Quiz: Earth's Spheres

Which of the following best represents an interaction between the hydrosphere and the geosphere?

• Rivers or oceans carry tiny pieces of rocks and dirt. These tiny pieces settle down and stick together over time to form new rock layers.
• When water from oceans, lakes, or rivers turns into invisible water vapor and goes up into the sky, it's called evaporation.
• Plants convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
• The Earth's outer layer is divided into huge puzzle pieces called tectonic plates. Sometimes these plates move, which causes earthquakes.

Which of the following does NOT represent an interaction between the atmosphere and biosphere?

• Plants convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
• Animals breathe in oxygen from the air and release carbon dioxide when they exhale.
• Rainfall provides water to plants, helping them grow.
• Rocks break down over time due to weathering and erosion.

When volcanoes erupt, they release ash, gases, and lava into the air. These eruptions can alter weather patterns temporarily. Which student accurately identified the spheres involved in this interaction?

• Student 1
• Student 2
• Student 3

Which of the following is the best description of how Earth's spheres interact when glaciers melt?

• In glacial environments, living things like animals and plants live among the ice and snow, adapting to the cold conditions. Thicker and warmer feathers and fur are a few of the many adaptations that help animals survive.
• Glaciers (frozen water, which is part of the hydrosphere) interact with the water on Earth when they melt. This melting ice adds water to the oceans and rivers, affecting their levels and the flow of water. The increased melting of glaciers can lead to higher air temperatures and changes in weather patterns in the atmosphere.
• The atmosphere provides air that is necessary for the survival of living things (the biosphere), including plants. In turn, plants help the atmosphere by providing the oxygen we breathe and removing the carbon dioxide we exhale.

the solid part of the Earth, made up of rocks, mountains, and landforms

• Earth's spheres

• geosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

• hydrosphere

different systems on our planet that work together: the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere

• Earth's spheres

• geosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

• hydrosphere

all the water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, and lakes

• Earth's spheres

• geosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

• hydrosphere

the air that surrounds our planet, which is made up of different gases

• Earth's spheres

• geosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

• hydrosphere

the community of living things on Earth, including plants, animals, and people

• Earth's spheres

• geosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

• hydrosphere

work together

• interact

• geosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

• hydrosphere