Earth Science Diagnostic

Each layer of the geosphere has a different composition.

What element makes up most of Earth's crust?

• iron

• nickel

• oxygen

• aluminum

According to the fossil record, when did the dinosaurs become extinct?

• at the end of the Mesozoic Era

• at the end of the Paleozoic Era

• at the start of the Mesozoic Era

• at the start of the Paleozoic Era

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Many fossils are found only during certain periods in the geologic record. Scientists use these fossils to determine the relative ages of rock layers. The diagram shows relative ages

of four fossils.

Which statement is true of a rock layer that contains fossil F?

• It could also contain fossil G.

• It was formed in periods 1, 2, and 3.

• It is older than the rock layers that contain fossil H.

• It is younger than the rock layers that contain fossil H.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The diagram below shows how seismic waves travel away from the place where an earthquake begins.

Which of the following correctly identifies the parts of the diagram?

• I. Epicenter

  II. Focus

  III. Fault

  IV. Seismic wave

• I. Epicenter

  II. Focus

  III. Seismic wave

  IV. Fault

• I. Focus

  II. Epicenter

  III. Fault

  IV. Seismic wave

• I. Focus

  II. Epicenter

  III. Seismic wave

  IV. Fault

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Imagine you could travel in a straight line through Earth from a point on one side and come out on the other side. What compositional layer would you travel through in the exact center

of Earth?

• core

• crust

• lithosphere

• mesosphere

Molten material flows gently out of a fissure on Earth’s surface, then cools and hardens. This process happens again and again over geologic time. Eventually, what will form on the surface?

• caldera

• plate boundary

• magma chamber

• volcanic mountain

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Notice how the figure below shows both continental crust and oceanic crust. In this figure, shading indicates density. The more darkly shaded a region is, the denser that region is.

What can you infer from the figure?

• Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust.

• Continental crust is denser than oceanic crust.

• Oceanic crust does not contain as much iron as continental crust.

• Continental crust contains more magnesium than oceanic crust.

Convection currents in the mantle contribute to tectonic plate movement. What is a convection current?

• the transfer of energy by direct contact

• the transfer of energy by the movement

  of matter

• the transfer of energy through a solid, such as the Earth’s crust

• the transfer of energy from a region of lower temperature to a region of higher temperature

What is the primary way that folded mountains are formed?

• by tension

• by shear stress

• by compression

• by volcanic activity

The diagram below shows Earth divided into five layers.

Scientists divide Earth into these layers based on what properties?

• core properties

• physical properties

• chemical properties

• atmospheric properties