The universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old. Compared to the age of the solar system, the age of the universe is approximately

Planets that are closest to the Sun are identified as

Which process of the water cycle occurs when water absorbs 2260 Joules of heat energy per gram?

In which temperature zone of Earth’s atmosphere is the polar jet stream located?

Arrows in the diagram above show three methods of energy transfer labeled A, B, and C. Which list correctly identifies the energy transfer processes A, B, and C?

What is the relative humidity of the air when the dry-bulb temperature is 4°C and the dewpoint is 4°C?

The diagram below represents the light spectra given off by the same element as observed under two different conditions. Spectrum A was observed when that element was heated in a laboratory. Spectrum B shows the same element as seen in the light from a distant star. The light spectrum observed from this distant star shows a

The diagrams shonw represent the constellations seen by an observer in New York State while looking toward the southern horizon at midnight on July 9 and January 8. Which motion is mainly responsible for the difference in the constellations visible at midnight on these two dates?

Most clouds form in the atmosphere when moist air

Equal areas of which surface would absorb the greatest amount of insolation on a sunny day?

Which natural event periodically weakens western surface ocean currents in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, resulting in a change in air temperature and precipitation patterns in the United States?

Ocean gyres in the Northern Hemisphere consist of a number of surface ocean currents that, together, generally fl ow clockwise in a roughly circular pattern. Which list contains three warm surface ocean currents that make up most of the North Atlantic Ocean gyre?

Most of the oceanic oxygen that began to enter Earth’s atmosphere in the early Proterozoic Era was probably produced by

During which geologic period did plants and animals first appear in land environments?

Sedimentary rock layers that were deposited between 488 million and 444 million years ago are found on the surface at which two New York State locations?

A volcanic ash layer is a good geologic time marker for correlating rock layers because the ash layer was deposited over a

The photograph shows the results of a landslide. This landslide is an example of

Which cross section correctly represents a cold front and the air-mass movements associated with this front?

Earth’s interior at a depth of 3500 kilometers is believed to be

Compared to the density and composition of the oceanic crust, the continental crust is

An earthquake occurs at 10:05 a.m. At 10:09 a.m., the first P-wave from this earthquake is detected at a seismic station. Approximately how many kilometers (km) from the epicenter is this seismic station located?

The aerial photograph below shows two streams that have been displaced by tectonic movement along the San Andreas fault. The arrows show the relative direction of movement along the fault. This movement occurred along which type of plate boundary?

The magnitude of an earthquake is a number that represents the

The Genesee River flows across both the Allegheny Plateau and the Erie-Ontario Lowlands in New York State. This river flows

What is the name of the largest sediment that can be transported by a stream moving at a velocity of 100 centimeters per second (cm/s)?

Which mineral is commonly used as an abrasive?

If a metamorphic rock bubbles when a drop of acid is placed on its surface, the rock is most likely

The map shows a portion of the coast of Texas. Letter X indicates features formed by wave action. What is the name of the features indicated by letter X?

The diagrams below represent the crystal shape and type of cleavage of two different minerals. The crystal shape and type of cleavage of these two minerals are determined mainly by the minerals’

The block diagram represents a meandering stream. Which table indicates where the greatest stream velocity and the greatest rate of stream erosion occur?

The diagram represents the size and shape of a pebble. This pebble and 20 other pebbles having a similar size and shape were placed in a rock tumbler with water and allowed to abrade for five days. Which diagram best represents the size and shape of this pebble after the five-day period?

The photograph below shows bedrock composed of sediments that have been deposited by wind. This bedrock is most likely

Which diagram below best represents both the relative wavelength of visible light entering a house through a window and the relative wavelength of infrared rays being given off by a table within the house?

Base your answer on the maps below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The maps show a portion of India and Southeast Asia, bordering on the Indian Ocean, during the winter and summer monsoon seasons. Large areas of high and low air pressure are shown during each season.

Which two-letter symbol represents the most likely air mass formed over portions of the Indian Ocean shown on the maps?

Base your answer on the maps below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The maps show a portion of India and Southeast Asia, bordering on the Indian Ocean, during the winter and summer monsoon seasons. Large areas of high and low air pressure are shown during each season.

The heavy monsoon rains affecting India and Southeast Asia occur during

Base your answer graph shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The graph shows the closest distance between Earth and Mars during each year from 2001 to 2035. Distances are measured in astronomical units (AU). One AU equals the average distance from Earth to the Sun.

