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Earth Science

Total questions: 140

Worksheet time: 2hrs 45mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The Hawaiian Islands were formed as a result of _____________.

a)

deposition

b)

glaciers

c)

hurricanes

d)

volcanic activity

2.

Certain land features form where plates meet. Which land feature forms where two continental plates collide?

a)

glaciers

b)

oceans

c)

mountains

d)

trenches

3.

How does a volcano cause a constructive change to the Earth's surface?

a)

It floods the land.

b)

It adds new land.

c)

It takes land away.

d)

It breaks apart land.

4.

Which of these most likely caused the landform shown below?

a)

rock slide

b)

rain storm

c)

strong winds

d)

glacial movement

5.

The Grand Canyon was formed as the result of _______________.

a)

erosion

b)

a glacier

c)

a volcano

d)

an earthquake

6.

The breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by natural processes is called _________.

a)

deposition

b)

fossilization

c)

sediment

d)

weathering

7.

The technology of a seismograph is helpful to humans because it ________.

a)

determines the height of tidal waves

b)

records historical temperature extremes

c)

identifies locations with poor soil

d)

helps detect and measure earthquakes

8.

A student argues that a destructive force can change the surface of Earth. Which of the following could be used to support this claim?

a)

A new island forms in the ocean.

b)

A plain becomes a deep canyon due to erosion.

c)

A sand dune forms on the beach.

d)

A mountain grows taller over thousands of years.

9.

A seawall constructed along a length of oceanfront property can assist a coastal city by _______________________.

a)

keeping water temperatures down.

b)

providing a road for cars.

c)

preventing animals from migrating.

d)

slowing erosion of beach sand.

10.

In a drought, farmers often have problems with their topsoil blowing away when it gets really dry. What could farmers do to keep the lightweight, dry soil from blowing away or eroding?

a)

Plant the seeds farther apart.

b)

Surround the fields with natural barriers, such as trees to block the wind.

c)

Keep cows in the field.

11.

What is a renewable resource?

a)

A resource that can be replaced or recycled.

b)

A resource that will not run out.

c)

A resource that cannot be replaced at all, or cannot be replaced as fast as people use it.

12.

You are planning to buy a home along a river. You want to make sure that your home is safe from flooding and erosion. Which home should you buy?

a)

A house on land that is level with the river with lots of pretty flowers.

b)

A house on rocky, gently sloping land away from the river.

c)

A house at the top of a steep cliff that is made of sandy soil.

13.

What is a non-renewable resource?

a)

A resource that can be replaced or recycled.

b)

A resource that will not run out.

c)

A resource that cannot be replaced at all, or cannot be replaced as fast as people use it.

14.

What is an inexhaustible resource?

a)

A resource that can be replaced or recycled.

b)

A resource that will not run out.

c)

A resource that cannot be replaced at all, or cannot be replaced as fast as people use it.

15.

After a very heavy rain, a large amount of Earth breaks loose on a hillside. Which of Earth's processes caused this?

a)

glacier movement

b)

weathering

c)

land mass motion

d)

volcanic eruptions

16.

In the rock cycle, what causes igneous rock to form?

a)

heat and pressure

b)

weathering and erosion

c)

tectonic plates

d)

the cooling of magma

17.

in the rock cycle, what causes sedimentary rock to form?

a)

compaction and cementation

b)

melting

c)

heat and pressure

d)

red, hot magma

18.

In the rock cycle, what causes metamorphic rock to form?

a)

red, hot magma

b)

heat and pressure

c)

erosion

d)

wind

19.

Stalagmites are structures that form on the floor of some caves. Most scientists explain this by saying that stalagmites form when minerals dissolved in water are left behind where water drips. Which evidence would support this explanation?

a)

Freezing water turns it into a solid.

b)

Water found in caves has minerals in it.

c)

Some stalagmites are taller than others.

d)

Many caves are found deep underground.

20.

What is the breakdown of the Earth’s crust into sediment called?

a)

Weathering

b)

Raining

c)

Erosion

d)

Whooshing

21.

