Unit 8 Factors Affecting Earth Systems

A student sets up the investigation shown in the diagram. The movement of colored water through the gravel best models —

• condensation of water vapor

• surface runoff of precipitation

• conservation of water

• pollution of groundwater

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Polar bears in the Arctic use the sea ice that covers the North Pole as a platform for hunting seals, the mainstay of their diet. Recent data suggest that Arctic sea ice may have thinned as much as 40% over the past 50 years. If the polar ice continues to melt, it is likely that the polar bear will become extinct. Many scientists believe that the melting of the Arctic sea ice is due primarily to human activities. Which of the following human activities would have the most direct effect on the thickness of the polar ice cap?

• Increased nuclear energy production

• Increased fishing in the Arctic ocean

• Increased burning of fossil fuels

• Increased human population

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The picture below shows part of the Piney Woods ecoregion in east Texas. Which of the following best explains the lack of extremely diverse landforms in this ecoregion?

• The high vegetation decreases erosion from water and wind.

• The trees in this region hide the diverse landforms underneath them.

• The trees broke down all of the previous landforms through weathering.

• The high amount of vegetation soaks up most of the corrosive water into their leaves.

The picture below shows a map of a part of the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion. The circled portion represents islands in this ecoregion. Which of the following best explains how these islands formed?

• They formed as sand from the shore was deposited in a location where water movement slowed down.

• They formed as underwater volcanoes erupted and deposited lava.

• They formed as a reef built up deposits so high that it created an above water mass.

• They formed as hurricanes deposited sand from distant regions.

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A student drew the model below to represent a part of a watershed and some human activities that affect the watershed. How do the industrial, agricultural, and residential activities of humans most likely affect the groundwater in the area?

• The activities prevent most of the water from evaporating into the atmosphere.

• Pollutants from the activities percolate through the soil and enter the water table.

• The activities replace the groundwater used.

• All of the above

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The picture below shows the Palo Duro Canyon in the High Plains ecoregion of Texas. What was the cause for the formation of this canyon?

• Erosion caused by a river that formed the steep sides of the canyon.

• Deposition of sediment that formed the canyon walls.

• Weathering of rocks from a tornado that formed the canyon.

• A meteor shower that killed dinosaurs and made a giant hole.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The picture below shows sand dunes on Padre Island, Texas, in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion. The sand dunes most likely formed by —

• the deposition of sand carried by swift wind blowing along the coast

• land that slightly uplifted when tectonic plates moved under the beach sand

• a primitive river that flowed toward the ocean and carved out the sand dunes

• strong waves dumping chunks of the ocean floor onto the beach

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The picture below shows Hurricane Sandy as it approached the northeastern part of the United States. All of the following could have been effects of Hurricane Sandy EXCEPT:

• decreased local animal populations, because animals died during the storm.

• negative human-animal interactions, because animals move toward shelter.

• dehydration and animal deaths, because of increased temperatures.

• larger mosquito populations, because mosquitoes lay larvae on standing water.

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The model below shows an aquifer. When an area is experiencing drought, humans may excessively pump groundwater out of aquifers like this one. All of the following are effects of this excessive pumping EXCEPT —

• A. groundwater depleting

• B. the water table rising

• C. soil collapsing

• D. water quality decreasing

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

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The picture below models runoff from a mine into local watersheds. The runoff will affect local watersheds in all of the following ways EXCEPT:

• by contaminating the lake with heavy metals.

• by increasing sediments in the stream.

• by increasing the number of animals that live in the lake or stream.

• by introducing acid rock drainage to the lake and stream.

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