Earth Science Final Exam

Which statement describes the motion of Earth around the sun? 

• The speed of Earth is constant regardless of its distance from the sun. 
• The speed of Earth is constant because the distance remains the same between Earth and the sun.  
• Speed increases the farther Earth is from the sun and decreases the closer it is to the sun. 
• Speed increases the closer Earth is to the sun and decreases the farther it is from the sun. 

Scientists are studying a graph showing the time differences between the seismic P-waves and the seismic S-waves as they travel through Earth. Which information can they learn from the graph? 

• the magnitude of an earthquake
• the duration of an earthquake 
• the epicenter of an earthquake 
• the intensity of an earthquake 

Which agent of erosion leads to the formation of sand dunes? 

• ice 
• wind 
• water 
• gravity

How can water be an agent for physical weathering?

• by absorbing gases from the atmosphere and ground to chemically react with minerals 
• by seeping into the soil and dissolving the minerals in rocks
• by absorbing sulfur oxides and creating acid precipitation 
• by seeping into the cracks of rocks and freezing

Which is most likely a prevention strategy for flooding?

• building artificial levees 
• reducing water consumption 
• recycling bottled-water containers 
• building waste landfills for metals and other contaminants

Large quantities of sand can be added to the beach to stabilize the shoreline. Which describes a disadvantage of this process? 

• It causes inland erosion. 
• It is a short-term solution.
• It creates a barrier that prevents the tides from occurring along the coastline. 
• It creates a wall that disrupts the vegetation along the coastline. 

Which results from the unequal heating of the ocean water of Earth? 

• a constant sea level 
• changes in tidal patterns 
• unchanging climate for all regions on Earth 
• changes in ocean current patterns 

Why are ocean currents important to coastal regions?

• They produce high and low tides along coastal regions
• They can warm or cool the air temperatures along coastal regions
• They move vertically pushing warm water and nutrients to the surface along coastal regions.
• They increase the rate of precipitation as cold water moves along coastal regions.

Which best describes the relationship between carrying capacity and Earth’s resources?

• A population that is below the carrying capacity will have an increase in contagious diseases. 
• A population that is above the carrying capacity will have a decrease in natural resources. 
• A population that is below the carrying capacity will experience a decrease in freshwater resources.
• A population that is above the carrying capacity will experience an increase in plant production. 

How could the exponential growth of the human population impact regions throughout the world?

• It could lead to a decrease in the amount of pollution in the regions. 
• It could lead to an increase in the biodiversity of the regions. 
• It could lead to an increase in the demand for food in the regions. 
• It could lead to a decrease in the demand for land within the regions.