What do flood plains, sandbars, and river deltas in common?

a)

They are formed by water erosion.

b)

They have been formed by glacial erosion.

c)

They have been formed by wind erosion.

d)

They have been formed by sandblasting.

22.

What type of erosion formed the Grand Canyon?

a)

Wind

b)

Water

c)

Sandblasting

d)

Glacial

23.

How might a weathered mountain appear different from an unweathered mountain?

a)

The weathered mountain might be taller.

b)

The weathered mountain would appear rounder.

c)

The weathered mountain would be more jagged

d)

Weathered mountain would contain less trees.

24.

What are the two types of Destructive forces?

a)

Weathering / Warming

b)

Weathering / Erosion

c)

Weathering / Water

d)

Weathering / Climate

25.

What is the difference in air pressure at the peak of a mountain versus the base of the mountain?

a)

Air pressure is greater at the base of the mountain.

b)

The Air pressure depends on the weather.

c)

Air pressure is lower at the base of the mountain.

26.

What step in the water cycle occurs when a water turns into water vapor?

a)

condensation

b)

precipitation

c)

evaporation

27.

What tool do scientists use to study wind speeds inside a thunderstorm to learn about a tornado?

a)

Fujita Scale

b)

Doppler Radar

c)

Space Satellites

28.

Choose the correct definition and example of a fossil fuel.

a)

a rock rich in minerals that can be removed from Earth. Ex. metal

b)

cell that changes energy from the Sun into electrical energy. Ex. solar panels

c)

items made from organisms that lived long ago. Ex. coal

29.

Chemical weathering...

a)

is when rock is broken into smaller pieces, and the material that makes up the rock or soil also changes.

b)

is when only the size of the rocks is changed.

c)

is when nothing changes.

30.

Which of Earth's system is made of all the liquid, water, and snow?

a)

Biosphere

b)

Geosphere

c)

Hydrosphere

d)

Atmosphere

31.

The geosphere is made up of

a)

solid and liquid rocks

b)

soil

c)

all living things

d)

sediment

e)

all water, snow, and ice

32.

The _______________ includes all living and formerly alive organisms, including humans.

a)

Biosphere

b)

Hydrosphere

c)

Geosphere

d)

Atmosphere

33.

The atmosphere is made up of all the...

a)

water

b)

rocks and soil

c)

living things

d)

gases

34.

Check all that apply:

The biosphere and the geosphere interact by...

a)

Water eroding a canyon

b)

Plants growing in soil

c)

Wind eroding a rock

d)

Volcano erupting and covering plants and animals

e)

Trees roots cracking and breaking down rocks

35.

When water is warmed it evaporates and then cooled and condenses, it then will eventually...

a)

evaporate into space.

b)

become a cloud.

c)

melt.

d)

fall as precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, hail).

36.

Most earthquakes tend to occur at which location?

a)

The central regions of very large continents

b)

Groups of islands farthest from any continents

c)

The boundaries between continents and oceans

d)

The steep slopes of the very oldest mountains

37.

The Ring of Fire is an area where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. What claim can be made about the Ring of Fire from this information?

a)

It is the only place on Earth where earthquakes can happen.

b)

The edges of the tectonic plates are moving in this area.

c)

It represents the areas where tectonic plates are the thickest.

d)

It has been getting larger since Earth first formed.

38.

Peru and Chile are part of South America, which sits on the South American tectonic plate. The Nazca plate is moving toward the South American plate. It is pushed downward, which causes it to slide under the South American plate. Based on this information, what feature could we expect to see off the coast of Peru and Chile?

a)

new Continent formation

b)

Poor fishing conditions

c)

Deep ocean trench

d)

Severe tropical storms

39.

A force caused the continents to drift apart over time. Once scientists figured out what that force was, the theory of plate tectonics was born! The image above shows what Geologists think the Earth looked like millions of years ago. What name was given to this land mass.

a)

Plate Tectonics

b)

Oceana

c)

Pangea

d)

North America

40.

