Water and Carbon Cycle/Ocean
During the water cycle, water evaporates from the surface of lakes and oceans. What causes the process of evaporation?
A. wind carrying water to new areas
B. gravity pulling water into the ground
C. energy from the Sun heating the water
D. pressure in the atmosphere pushing water down
C. energy from the Sun heating the water
The population in Alabama has increased from 1950 to the present day. Which statement best explains the impact of this population growth on Earth’s systems in the region?
A. Greater demand for natural resources has contributed to less deforestation and habitat loss.
B. The population growth has decreased the consumption of fossil fuels, slowing climate change.
C. The rise in population has resulted in higher biodiversity due to increased conservation efforts.
D. Increased urbanization has led to more impermeable surfaces, reducing groundwater recharge.
D. Increased urbanization has led to more impermeable surfaces, reducing groundwater recharge.
A student learns about the East African Rift Valley, where the African Plate is pulling away from the Arabian Plate. Which type of boundary is most likely responsible for forming this rift valley?
A. convergent boundary where plates collide
B. divergent boundary where plates move apart
C. transform boundary where plates slide past each other
D. subduction zone where one plate goes beneath another
B. divergent boundary where plates move apart
A student wants to create a model that will accurately represent the sizes of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. The student decides a beach ball, which is approximately 1 meter in diameter, will be a great representation of the Sun. The student decides a BB pellet will work for the representation for the Moon.
A. marble
B. softball
C. pineapple
D. bowling ball
A. marble
Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on Earth. A group of scientists discovered fish fossils at the peak of the mountain. What does this discovery indicate about the history of that area?
A. The mountain was always a dry desert.
B. The mountain formed from volcanic eruptions.
C. The area was once covered by a lake or ocean.
D. The fish once flew through the air at high elevations.
C. The area was once covered by a lake or ocean.
Groundwater is fresh water that is stored in spaces and cracks in rocks beneath Earth’s surface. This water collects over time as rain seeps through the soil and into rock layers, a process called infiltration. Based on the evidence above, in which type of rock layer is groundwater most likely to be found?
A. a hard layer like basalt
B. a dense layer like shale
C. a porous layer like sandstone
D. a non-porous layer like granite
C. a porous layer like sandstone
A group of students is learning about how local temperatures can change over time due to various human activities. The graph below shows different regions in Alabama and the average temperature. Which conclusion could the students draw from this graph?
A. Urban areas absorb less heat from the atmosphere compared to trees and farmland.
B. Suburban areas release the same amount of carbon dioxide compared to the urban area.
C. Factories and cars release more carbon dioxide, contributing to higher greenhouse gas levels.
D. Trees and farmland have more plant life than urban areas, contributing to higher carbon dioxide levels.
C. Factories and cars release more carbon dioxide, contributing to higher greenhouse gas levels.
YIKES!!
Lose 200 points
In order for the rocket to enter into space, a total of 2,500 tons of fuel was used. Why was a large amount of fuel necessary for the Saturn V rocket to launch into space on its way to the Moon?
A. The large amount of fuel was needed to overcome Earth’s gravitational pull.
B. The large amount of fuel was needed to travel several light years to the Moon.
C. The large amount of fuel was needed so its elliptical orbit would match Earth’s.
D. The large amount of fuel was needed to enter into the Moon’s gravitational pull.
A. The large amount of fuel was needed to overcome Earth’s gravitational pull.
Global food consumption has steadily increased from 1990 to 2020. Which statement best explains how this trend has impacted Earth’s systems?
A. Increased food consumption has improved soil health due to the extensive use of fertilizers.
B. Greater food production has reduced the need for irrigation, preserving freshwater resources.
C. Increased food consumption has led to more deforestation to create farmland, reducing biodiversity.
D. The rising demand for food has encouraged the use of renewable energy in agriculture, slowing climate change
C. Increased food consumption has led to more deforestation to create farmland, reducing biodiversity.
Based on what you know about the unequal heating of the Earth’s surface, how does this contribute to the formation of ocean currents?
A. It forces water to move in a straight line from the poles to the equator.
B. It causes the Coriolis effect, which prevents ocean currents from forming.
C. It causes water to move from warm regions to cooler ones, creating currents.
D. It forces water to move in unpredictable patterns with ever-changing currents.
C. It causes water to move from warm regions to cooler ones, creating currents.
Which instrument would a meteorologist use to measure air pressure to help predict weather changes?
A. anemometer
B. barometer
C. hygrometer
D. thermometer
B. barometer
A volcanic eruption in 2018 led to a temporary decrease in global temperatures. Which of the following is the best explanation for the decrease in temperature in 2018?
A. The volcanic eruption caused the Sun’s rays to get stronger.
B. The volcanic eruption absorbed heat from Earth’s surface, cooling it directly.
C. The volcanic eruption released greenhouse gases, trapping heat in the atmosphere.
D. The volcanic eruption blocked sunlight with particles, temporarily cooling the Earth.
D. The volcanic eruption blocked sunlight with particles, temporarily cooling the Earth.
Which statement best explains how a solar eclipse occurs?
