Earth Science Quiz

What was the name of the single large land mass that existed when all continents were once joined together?

• Gondwana

• Laurasia

• Pangaea

• Eurasia

What is magma called after it erupts from a volcano?

• Crystal

• Sediment

• Lava

• Rock

What type of energy from the Sun is absorbed by the land and water on Earth?

• Lunar radiation

• Solar radiation

• Cosmic radiation

• Ultraviolet radiation

What process involves the wearing down of Earth's surface structures?

• Erosion

• Weathering

• Deposition

• Compaction

What do modern desalinization plants help communities obtain?

• Oil

• Natural gas

• Fresh water

• Minerals

What is weather described as in the text?

• The condition of the atmosphere at a specific location

• The temperature of the air

• The condition of the atmosphere at a given time

• The amount of rainfall in an area

What instrument is used to measure the pressure of the air above us?

• Thermometer

• Hygrometer

• Barometer

• Anemometer

What are radiosondes used for?

• Measuring ocean depth

• Transmitting radio waves into space

• Determining characteristics of air high above Earth

• Tracking animal migrations

What is a magnetar?

• A type of asteroid

• A type of comet

• A type of black hole

• A type of neutron star with a strong magnetic field

What is responsible for the patterns of night, day, and seasons on Earth?

• The moon's orbit around the Earth

• The relationship between the Sun and Earth

• Earth's distance from the Sun

• The rotation of the Milky Way galaxy