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WorksheetsEarth Environmental Final Part A Spring 22
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 2hrs 40mins
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 stars revolving around Earth
because of Earth revolving around the sun
because of the change in the barycenter of Earth
Which of these are scientific classifications for galaxies in the universe?
dust, gas, ice
small, medium, large
spiral, elliptical, irregular
red giant, white dwarf, supernova
Structures in the universe are grouped into large systems, each of which are made up of smaller systems. Which of the following is the largest system of which Earth is only a very small part?
Jovian planets
Halley’s comet
Milky Way galaxy
Orion’s belt
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
How does the tilt of the Earth’s axis affect the seasons?
by changing the amount of direct solar energy reaching the surface of Earth
by influencing the rate of chemical reactions occurring in the atmosphere
by deflecting the harmful rays of radiation emitted by the sun
by changing the speed of the rotation of Earth
Which natural phenomenon occurs as a result of Earth rotating on its axis?
movement of tectonic plates
deep ocean currents
seasonal changes
day and night
How does the energy produced by the sun travel to Earth?
by the magnetic fields between the sun and Earth
by the convection of heat through particles in space
by the radiation of electromagnetic waves through space
by the process of conduction of heat between the sun and Earth
Which of the following correctly describes how the Sun produces energy?
One hydrogen atom and one lithium atom fuse into one helium atom
One hydrogen atom and four helium atoms fuse into one lithium atom
Two helium atoms fuse into one hydrogen atom
Four hydrogen atoms fuse into one helium atom
All of these types of waves travel from the Sun to Earth EXCEPT
light waves
sound waves
infrared waves
ultraviolet waves
Some ecosystems flourish in total darkness. The table below describes four of them. Which of these dark ecosystems use energy originally obtained from the Sun?
whale fall, black smoker, deep cave
black smoker, deep cave, cold seep
whale fall, cold seep, deep cave
black smoker, whale fall, cold seep
Which statement BEST describes how photosynthesis affects Earth’s energy budget?
Photosynthesis destroys a significant amount of incoming solar radiation.
Photosynthesis transforms a small amount of solar radiation into chemical energy.
Photosynthesis increases the amount of solar energy that is reflected back into space.
Photosynthesis prevents most of the incoming solar energy from heating Earth’s atmosphere.
Which is an effect of lower levels of solar radiation striking Earth?
increased incidences of skin cancer
decreased rates of photosynthesis
increased phytoplankton activity
decreased carbon dioxide levels
Use the diagram of the rock cycle to answer the question that follows. What has to occur to change igneous rock into sediment?
weathering, transportation, and deposition
heat and pressure
cooling and solidification
cementation and compaction
Tectonic motion caused tension between plates in Earth’s crust. A sudden release of this energy occurred. Based on this information, which event happened?
subsidence
earthquake
volcanic eruption
meteoroid impact
A volcano found in the center of a tectonic plate tends to be a result of which phenomenon?
strong earthquake
activity at a hot spot
pressure in thick sediments that produces heat
unusually excessive erosion that wears away bedrock
Bedrock that is closer to oceanic ridges is younger in age than bedrock that is farther away. What can best be concluded from this information?
The shape of Earth’s lithosphere is continually changing.
The movement of continental plates is caused by volcanic eruptions.
The oceans are becoming deeper and warmer as more rocks are produced.
The rocks on the ocean floor are producing tectonic plates that are converging.
Where are most volcanoes located?
at divergent boundaries, transform boundaries, and hot spots
at convergent boundaries, divergent boundaries, and hot spots
at convergent boundaries, hot spots, and transform boundaries
at divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries, and transform boundaries
In the Four Corners area of the southwestern United States, there are large rocky outcroppings of basalt. These were formed by ancient lava flows. Using this information, what class of rock is this?
metamorphic
sedimentary
igneous
weathered
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains a set of earthquake hazard maps that cities and towns use for developing building codes. Based on the map, which city or town is located in an area of greatest earthquake hazard?
Bangor, ME
Bismarck, ND
Charleston, SC
Albuquerque, NM
This is a diagram of a soil texture triangle. Farmers can use this chart to identify the type of soil found on their land and determine the likelihood of erosion and other important factors. What type of soil does a farmer have if the soil contains 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay?
clay
loam
silty loam
sandy loam
Which of these is the BEST example of physical weathering?
insects eating a dead tree
a bulldozer pushing soil
ice fracturing a stone
acid rain dissolving limestone
The students observed a large crack found in a boulder with a tree growing out of it. Which process were the students observing?
oxidizing
deposition
weathering
decomposition
What would be most effective in minimizing the potential damage caused by an earthquake?
installing sirens in areas prone to earthquakes
building structures that withstand ground vibrations
increasing the amount of concrete during road building
requiring the recycling of metal and wood products
Which of these natural disasters are the MOST unpredictable?
earthquakes
hurricanes
tornados
blizzards
Which is one way poor use of fertilizers in agriculture can affect the environment?
It can increase the ability of many species to find suitable habitats.
It can cause pollution of water in lakes and rivers.
It can cause an increase in greenhouse gases.
It can reduce the amount of sediment in the local waterways.
What is an effect of deforestation?
decrease in biodiversity
decrease in rainwater runoff
decrease in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
decrease in the amount of water on Earth
How can urbanization affect a local area?
It can increase the number of invasive species in an area.
