wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

8th Grade Science Final Exam

Total questions: 80

Worksheet time: 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What percent of our atmosphere is made up of gases other than oxygen and nitrogen?

a)

5%

b)

1%

c)

10%

d)

2%

2.

Which of the following describes an example of the atmosphere acting as a system?

a)

its layered structure

b)

global wind patterns

c)

its composition

d)

deep ocean currents

3.

The less mass in a given volume of air, the

a)

more the air weighs.

b)

greater the air pressure.

c)

more dense the air

d)

less dense the air.

4.

Instruments used to measure air pressure are called

a)

thermometers.

b)

hygrometers.

c)

hydrometers.

d)

barometers.

5.

As you rise upwards in the atmosphere, air pressure

a)

increases.

b)

decreases.

c)

doesn't change.

d)

first increases, then decreases.

6.

The layer of our atmosphere in which weather occurs is the

a)

troposphere.

b)

stratosphere.

c)

mesosphere.

d)

exosphere.

7.

The greenhouse effect is

a)

the absorption of energy by clouds.

b)

a gradual increase in the temperature of the atmosphere.

c)

the reflection of solar energy into the atmosphere.

d)

the process by which gases hold heat in the atmosphere,

8.

Cool air tends to

a)

be less dense and flow over warm air.

b)

be lifted up by more dense warm air.

c)

be more dense and flow under warm air.

d)

mix easily with warm air masses.

9.

Earth's rotation makes global winds curve. This is called the

a)

convection effect.

b)

global effect.

c)

Coriolis effect.

d)

rotational effect.

10.

Ozone is

a)

a form of oxygen with three oxygen atoms in each molecule.

b)

a form of nitrogen with three nitrogen atoms in each molecule.

c)

a form of oxygen with two oxygen atoms in each molecule.

d)

a form of nitrogen with two nitrogen atoms in each molecule.

11.

The lowest and shallowest layer of the atmosphere is the

a)

troposphere.

b)

stratosphere.

c)

mesosphere.

d)

thermosphere.

12.

The ozone layer is found in the

a)

troposphere.

b)

stratosphere.

c)

mesosphere.

d)

thermosphere.

13.

The ozone layer protects living things on Earth from

a)
  1. visible light.

b)
  1. infrared rays.

c)
  1. ultraviolet radiation.

d)
  1. carbon dioxide.

14.

Which layer of the atmosphere protects Earth's surface from being hit by most meteoroids?

a)

troposphere

b)

stratosphere

c)

mesosphere

d)

thermosphere

15.
  1. The prevailing westerlies, the major wind belts over the continental United States, generally push air masses from

a)

east to west.

b)

west to east.

c)

north to south.

d)

south to north

16.

How does the temperature of the air change as you go higher in the troposphere?

a)

It decreases.

b)

It fluctuates.

c)

It increases.

d)

It stays constant.

17.

In which of the layers of Earth's atmosphere is the ozone layer found?

a)

Troposphere

b)

Stratosphere

c)

Mesosphere

d)

Exosphere

18.

What process transfers heat by the movement of a fluid?

a)

Radiation

b)

convection

c)

conduction

d)

thermal transfer

19.

Which of the atmosphere's four main layers contains both the ionosphere and exosphere?

a)
  1. The mesosphere

b)
  1. The stratosphere

c)
  1. The thermosphere

d)
  1. The troposphere

20.

The ____ is the envelope of _____ that surrounds Earth.

a)

atmosphere; clouds

b)

atmosphere; gases

c)

weather; clouds

d)

weather; gases

21.

What is the difference between wet air and dry air?

a)

Dry air is warmer than wet air.

b)

Dry air contains no water vapor, while wet air does.

c)

Dry air can form clouds, while wet air cannot.

d)

Dry air contains particles of dust and smoke, while wet air doesn't.

22.

Which of the following is a characteristic of a mercury barometer, but not of an anaeroid barometer?

a)

It measures air pressure.

b)

It contains an airtight metal chamber.

c)

It relies on a liquid to obtain a measurement.

d)

Its measurements are displayed on a dial.

23.

What units does an anaeroid barometer use to measure air pressure!

a)

Millibars

b)

inches of mercury

c)

Inches of mercury per milibar

d)

none of the above

24.

Which of the following statements is true?

a)

As altitude increases, air density increases.

b)

As altitude increases, air pressure increases.

c)

As altitude increases, air pressure decreases.

d)

None of the above

25.

Beginning with the closest to Earth's surface, what is the order of the layers of the atmosphere?

a)

Stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, troposphere

b)

Thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, troposphere

c)

Troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere

d)

Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

26.

What would the temperature in the thermosphere feel like to a person there? Explain.

a)

Hot, because the thermosphere is the closest layer of the atmosphere to the sun.

b)

Warm, because the thermosphere is at a low elevation.

c)

Cold, because molecules there are far apart and would rarely collide to warm a person

d)

It depends on which layer of the thermosphere that person is in.