Huge pieces of lithosphere that slowly move on the asthenosphere and consist of the crust and the rigid, uppermost part of the mantle

a)

tectonic plates

b)

North American Plate

c)

Eurasian Plate

d)

African Plate

41.

the place where two different plates have contact.

a)

Pacific Plate

b)

Mountains

c)

Earthquakes

d)

Plate Boundaries

42.

Occurs when two tectonic plates move toward each other and collide

a)

convergent boundary

b)

subduction

c)

volcanic eruptions

d)

divergent boundary

43.

the process in which a denser plate is pushed downward beneath a less dense plate when plates converge; occurs at continental to oceanic boundaries and oceanic to oceanic boundaries

a)

divergent boundaries

b)

volcanic eruptions

c)

subduction

d)

convergent boundary

44.

Occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other.

a)

Divergent Boundary

b)

Convergent Boundary

c)

Volcanic eruptions

d)

Mountain building

45.

Ridges formed from new crustal material at diverging oceanic plate boundaries

a)

Ocean Basin

b)

earthquakes

c)

spreading ridges

d)

transform boundary

46.

Occurs when two tectonic plates slide past each other

a)

Transform Boundary

b)

Ocean Basin

c)

Divergent Boundary

d)

Spreading ridges

47.
Oceanic crust is.....
a)
Younger and less dense than continental crust
b)
Thinner, younger, and more dense than continental crust
c)
older, thicker, and less dense than continental crust
d)
Bigger and younger than continental crust
48.
This is the theory that states that all the continents started as a single massive continent and have been MOVING apart for over 200 million years and the man that proposed it.
a)
The Big Bang Theory, Einstein
b)
The Pangea Theory, Hutton
c)
The Tectonic Plate Theory, Darwin
d)
The Continental Drift Theory, Wegner
49.
Which is older oceanic or continental crust?
a)
Oceanic
b)
Continental
50.
In which layer of the atmosphere do we live and weather occurs?
a)
stratosphere
b)
thermosphere
c)
mesosphere
d)
troposphere
51.
Where is the ozone layer, which absorbs UV radiation, located in our atmosphere?
a)
stratosphere
b)
thermosphere
c)
mesosphere
d)
troposphere
52.
Which layer of our atmosphere has no outer limits? (Hint: where satellites are located)
a)
ionosphere
b)
stratosphere
c)
thermosphere
d)
exosphere
53.

Where would there be more pressure?

a)

on top of a roof of a tall building

b)

sitting in this classroom

c)

on top of a mountian

d)

sitting in the top row of a stadium

54.

In which layer of the atmosphere is the most water vapor found?

a)

thermosphere

b)

mesosphere

c)

troposphere

d)

stratosphere

55.
The coldest layer.
a)
troposphere
b)
thermosphere
c)
exosphere
d)
mesosphere
56.
The hottest layer.
a)
troposphere
b)
thermosphere
c)
exosphere
d)
mesosphere
57.
What enables atmosphere of earth to stay in place?
a)
gravity
b)
air pressure
c)
types of air molecules
d)
clouds
58.
What is the function of the ozone layer?
a)
to allow UV rays to get to Earth
b)
to block UV rays from getting to Earth
c)
To keep oxygen in
d)
to allow meteors to get to Earth
59.
What happens to the density (thickness)/ air pressure of the air as you increase in altitude?
a)
density increases
b)
density decreases
c)
density stays the same
d)
density disappears
60.

What layer houses the International Space Station

a)

Exosphere

b)

Mesosphere

c)

Thermosphere

d)

Troposphere

61.

The prefix "Bio" means ____

a)

Life

b)

Earth

c)

Water

d)

Air

62.

The prefix "Geo" means ____

a)

earth, ground and soil

b)

water

c)

life

d)

air

63.

The prefix "Hydro" means ____

a)

ground

b)

water

c)

life

d)

air

64.

The prefix "Atmo" means ____

a)

ground

b)

water

c)

life

d)

air

65.

A measure of how much matter an object has is--

a)

weight

b)

gravity

c)

mass

d)

volume

66.
What is the definition of "weight"?
a)
measure of the force of gravity on your body
b)
the time it takes to get on a ride 
c)
the amount of matter in an object
d)
the size of an object
67.

