WorksheetsEarth Science Standardized Test Review
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 14mins
What is the primary energy source driving circulation of ocean currents on Earth?
Geothermal heating
Planetary rotation
Solar heating
Lunar tidal forces
Cracks in rocks widen as water in them freezes and thaws. How does this affect the surface of the earth?
It reduces the rates of soil information
It exposes rocks to increased rates of erosion and weathering
It changes the chemical composition of the rocks
It limits the exposure of rocks to acid precipitation
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 ground of the water is mostly sandy soil
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
Visible light reaches earth’s surface while infrared light is trapped as heat.Which characteristic of earth’s atmosphere cause this to happen?
The greenhouse effect
The ozone hole
The atmospheric continuum
The inversion layer
Earth’s ice sheets grow and retreat on a cycle of about 41,000 years. Which natural process is responsible for this cycle?
The eccentricity of Earth’s orbit
The wobble in Earth’s tilt on its axis
The El Niño Southern Oscillation
The changing sides of the ozone hole
What long term-impact could the destruction of large areas of forests have on Earth?
Increased atmospheric oxygen levels
Decreased amounts of acid rains
Decreased rates of erosion
Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
Weather stations built in urban areas can be influenced by the human-made structures that surround these stations. Some of these weather stations used to determine mean temperatures in the United States have had the validity of the data questioned. Which human-produced effect could these urban weather stations be measuring?
Heat island
Rain shadow
Cold front
Land breeze
The average temperature of earth has increased approximately 0.8 degrees C in the last one hundred years. Which of the following do researchers most attribute to this temperature?
Increased population in third world countries
Increased use of fossil fuels
The solar flares reaching earth
The lower amounts of carbon dioxide
Scientists noticed that icebergs on the ice caps covering the North and South Pole were breaking up and melting. Which statement best explains the observation?
Summer months are the warmest
Media reports are misleading
Unqualified scientists published the observation
Global warming has an effect on the ice caps
It’s hypothesized that in 200 years, the lowest land areas on Earth could be submerged beneath rising oceans. Which climate change would cause this?
Global warming
Decreased winds
The start of an ice age
Increased desertification
Some scientist have predicted that buildup of greenhouse gases is the occurrence of hurricanes. Which is most likely the assumption of this?
Acid rainfall will cause a decrease in oceanic surface temperatures
Any measurable increase in ocean surface temperature must be caused by human activities
Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide will cause increased ocean surface temperatures
Saturation of nitrogen in the atmosphere will cause a wide range of ocean surface temperatures
As Earth gets warmer, what are the most likely effects on Earth’s reflective cover and global temperature?
Reflective cover would increase, lowering earth’s temperature
Reflective cover would decrease, raising earth’s temperature
Reflective cover would increase, raising earth’s temperature
Reflective cover would decrease, lowering earth’s temperature
Paleoclimatologists study the climate throughout Earth’s history. What observations led scientists to predict that the planet’s average temperature is rising due to use of fossil fuels?
Direct relation between atmospheric carbon levels and the Earth’s temperature
Rising and lowering of sea level and temperature
Increase of volcanic activity and temperature
Rise of temperature
Scientists noticed that icebergs on the ice caps covering the North and South Pole were breaking up and melting. Which statement best explains the observation?
Summer months are the warmest
Media reports are misleading
Unqualified scientists published the observation
Global warming has an effect on the ice caps
What is the main energy source for deep ocean currents that move large volumes of water around the planet?
Heat from Earth’s core
Radiation from the sun
Tidal effects of the moon
Motion of tectonic plates
The mixing of cold Arctic Ocean water with warm surface Atlantic currents off the northwestern coast of Europe causes which effect?
Sinking of water as it circulates southwest
Reversal of current direction back toward the European coast
Rise in water salinity and upwelling of affected currents
Rapid evaporation and acceleration of currents toward the pole
Groundwater flows through a layer of subsurface material called an aquifer. An aquifer would MOST likely be made of which type of material?
Gravel and sand
Clay and silt
Granite and basalt
Marble and schist
Look at the list of features of a watershed below a highway.
1. Roadside soils and plants
2. Nearby lakes and streams
3. Underground water system
4. Wells for drinking water
Which of these features belong in a model of how salt used to melt ice on roads can damage the environment?
1 and 2 only
1, 2, and 3 only
1 only
1, 2, 3, and 4
A stream contains toxic chemicals how does toxic runoff can pollute a stream?
Produce acid rain
Create algae blooms
Pollute groundwater
Cause soil erosion
What phenomenon is most likely responsible for the currents' circulation patterns?
Coriolis Effect
Density Differences
Sun’s tidal effect
Temperature differences
