SSA Review (Weather & Cycles)

The transfer of heat is responsible for many of the events that occur on Earth.  Which of the following events is most directly caused by radiation from the Sun?

• the circulation of air

• the warming of Earth’s surface

• the movement of ocean currents

• the movement within Earth’s mantle

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Plants and animals require large amounts of water in order to survive.  Although vast numbers of plants and animals have lived throughout time, the amount of water in our environment has remained relatively constant.  Which of the following statements explains why this occurs?

• Water continually flows from the center of Earth.

• Vast quantities of water are created by lightning in clouds.

• Organisms return water to the environment after they use it.

• Organisms combine hydrogen and oxygen to make their own water.

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Trade winds blow in a curved path toward the equator in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. How do normal trade wind patterns change the weather of islands near the equator?

• Trade winds blow cooler, gentler winds toward the islands.

• Trade winds blow colder, heavier winds toward the islands.

• Trade winds blow drier, more constant winds toward the islands.

• Trade winds blow warmer, more unpredictable winds toward the islands.

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Air currents form due to the uneven heating of Earth.  According to the picture above, what direction will the air currents  most likely move?

• straight down over the land

• straight up above the water

• from the water toward the land

• from the land toward the water

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Zach invited his friend Sydney to a pool party over the weekend.  Sydney informed Zach that the climate was supposed to be rainy over the weekend and suggested that he change his plans.  Zach explained to Sydney that she had misused the word “climate” and she should have used the word “weather” instead.  Which of the following statements accurately clarifies the confusion between Zach and Sydney?

• Zach is correct; the weather for this area is typically tropical and wet.

• Sydney is correct; there has been an abundance of rainfall within the last month, changing the climate of this particular area.

• Zach is correct; the climate of an environment is determined by patterns in weather conditions over an extended period of time.

• Sydney is correct; the climate of an environment can change constantly based on weather, wind, and front patterns in the area.

Why is the greenhouse effect important to life on Earth?

• The greenhouse effect absorbs x-rays in the winter time.

• The greenhouse effect helps Earth’s atmosphere hold in heat.

• The greenhouse effect makes it much colder at the North and South poles.

• The greenhouse effect reflects harmful radiation into the upper atmosphere.

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Why does convection cause cool oceans to produce sea breezes?

• Cool air rises from the ocean and travels inland.

• Warm air rises from the ocean and travels inland.

• Cool air rises from the land and travels to the ocean.

• Warm air rises from the land and travels to the ocean.

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How is climate different from weather?

• Climate is constantly changing, whereas weather changes slowly over time.

• Climate influences people’s daily activities, whereas weather influences people’s seasonal activities.

• Climate refers to the atmospheric conditions on a given date, whereas weather refers to the atmospheric conditions during a given season.

• Climate is based on observations made for a region over several years, whereas weather is based on day-to-day observations made for a region.

Which statement correctly describes a process of the water cycle?

• Condensation can occur when liquid water molecules in clouds lose energy and fall to Earth.

• Evaporation can occur when water gains energy from the Sun and changes into water vapor.

• Precipitation can occur when atmospheric water vapor loses energy and forms liquid water droplets.

• Transpiration can occur when atmospheric water vapor gains energy and moves higher in the atmosphere.

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Which statement best describes how air circulation patterns in the atmosphere are created?

• Oceans cool the air above the water causing cooler air to rise and the warmer air to sink.

• The Sun heats Earth’s surface causing the air to warm; the warm air rises as the cooler air sinks.

• Lightning strikes in the atmosphere increase the temperatures enough to create currents of warm air

• Heat from the middle of Earth warms the surface of Earth, which in turn warms the air and causes it to circulate.

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