Mars reaches its closest distance to Earth approximately every

Base your answer graph shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The graph shows the closest distance between Earth and Mars during each year from 2001 to 2035. Distances are measured in astronomical units (AU). One AU equals the average distance from Earth to the Sun.

How many million kilometers is one astronomical unit?

Base your answer on the three Sun’s path diagrams below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagrams represent the position of the noon Sun along its apparent daily path as seen by an observer on the first day of three consecutive months (X, Y, and Z). The observer was located in Utica, New York.

Which dates are represented by months X, Y, and Z?

Base your answer on the three Sun’s path diagrams shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagrams represent the position of the noon Sun along its apparent daily path as seen by an observer on the first day of three consecutive months (X, Y, and Z). The observer was located in Utica, New York.

Which characteristic of the Sun’s apparent daily path stays constant from month X to month Z?

Base your answer on the geologic cross section of a portion of Earth’s crust shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. None of the rock units has been overturned.

The youngest rock unit shown in the cross section is

Base your answer on the geologic cross section of a portion of Earth’s crust shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. None of the rock units has been overturned.

Which process most probably produced the irregularly shaped boundary between the limestone and the shale?

Base your answer on the geologic cross section of a portion of Earth’s crust shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. None of the rock units has been overturned.

Which sequence shows the relative ages of the gabbro, granite, and schist from oldest to youngest?

Base your answer on the cross section shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents the landscape features and rock units of the Grand Canyon region in the southwestern United States. The names and ages of some rock formations are shown.

Which agent of erosion is mainly responsible for the formation of the Grand Canyon?

Base your answer on the cross section shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents the landscape features and rock units of the Grand Canyon region in the southwestern United States. The names and ages of some rock formations are shown.

Approximately how many million years ago (mya) was the Coconino sandstone deposited as sediment?

Base your answer on the cross section shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents the landscape features and rock units of the Grand Canyon region in the southwestern United States. The names and ages of some rock formations are shown.

If the climate of the Grand Canyon region became more humid, the rate of weathering and erosion would most likely

Which graph best shows the general relationship between air pressure and altitude?

In which sequence are the celestial objects correctly listed in order from the smallest mass to the largest mass?

The best evidence of Earth’s rotation is provided by the

Urbanization affects the amount of vegetation and runoff in an area by

The photograph shows wire netting installed over a steep rock outcrop. This wire netting has been installed to prevent loss of property or life resulting from

In which cross section do the arrows represent the most probable direction of air movement over land and water surfaces at an ocean coast on a hot, sunny, summer afternoon?

Labeled lines on the map below show the inferred location of Earth’s equator during the middle of several geologic periods. Approximately how many million years ago (mya) was the region around current-day Watertown, New York, located the nearest to the equator?

How many half-lives have passed if a sample contains 25% of its original carbon-14?

Radioactive carbon-14 is often useful in determining the absolute age of geologic samples because radioactive isotopes

The area of land drained by this river and its tributaries is best described as the river’s

Which cross section best represents the profile of the bottom of the river between points X and Y at location A?

The apparent path of the Sun through the sky is caused by

What is the approximate time of day when the Sun is at position C?

The cross section shown represents a lithospheric plate boundary.

In which diagram do the arrows show the relative directions of plate movement at this type of plate boundary?

Which two minerals are commercial sources of iron?

Which agent of erosion causes the sandblasting of bedrock?

During explosive volcanic eruptions, large amounts of ash entering Earth’s atmosphere often rise to an altitude of 20 kilometers. What is the most likely effect of this ash cloud?

When it is solar noon at a location at 75° W longitude, what is the solar time at a location at 120° W longitude?

The diagram shown represents eight positions of the Moon in its orbit.

Why are high tides on Earth greatest when the Moon is in position A and in position E?

Which gas is inferred to have been absent from Earth’s atmosphere during the Early Archean Era?

The map shows the location of India and the Indian Ocean.

Which statement best describes the monsoon winds during the rainy season in India?

How long after receiving the first P-wave from an earthquake centered 4000 kilometers away does a seismic station receive its first S-wave from the same earthquake?

Which evidence recorded at seismic stations following an earthquake supports the inference that Earth’s interior changes from solid rock to molten iron and nickel at the mantle-core boundary?

The diagram shown represents cross sections of equal-size beakers A, B, and C filled with beads.

Which statement best compares the porosity in the three beakers?