On which celestial object (outer space) would your mass be the greatest?

a)

Earth

b)

Jupiter

c)

Sun

d)

Your mass doesn't change on different celestial objects

68.
On which celestial object would you weigh the most?
a)
Earth
b)
Jupiter
c)
Sun
d)
You would weigh the same on all celestial objects
69.

Why do all of the planets orbit the sun rather than Earth?

a)

the sun has more mass

b)

the sun is a star

c)

the Earth is heavier

d)

the sun is in the middle of the milky way

70.
As an object's mass increases, its gravitational pull will ____________.
a)
decrease
b)
increase
c)
stay the same
d)
get weaker
71.
Why would you weigh less on the moon compared to Earth?
a)
less air
b)
less sunlight
c)
more gravitational pull
d)
less gravitational pull
72.
As distance between two objects increase the pull of gravity 
a)
Increases
b)
Decreases
c)
Stays the same
73.
Which of the following never changes no matter where in the universe?
a)
weight
b)
force
c)
mass
d)
pounds
74.

The gravitational force between Earth and the Sun causes ______.

a)

Earth to orbit the Moon

b)

Earth to orbit the Sun

c)

Earth's atmosphere

d)

the Moon to orbit Earth

75.

Differences in the moon's and sun's pull on different sides of the Earth cause _________.

a)

gravity

b)

thunderstorms

c)

tides

d)

Earth's orbit

76.
The Earth's axis is tilted _____ degrees.
a)
23.5
b)
25.3
c)
30.2
d)
24
77.
At position A, which hemisphere would have summer?
a)
Northern hemisphere
b)
Southern hemisphere
c)
Neither hemisphere
78.
What do June 21 and December 21 have in common?
a)
equinox dates
b)
the moon is full
c)
solstice dates
d)
the cold fronts blow in
79.
What is Earth's annual motion around the sun called?
a)
Rotation
b)
Revolution
80.
One rotation of Earth is equal to
a)
a day.
b)
a year.
c)
a month. 
81.
What would seasons be like if Earth's axis were straight up and down?
a)
Seasons would be the same.
b)
Seasons would be more extreme.
c)
There would be no seasons.
d)
Seasons would vary. 
82.
If Earth rotated slower, we would have...
a)
shorter days.
b)
longer days.
c)
shorter years.
d)
longer years.
83.
The Northern Hemisphere gets __________ sunlight in the winter, which leads to _________ temperatures.
a)
less direct, hotter
b)
less direct, colder
c)
more direct, hotter
d)
more direct, colder
84.
The Earth's _______ is an imaginary line that goes from the North Pole to the South Pole.
a)
vernal equinox
b)
axis
c)
solar eclipse
d)
solar flare
85.

The weather patterns for a given region over time

a)

weather

b)

climate

c)

waves

d)

global warming

86.

The salt content of a substance

a)

density

b)

temperature

c)

convection

d)

salinity

87.

The circulation of hot and cold fluids (liquids and gases)

a)

convection

b)

radiation

c)

density

d)

temperature

88.

The average kinetic energy of the particles in a sample

a)

heat

b)

temperature

c)

convection

d)

density

89.

What is the Coriolis effect?

a)

heat transfer caused by the rising of hotter, less dense fluids and the falling of cooler, more dense fluids.

b)

A punk rock band.

c)

the apparent deflection of moving air as a result of Earth's rotation.

d)

The amount of matter in a given volume.

90.

Surface Ocean currents are primarily caused by

a)

temperature and salinity

b)

wind

c)

convection

d)

continental drift

91.

Deep Ocean currents are primarily caused by

a)

temperature and salinity

b)

wind

c)

gravity

d)

precipitation

92.

If a material is less dense then water, it will

a)

sink

b)

float

c)

be neutrally buoyant

d)

freeze

93.

What is latitude?

a)

A measure of the distance away from the prime meridian.

b)

A measure of how warm a climate is.

c)

A measure of an angle in Math class.

d)

A measure of the distance away from the equator.

