WorksheetsFall Final 2025-2026
Total questions: 14
Worksheet time: 29mins
How did the change in the continents lead to the change in the atmospheric oxygen levels?
The amount of plant life declined due to the movement of the continents. Because the plants were not producing oxygen, the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere decreased.
The movement of the continents created conditions for an abundance of plant life. The plants took in carbon dioxide from the air and released oxygen, increasing the overall amount of oxygen in the atmosphere.
As the continents moved, limestone was exposed to weathering, creating a large area of carbon capture. The removal of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere increased the percentage of oxygen.
Movement of the continents caused an abundance of plant life to form. The plants took in oxygen from the atmosphere and released carbon dioxide. This caused the overall composition of the atmosphere to change.
Which set of terms constructs an argument for why insects changed size during the Carboniferous Period?
A: Increase of carbon dioxide
B: Carbon dioxide
C: oxygen
D: increase
A: Decrease of carbon dioxide
B: oxygen
C: energy
D: decrease
A: Increase of oxygen
B: oxygen
C: energy
D: increase
A: Decrease of oxygen
B: Carbon dioxide
C: oxygen
D: decrease
Which statement correctly explains the changes to the Carboniferous insects' environments due to the movement of the tectonic plates?
The swampy coastland decreased because the amount of shallow coastal seas decreased.
The mountainous regions along the equator increased, which caused the increase of dry land.
The movement of the continents formed large areas of dry, arid land, which increased the amount of inland swamps.
The area where the swampy coastlands were located moved farther from the equator, causing the temperature to decrease.
How does this change in the position of the continents create feedback resulting in the change in the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere during the Permian Period?
Use evidence from Graph 1 and Image 4 to construct an argument by making a claim supported by scientific reasoning.
Describe the evidence that supports this claim. Use specific data examples from Table 2.
Explain the process that the trees in a forest use to make energy for food and describe how this process is responsible for a decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
A sample of a meteorite was tested and found to contain 50% Uranium-238. Use evidence from the graph to make a claim about how the radiometric dating of meteorites can be used to construct an account about when Earth formed (Uranium-238 half-life is 4.6 B years)
Identify the process that caused the oxygen levels in Earth’s oceans and atmosphere to change. Then, construct an argument, based on evidence, that describes how oxygen levels changed in Earth’s oceans and atmosphere and how these changes led to a coevolution of life on two Earth spheres.
How did the expansion of swampy (wet forest) environments during the Carboniferous Period affect atmospheric composition?
It caused a rise in carbon dioxide levels from decaying plants.
It decreased the amount of oxygen by reducing plant diversity.
It increased the amount of oxygen due to extensive plant growth.
It had no impact on atmospheric gases.
Describe a property of water that increases the deformation of concrete due to repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Also, describe the relative amount of deformation to concrete samples when metal rebar is added compared to samples without rebar.
A student makes a claim that the water on our planet is most similar to the water found on comets based on its D/H ratio, so comets must be a major source of water on early Earth. Which statement, based on evidence from the graph, would refute this claim?
The source of Earth’s water is the four largest planets in our solar system because these planets have water with higher D/H ratios than Earth’s oceans.
The water on all the comets has the same D/H ratios except Halley, so Halley is not a source of water for Earth’s early oceans.
Many asteroids have water that is very close in D/H ratios to Earth’s oceans, so asteroids could be a source of water on early Earth.
Water on Enceladus has a similar D/H ratio to comets, so Enceladus could also be a source of water for Earth.
Which statement is correctly supported by evidence from the two models showing volcanic outgassing?
All gases emitted from early Earth volcanoes escaped to outer space.
The outgassing of water from Earth’s interior contributed to the development of Earth’s early oceans.
Earth’s early atmosphere contained signifi cant amounts of hydrogen and helium as a result of volcanic outgassing.
Present-day volcanoes directly release oxygen that is used by marine and land plants, which in turn release carbon dioxide.
Construct an argument, based on evidence in the model, about how stromatolites in Earth’s oceans caused Earth’s early atmosphere to evolve.
