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WorksheetsBenchmark 3 Fall 2020
Total questions: 52
Worksheet time: 26mins
The Moon goes through phases as it revolves around Earth. During which phase of the moon would it be possible for a solar eclipse to occur?
new moon
full moon
waning crescent
waxing gibbous
How do metamorphic and igneous rock, exposed in mountains, become sedimentary rock over time?
Water erodes landforms and deposits tiny pieces of rock in oceans.
Volcanoes erupt magma that cools while flowing downward.
Buried rocks melt and are erupted by distant volcanoes as lava.
One tectonic plate is forced below another plate, forming new rock.
The sphinx in Egypt has been eroded by abrasive desert sands.
Which process has most likely helped in breaking down the surface of the Sphinx?
cementation
deposition
faulting
weathering
Which is true of energy resource acquisition?
Renewable resources are mostly acquired above Earth’s surface. Nonrenewable resources are mostly acquired below Earth’s surface.
Nonrenewable resources are mostly acquired above Earth’s surface. Renewable resources are mostly acquired below Earth’s surface.
Both renewable resources and nonrenewable resources are mostly acquired below Earth’s surface.
Both renewable resources and nonrenewable resources are mostly acquired above Earth’s surface.
The engineering team that is designing a scientific research station on the Arctic permafrost has to provide the station with energy for cooking, heating, and lighting. Considering the fragile environment and other conditions there, the best choice is probably to
build a wind turbine.
have fuel trucked in.
have a pipeline built.
build a solar collector.
The stratosphere contains ozonewhich interacts with the ultraviolet radiation that reaches Earth from the Sun. How does the action of ozone in the stratosphere affect Earth?
Ozone is essential for living organisms to breathe.
Ozone maintains the magnetic field around Earth.
Ozone stores heat to be transferred to the surface of Earth.
Ozone removes electromagnetic radiation that is harmful to living things.
The air masses that interact to form hurricanes and cyclones rise and fall due to changes in air density and air pressure. Why do these storms also spin?
Ocean currents drag the air above them in circles.
The Moon’s gravity pulls air currents with the tides.
Low pressure air pushes high pressure air sideways.
Earth’s rotation causes the air to turn as it moves north.
High-pressure systems stop air from rising into the colder regions of the atmosphere where water can condense. What will most likely result if a high-pressure system remains in an area for a long period of time?
fog
rain
drought
tornado
Which of these situations potentially is a result of climate change?
Fewer storms will cause more erosion.
Daylight hours will decrease, causing bears to hibernate longer.
Glaciers will become smaller, causing sea levels to rise.
Increased radioactivity will cause damage to cells of living organisms.
Raising livestock, such as sheep and cattle, results in the production of large amounts of methane gasMethane has the same effect in the atmosphere as carbon dioxideAs more livestock are raised to provide food for humans, what is the most likely effect of the increase in methane?
acid rain
ozone thinning
water pollution
global warming
Sweet potatoes grow best in sandy, well-drained soil. In which North Carolina ecological region would you most likely grow sweet potatoes?
piedmont
tidewater
coastal plain
mountain
The human population is increasing every day. How does this increase in population affect the natural resources that maintain humans?
increases the supply of resources
decreases the amount of resources
results in less demand for resources
improves the quality of the resources
Biologists have discovered that the beluga whales of Canada’s St. Lawrence River have the highest rates of cancer among animals. What is most likely the reason for this high incidence of cancer in these whales?
chemical and pollutant runoff into the ocean
average temperatures increased in the region
depletion of natural prey from the ecosystem
increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
One biome includes bearberry, a short plant with small, waxy leaves, shallow roots, and flowers that bloom quickly in the short growing season. Another biome includes tall grasses that can survive fires due to roots that extend 6 to 7 meters deep during the long growing season. What is most likely true about the two biomes?
They have the same temperature range but different rainfall ranges.
They have the same temperature range and the same rainfall range.
They are at different latitudes but have the same temperature range.
They are at different latitudes and have different temperature ranges.
In some lakes, excessive blooms of algae appear when human activity causes degradation of water quality resulting in conditions more favorable for algae growth. Which human activity primarily causes this problem?
mining
farming
transportation
manufacturing
The length of time between night and day on Earth varies throughout the year. This time variance is explained primarily by
the position of the Sun.
the position of the Moon.
Earth’s angle of tilt
Earth’s distance from the Sun
The Sun and other stars are powered by nuclear fusion. Which of these statements correctly describes one of the processes that occur during nuclear fusion in stars?
Four hydrogen nuclei combine to become a helium nucleus, absorbing energy.
Four helium nuclei combine to become a hydrogen nucleus, releasing energy.
