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WorksheetsSTAAR Science 8 - Cat 3 Practice
Total questions: 60
Worksheet time: 37mins
What is the elevation of point B?
800 ft
850 ft
900 ft
1000 ft
6 miles
In which direction is Mill River flowing?
Southeast
Southwest
Northeast
Northwest
West
What landform best describes the area at the end of the arrow?
volcano
mountain
cliff
river
plateau
The satellite photo shows San Francisco, California, which has many miles of coastline and an inland bay. Which area of the coastline has most likely experienced the greatest effect of erosion from waves over hundreds of years?
Area N
Area P
Area S
Area T
Which of the following is NOT evidence to support the Theory of Continental Drift?
fresh water reptile fossils found on salt water coastlines
mountain rock layers the same on multiple continents
evidence of glaciers in tropical areas
sand erosion found along coastal areas
puzzle-like fit of the continents
The presence of the same ________ on several continents supports the idea of continental drift.
plants
animals
fossils and rocks
lakes
rivers and streams
Which of the following was the main reason many scientists refused to believe Wegener’s Theory of Continental Drift?
he didn’t have evidence to back his ideas
they were just plain mean
most geologists at the time thought it was impossible for continents to move
he was a meteorologist
What is seafloor spreading?
continental crust-continental crust banging into each other
rift valleys closing their gaps
one plate subducting under another plate making trenches
convection currents in the mantle pull plates apart that are filled with magma making new rock & forming mid ocean ridges
The San Andreas Fault is a transform fault. The map shows a student's approximation of where the fault line crosses through the United States. Students were asked to make maps predicting which way land would most likely move over thousands of years. Which map best predicts the likely movement of land along the fault line over thousands of years.
A
B
C
D
The diagram shows a model of the movement of two tectonic plates. When the plates collide, one plate often moves below the other plate. The rising magma that can result from this type of plate movement may produce ...
fossil layers.
volcanic islands.
deep-sea sediment.
seafloor spreading.
continental mountains.
A map of tectonic plate boundary interactions and a table describing them are provided.
Which boundary interaction will most likely result in a rift valley?
Boundary Interaction 1
Boundary Interaction 2
Boundary Interaction 3
Boundary Interaction 4
One piece of evidence for Plate Tectonic Theory is seafloor spreading. The diagram provided shows the pattern of rock on either side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The evidence that indicates that plates are moving apart at this location is that, as one looks at the rocks on either side, one sees that ...
rocks are older the farther they are from the center.
there is a thickening of the crust where the sides meet.
rock types on one side are very different from the other.
one rock layer melts as it moves under the other side.
What land form(s) is(are) created when an oceanic plate is subducted beneath a continental plate?
mid-ocean ridge
rift valley
trench and Volcanic Mountains
trench and Volcanic Island Arc
What geologic process formed the Himalayas?
two continental plates converging
an earthquake in a subduction zone
a tectonic plate moving over a hot spot
movement at a transform fault boundary
Which describes the location of star A correctly?
Star A is less bright than the Sun and has a surface temperature above 25,000 K
Star A is brighter than the Sun and has a surface temperature below 25,000 K
Star A is less bright than the Sun and has a surface temperature of above 11,000 K
Star A is brighter than the Sun and has a surface temperature below 11,000 K.
Which of these correctly identifies different objects in the universe according to their size and composition?
A nebula is smaller than a solar system
a solar system contains many stars
a galaxy contains many solar systems
a galaxy is bigger than a universe
Why does our Sun, an average sized star, appear so much brighter than other more massive stars?
The Sun is lit.
The Sun is closer to Earth than other stars.
The Sun is made of different elements.
The Sun is prettier so it shines brighter.
The Sun is larger than other stars.
In relation to us, most galaxies are…
Moving toward us.
Moving away from us.
Not moving.
Moving parallel to us.
Which piece of evidence supports the Big Bang theory?
The more distant galaxies are moving the slowest.
The more distant galaxies are moving the quickest.
The more distant galaxies are moving towards us.
Galaxies and space is not changing.
What type of galaxy do we live in?