94.
Due to the Coriolis Effect, water in the northern hemisphere moves
a)
clockwise
b)
counter clockwise
c)
both
d)
neither
95.
Due to the Coriolis Effect, water in the southern hemisphere moves
a)
clockwise
b)
counter-clockwise
c)
both
d)
neither
96.

As plants and animals in the ocean die, the nutrients produced from their decay _____.

a)

are recycled by the Global Conveyor Belt

b)

sink to the bottom

c)

are destroyed by sunlight

d)

become coral reefs

97.

Nutrients are brought to the surface for phytoplankton to use at _______.

a)

gyres

b)

eddies

c)

upwellings

d)

the equator

98.

Nutrients are brought to the surface for phytoplankton to use at _______.

a)

gyres

b)

eddies

c)

upwellings

d)

the equator

99.
The large, circular surface-current pattern found in each ocean.
a)
California Current
b)
Surface Current
c)
Gyre
d)
Global Conveyor Belt
100.

Winds occur because hot air rises and cool air sinks in a process called...

a)

conduction

b)

convection

c)

radiation

d)

magnetism

101.

Winds that blow from 300 latitude to the equator are called...

a)

westerlies

b)

polar easterlies

c)

trade winds

d)

horse latitudes

102.

The rotation of the Earth causes winds to bend due to the...

a)

coriolis effect

b)

doldrums

c)

trade winds

d)

westerlies

103.

Winds that blow from 300 latitude to 600 latitude are called...

a)

polar easterlies

b)

westerlies

c)

trade winds

d)

doldrums

104.

Winds that blow from the North and South pole toward 600 latitude are called...

a)

trade winds

b)

westerlies

c)

polar easterlies

d)

horse latitudes

105.

In general, how does air move?

a)

From areas of lower pressure to areas of higher pressure

b)

From areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure

c)

From areas of hot to cold

d)

A big fan blows it around

106.

What causes wind?

a)

Too much Taco Bell

b)

Differences in elevation

c)

The uneven heating of the Earth by the sun

d)

Ocean currents

107.

_________ is the transfer of heat by direct contact. Warm air is less dense, so it rises above cold air.

a)

Conduction

b)

Convection

c)

Radiation

108.

_______ is the transfer of heat by gas or liquid. Cool air is more dense and pushes warm air above it.

a)

Conduction

b)

Convection

c)

Radiation

109.

_______ is transfer of energy through empty space

a)

Conduction

b)

Convection

c)

Radiation

110.

Where does the initial source of energy come from that creates winds?

a)

the moon

b)

the sun

c)

the rotation of the Earth

111.

Why does warm air rise?

a)

Warm air is more dense than cooler air.

b)

Warm air is less dense than cooler air.

c)

Warm air has more pressure than cooler air.

d)

Warm air has a higher dew point than cooler air.

112.
What causes wind?
a)
movement of high pressure to low pressure
b)
movement of low pressure to high pressure
113.
What is the instrument called that measures air pressure?
a)
thermometer
b)
ruler
c)
yard stick
d)
barometer
114.
Which of the following are narrow belts of strong winds found in the upper troposphere?
a)
doldrums
b)
westerlies
c)
trade winds
d)
jet streams
115.

What is weather?

a)

The amount of moisture in the air

b)

The number of clouds in the sky

c)

The speed of the wind

d)

The state of the atmosphere at any particular time.

116.

What is the difference between absolute humidity and relative humidity?

a)

Absolute humidity represents how much water the air actually holds; relative humidity is how much water the air can hold

b)

Relative humidity makes the air sticky; absolute humidity makes the air dry

c)

Absolute humidity is how much water the air can hold; relative humidity represents how much water the air actually holds

d)

Absolute humidity is expressed as a percentage; relative humidity is expressed as a whole number

117.

Why does it tend to be cool at the Earth's poles?

a)

They are farthest from the sun

b)

They have high absolute humidity

c)

They have the worst weather

d)

Sunlight strikes them at extreme angles

118.

