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WorksheetsEarth Science Review
Total questions: 115
Worksheet time: 2hrs 21mins
the water cycle
the water cycle
open zone
Much of Earths weather is driven by _______ stored in the ocean.
Salt
Water
Heat
Fish
Areas where salt and fresh water mix are known as
Oceans
Estuaries
Aquifers
Intertidal zone
Estuaries are not generally areas where a lot of wildlife can be found.
True
False
What is brackish water
Dirty water
Clear Water
Slightly salty water
Ground water
The most abundant plants in the ocean are
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton
Algae
None of these
Areas where cold, nutrient rich waters are brought to the surface due to winds blowing offshore are known as_________
Aquifers
Benthos
Upwellings
Hydrothermal Vents
Upwellings are areas of rich biological diverstiy
True
False
The ocean plays a critical role in removing carbon from the atmosphere
True
False
Hydrothermal vents are driven by _______ from beneath the sea floor.
Motion
Heat
Friction
Light
A technology used for underwater mapping is called
Laser
Radar
Sonar
Lidar
All life in the ocean rely on sunlight for energy
True
False
A ship is mapping the structure of the ocean floor using sonar technology. Which describes the basic method used in this type of mapping?
A radio wave is sent from the ship and reflects off the ocean floor back to a receiver on the ship.
A sound wave is sent from the ship and reflects off the ocean floor back to a receiver on the ship.
A radio wave is sent by the ship and is absorbed by the ocean floor.
A sound wave is sent by the ship and is absorbed by the ocean floor.
Why is upwelling an important process in a marine ecosystem?
Upwelling replaces sand and gravel on beaches lost as the result of wave and tidal action.
Upwelling decreases the temperature differences between different layers of ocean water.
Upwelling cycles nutrients from decomposers along the ocean floor to producers in surface waters.
Upwelling returns salt to the surface from the benthic zone as part of the global conveyor belt current.
Deep ocean bottoms are generally cold, dark, and lifeless. However, some organisms have been discovered existing near thermal vents on the ocean floor. What makes these organisms different from MOST other organisms in the way that they obtain energy?
They do not use oxygen.
They can live near hot water.
They can tolerate high pressure.
They do not use sunlight.
Which would MOST LIKELY result in an unhealthy aquatic habitat?
a decrease in turbidity
a decrease in nitrates levels
an increase in water temperature
an increase in dissolved oxygen levels
Pure water is neutral. If water is neither an acid nor a base, what is the pH of water?
0
7
10
Which best describes the relationship between temperature and dissolved oxygen in a lake?
As temperature increases, dissolved oxygen increases.
As temperature increases, dissolved oxygen decreases.
As temperature decreases, dissolved oxygen decreases.
A change in temperature has no effect on dissolved oxygen.
If a large amount of fertilizer enters a lake, which will most likelyhappen?
The fish population in the lake will increase.
The temperature of the lake water will increase.
The number of fish dying in the lake will increase.
he available food supply for the fish in the lake will increase.
Which best explains why a scientist would use nets to capture and count organisms in a river?
to measure pH
to measure turbidity
to measure biodiversity
to measure temperature
What does pH measure?
acidity/alkalinity
dissolved oxygen
nutrient level
turbidity
Which would be the most likely cause of large numbers of fish dying in a stream?
a lack of nitrogen
high levels of mercury
decreased carbon dioxide
low dissolved oxygen concentration
Which organism would make a good bioindicator?
an organism that is endangered
an organism that is tolerant of slight physical or chemical changes
an organism that has reached its carrying capacity in the ecosystem
an organism that is not sensitive to slight physical or chemical changes
Which is the greatest impact of large quantities of sediment flowing into North Carolina’s rivers and streams?
Sediment poisons fish.
Sediment prevents light from reaching plants.
Sediment interferes with the ability for fish to find mates.
Sediment increases the depth of rivers and streams, reducing the amount of flowing water.
Turbidity measurements were taken at different distances from the shore of a lake.
Which best explains why the turbidity increases as water samples are taken closer to the shore?