Four hydrogen nuclei combine to become a helium nucleus, releasing energy.
Four helium nuclei combine to become a hydrogen nucleus, absorbing energy.
What is the primary means through which the Sun warms Earth?
fluctuation of subatomic particles
fluctuation of gravitational fields
transfer of energy through conduction
transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
A direct alignment of bodies in the solar system can occur.
This alignment causes which phenomenon at Point X on Earth?
low tides
full moon
solar eclipse
winter season
This diagram illustrates structures at and beneath Earth’s surface.
Which process formed the layers of sediments shown in the diagram?
subsurface volcanic activity
deposition of eroded material
crust folding and faulting
crystallization of magma
The weathering of landforms depends on various factors. Which area would MOST likely have the fastest rate of chemical weathering?
freezing and dry regions
warm and moist regions
cool and humid regions
hot and dry regions
Chemical weathering occurs when minerals in rocks are changed chemically. Which of these will MOST likely change the rate of chemical weathering on a rock?
decrease in air temperature
increase in rainfall amounts
slow movement of a glacier
rapid growth of plant roots
Which statement BEST describes how El Niño affects precipitation in the southwestern United States?
Cool air temperatures decrease convection, thereby increasing rainfall.
Warm air temperatures alter the jet stream, thereby decreasing rainfall.
Cool ocean surface temperatures alter the jet stream, thereby decreasing rainfall.
Warm ocean surface temperatures increase convection, thereby increasing rainfall.
The Gulf Steam current travels from the equator toward Europe.
If the Gulf Stream stopped flowing, which environmental change would MOST likely occur?
More reefs would develop in the waters near the eastern Greenland coastline.
Water temperatures in the Northern Atlantic Ocean would be much hotter.
Land masses in the Northern Atlantic Ocean would have colder climates.
Most of Europe would be flooded because of rising sea levels.
How does the warm air over the ocean contribute to the formation of hurricanes?
Storms which form along the equator travel to cooler ocean waters.
Air and water from the ocean spin to Earth’s rotation and create a spiral effect.
Heat and evaporating water from the ocean surface provide energy for hurricanes.
Ocean waters create high air pressure that builds upward with surrounding cool air.
Solar radiation provides more heat near the equator than near the poles on Earth. The greatest amount of heat is moved away from the equator by
ocean currents.
aquatic plants.
surface winds.
tectonic plates.
The diagram below shows a cross section of land. Numbers show four zones in this diagram.
Which set of labels below accurately identifies the zones that are shown?
1—groundwater zone; 2—unsaturated zone; 3—water table; 4—surface water
1—unsaturated zone; 2—surface water; 3—groundwater zone; 4—water table
1—water table; 2—surface water; 3—groundwater zone; 4—unsaturated zone
1—unsaturated zone; 2—groundwater zone; 3—water table; 4—surface water
The diagram shows different processes that occur during the water cycle.
Which label identifies the process of infiltration?
Label 1
Label 2
Label 3
Label 4
Which is the best way to conserve worldwide freshwater resources?
build more roads and highways for cars and trucks
increase the amount of land used to raise cattle
develop more modern coal-powered plants
use more efficient irrigation techniques
Which is the most common contamination source for freshwater resources?
runoff
digging wells
melting of glaciers
lightning
Certain lakes in the northeastern part of the United States have had decreases in pH levels, causing the deaths of many fish. What is the MOST likely reason for this change in pH levels?
nuclear power plants
coal-burning factories
noncommercial farms
hydroelectric power plants
Which human activity has contributed to the formation of the hole in the ozone layer?
burning of high-sulfur coal
use of chlorofluorocarbons
production of lead batteries
destruction of rain forests
Which of these air pollutants can react with chemicals in the atmosphere and cause acid rain?
carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4)
sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Nonnative flathead catfish that prey on smaller fish were accidentally introduced into the Yadkin River in North Carolina. What is the MOST likely effect these catfish could have on the ecology of the Yadkin River?
They could increase pollution in the water.
They could damage streambeds and shoreline.
They could decrease water flow in the river.
They could reduce native fish populations.
A student writes the following statement in a journal: “It was 84°F at 3 p.m. on Tuesday in the schoolyard.” This statement BEST describes which system?
local weather
local climate
regional weather
regional climate
A rain gauge measures the amount of rainfall at one location over a short time period. How can a rain gauge be MOST effectively used to provide a partial description of climate?
by making a single, very accurate observation
by making many observations over many years
by determining how much rain it takes to fill the rain gauge
by determining the average amount of rain per rainstorm
Which best describes how energy from the sun helps to maintain life on Earth?
