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Earth Science Benchmark Review

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Hubble's research showed that the observable universe is

a)

contracting

b)

cyclical

c)

expanding

d)

stationary

2.

Which of the following terms is used to indicate the average distance between the Sun and Earth?

a)

parsec

b)

newton

c)

light-year

d)

astronomical unit

3.

Which of the following is NOT true of all the inner planets?

a)

made of solid rock

b)

called gas giants

c)

do not have rings

d)

have impact craters

4.

What causes one body to orbit another in space?

a)

A body's inertia attracts other bodies with the same inertia

b)

A body's inertia is balanced by another body's pull of gravity

c)

A body's gravity is overpowered by the inertia of another body

d)

A body will orbit another body when their gravities are equal

5.

Which statement best explains a way that the force of gravity can be increased or decreased?

a)

A decrease in distance leads to an increase in the force of gravity.

b)

An increase in distance leads to an increase in the force of gravity.

c)

A decrease in mass leads to an increase in the force of gravity

d)

An increase in mass leads to a decrease in the force of gravity.

6.

Which of these would be best to use to model the Moon's phase changes?

a)

two different sized foam balls to represent Earth and the Moon and a light source to represent the Sun

b)

a flashlight for the Moon and a foam ball for Earth

c)

a photograph of the Moon

d)

glowing star stickers placed against a black background

7.

What is true about the Moon as it changes phases?

a)

The view of the Moon from Earth changes as the Moon orbits Earth

b)

The view of the Sun from Earth changes depending on the Moon's location

c)

The Moon changes shape as it comes closer to and farther from the hot Sun

d)

The Moon changes shape as it moves closer to and farther from Earth's oceans.

8.

Which of the following occurs when one planetary body passes through the shadow of another?

a)

eclipse

b)

umbra

c)

flare

d)

orbit

9.

Brian and his parents are planning a trip to Australia in June. He needs help packing his suitcase because he does not know what the climate is like in the Southern Hemisphere during that time.What type of clothing should Brian pack in his suitcase?

a)

He should pack warm clothes because the Southern Hemisphere will be hot during its summer

b)

He should pack warm clothes because the Southern Hemisphere will be cold during its winter

c)

He should pack light clothes because the Southern Hemisphere will be hot during its summer

d)

He should pack light clothes because the Southern Hemisphere will be cold during its winter.

10.

Why is it cold outside in the winter in the Northern Hemisphere?

a)

fewer weather fronts in the winter

b)

fewer clouds in the winter

c)

sunlight strikes the Northern Hemisphere less directly in the winter

d)

Earth's Northern Hemisphere is closer to the Sun in the winter

11.

Which of the following combines with Earth's rotation to create ocean tides?

a)

the Moon's electromagnetic attraction to water

b)

Earth's electromagnetic attraction to water

c)

the Sun and Moon's gravitational pull on water

d)

the North and South Pole's gravitational pull on water

12.

Which of these experiments would best replicate the big bang theory?

a)

dropping fragments of metal into a magnetized box

b)

turning on an underwater speaker in a water tank

c)

exploding a tightly packed substance inside a vacuum

d)

shaking sand particles in a mixture of oil and water

13.

Which description best defines the geocentric model?

a)

a model of the solar system in which the Sun, Moon, and other planets revolve around Earth

b)

a model of the solar system in which Earth, Moon, and other planets revolve around the Sun

c)

a model of the solar system in which the Sun, Moon, and all of the planets rotate but do not revolve

d)

a model of the solar system in which the Sun, Moon, and all of the planets revolve around a central axis

14.

As well as describing what is at the center of the Earth's solar system, what did the heliocentric and geocentric theories explain?

a)

the changing temperature of the solar system

b)

how different parts of the solar system orbit

c)

the age of the solar system

d)

of what each planet is made

15.

Which of the following contains billions of galaxies?

a)

star

b)

nebula

c)

universe

d)

solar system

16.

Which of the following is NOT an inner planet?

a)

Earth

b)

Mercury

c)

Neptune

d)

Venus

17.

What force plays the largest role in a planets orbit?

a)

gravitational force from the Sun

b)

Gravitational force from another planet

c)

friction from dust

18.

Which of the following is another name for meteors?

a)

comets

b)

shooting stars

c)

meteorites

d)

space fireballs

19.

Debris from space sometimes enters Earth's atmosphere. What type of showers are formed when the debris burns up in Earth's atmosphere?

a)

rain showers

b)

star showers

c)

comet showers

d)

meteor showers

20.

Approximately how many days does it take the Moon to revolve around Earth?

a)

27.3

b)

29.5

c)

30.1

d)

35.6

21.

What is the term for the inner, darker, coneshaped area of an eclipse's shadow?

a)

diamond- ring effect

b)

umbra

c)

pennumbra

d)

riles

22.

Every year, the Moon's average distance from Earth increases by about 3.8 centimeters. When the Moon comes to be a much greater distance from Earth, Earth's oceans will experience

a)

less extreme tides than they do today.

b)

more extreme tides than they do today

c)

tides that are similar as those found today

d)

tides that are not even noticeable

23.

About how long does it take the moon to complete one cycle of phases

a)

a day

b)

a month

c)

a year

d)

a week

24.

What conditions would produce an eclipse of the moon

a)

the moon is in the same plane as the sun and Earth

b)

the moon is below the plane of the sun and Earth

c)

the moon is far above the plane of the sun and Earth

d)

the moon is on the opposite side of the sun

25.

On the first day of which season, or seasons, in the Northern Hemisphere is Earth neither tilted toward or away from the sun

a)

winter and spring

b)

spring and autumn

c)

summer and fall

d)

winter and summer

26.

Which one of the following statements about eclipses is true?

a)

An eclipse may last as long as five days.

b)

An eclipse will always occur during a meteor shower

c)

During a lunar eclipse the moon passes between Earth and the sun.

d)

During a solar eclipse the moon passes between Earth and the sun.

27.

The Moon has the greatest effect on Earth’s

a)

year

b)

season

c)

ocean tides

d)

daylight hours

28.

Earth makes one full rotation on its axis approximately every 24 hours. Suppose Earth’s period of rotation increased to 28 hours. Which of the following changes would occur?

a)

there would be fewer days in a week

b)

the length of daylight and nighttime would increase

c)

Earth's distance from the sun would decrease

d)

it would take the Earth longer to revolve around the sun.

29.

Andrea looked into the clear night sky and expected to see a full moon, but the moon’s reflected light was completely blocked because it had passed through the shadow of the Earth. What did she see?

a)

partial solar eclipse

b)

total solar eclipse

c)

partial lunar eclipse

d)

total lunar eclipse

30.

When is your Benchmark for Science?

a)

Monday

b)

Tuesday

c)

Wednesday

d)

Wait, we have a Benchmark in here?