Spiral
Elliptical
Irregular
Coaxial
The Sun's position in the Milky Way is ...
near the center of the galaxy.
a little over half way out from the center to the edge of the galaxy.
at the very edge of the galaxy.
just below the galaxy central core of stars.
not located within the galaxy.
Proxima Centauri is the closest star to Earth after the Sun and is located 4.3 light years away from Earth. How long does it take light from Proxima Centauri to reach Earth?
1 year
4.3 years
43 years
10 trillion years
4.3 minutes
What type of galaxy is this?
Spiral
Elliptical
Irregular
Irrational
Square
Which labeled star in this diagram has the lowest luminosity?
A
B
C
D
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram shows how the brightness, surface temperature, and color of stars are related. Which of these observations of Barnard's Star is most likely accurate?
Barnard’s Star is less bright than the sun, has a surface temperature below 3,800 K, and is red.
Barnard’s Star is less bright than the sun, has a surface temperature above 3,800 K, and is red.
Barnard’s Star is brighter than the sun, has a surface temperature below 5,300 K, and is yellow.
Barnard’s Star is brighter than the sun, has a surface temperature above 5,300 K, and is yellow
The universe has many different components. Which list places four components of the universe in the most likely order from smallest to largest?
planets, stars, galaxies, moons
moons, stars, planets, galaxies
galaxies, stars, planets, moons
moons, planets, stars, galaxies
If a star is being observed from Earth and it's light has shifted towards the blue side of the electromagnetic spectrum it would be...
moving towards the Earth.
moving away from the Earth.
a trick question that cannot be answered.
moving at the same speed as Earth.
(6.11B) An object will continue moving in a straight line unless it is acted on by an unbalanced force. Which of the following best explains Earth’s motion?
There is no unbalanced force acting on Earth because space is empty and nothing touches Earth.
The gravitational force pulling Earth toward the sun is equal and opposite to the force pulling the sun toward Earth, so there is no unbalanced force acting on Earth.
The sun moves in an elliptical orbit around Earth, and the sun’s gravity pulls Earth along.
Earth moves in an elliptical orbit around the sun because the gravitational force of the sun attracts Earth.
What is one condition that is necessary for a hurricane to form?
Warm ocean water
A strong cold front
Cold ocean water
A strong warm front
The satellite photograph shows a large meteorite crater that is 1200 m in diameter and 170 m deep. This crater is located in a flat, arid part of northeastern Arizona. How will this crater most likely change over time?
It will get deeper as it fills with water.
It will rise up like a volcanic crater.
It will become less deep as the rim erodes.
It will widen as it fills with lava.
Nothing will happen, it will stay the same always.
(7.8C) What are sources of water pollution?
Precipitation as Acid rain
Runoff water & Groundwater
Industry & Household waste
Plastics water bottles
All of these
(7.8C) The picture shows how runoff from an urban location is routed to the ocean. Pollution in the runoff can damage ocean ecosystems. A likely cause of the runoff is ...
larger amounts of farmland to support more people.
pavement and concrete prevents water from entering the groundwater increasing runoff.
increased rainfall in urban areas.
sediments being deposited in the streams and rivers around urban areas.
A student keeps a record of the phases of the Moon for one month. On the first night of the student’s observations, the full moon is visible in the sky. After the full moon, which of these phases will the student observe next?
waxing crescent moon
waxing gibbous moon
waning crescent moon
waning gibbous moon
(7.8C) A student sets up the investigation shown. The movement of colored water trough the gravel best models ...
condensation of water vapor.
surface runoff of precipitation.
conservation of water.
pollution of groundwater.
Day and night on Earth is caused by -
Earth revolving around the Sun.
Earth rotating on its axis.
the Moon revolving around Earth.
the Moon revolving around the Sun.
the Sun revolving around the Earth and Moon.
Which of the following is an examples of climate?
Today it is hot and sunny in Phoenix, Arizona.
Summers are usually mild in Lansing, Michigan.
Last week it rained every day in San Antonio, TX.
Yesterday was cold and windy in Anchorage, AK.
