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Carbon Cycle
Climate
Earthquakes
Stars
Galaxy
100
Carbon in the atmosphere is most often found as which of the following compounds? A. stratospheric ozone B. fossil fuel C. carbon monoxide D. carbon dioxide
What is D. carbon dioxide
100
Air moving from the poles toward the equator turns west. The primary cause of this global deflection is A. the shape and size of land masses. B. larger cities surrounded by farmlands. C. changes in the magnetic field. D. the rotation of the planet.
What is D. the rotation of the planet.
100
Which of the following is most responsible for the formation of new crust at the edge of a tectonic plate? A .mountain building at a continent-continent convergent boundary B. magma rising up from the mantle at a divergent boundary C .two tectonic plates sliding past one another at a transform boundary D .subduction of one oceanic plate under another at a convergent boundary
What is B. magma rising up from the mantle at a divergent boundary
100
Scientific evidence suggests that magnesium is formed by stars during A. photosynthesis. B. the fission of carbon atoms. C. nuclear fusion. D. convection inside sunspots.
What is C. nuclear fusion.
100
The diameter of Saturn is almost ten times that of the Earth, yet its density is much less. This can best be explained by the fact that Saturn A. is farther from the Sun. B. is a gaseous planet. C. has a shorter period of rotation. D. has a ring around its center.
What is B. is a gaseous planet.
200
Which of the following processes puts carbon from a forest floor back into the atmosphere? A. combustion B. photosynthesis C. evaporation D. transpiration
What is A. combustion
200
Earth rotates in an easterly direction. Therefore, southward wind currents in the Northern Hemisphere appear to be deflected to the A. east. B. west. C. north. D. south.
What is B. west
200
Relative cooling rates of igneous intrusive rocks can be estimated by comparing rocks’ A. crystal sizes. B. composition. C. density. D. chemical reactivity.
What is A. crystal sizes.
200
Astronomers have discovered vast differences in stars through their observations. One theory used to explain these differences is that A .the distances between stars are vast. B. stars are at different points in their life cycles. C. Earth’s atmosphere distorts our view of the stars. D .there is too much light pollution on Earth to study stars.
What is B. stars are at different points in their life cycles
200
Evidence suggests that Earth is about 4.6 billion years old, even though no Earth rocks have been found that can be dated at more than 4 billion years old. This discrepancy is most likely caused by Earth’s original crust being A. difficult to date so precisely. B. subject to extensive erosion. C .blasted away during Earth’s formation. D. destroyed by solar radiation.
What is B. subject to extensive erosion
300
The release of carbon from limestone reservoirs into the atmosphere is most often accomplished by the A. abrasion of the limestone by wind-blown sands. B. destruction of limestone by lichens. C. formation of stalagmites and stalactites in limestone caves. D. chemical reaction between limestone and rainwater.
What is D. chemical reaction between limestone and rainwater.
300
Which of these effects generally occurs as the result of a warm air mass and a cooler air mass converging at Earth’s surface? A. The sky becomes clear. B. Winds die down. C. Cloud formation decreases. D. Stormy weather patterns develop.
What is D. Stormy weather patterns develop.
300
Earthquake vibrations are detected, measured, and recorded by instruments called A. sonargraphs. B. seismographs. C. Richter scales. D. magnetometers.
What is B. seismographs.
300
An astronomer uses a telescope to observe a star. The color of the star indicates that it has a size and surface temperature similar to that of the Sun. Using this information, the astronomer can conclude that the star A. is older than the Sun. B. will survive for several billion years. C. is moving very quickly away from Earth. D. has a mass similar to the mass of Jupiter.
What is B. will survive for several billion years.
300
It has been determined that the oldest rocks retrieved from the Moon by Apollo astronauts were formed 4.44 billion years ago, while the oldest rocks found on Earth are less than 4 billion years old. This difference is most likely because : A. Earth formed well after the Moon was formed. B. Earth cooled more slowly than the Moon. C. Earth’s oldest rocks have been recycled by plate tectonics and erosion. D. Earth and the Moon were both captured by the Sun’s gravity at different times.
What is C. Earth’s oldest rocks have been recycled by plate tectonics and erosion
400
During periods of increased global temperatures, which of the following is most likely to occur? A. a decrease in atmospheric CO2 B. an increase in atmospheric CO2 C. a decrease in earthquakes D. an increase in earthquakes
What is B. an increase in atmospheric CO2
400
Snow on the ground prevents polar climates from gaining heat by what mechanism? A. heating by greenhouse gases B. heat spread from the equator C. reflection of solar radiation D. release of heat from Earth’s core
What is C. reflection of solar radiation
400
The Richter scale measures which of the following earthquake characteristics? A. intensity B. magnitude C. frequency D. probability
What is B. magnitude
400
Although many ancient civilizations designated certain patterns of stars as constellations, they never included planets in their constellations. What feature of planets, as opposed to stars, explains this? A . They look bigger than stars. B. They are more difficult to see than stars. C .There are not enough of them to form a constellation. D. They do not maintain fixed positions relative to other planets or stars.
What is D. They do not maintain fixed positions relative to other planets or stars.
400
Before humans visited the Moon and brought back lunar rocks, the age of the Moon was unknown. Radioisotope dating of these rocks showed that the age of the oldest lunar rock was closest to A. 186,000 years. B. 6.5 million years. C. 4.4 billion years. D. 15 billion years.
What is C. 4.4 billion years
500
Earth’s atmosphere is divided into layers that are based upon their A. water content. B. relative humidity. C. gas content. D. temperature gradient.
What is D. temperature gradient
500
Shifts in Earth’s continents most likely caused a change in Earth’s A. climatic regions. B. mass. C. orbital velocity. D. atmospheric temperature.
What is A. climatic regions
500
The Long Valley Caldera in east-central California was formed by a massive volcanic eruption about 760,000 years ago. Since then, it has erupted several times. Of the following, which would be least likely to indicate that another eruption will soon occur? A. recurring earthquakes in the vicinity B decreases in precipitation in the area C changes in gas emissions from the caldera D uplifting of the floor of the caldera C. changes in gas emissions from the caldera D .uplifting of the floor of the caldera
What is B decreases in precipitation in the area
500
Before the telescope was invented, people had the idea that the planets were closer to Earth than were the stars. Which piece of evidence contributed to this conclusion? A. The planets were the only objects with visible moons. B .The Milky Way was sometimes visible during the day. C. The stars were consistently brighter than the planets. D. The planets appeared to move much more quickly than the stars.
What is D. The planets appeared to move much more quickly than the stars.
500
Which of the following is the best evidence that Earth’s continents were once in vastly different positions than they are today? A. Penguins are found only in the Southern Hemisphere. B. Fossils of tropical plants are found in Antarctica. C. Volcanoes encircle the Pacific Ocean. D. Major rivers form deltas from continental erosion.
What is B. Fossils of tropical plants are found in Antarctica.