Mini Assessment: Earth Systems and Patterns

Water vapor is water in gas form in the air around us. As that
gas cools down, it turns back into a liquid. Those small drops of
liquid join together and form clouds. What is this process
called?

• Conduction

• Evaporation

• Precipitation

• Condensation

Tags

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Paola put some ice in a cup of fruit punch. She then placed the cup on the dining room table. After a few minutes, she noticed that there were drops of water all over the outside of the cup.

Where did the drops of water most likely come from?

• They evaporated out of the air above the cold liquid.

• They condensed out of the air surrounding the cold cup.

• They dripped off the ice cubes as he put them into the cup.

• They came off his hands after holding the melting ice cubes

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Air expands as it gets warmer, so it can hold much more humidity than cold air. The degree of humidity increases as the moisture content evaporates into the atmosphere.

Which tool is used to measure the humidity in the air?

• Hygrometer

• Wind Vane

• Barometer

• Thermometer

A certain day in Miami has a temperature of 85°F. Weather forecasters are predicting that the air pressure and temperature will drop during the day. Which type of weather is most likely in the late afternoon?

• Rainy weather

• Sunny weather

• Snowstorm

• Clear skies

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Rod and Jin were planning on playing soccer after school. On their walk home, Rod noticed cumulonimbus clouds. Rod told Jin that they would have great weather to play soccer. Rod said cumulonimbus clouds indicate nice weather with no rain. Jin disagreed with Rod’s statement. Who is correct and why?

A.

B.

C.

D.

• Rod was correct because rain is not associated with cumulonimbus clouds

• Jin was correct because cumulonimbus clouds are associated with a light, misty rain

• Jin was correct because cumulonimbus are associated with a hard rain and thunderstorms

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Earth has many types of climate zones. The map below shows the tundra climate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Which of the following best describes this type of climate?

• It is very hot because it is on the coastline.

• It is very wet because it is below sea level.

• It receives very little snowfall because it is close to the ocean.

• It has very cold temperatures because it is far from the equator.

Tags

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Deserts in the temperate zones can be extremely hot in the afternoon and below freezing at night. Which answer best explains why this happens?

• Temperate deserts are found at high elevations, where the Sun and the wind are much stronger. This creates more extreme temperature changes.

• Temperate deserts lack trees and grass. With no trees, the Sun shines directly down and causes it to get hot in the day, and with no grass, the heat escapes at night.

• Temperate deserts have very little cloud cover and no humidity. This means that more energy from the Sun reaches the desert in the day, but that heat can escape quickly at night.

• Temperate deserts have higher rainfall than other kinds of deserts. Warm rain during the day produces warm breezes in the desert. Cooler rains at night draw warm air away from the desert.

Tags

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The water cycle is a continuous process that moves water all around Earth’s surfaces and through the atmosphere. What is the energy source that powers the water cycle?

• The heat from the Sun causes evaporation.

• Melting glaciers add more water to the ocean.

• Clouds form and drop water in areas that are dry.

• Strong winds push tiny droplets of water out of the ocean into the air.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

The temperature of the air will determine what state of matter water will be in when it returns to Earth’s surface. It may fall as a solid, like snow, or a liquid, like rain. What is the name of the process occurring when water comes from the sky back to the surface of the Earth?

• Runoff

• Evaporation

• Precipitation

• Condensation

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Melanie put a bucket of water outside on a warm, sunny day. When she returned later, the water level had changed. What did Melanie most likely observe when she returned?

• The water level had increased because water in the air condensed into the bucket.

• The water level had decreased because water in the air condensed into the bucket.

• The water level had increased because the heat from the Sun caused some water to evaporate.

• The water level had decreased because the heat from the Sun caused some water to evaporate.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-4