Before the front passed through Houston, the temperature was 14 ⁰C. Which temperature is a reasonable prediction after the front has passed?
26 ⁰C
14 ⁰C
8 ⁰C
16 ⁰C
All of these are true about the diagram EXCEPT-
seasons are caused by Earth's tilt as it revolves around the Sun.
the season shown in the northern hemisphere is winter.
the season shown for the southern hemisphere is summer.
seasons are caused by rotation of the Earth.
Why are Earth's high tides the highest when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are lined up?
The Moon is blocking the gravity of the Sun.
The gravity of Earth is pulling on the Moon.
The Sun's gravity increases as the Moon is pulled away from Earth.
The Sun's gravity and the Moon's gravity are pulling in the same direction.
When the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun and the US has the most daylight hours, it is...
winter.
spring.
summer .
fall.
What moon phase is seen from Earth when the Moon is in position 3 of this diagram?
waxing crescent
1st quarter
3rd quarter
waning crescent
new moon
based on this diagram, what lunar phase would be next?
waxing gibbous
waning gibbous
full moon
new moon
full moon
On June 3rd there is a full moon. How many days until a 1st quarter moon is seen?
28 days
14 days
7 days
21 days
1 month
When a warm air mass gently slides on top of a cold air mass, and you have drizzly rain and then warmer weather, what type of front is it?
warm front
cold front
occluded front
stationary front
Changes in air pressure can signify changes in weather. Which weather tool measures air pressure?
thermometer
barometer
anemometer
psychrometer
hygrometer
Wind is caused by difference in air pressure. The tool used measures wind speed is the ...
thermometer
barometer
anemometer
psychrometer
wind vane
Severe weather is associated with the tall cumulonimbus clouds. They are often created when a _?_ front arrives.
warm front
cold front
stationary front
occluded front
Which celestial body has the greatest effect on Earth's tides?
Sun
Saturn
Moon
Venus
Earth
What type of tide would this arrangement of the Earth, Moon and Sun create?
full moon tide
new moon tide
neap tide
spring tide
no tide
If tides alternate from high to low and there are two of each type of tide a day, about how many hours on average will there be between each different tide?
2 hours
6 hours
12 hours
24 hours
8 hours
The diagram shows an alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth. In which locations are low tides taking place?
1 and 2
1 and 3
2 and 4
3 and 4
1, 2, 3, & 4
Which is the primary cause of surface winds on Earth?
uneven heating of the Earth and its surface
deflection in prevailing winds caused by the Coriolis effect
rotational speeds of Earth's surface at various latitudes
revolution of the Earth creating changes in temperatures
The climate in cities that are close to a large body of water tends to be ...
cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than inland cities.
cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer than inland cities.
cooler in the winter and the summer than inland cities.
warmer in the winter and the summer than inland cities.
Ocean surface currents are a result of ...
global wind patterns.
Earth's rotation.
variations in ocean density.
variations in ocean salinity.
revolution of Earth.
Ocean currents have an affect on which two things listed below?
climate and weather
temperature and density
land and sea
equator and poles
What causes warm air to rise?
the fact that it's less dense than cold air
The fact that it weighs more than cold air
The fact that it has higher pressure than cold
the fact that its more dense than cold air
When gravity causes warm air to rise which then cools and sinks, it creates _?_ in the atmosphere.
high pressure
convection currents
low pressure
stratospheric pressure
precipitation
What creates the air pressure difference between the equator and the poles?
The length of the seasons
The shape of the Earth
the duration of the solar year
The amount of direct sunlight each area receives
Which of these changes would likely occur if the rate of Earth’s rotation increased?
The length of the seasons would be shorter.
The length of the seasons would be longer.
The length of a day would be shorter.
The length of a day would be longer.
Nothing would happen.
(6.11B) In July 1994 the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided with the planet Jupiter, as scientists had predicted. To be able to accurately predict when a comet will collide with a planet, it is essential to understand —
the composition of a planet’s atmosphere.
the gravitational attraction that exists between all bodies.
the attraction of opposite poles of a magnet to each other.
the formation of comets.
how to make a good guess.