It heats Earth’s atmosphere and surface, which helps stabilize temperatures on Earth and creates environments more favorable for life to exist.
It forms the ocean’s water and the oxygen in the atmosphere that organisms need for life functions.
It prevents the destruction of the magnetic field around Earth that protects all life forms.
It is absorbed by Earth’s mantle, which drives plate tectonics to form new land masses for organisms to live.
Which of these statements best explains the shape of Earth?
Because of its rotation about its axis, Earth has a greater circumference around the equator than around the Prime Meridian.
Because of its revolution around the sun, Earth has a greater circumference around the equator than around the Prime Meridian.
Because of its rotation about its axis, Earth has a greater circumference around the Prime Meridian than around the equator.
Because of its revolution around the sun, Earth has a greater circumference around the Prime Meridian than around the equator.
Some scientists have predicted that buildup of greenhouse gases will contribute to the occurrence of more hurricanes. Which is the MOST likely assumption used in making this prediction?
Acid rainfall will cause a decrease in oceanic surface temperatures.
Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will cause increased ocean surface temperatures.
Any measurable increase in ocean surface temperatures must be caused by human activities.
Saturation of nitrogen in the atmosphere will cause a wide range of ocean surface temperatures.
Which interaction of a biotic and an abiotic factor can help stabilize a forest area in North Carolina?
increased precipitation, reducing soil erosion in the area
increased decaying organic material, adding nutrients to soil in the area
decreased water salinity, reducing biodiversity of animals in the area
decreased number of predators, allowing the number of prey to increase in the area
How could a global decrease in plant diversity affect the biosphere?
It could cause an increase in the amount of oxygen gas available for plants and animals.
It could cause an increase in animal diversity in the biosphere.
It could cause a decrease in animal populations in the biosphere.
It could cause a decrease in the amount of water available for plants and animals.
Which best describes how energy from the sun helps to maintain life on Earth?
It heats Earth’s atmosphere and surface, which helps stabilize temperatures on Earth and creates environments more favorable for life to exist.
It forms the ocean’s water and the oxygen in the atmosphere that organisms need for life functions.
It prevents the destruction of the magnetic field around Earth that protects all life forms.
It is absorbed by Earth’s mantle, which drives plate tectonics to form new land masses for organisms to live.
What is most likely to occur when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned in a relatively straight line?
a decrease in global wind patterns
an increase in temperature near the equator
more earthquakes near the equator and fewer at the poles
a larger-than-normal height difference between low tide and high tide
Some constellations are more prominent in the night sky of North Carolina in winter, while other constellations are more prominent in the night sky in summer. Which best explains why this occurs?
because of Earth’s rotation on its axis
because of Earth’s rotation on its axis
because of Earth revolving around the sun
because of the change in the barycenter of Earth
What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
the total number of organisms alive at the same time in an ecosystem
the minimum number of individuals needed to have balance in an ecosystem
the total number of individuals, living and dead, that have been supported by an ecosystem
the maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem can support without harming the ecosystem
Two farmers decide to plant fewer types of corn in their fields. How will changing the biodiversity of the corn crop affect the fields?
Predator species that eat corn will lose their food source.
Planting fewer types of corn will add more nutrients to the soil.
The introduction of invasive plant pathogens will increase the crop yield.
Planting fewer types of corn will make the corn more vulnerable to plant pathogens.
Which would be the best way to reduce the environmental impact of conventional agricultural practices?
increase pesticide use
decrease crop rotation
decrease fertilizer usage
increase use of nonnative species
What would most likely happen if coastal North Carolina increased implementation of wind energy?
Investment costs to taxpayers would decrease.
The production of greenhouse gases would decrease.
Turbines could be built in highly populated areas because of low noise pollution.
The energy output would be consistent because wind patterns are always predictable.
Which could increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
planting trees in areas that have been deforested
reducing the use of gasoline-powered vehicles
burning coal to produce electricity
creating wind farms in desert areas
The graph below shows the population growth in an area.
Which of these could cause this population to stop increasing and stabilize?
increasing ratio of space to individuals in the population
decreasing ratio of food to individuals in the population
increasing ratio of offspring to parents in the population
decreasing ratio of predators to prey in the population
Weather stations built in urban areas can be influenced by the human-made structures that surround these stations. Some of these weather stations used to determine mean temperatures in the United States have had the validity of the data questioned. Which human-produced effect could these urban weather stations be measuring?
heat island
rain shadow
land breeze
cold front
Which action will most likely cause a negative impact on the biodiversity of a small region?
planting native species in a bare field to attract wildlife
draining a wetland for the development of a new park
reducing the amount of pesticides and fertilizers used
having a controlled burn to remove undergrowth of a forest
