ES SOL Practice 2

The graph shows the observed water levels, in feet (ft), for a tide gauge located at Montauk, New

York, on the easternmost end of Long Island, from January 24, 2008 to noon on January 25, 2008.

What causes the water-level variation pattern shown by the graph?

• cyclic and not predictable

• noncyclic and predictable

• cyclic and predictable

• noncyclic and not predictable

The graph shows the observed water levels, in feet (ft), for a tide gauge located at Montauk, New

York, on the easternmost end of Long Island, from January 24, 2008 to noon on January 25, 2008.

What causes the water-level variation pattern shown by the graph?

• Earth's rotation and the gravitational pull of the Moon

• changes in wind velocity produced by coastal storms

• changes in magnetic orientation of the North American Plate

• Earth's revolution and the distance from the equator

Which two characteristics do all Jovian planets have

in common?

• large diameters and low densities

• large diameters and high densities

• small diameters and low densities

• small diameters and high densities

Which event occurred approximately 4.6 billion years ago?

• evolution of the earliest fish

• evolution of stromatolites

• formation of the oldest known Earth rocks

• formation of Earth and our solar system

A solar eclipse might be observed from Earth when the Moon is at which position?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

A mountain serves as a great example of a ______________ which separates watersheds. 

• estuary
• flood plain
• wetland
• divide

Of the following choices, which watershed in Virginia is the largest? 

• New
• Rappahannock
• Shenandoah-Potomac
• James

A person poured oil into a creek at the starred location on the Virginia map. What major body of water would most likely be harmed? 

• Pacific Ocean 
• Gulf of Mexico 
• Indian Ocean 
• Atlantic Ocean 

The geologic time scale is divided by major changes or events such as

• mass extinctions
• the extinction of one species
• the development of one new species
• a small temperature change

What is the difference between relative dating and absolute dating?

• Relative dating provides the exact age of a rock, while absolute dating provides a rough estimate of the rock’s age
• Relative dating can estimate a rock’s age only in relation to other objects or events, while absolute dating can provide an actual age
• Relative dating uses several types of radioactive decay to determine an object’s relative age, while absolute dating only uses the halflife of uranium 235
• Relative dating and absolute dating can only determine the rock’s age in relation to other objects or events