air masses pick up cold air from the water and remain colder because they take on the temperature of the water.

• Continental air masses usually are warmer than maritime air masses because they are moderated more by clouds.

• Maritime air masses have water that moderates the air temperatures above them and the continental masses do not.

• Continental air masses have cooler temperatures part of the time that will moderate them and the maritime air masses do not.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

In the middle of an ocean, areas called “gyres” can form where systems of currents come together and all move in the same direction. In the center of a gyre, patches of trash can gather. Which of these assists in the formation of gyres?

• high and low tide fluctuations

• migration of sea life

• global wind patterns

• density and temperature changes

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Most springs contain fresh drinking water, but Salt Spring in Ocala, Florida contains

minerals. These minerals give the water a slightly salty taste. Which spheres interact to

cause this phenomenon?

• geosphere and cryosphere

• biosphere and hydrosphere

• hydrosphere and geosphere

• cryosphere and hydrosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

Tina is trying to determine whether she would have a greater gravitational attraction to the moon or to the cat next to her on the couch. Which statement about Tina’s gravitational attraction is true?

• She would have a greater gravitational attraction to her cat. Even though the cat contains less mass, she is much closer to the cat than the moon.

• She would have a greater gravitational attraction to the moon. Even though the moon is much further away, it contains much more mass than a cat.

• There is no gravitational attraction between Tina and the moon or Tina and the cat. The moon is too far and the cat doesn't have enough mass.

• There is equal gravitational attraction between Tina and the moon, and Tina and the cat.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4