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WorksheetsEarth Science Benchmark Test
Total questions: 57
Worksheet time: 29mins
Which of the following is not a good observation?
the flowers in my yard are yellow roses
There are 29 students in my class
I know someone got hurt last night because I heard a siren
Which of the following is an inference?
ten students arrived late for class
the friendliest students arrived to class last
the trees outside our classroom are seven twenty feet tall
What is the purpose of including a control in a scientific investigation?
a basis for comparison
a correction for experimental errors
an opportunity for repetition of the experiment
In an experiment, which of the following variables is the one we manipulate?
controlled variable
independent variable
dependent variable
In an experiment, which of the following variables is the one we measure?
controlled
independent
dependent
In an experiment, which of the following variables is the one we keep the same?
controlled
independent
dependent
Which of the following graphs shows a negative feedback result?
How does light from stars support the Big Bang Theory? It shows that
most objects in space are moving away from one another
the universe is collapsing again
the light from objects in space is “blue shifted.”
Which stars have the greatest red shift?
stars closest to Earth where we can see them better
stars nearest the sun where light is more plentiful
stars furthest from Earth with the greatest speed
How does the nebular theory describe the formation of the solar system?
a cloud of spinning dust and gas condensed into the sun and planets
a giant asteroid collision broke off parts that became the planets and sun
chunks of matter from the big bang were blasted into space and formed it
How did the inner planets gain matter?
when heat in their cores expanded them
through the accretion of matter from space
as atoms in the crust underwent nuclear fusion
Galileo went to jail for publishing evidence that supported the sun-centered solar system theory. Why?
scientists have often been sent to jail for new ideas they propose
he did not follow the correct steps to have his work approved
his ideas opposed the cultural and religious practices of his time
Which of the following statements best describes how technology has contributed to our understanding of the solar system?
new technology allows scientists to limit their number of observations
new technology allows scientists to travel to other planets
new technology allows new types of data to be collected more quickly
How does the size of the solar system compare to the Milky Way galaxy?
the solar system is the same size
the solar system is much smaller
the solar system is about one half the size
Which conditions on Earth help to support the biosphere?
molten core, semi-solid mantle layer
liquid water, nutrients, and energy from the sun
rotation at the equator, silica rich crust
What do Earth’s atmosphere and the Earth's distance from the sun combine to create?
moderate temperatures
moving continents
an oxygen rich atmosphere
What are the two sources of Earth’s internal heat energy?
sunlight and radiation from space
radioactive decay and heat of formation
motion and other forms of kinetic energy
Why was Alfred Wegener’s Continental Drift Hypothesis not accepted in his time?
scientists around the world wanted to give him the Nobel Prize
Wegener could not explain the force that caused the continents to move
scientists had evidence that the world was flat
What causes the tectonic plates to move at the surface of the Earth?
conduction in the mantle
convection in the mantle
certification in the outer core
How do seismic waves allow scientists to determine the composition of Earth’s layers?
p and s waves move at different speeds through different materials, showing that the layers are made of different materials
p waves are shortened, showing the layers are liquids
s waves are blocked, showing that the layers are solids
How does continental drift explain the pattern of Mesosaurus fossils? Refer to the diagram.
South America and Africa were once part of the same continent
Mesosaurus were marine animals that could swim the Atlantic Ocean
South American and African animals are all descendants of Mesosaurus
What does the magnetic striping of the sea floor indicate about Earth?
the magnetic pole has switched from north to south poles
the rocks cooling from the magma have changed composition
the seafloor has an uneven surface
Which layer of Earth based on physical characteristics is in the plastic state (not quite liquid, but no quite solid)?
lithosphere
asthenosphere
mesosphere
What kind of evidence do scientists use to locate boundaries of plates and interpret what type of boundary is present?
matching fossil records
similar rock layers
distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes
What will happen to the islands of Hawaii because of the mantle plume underneath the Pacific plate?
the pacific plate will continue to move and a new island will start forming
the mantle plume will move and make a new island
the mantle plume will be destroyed by tectonic plates colliding over it and Hawaii will erode away
Which statement best explains why earthquakes occur more frequently in California than in Utah?
the rock found in California is igneous, but the rock found in Utah is sedimentary
California is located on the boundary of two crustal plates, but Utah is not
the rock under California is soft, but the rock under Utah is not
What happens when an air mass moves rapidly upward?
temperatures fall, water vapor condenses
temperatures rise, water vapor condenses
temperatures fall, water vapor evaporates
How does Earth’s atmosphere trap heat?
by changing it into light energy
by blocking its ability to travel any further
by increasing the motion of certain types of gas particles
Most of the United States lies between 30 and 60 degrees N latitude. What type of winds do we experience?
easterlies
westerlies
southern
Why does the atmosphere circulate around Earth in these patterns?
