NC Science

How owuld 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.

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

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What effect does the water cycle have on the total amount of water on Earth?

• The total amount of water on Earth is constantly increasing.

• The total amount of water on Earth is constantly decreasing.

• The total amount of water on Earth remains relatively constant.

• The total amount of water on Earth changes due to periods of global warming and cooling.

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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.

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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.

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Which best explains why mammals became dominant after the mass extinction of the dinosaurs?

• They had traits that helped them adapt to environmental changes.

• They were larger than dinosaurs and ate different foods.

• They lived in different areas on Earth than dinosaurs.

• They were able to hibernate for thousands of years.

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Which demonstrates how genetic variation may result from a change in the environment where an animal lives?

• A salmon swims faster as it enters colder waters.

• A snake increases its body temperature because it moves on top of a rock in direct sunlight.

• A beetle stands out to predators because it moves among plants that have colors different than its own.

• An arctic fox changes its color over time because it migrates to an area with a different climate.

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Which is the most accurate way of determining the age of a fossil?

• radioactive dating

• relative dating

• dating index fossils

• dating the rock layers above the fossil

Which best describes uniformitarianism?

• The time it takes for erosion to occur has changed since Earth first formed.

• The movement of the continents no longer occurs because of changes in ocean currents.

• The processes that shape the Earth continue as they have since the Earth formed.

• The formation of rock layers has slowed because humans have altered the environment.

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Which of these would most likely happen to a species that is not able to adapt to a changing environment?

• The species would become extinct over time.

• The species would develop mutated cells.

• The species would develop resistance to disease.

• The species would change the environment.

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