Shoreline erosion causes sediment to wash into the lake.
Sediment is carried from the middle of the lake to the shore by wind.
Swimmers stir up sediment by splashing in the water near the shore.
Fish stir up sediment while feeding on plants that grow close to the shore.
If a metamorphic rock contains an intrusion of igneous rock, which rock is the oldest?
The igneous rock is older.
The rocks are the same age.
The metamorphic rock is older.
Which is a process that allows scientists to compare rock layers with others in a sequence to determine their age?
radiometric dating
absolute dating
relative dating
The diagram shows a cross-section of several rock layers and geological features. Based on the diagram, which is true?
Layer U is the oldest
Layer Z is the youngest
Layer T is older than layer S
Layer X is older than layer y
Scientists have identified four sedimentary rock layers from an archaeological dig as shown above. Which is most likely the oldest sedimentary rock layer?
Layer R
Layer S
Layer T
Layer U
A scientist finds the bones of a dinosaur. What could help the scientist determine the approximate age of the dinosaur bones?
the birds living in the area of the bones
the weather conditions in the area of the bones
the kinds of trees living in the area of the bones
the index fossils in the area of the bones
Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?
Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.
Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.
Scientists find dinosaur fossils in the bottom rock layers of a cliff and mammal fossils in the middle rock layer of the cliff. Which could best be concluded from this evidence?
Dinosaurs ate plantes
Dinosaurs were eaten by the mammals
Dinosaurs lived on Earth before the mammals
Dinosaurs and mammals lived at the same time
The half-life of a radioactive element, such as carbon-14, is the time it takes for half of the atoms of the element to decay. How many half-life periods have passed if a fossil contains 1/32 of the original amount of carbon-14?
3
4
5
6
The radioactive isotope content of a rock can be used to identify which property of the rock?
the total mass of the rock
the rate at which the rock is formed
the type of fossils that the rock contains
the amount of time passed since the rock formed
Which method would be BEST for scientists to use to determine the absolute age of a Precambrian igneous rock?
index fossils
law of superposition
radiometric dating
law of original horizontality
Some of the oldest rock fragments on Earth’s surface are in western Australia. The rock fragments contain zircon crystals which enabled scientists to date the rock. Which claim is MOST likely true about zircon crystals?
They contain iron
The contain uranium
They are relatively soft
They are relatively reactive
A geologist uncovered a fossil while digging in the side of a hill. He hypothesized that it was MOST likely from the end of the Paleozoic era or the beginning of the Mesozoic era. How old would the fossil have to be dated in order to support his hypothesis?
100 million years old
225 million years old
400 million years old
550 million years old
Which technique BEST helps scientists determine the age of the solar system?
creating computer models to predict the formation of rocks on Earth and the Moon
using radioactive decay to calculate the ages of rocks on Earth and the Moon
using relative dating techniques on layers of rocks on Earth
comparing fossils found in the oldest rocks on Earth
The oldest moon rocks have been dated to a time shortly after the estimated date of the formation of the solar system. Approximately how old are these moon rocks?
6.5 billion years old
4.5 billion years old
2.8 billion years old
1.7 billion years old
In what type of rock would a geologist MOST likely find evidence of ancient life?
sedimentary
foliated
metamorphic
volcanic
The figure below shows a wall of the Grand Canyon. The most recent rocks of the Grand Canyon formed during which geologic period?
Permian
Devonian
Cambrian
Precambrian
The graph shows possible changes to sea level over geologic time. What did scientists MOST likely study to construct this graph?
molten magma
extrusive igneous rock
sedimentary layers
foliated metamorphic rocks
Approximately how old is the Earth?
1.8 billion years old
4.6 billion years old
6.8 billion years old
10 billion years old
The geologic map below shows several rock formations exposed when a road is cut through a hillside. Which formation in this geological map is youngest?
1
2
3
4
Which discovery provides the BEST evidence of the age of the solar system?
The oldest known rocks on Earth have been dated to 3.8 billion years old
The Apollo 17 mission found moon rocks that have been dated to 4.5 billion years old.
