Earth and Space

What is the geosphere and how does it interact with the hydrosphere?

• The geosphere is the liquid part of the Earth and it interacts with the hydrosphere through earthquakes.

• The geosphere is the gaseous part of the Earth and it interacts with the hydrosphere through volcanic eruptions.

• The geosphere is the atmospheric part of the Earth and it interacts with the hydrosphere through tectonic plate movement.

• The geosphere is the solid part of the Earth and it interacts with the hydrosphere through processes such as erosion and weathering.

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The Florida Current was first reported by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513 when he discovered Florida. As seen in the following map, the Florida Current flows around the southern tip of Florida and up the East Coast. How does the Florida Current most likely affect the climate of cities along the coast of southern Florida, such as Miami?

• It brings more wind, which makes the air less humid.

• It brings dry air, which contributes to hotter temperatures.

• It brings cool water, which makes the air temperature cooler.

• It brings warm water, which makes the air temperature warmer.

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The following diagram shows the energy transfer processes that happen above the ocean. Which step of the diagram involves conduction?

• Step 1

• Step 2

• Step 3

• Step 4

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Which of the following best explains the role of the Sun in driving ocean currents and wind patterns?

• The Sun plays a role in driving wind patterns but not ocean currents.

• The Sun's gravity causes the Earth to rotate, creating wind patterns and ocean currents.

• The Sun’s cycling of water on Earth causes the ocean currents but plays no role in the wind patterns.

• The Sun's uneven heating of the Earth's surface causes the formation of wind patterns and ocean currents.

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When Daniel was studying for his Earth Science class, he asked his friend Cesar to quiz him about the rock cycle. Cesar presented Daniel with the following scenario: 'Imagine that a large area of sedimentary rock gets moved deeper into Earth’s crust through tectonic plate movement. There, rising temperatures and high pressure change the rock. Eventually, the rock melts from the high temperatures and pressure. After some time in those conditions, there is a time of cooling.' Cesar asked Daniel to predict what kind of rock there would be at the end of all these steps. What should Daniel predict?

• magma

• igneous rock

• sedimentary rock

• metamorphic rock

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Gopher tortoises live on dry land. They live in large holes that they dig in the soil. How does the behavior of the gopher tortoise cause physical weathering?

• It causes the rocks to break into smaller pieces as the tortoise digs.

• It loosens the soil, allowing more water to reach the rocks underground.

• It moves rocks above ground, where they are exposed to more water and wind.

• It erodes the soil by moving it from underneath the ground to above the ground.

The picture below shows the rock layers in one part of the Grand Canyon. Based on the law of superposition, what is the order of these rock layers, from oldest to youngest?

• 1,2,3,4

• 3,4,1,2

• 4,3,2,1

• 2,1,4,3

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Scientists have evidence that the Earth has gone through several "ice ages" in which most of the Earth's surface was covered by thick sheets of ice. Which of the following would provide support that these ice ages existed?

• a lack of the fossils of any living organisms

• an absence of human remains or civilizations

• the extinction of plant life in the fossil record

• finding fossils of cold-adapted organisms in warm climates

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The figure below shows part of what scientists think is happening in Earth’s mantle. What process does the figure show occurring in the mantle?

• Hot rock becomes less dense and moves towards the outer core.

• Hot rock becomes more dense and moves towards the lithosphere.

• Hot rock expands, becomes less dense, and rises toward the surface of Earth.

• Hot rock expands, becomes more dense, and rises toward the surface of Earth.

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During the year 2003, the number of earthquakes that occurred were higher than usual. The map below shows the locations of some of these earthquakes.

Why do the dots on the map tend to form a long curving line in the western part of the Pacific Ocean?

• This part of the ocean has a high rate of hurricanes and typhoons.

• That part of the ocean is directly above the boundaries between tectonic plates.

• There is pressure on the seafloor due to the weight of water in the Pacific Ocean.

• An increase in the number of tsunamis in the Pacific led to an increase in the number of earthquakes.

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