It can decrease the risk of water pollution in an area.
It can increase the risk of flooding in an area.
It can decrease the need for natural resources in an area.
How are surface mining and peat harvesting similar in the way they affect an ecosystem?
Both increase air pollution, causing acid rain.
Both flood the area with water, decreasing soil erosion.
Both release carbon dioxide, decreasing global temperatures.
Both remove vegetation in the area, destroying habitats.
What do the energy resources uranium and coal have in common?
They both are formed from the remains of dead organisms.
They both are acquired by mining the lithosphere.
They both release energy through combustion.
They both generate radioactive wastes.
Which of these properties of water helps moderate the weather of coastal areas?
neutral pH
high specific heat
dissolves many substances
floats as a solid
Which of these has the greatest capacity for storing thermal energy from the Sun?
air
land
oceans
plants
Deep (subsurface) ocean currents continually circulate from the warm waters near the equator to the colder waters in other parts of the world. What is the main cause of these currents?
differences in the topography along the ocean floor
differences in density of ocean water
the rotation of Earth on its axis
movement of the jet stream
Which is one way surface water may become groundwater?
condensation
evaporation
infiltration
runoff
Which statement describes MOST groundwater?
Groundwater is found in underground lakes, rivers, and streams.
Groundwater is found in the spaces between rocks, gravel, and sand.
Groundwater is isolated from surface water and moves in its own cycle.
Groundwater is sequestered below the surface for years or decades at a time.
A rural, forested area receives a lot of rain in a short amount of time. What would most likely cause potential flooding in the area?
if the area has a large uncharged aquifer beneath it
if the water level in the area is below the zone of saturation
if the ground of the area is already saturated with water
if the ground of the area is mostly sandy soil
Which result is most likely to occur after excessive withdrawal of groundwater in coastal areas?
increased reliance on irrigation because of drier soil conditions
dilution of brackish water in estuarine ecosystems
reduced efficiency of local desalination facilities
intrusion of salt water into the water table
A community decides to upgrade its water purification and management systems. What lasting impact could this have on available freshwater?
It could cause a decrease in water demand.
It could cause a decrease in the water levels.
It could cause an increase in waterborne diseases.
It could cause an increase in the freshwater supply.
Which is the most common contamination source for freshwater resources?
runoff
digging wells
melting of glaciers
lightning
What would most likely result if more farms were developed along river basins in North Carolina?
an increase in water pollution
an increase in average rainfall
an increase in nonnative species
an increase in severe weather events
How will the presence of power plants burning fossil fuels MOST likely affect the water cycle?
Sulfur and nitrogen emissions will dissolve in rainwater to form acid rain.
Runoff containing emissions will cause very large algal blooms in ponds.
Emissions will cause the pH of surface waters to increase.
Emissions will decrease the amount of precipitation.
Which human activity directly affects the quality of freshwater resources?
depleting the ozone layer
burning gasoline in car engines
throwing trash out of car windows
allowing runoff from agricultural fields
Temperature increases as altitude increases in both the stratosphere and the thermosphere. What is the main difference between these two layers?
The temperature increases in the stratosphere because of aurora borealis, and in the thermosphere because of the jet stream.
The temperature increases in the stratosphere because of the jet stream, and in the thermosphere because of aurora borealis.
The temperature increases in the stratosphere because of direct exposure to the sun, and in the thermosphere because ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation.
The temperature increases in the stratosphere because ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation, and in the thermosphere because of direct exposure to the sun.
Which statement best describes the ozone layer of Earth?
It helps reduce the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of Earth.
It prevents the formation of severe storms in the stratosphere of Earth.
It increases the amount of nitrogen in the troposphere of Earth.
It forms a magnetic field in the mesosphere of Earth.
A geologic cross section of the Himalayan Mountain Range is shown below. This mountain range is the result of which type of boundary interaction?
divergent boundary between two continental plates
convergent boundary between two continental plates
divergent boundary between a continental plate and an oceanic plate
convergent boundary between a continental plate and an oceanic plate
The diagram shows the motion of tectonic plates. Which term provides the MOST accurate classification of the geologic structure shown?
anticline fold
syncline fold
normal fault
reverse fault
The diagram illustrates the evolution of a star over time. The mass of Star 1 MOST likely equals which multiple of the mass of the Sun?
0.5 times
2.0 times
10 times
50 times
The figure shows the path of a planet orbiting the Sun. The three areas shaded in gray have equal areas. According to Kepler’s second law, which conclusion is supported by the data?
The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F are all equal.
The time interval from A to B is twice the interval from E to F.
The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F combine to be equal to one half of a full orbit.
The time intervals from C to D and from E to F combine to be equal to the time interval from A to B.
A cross section of a geologic structure is shown below. Which term provides the MOST accurate classification of the geologic structure?
anticline fold
syncline fold
normal fault
reverse fault
Earth’s spherical shape results in an uneven distribution of sunlight reaching Earth’s surface. This uneven distribution is MOST directly responsible for differences in which climatic variable at different latitudes on Earth’s surface?
wind speed
temperature
annual rainfall
average humidity
The following table shows the number of insurance claims submitted to cover damage caused by sinkholes in six counties in Florida. A business owner in Hernando County who has experienced sinkhole damage decides to relocate her business. In which county would the business owner have the lowest probability of property damage from sinkholes?
Alachua
Hillsborough
Marion
Pinellas