27.

What happens to most of the sunlight that reaches Earth?

a)

It is absorbed by land and water.

b)

It is reflected by the atmosphere.

c)

It is reflected by land and water.

d)

It is absorbed by the atmosphere.

28.

About what percentage of incoming sunlight is reflected by clouds, dust, and gases in the atmosphere?

a)

5 percent

b)

25 percent

c)

50 percent

d)

90 percent

29.

How might Earth be different without the greenhouse effect?

a)

Average temperatures would increase.

b)

Average temperatures would decrease.

c)

Average temperatures would not change.

d)

Average temperatures would vary over time.

30.

Is convection or conduction more important in the troposphere? Explain.

a)

Conduction, because it uses electromagnetic waves to transfer heat.

b)

Conduction, because it can transfer heat more quickly than convection.

c)

Convection, because it doesn't require a medium to travel through.

d)

Convection, because it transfers heat in gases like the air well

31.

How is wind related to air pressure and temperature?

a)
  1. Differences in temperature cause convection currents.

b)
  1. Differences in air pressure cause the air to move.

c)
  1. Differences in temperature cause differences in air pressure.

d)

All of the above

32.

What causes local winds?

a)
  1. The Coriolis effect

b)
  1. Unequal heating of Earth's surface in a small area

c)
  1. The heating of Earth's surface at the equator

d)
  1. Air moving from the poles toward the equator

33.

What is a global wind?

a)
  1. A wind blowing over a large area

b)

Warm winds that blow over short distances

c)

Cool air that blows from the sea onto land during the day

d)

An area of calm between 30° north and 30° south latitude

34.

In which global wind belt would you experience the least amount of wind?

a)

Doldrums

b)

Horse latitudes

c)

Prevailing westerlies

d)

Polar easterlies

35.

What form of heat transfer is responsible for global winds and ocean currents?

a)

Conduction

b)

Convection

c)

Radiation

d)

Absorption

36.

Scientists divide Earth's atmosphere into four main layers based primarily on a single characteristic. which of the following tools would be most useful in measuring this characteristic?

a)

Anemometer

b)

Barometer

c)

Psychrometer

d)

Thermometer

37.

What makes the atmosphere a system?

a)
  1. It requires energy, which it gets from the sun.

b)
  1. There is interaction with the oceans and land.

c)
  1. It has multiple layers with different characteristics.

d)
  1. One part of the atmosphere affects other parts of it.

38.

Which of the following are properties of air?

a)

Air pressure

b)

Density

c)

Mass

d)

All of the above

39.

The four main layers of the atmosphere are classified according to

a)

changes in air pressure.

b)

changes in temperature.

c)

composition of gases.

d)

All of the above

40.

How does energy from the sun travel to Earth?

a)

As visible light

b)

As infrared radiation

c)

As ultraviolet radiation

d)

All of the above

41.

Which of the following statements is true about thermal energy?

a)

It is a measure of the average energy of motion of all particles in a substance.

b)

It is a measure of the average energy of motion of each particle in a substance.

c)

It is a measure of the total energy of all the particles in a substance.

d)

It is a measure of the total energy of each particle in a substance.

42.

Which statement describes global winds but not local winds?

a)

They occur over a large area of Earth's surface.

b)

They are caused by unequal heating of Earth's surface.

c)

They occur when cool air moves close to Earth's surface.

d)

They occur when hot air rises and moves up from Earth's surface.

43.

What are local winds that blow from a body of water toward land during the day called?

a)
  1. Trade winds

b)
  1. Sea breezes

c)
  1. Land breezes

d)
  1. Prevailing westerlies

44.

Where does the mesosphere occur in Earth's atmosphere?

a)
  1. Between the ionosphere and the exosphere

b)
  1. Between the thermosphere and the exosphere

c)
  1. Between the troposphere and the stratosphere

d)
  1. Between the stratosphere and the thermosphere

45.

Which factors determine the movement of global winds?

a)

Humidity and temperature

b)

Prevailing winds and upper-air currents

c)

Convection currents in the atmosphere and the Coriolis effect

d)

All of these

46.

An organism that can make its own food is called a

a)

consumer.

b)

decomposer.

c)

producer.

d)

scavenger.

47.

the many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem make up a(n)

a)

food web

b)

niche.

c)
  1. energy pyramid.

d)
  1. feeding level.

48.

Consumers that eat both plants and animals are called

a)

omnivores

b)

herbivores

c)

carnivores

d)

scavengers

49.

Vultures, which feed on the bodies of dead organisms, are

a)

first-level consumers.

b)

scavengers.

c)

producers.

d)

herbivores.

50.

The first organism in a food chain is always a

a)

consumer.

b)

herbivore.

c)

carnivore

d)

producer.

51.

The nonliving parts of an ecosystem are called

a)

populations.

b)

organisms.

c)

biotic factors.

d)

abiotic factors.

52.