The volcanic activity that occurs on Earth’s surface has recycled all its rocks at least once since its formation.
The Apollo 11 and the Apollo 12 missions gathered moon rocks similar in age to the oldest-known Earth rocks.
Scientists have found traces of organic compounds on some meteorites. This finding would support which of these hypotheses about the origin of macromolecules on Earth?
Organic molecules arrived on Earth with space debris.
Organic molecules developed as Earth cooled in space.
Organic molecules formed in space during the big bang event.
Organic molecules received energy from ultraviolet radiation from space.
Which of these provides the BEST evidence that the distribution of Earth’s oceans has changed over time?
hot spots on ocean floors
seismic activity along plate boundaries
sediment buildup on continental slope
marine fossils found on land masses
A fossil discovered in Colorado dates from the early Mesozoic era. A year later a similar fossil is found in Wyoming that also dates from the early Mesozoic era. These two organisms most likely lived in
the same environment at about the same time.
the same environment at different times.
different environments at about the same time.
different environments at different times.
Which of the following eras is known as the “Age of Mammals”?
Precambrian
Paleozoic
Mesozoic
Cenozoic
Certain fossils can be used to help determine the age of the rock layer in which the fossils are found. Which type of fossil is BEST to use when making this determination?
marine mammal fossil
swamp fern fossil
trace fossil
index fossil
Which environmental condition MOST likely existed at the time a fossil formed?
Organism remains were deposited in an area of open space.
Organism remains were covered by lava flow.
Organism remains were buried with little oxygen.
Organism remains were buried in an area where a lot of erosion occurred.
Which evidence would BEST indicate that four-legged land animals might have a fish ancestor?
fossils of fish with four fins
fossils of land animals found in ancient lake beds
fossils of fish found in cliffs above any present-day water levels
fossils of fish with bones on their fins arranged like bones of land animals
Which of these conditions would MOST likely be shown in the fossil record as a reason for mass extinctions?
increased competition for resources
falling sea levels and global cooling
organisms with beneficial traits
increased solar activity
The picture shows an ammonite fossil on the left. On the right, it shows how the animal may have looked 160 million years ago, According to the ammonite’s characteristics, which modern animals would MOST likely be the relatives of ammonites?
squids and octopi
whales and porpoies
lizards and turtles
shrimp and crabs
Trilobites are extinct animals that lived in the oceans. Fossils of these animals can be found in dry areas such as Cincinnati. What does this indicate?
Trilobites now live underground.
Trilobites are the ancestors of jellyfish.
Cincinnati was once covered by the ocean where trilobites lived.
The environment changed, creating small saltwater lakes in Cincinnati.
Throughout Earth’s history, igneous rocks have been most closely associated with which landform?
mountain
plateau
volcano
valley
Which provides the best evidence of Earth’s changing climate?
ice cores
volcanic ash
metamorphic rocks
sediment in river beds
What is the relative age of an igneous rock intrusion between domed layers of sedimentary rock?
It is older than the sedimentary rock.
It is younger than the sedimentary rock.
It is the same age as the sedimentary rock.
Which country would be most likely to provide ice cores that could be used to provide evidence for climate change?
Greenland
Peru
Italy
What role do faults play in the Law of Superposition?
Faults create new types of rock.
Faults are younger than the layers they cut through.
Faults are the same age as the layers they cut through.
Which type of rock replaces bone and other hard organic materials to create rock molds of fossils?
metamorphic
sedimentary
extrusive igneous
Which data is most likely to be obtained by studying ice cores?
minerals found in the geosphere
amount of water in the hydrosphere
oxygen concentration in the atmosphere
Which chemical compound is present in an ice core sample?
carbon dioxide
nitrogen dioxide
carbon monoxide
How do scientists know that some mountains were once at the bottom of an ocean?
Freshwater rivers flow to the ocean.
Saltwater fish are found in some mountain streams.
Dinosaur bones have been discovered in the mountains.
Marine fossils have been found on the peaks of some mountains.
Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?
Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.
Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.