How does air move?

a)

Warm air rises and cool air sinks

b)

Warm air sinks and cool air rises

119.

How do air masses move across the US?

a)

The trade winds move the air masses from west to east

b)

The jet stream moves air masses from west to east

c)

The trade winds move the air masses from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean

d)

The Gulf Stream air moves around the Gulf of Mexico

120.
 A fast moving cold air mass overtakes a warm air mass is called a _________________
a)
warm front
b)
cold front
c)
stationary front
d)
occluded front
121.
A warm air mass overtakes a slow-moving cold air mass is called a _____________________.
a)
warm front
b)
cold front
c)
stationary front
d)
occluded front
122.
Cold and warm masses meet, but neither can move the other is called a ______________________
a)
warm front
b)
cold front
c)
stationary front
d)
occluded front
123.
A warm air mass is caught between two cooler air masses is called a ________________________.
a)
warm front
b)
cold front
c)
stationary front
d)
occluded front
124.
A huge body of air that has similar temperature and humidity at any given height is called an __________________________.
a)
front
b)
jet stream
c)
air mass
d)
cyclone
125.
Which of the following air masses would be characterized as warm and dry?
a)
Maritime tropical
b)
Continental tropical
c)
Maritime polar
d)
Continental polar
126.
Which type of air mass brings cool, humid weather to the West Coast of the United States?
a)
maritime tropical
b)
continental tropical
c)
maritime polar
d)
continental polar
127.
What is the most abundant gas found in the atmosphere?
a)
Carbon Dioxide
b)
Nitrogen
c)
Oxygen
d)
Water Vapor
128.
________________ are made of water vapor that condenses in the troposphere.
a)
dew
b)
clouds
c)
evaporation
d)
transpiration
129.
The seasons are caused by___________?
a)
The direction the Earth's axis is tilted toward the sun
b)
Tropical Storms
c)
Changes in the moon
d)
The Earth's rotation on its axis
130.
When the sun's rays pass through our atmosphere and then heat is trapped by the atmosphere it is called
a)
Global Warming
b)
Greenland Effect
c)
Greenhouse Effect
d)
Ice Age
131.
The closer you live to an ocean the more likely your climate will be?
a)
maritime
b)
continental
c)
tropical
d)
polar
132.
A polar climate in the US?
a)
Virginia
b)
New York
c)
Maine
d)
Alaska
133.
What is the difference between climate and weather?
a)
 Climate averages the weather conditions in a specific place over a long period of time, while weather describes the state of the atmosphere at a specific moment in time.
b)
 Weather averages the weather conditions in a specific place over a long period of time, while Climate describes the state of the atmosphere at a specific moment in time.
c)
Climate describes the weather conditions at night, while weather describes the conditions during the daytime.
d)
 There is not a difference between climate and weather.
134.
 What is the reference point used to measure elevation?
a)
lake level
b)
sea level
c)
zero
d)
elevation
135.
What are the two main factors that determine the climate of an area?
a)
precipitation and humidity
b)
temperature and air pressure
c)
wind conditions and humidity
d)
temperature and precipitation
136.
What is the measure of distance in degrees north and south from the equator?
a)
latitude
b)
longitude
c)
elevation
d)
topography
137.
What causes some areas of Earth to receive less intense solar energy than others?
a)
the mass of earth
b)
the curve of earth
c)
the density of earth
d)
the elevation of earth
138.

What would happen if the Sun is removed from the water cycle?

a)

The water cycle would not include precipitation but would continue with groundwater flow.

b)

The water cycle would no longer occur because the Sun provides the energy for evaporation and transpiration.

c)

The water cycle would no longer occur because the Sun provides energy for the formation of clouds.

d)

The water cycle would not include evaporation and transpiration but would continue with condensation.

139.

What is another name or synonym for the water cycle?

a)

Geologic cycle

b)

Hydrologic cycle

c)

Geosphere

d)

Carbon cycle

140.
What is it called when plants give off water vapor as a waste product?
a)
condensation
b)
evaporation
c)
sublimation
d)
transpiration

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