To produce their own food, algae and plants use the abiotic factors sunlight, carbon dioxide, and

a)

soil

b)

salt

c)

water

d)

bacteria

53.

A population is all the members of one species living in a particular

a)

area

b)

habitat

c)

ecosystem

d)

community

54.

A group of antelope leaving the herd in search of better grassland is an example of

a)

immigration

b)

emigrating

c)

increasing birth rate

d)

decreasing death rate

55.

An organism's particular role in its habitat, or when and how it survives, is called its

a)

carrying capacity.

b)

ecosystem.

c)

competition.

d)

niche.

56.

All of the following are examples of limiting factors EXCEPT

a)

food

b)

soil

c)

space

d)

weather conditions

57.

Which of the following is an example of a predator adaptation?

a)

a porcupine's needles

b)

a shark's powerful jaws

c)

a frog's bright colors

d)

a plant's poisonous chemicals

58.

A hawk building its nest on an arm of a saguaro cactus is an example of

a)

commensalism.

b)

mutualism.

c)

parasitism.

d)

predation.

59.

Which of the following is a biotic factor in the prairie ecosystem?

a)

water

b)

sunlight

c)

soil

d)

grass

60.

The struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources is called

a)

competition

b)

preditation

c)

symbiosis

d)

parasitism

61.

Population density is defined as

a)

an approximation of a number, based on reasonable assumptions.

b)

the number of individuals of a population in a specific area.

c)

the number of individuals moving into a population.

d)

the smallest level of ecological organization.

62.

The largest population that an environment can support is called its

a)

carrying capacity.

b)

limiting factor.

c)

birth rate.

d)

death rate.

63.

An early winter frost preventing further growth in a tomato garden is an example of

a)

carrying capacity.

b)

a limiting factor.

c)

a biotic factor.

d)

indirect observation.

64.

The smallest unit of ecological organization is a single

a)

population

b)

community

c)

organism

d)

ecosystem

65.

All the different populations that live together in an area make up a(n)

a)

organism

b)

community

c)

species

d)

ecosystem

66.

The study of how things interact with each other and with their environment is called

a)

ecology

b)

photosynthesis.

c)

community

d)

biotic studies

67.

Mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism are the three types of

a)

symbiotic relationships.

b)

predation.

c)

competition.

d)

prey adaptations.

68.

A(n) —— is an organism that can make its own food. An organism that feeds on other organisms is called a ——, and a(n) —— breaks down biotic wastes and dead organisms.

a)

scavenger; carnivore; herbivore

b)

herbivore; carnivore; scavenger

c)

consumer; producer; decomposer

d)

producer; consumer; decomposer

69.

In a food web in a freshwater ecosystem, shrimp and mayflies eat water plants. Leeches eat shrimp. Trout eat mayflies. Which organism is a producer?

a)

water plants

b)

mayflies

c)

leeches

d)

trout

70.

How do limiting factors, such as food, water, and space, affect population growth?

a)

They limit the number of organisms to one offspring per parent.

b)

Food and water can decrease the number of organisms in a population, but space increases populations.

c)

When they are in short supply, some organisms may die.

d)

When they are easy to obtain, the population decreases.

71.

Which term describes the behavior and physical characteristics that allow organisms to live successfully in their environments?

a)
  1. Niches

b)
  1. Adaptations

c)
  1. Natural selection

d)
  1. Specific roles

72.

Which snake adaptation best helps it to survive in its community?

a)

no legs

b)

small head

c)

sharp fang

d)

scaly skin

73.

Within a freshwater ecosystem, trout eat insects and crayfish. Eagles and otters eat trout. Given this information only, which organisms are predators?

a)
  1. Eagles and trout

b)
  1. Insects and crayfish

c)
  1. Trout and insects

d)
  1. Otters and crayfish

74.
  1. Owls often prey on mice. What adaptation might help mice avoid becoming prey?

a)
  1. Large ears for hearing sounds from nearby predators

b)

Fur color that works as camouflage

c)

Small size for hiding easily

d)

All of the above

75.

Commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism are three types of

a)

phenotypes.

b)

niches

c)

predation.

d)

symbiosis.

76.

What is genetic diversity?

a)

The various alleles that are passed from parent to offspring

b)

The differences between species of plants and animals

c)

Having two different alleles for the same trait

d)

The variations in alleles within a population

77.

When autumn changes to winter, what is the short-term effect on a population of birds?

a)

They die.

b)

They migrate.

c)

They hibernate.

d)

They stop growing.

78.

What is a long-term change that may affect organisms and populations?

a)
  1. Geologic change

b)
  1. Climate change

c)
  1. Habitat destruction

d)
  1. All of the above

79.

Which statement tells how a squirrel depends on a biotic factor to survive?

a)
  1. It eats nuts.

b)
  1. It drinks water.

c)
  1. It gets oxygen from the air.

d)

It is warmed by the sun.

80.

What is the highest level of organization for living and nonliving things?

a)

community

b)

ecosystem

c)

family

d)

population