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WorksheetsEarth Science Exam
Total questions: 52
Worksheet time: 12hrs 17mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Scientists can use instruments to predict the likelihood of a volcanic eruption. Why would scientists MOST LIKELY want to predict the likelihood of a volcanic eruption?
a)
to study weather changes
b)
to warn people who live nearby
c)
to protect nearby houses and buildings
d)
to estimate the amount of lava that will flow
2.
Which processes are MOST LIKELY described in the table?
a)
process 1 is a volcanic eruption, and process 2 is deposition.
b)
process 1 is deposition, and process 2 is a volcanic eruption.
c)
process 1 is a volcanic eruption, and process 2 is an earthquake
d)
process 1 is an earthquake, and process 2 is a volcanic eruption�.
3.
A teacher shows her class a sketch of a river flowing out to an ocean.
A student thought that the landform was caused by a volcanic eruption. The teacher said he was incorrect. Which statement BEST describes what the landform is and how it was created?
A student thought that the landform was caused by a volcanic eruption. The teacher said he was incorrect. Which statement BEST describes what the landform is and how it was created?
a)
A fault was formed as the river eroded the beach.
b)
An island was formed as the river eroded the beach.
c)
A dune was formed as the river deposited sediment from upstream.
d)
A delta was formed as the river deposited sediment from upstream.
4.
A group of students visit the coast with their science class.
A year later the students return to the same spot and observe that the beach is much smaller. Student 1 says that the coastline was affected by erosion. Student 2 says it was affected by deposition. Which student is correct and why?
A year later the students return to the same spot and observe that the beach is much smaller. Student 1 says that the coastline was affected by erosion. Student 2 says it was affected by deposition. Which student is correct and why?
a)
Student 1, due to erosion caused by ocean water
b)
Student 2, due to deposition caused by ocean water
c)
Student 1, due to erosion caused by fault movement
d)
Student 2, due to deposition caused by fault movement
5.
A scientist recently sent this e-mail:
Why is the scientist recommending dredging?
Why is the scientist recommending dredging?
a)
It acts as a flood control measure.
b)
It protects the wildlife in the ocean.
c)
It reclaims beaches lost to water erosion.
d)
It forms a barrier to reduce wind erosion.
6.
For five months, a scientist measured the depth of sand in a certain part of coastal shoreline. She recorded her observations in a table.
What is the BEST explanation of the data?
What is the BEST explanation of the data?
a)
water eroding sand to create a gully
b)
wind depositing sand to form a dune
c)
rock being deposited by ocean waves
d)
shells washing ashore from the ocean
7.
Which of these landforms is formed by deposition?
a)
a mountain near a lake
b)
a canyon between two cliffs
c)
a delta near the mouth of a river
d)
a pool at the bottom of a waterfall
8.
A dam constructed on a river can store large amounts of water behind it.
Which of these describes another reason for building a dam?
Which of these describes another reason for building a dam?
a)
dams help prevent forest fires.
b)
dams help prevent floods near rivers.
c)
dams help prevent erosion along riverbanks.
d)
dams help prevent pollution from getting into rivers.
9.
A student went to a river in the mountains and observed that some rocks were smooth and round, while others were rough and jagged. She noticed that the rocks were all made from the same type of mineral.
Which of these BEST explains the student’s observations?
Which of these BEST explains the student’s observations?
a)
the rough, jagged rocks are from a volcanic eruption far away.
b)
the rough, jagged rocks were blown into the water by wind erosion.
c)
the smooth, round rocks are much newer than the rough, jagged rocks.
d)
the smooth, round rocks have been weathered longer than the rough, jagged rocks.
10.
Which causes sand dunes to drift from their original positions?
a)
gravity
b)
rain
c)
water
d)
wind
11.
Which term refers to a broad flat area of rich soil found where rivers empty into oceans, lakes, or other bodies of water?
a)
delta
b)
canyon
c)
meander
d)
tributary
12.
