Earth Science Pretest (from released test)

How would a large increase in the salinity of an estuary most likely affect the ecosystem of the estuary?

• All organisms would die

• All organisms would continue to live as they now do.

• The number of salt-tolerant organisms would increase, and the number of salt-intolerant organisms would decrease.

• The number of salt-intolerant organisms would increase, and the number of salt-tolerant organisms would decrease.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which would indicate the water in a lake is not safe for drinking?

• Many varieties of fish in the lake

• High dissolved-oxygen levels in the lake

• Cold water temperature of the lake

• High turbidity in the lake

A geologist identifies the identical index fossils in rock layers from two different areas. Which conclusion is best supported by this discovery?

• The deposition rate of the two rock layers was identical.

• The fossil organism evolved independently in the two separate areas.

• The two rock layers were deposited at approximately the same time.

• The index fossil will also occur in sediment deposited on top of these rock layers.

Which supports the theory that some mountains were once at the bottom of an ocean?

• There are underwater mountains on the ocean floor today.

• Freshwater rivers flow to the ocean.

• Fossils of marine organisms are found on the tops of some mountains.

• Both mountains and ocean floors have similar minerals in their rocks.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which best explains why all of the Earth’s freshwater is not available for human use?

• Most of earth’s freshwater is only lakes.

• Most of Earth’s freshwater is underground.

• Most Earth’s freshwater is still in the water cycle.

• Most of Earth’s freshwater is frozen water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

How can upwellings improve fishing for ocean fishermen?

• They cause the ocean water to get warmer.

• They cause ocean currents to remain calm.

• They bring nutrients from the cold, deep ocean waters.

• They bring ocean currents from the equator.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

If a lake has excess levels of phosphates and nitrates in its water, what will most likely result?

• The temperature of the lake will decrease.

• The turbidity levels of the lake will decrease.

• The dissolved-oxygen levels in the lake will increase.

• The growth of algae in the lake will increase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which is the most accurate methods scientists use to predict the age of Earth?

• Relative dating of rock layers

• Radioactive dating of rocks

• Comparing the ages of different fossils

• Investigating core samples from the Artic

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-6

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Which best explains why all of the Earth’s freshwater is not available for humans use?

• Most of Earth’s freshwater is only in lakes.

• Most of Earth’s freshwater is underground.

• Most of Earth’s freshwater is still in the water cycle.

• Most of Earth’s freshwater in frozen water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

How can upwellings improve fishing for ocean fishermen?

• They cause the ocean water to get warmer.

• They cause ocean currents to remain calm.

• They bring nutrients from the cold, deep ocean waters.

• They bring ocean current from the equator.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-3