A. The Sun blocks the Moon, which creates a shadow on Earth.
B. The Moon blocks the Sun, which creates a shadow on Earth.
C. The Earth blocks the Moon, which creates a shadow on the Sun.
D. The Moon blocks the Earth, which creates a shadow on the Sun.
B. The Moon blocks the Sun, which creates a shadow on Earth.
Drip irrigation is an agricultural method that delivers water directly to the roots of plants using a system of tubes, pipes, valves, and emitters. This system allows farmers to control the amount and timing of water delivery, ensuring plants receive just enough water to thrive without wasting it. How has drip irrigation minimized human impact on the environment?
A. It eliminates the need for fertilizers in agriculture.
B. It reduces water waste and prevents runoff into nearby ecosystems.
C. It replaces natural water sources with treated wastewater for farming.
D. It increases the speed at which crops grow, reducing carbon emissions.
B. It reduces water waste and prevents runoff into nearby ecosystems.
When plants and animals decompose, carbon is released into the soil. What is one way this carbon can eventually return to the atmosphere?
A. Bacteria in the soil will turn carbon into nitrogen gas, which is released to the atmosphere.
B. Rainwater dissolves the carbon, which is absorbed by plants to be released into the atmosphere.
C. Carbon compounds in the soil are burned as fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
D. Plants use the carbon in the soil to make food through photosynthesis and respire the leftover carbon.
C. Carbon compounds in the soil are burned as fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The table below represents the data the students found on local temperatures in Birmingham, Alabama, over a period of 50 years.Based on this data, which two conclusions support the reason for increased annual local temperatures in Birmingham?
A. More cars are on the road, which leads to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.
B. More cars are on the road, which leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
C. The amount of trees in the city has increased, which leads to more carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere.
D. The amount of trees in the city has decreased, which leads to more carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere.
E. The amount of trees in the city has decreased to allow the construction of buildings and roads, which has resulted in forming an urban heat island.
B. More cars are on the road, which leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
E. The amount of trees in the city has decreased to allow the construction of buildings and roads, which has resulted in forming an urban heat island.
YAYY!!
Gain 200 points
Around 85 million years ago, a large asteroid struck the ground in the area now known as Wetumpka, Alabama. In the 1970s, this area was identified as an impact crater and named the Wetumpka Impact Crater. Which of the following statements best describes how the asteroid changed the landscape?
A. The impact flattened all nearby mountains, creating a smooth plain.
B. The impact of the asteroid led to a large fault line, causing frequent earthquakes in the area.
C. The asteroid caused a deep, circular depression in the ground that formed a crater over time.
D. The asteroid cooled the area around the impact zone, which led to a permanent frozen topsoil.
C. The asteroid caused a deep, circular depression in the ground that formed a crater over time.
A pot of boiling water on a stove is a great model for how energy moves within the Earth’s atmosphere.
Which two statements are correct about the movement of energy in the pot of water?
A. The water will move in unpredictable patterns.
B. The warm water will always remain at the bottom of the pot.
C. As the warm water is heated at the bottom, it moves to the top.
D. The cold water at the top replaces the warm water at the bottom.
E. As the warm water moves, it will have no effect on the cold water.
C. As the warm water is heated at the bottom, it moves to the top.
D. The cold water at the top replaces the warm water at the bottom.
The tide changes as the Moon moves around the Earth. _______________ occurs in the areas of the ocean directly facing the Moon and also on the opposite side of Earth. _____________ occurs in the areas that are 90 degrees from the bulges.
High Tide
Low Tide
A map of the air pollution in the United States is below.
In Alabama, the red areas are considered [CHOICE 1], and these areas produce [CHOICE 2] air pollution compared to those that are not.
Choice 1 - rural, suburban, urban
Choice 2 - less, more, the same amount
Urban
More
The movement of plates results in different land formations and catastrophic events. The diagram below represents some of these. How do the plates move to form these types of landforms or events? Answers may be used more than once.
A. two plates collide
B. two plates move apart
C. two plates slide past each other
Rift Valley - B
Ocean Trench - A
Mountain Range - A
Earthquake - C
????
You can choose to GIVE or TAKE AWAY 200 points from ANY team EXCEPT your own.
Fossils of the same dinosaur species, Mesosaurus, have been found in both Africa and South America, even though these continents are now separated by the Atlantic Ocean. What does this discovery suggest about the past positions of these continents?
A. Dinosaurs swam across the Atlantic Ocean to both continents.
B. Fossils can form anywhere, regardless of where the animals lived.
C. Africa and South America were once joined together in a single landmass.
D. These continents were connected by an ancient bridge that has since eroded.
C. Africa and South America were once joined together in a single landmass.