How can the slope of the land affect the flow of water?
a)
A steep slope increases the speed of flowing water and increases erosion potential.
b)
A gentle slope increases the speed of flowing water and increases erosion potential.
c)
A steep slope decreases the speed of flowing water and increases erosion potential.
d)
A gentle slope decreases the speed of flowing water and increases erosion potential.
13.
How is a coastline affected by water?
a)
Glaciers deposit sediment on the shore.
b)
Waves can carry sand onto or away from beaches.
c)
Snow can melt and flow through rivers into the sea.
d)
Fresh water carries away more of the sand than saltwater.
14.
The table below shows the amount of rain that fell in one day in four different farmland locations.
In which location is the greatest amount of soil erosion most likely to have occurred that day?
In which location is the greatest amount of soil erosion most likely to have occurred that day?
a)
W
b)
X
c)
Y
d)
Z
15.
Which MOST LIKELY is the reason a landowner places rocks along a riverbank?
a)
to decrease erosion
b)
to improve wildlife habitat
c)
to prevent flooding during heavy rainfall
d)
to encourage vegetation to grow along the riverbank
16.
An acorn fell onto a crack in a large rock and started to grow there. What is a probable result as the seedling of an oak grows into a tree?
a)
The tree will absorb the material of the rock.
b)
The tree roots will crack the rock.
c)
The rock will turn into fertile soil.
d)
The tree will become petrified wood.
17.
Deltas are found ________
a)
on top of sand dunes.
b)
at the mouths of rivers.
c)
on mountain tops.
d)
inside glaciers.
18.
Many strong earthquakes are caused by
a)
plates sliding past each other
b)
lava flowing down the side of a volcano
c)
plates spreading apart
d)
hot magma
19.
Which of the following is a sudden release of energy from the earth's crust that causes sudden movement of the earth?
a)
volcano
b)
earthquake
c)
erosion
d)
weathering
20.
Beach reclamation is
a)
humans littering on the beach
b)
humans restoring the beach
c)
animals laying their eggs in the sand dunes of the beach
d)
building amusement parks and shops along the beach
21.
Tsunamis are caused by which of the following?
a)
earthquakes
b)
volcanoes
c)
none of these
d)
both earthquakes and volcanoes underwater
22.
Landforms can be changed or new ones formed by
a)
weathering, erosion, and deposition
b)
erosion, rocks, and beaches
c)
glaciers, canyons, and thunderstorms
d)
plates, oceans, and volcanoes
23.
The theory that the continents move over the Earth's surface is _____.
a)
mass movement
b)
Pangea
c)
continental drift
d)
lava flow
24.
In which of the following areas would soil erosion MOST LIKELY occur if they received the same amount of rainfall?
a)
a forest
b)
flat agricultural lands
c)
agricultural lands on steep slopes
d)
restored prairies
25.
Where does most eroded soil end up?
a)
in new agricultural lands
b)
in the desert
c)
in the sediment of rivers
d)
in rock slides
26.
Do earthquakes occur underwater?
a)
No, earthquakes have to occur on land.
b)
Yes, and they can cause huge tidal waves to occur.
c)
No, only volcanoes occur underwater.
d)
Yes, but they have no effect on the ocean waters.
27.
How were the Hawaiian islands formed?
a)
by an earthquake
b)
by volcanoes
c)
by tidal waves
d)
by wind erosion
28.
The natural process of rocks gradually breaking up and being worn away over time is known as
a)
weathering
b)
cementing
c)
sedimentation
d)
melting
29.
Which of these is a result of human intervention on destructive processes?
a)
the building of Hoover Dam
b)
initiation of satellite system relay
c)
the flooding of the Mississippi Delta
d)
construction of the Empire State building
30.
Which of these constructive processes results in a build up of earth material through a slow process over a long period of time?
a)
faults
b)
earthquakes
c)
deposition
d)
volcanoes
31.
Which of Earth's surface features is described below?
a)
earthquake
b)
volcano
c)
tsunami
d)
hurricane
32.
The geological process by which material is added to a landform is called
a)
sediment
b)
deposition
c)
weathering
d)
erosion
33.