Earth is heated unevenly by the Sun
molecules are always in motion
the Coriolis Effect creates the wind
What conditions create the most severe thunderstorms?
a heavy rain followed by high winds and hail
a thick cloud formation is blown by high speed winds
a cold, dry air mass comes in contact with warm, moist air
What creates an El Niño condition?
the shape of the coast changes and fish populations decline
storms and other weather events in the Atlantic Ocean create it
the prevailing winds do not blow normally near the Pacific Ocean
What will happen to temperatures in the Providence area in the next day or two? Refer to the map
temperatures will rise
temperatures will fall
temperatures will stay the same
Which type of front is illustrated in this picture?
warm
occlueded
stationary
Which type of front is illustrated in this picture?
occluded
warm
cold
Which type of front is illustrated in this picture?
cold
warm
occluded
Which type of front is illustrated in this picture?
occluded
warm
stationary
What produces Milankovich Cycles, which data shows explain Earth’s ice ages?
sunspots and solar flares on the Sun’s surface
changes in Earth’s orbit and the orientation and wobbling of the poles
gravitational changes based on the position of the Sun and moon
What conclusions have most scientists reached when comparing temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations?
there is no relationship between carbon dioxide and temperatures on Earth
the cooling Earth is creating an increase in carbon dioxide
increasing levels of carbon dioxide are increasing Earth’s temperatures
How can water that was in a wave in the Pacific Ocean arrive in Utah a week later?
it evaporated and air currents carried it
it condensed and a river carried it
it evaporated and air currents carried it
How do plants contribute to the water cycle?
plants store water and release it through transpiration
plants remove water from the air and make it into food
plants are an important source of new water for clouds
Which property of water allows substances spilled on the soil to be carried into underground water supplies? The ability of water to
freeze
remain a liquid
dissolve many substances
Which industry might reduce pH and add heavy metals to stream water?
sewage
forests
mining
Which solution is the most environmentally friendly way to clean the polluted streams?
build a water treatment plant to clean the water
find the source of pollution and require it to stop
add chemicals to the stream to clean out the polluting chemicals
What is the least expensive way for communities to deal with water shortages?
conserve water
clean their dirty water
find more water
How did early volcanoes affect Earth’s atmosphere?
they removed gases
they added gases
they moved it
What were the two sources of water that created Earth’s oceans?
Outgassing by volcanoes, ice from comets
Water from formation, condensation of solar wind
Melting of glacial ice, evaporation from lakes
50 mL of seawater and 50 mL of freshwater are massed on a balance. How will their masses compare?
seawater will have a greater mass
freshwater will have a greater mass
seawater will have a lesser mass
What important function do currents and areas of upwelling provide for living things in the sea?
Recycles the ocean water through evaporation and precipitation
Brings nutrients up from deeper water for use by organisms
Mixes land and sea organisms to broaden the food web
A volcano erupts and spreads ash into the sky. Which question could be answered by a scientist concerning the effects of the volcano on the atmosphere?
How many cubic tons of rock are involved in the eruption?
How has the ash affected the light passing through the air?
Will the eruption happen again anytime soon?
What is meant when Earth’s systems are said to be “dynamic”?
they are slow moving
they cannot be measured
they are constantly changing
How do imaging satellites in space increase our understanding of changes to Earth systems?
they measure the thickness of Earth’s layers
they predict the location of the next earthquake
they provide accurate photographs of vegetation
How did the development of echo sounding radar devices allow oceanographers to learn more about the oceans?
they could count the number of sea mammals
they could measure minerals in seawater anywhere in the sea
they could measure the shape of the sea floor
Why are scientists interested in Earth's feedback loops?
to store and analyze inaccurate data
they show cause and effect relationships within Earth systems
to inform the public about Jupiter's interacting systems
Why are scientists concerned that climate change involves many positive feedback loops?
positive loops are difficult to understand
once the loop starts, it is difficult to stop
a positive loop is better for the environment
How will the development of alternative energy sources affect Earth Systems?
land and air pollution will be reduced
people will have fewer choices of fuels to power their cars
the alternative sources will pollute water and create shortages
The United States enjoys a high standard of living when compared to most other countries of the world. What is one important reason?
the United States is larger than other countries
the United States has an abundance of natural resources
other countries have sent their natural resources to the United States