Which statement describes a volcano erupting?
a)
Glacier materials are moved by gravity
b)
Magma is forced out of an opening in Earth's crust.
c)
Pressure in Earth's crust causes layers of rock to slide.
d)
Pressure in Earth's crust becomes so great that the layers of rock buckle and fold.
34.
A moving portion of Earth's crust is called a
a)
fault
b)
fold
c)
plate
d)
ridge
35.
Which does NOT cause erosion?
a)
water
b)
sunlight
c)
wind
d)
ice
36.
What causes earthquakes?
a)
energy being released when crustal plates move
b)
energy from a hurricane or tornado
c)
energy that builds up inside a volcanic mountain
d)
energy being released when erosion occurs
37.
Your teacher tells you to bring an item to class that shows evidence of erosion. Which of the following would be the BEST to bring?
a)
a piece of lava from a volcanic area
b)
a crystal from the inside of a cave
c)
a piece of slate from a slate quarry
d)
a round rock from a streambed
38.
Water inside a rock crevice can split it apart when the temperature drops because
a)
cold water dissolves rock.
b)
water expands when it freezes.
c)
water causes the growth of plant roots.
d)
the cold makes the rock very brittle.
39.
Why are the rocks and pebbles found in riverbeds usually smooth?
a)
The rocks are very old.
b)
Animals in the river keep rubbing against the rocks.
c)
Rivers only flow where rocks are smooth.
d)
The rocks are worn smooth by rubbing against other rocks.
40.
Muddy areas are usually found at the mouths of large rivers. These areas are caused by
a)
decayed vegetable matter.
b)
underwater volcanoes.
c)
soil erosion upstream.
d)
mountain building.
45. In which state would an
45. In which state would an
41.
What instrument does a geologist use to record the motions produced by an earthquake?
a)
a seismograph
b)
an anemometer
c)
a spectrograph
d)
an optometer
42.
Major earthquakes are caused by
a)
molten lava.
b)
underground rivers.
c)
pressures inside Earth.
d)
violent weather.
43.
When volcanoes erupt, they overflow with
a)
molten lava.
b)
oil.
c)
hot water.
d)
clay.
44.
Which one of the following is MOST LIKELY to make a rock break open?
a)
dew evaporating on the rock
b)
tree leaves decaying on the rock
c)
snow melting in a crack in the rock
d)
water freezing in a crack in the rock
45.
Which example shows how Earth's surface has been changed by fast-moving water?
a)
earthquake
b)
canyon
c)
volcano
d)
freshwater lake
46.
During winter's cold weather, water within cracks in rocks freezes, expands, and causes the rocks to break. This process is called
a)
weathering.
b)
erosion.
c)
despoiling.
d)
purging.
47.
Which solution helps to control floods?
a)
using contour plowing
b)
building bridges over rivers that flood
c)
building control dams and levees
d)
creating deltas at the end of rivers that flood
48.
In many places, sand is being pumped from the sea floor onto the beaches. Why is there a need to put sand on beaches?
a)
The sand on the beaches wears out.
b)
Wave action causes erosion of the sand.
c)
Too much sand is piled into sand dunes.
d)
Old, dirty sand has to be replaced.
49.
What is the name of the area where two or more tectonic plates meet and move?
a)
faults
b)
continental drift
c)
deltas
d)
plateaus
50.
Volcanoes are formed from
a)
hot gases pushing up through Earth's surface.
b)
molten rock pushing up through Earth's surface.
c)
large continental plates colliding with one another.
d)
the rapid erosion of large mountain ranges.
51.
A river flows past several small towns. It has been decided that a dam will be built on the river. How will the dam benefit the towns along the river?
a)
It will allow the towns to control flooding along the river.
b)
It will increase the fish population along the river.
c)
Water will be available for home heating.
d)
Water in the river will be much cleaner from the dam.
52.
A teacher used two wooden blocks to model a surface feature. The teacher moved the diagonally cut blocks until one block is higher than the other as shown below.
Which surface feature did the teacher demonstrate?
Which surface feature did the teacher demonstrate?
a)
a delta
b)
a fault
c)
a volcano
d)
a sand dune
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