Solar System
Which of these can be made of gases, dust, and hundreds of billions of stars?
A. a galaxy
B. a planet
C. a solar system
D. a constellation
A. a galaxy
Tony wants to show the class how Earth and the Sun cause day and night. Which of the following would best help Tony explain this?
A. a map of the planets
B. pictures of Earth and the Sun
C. a calendar with phases of the Moon
D. a rotating model of Earth and the Sun
D. a rotating model of Earth and the Sun
A desert may look like this. Or, a desert may look like this. Which is a feature of all deserts?
A. very cold temperatures
B. very little precipitation
C. high humidity
D. high heat
B. very little precipitation
When Andy talked to his cousin in Ohio, she said it was raining. It was snowing at Andy’s house in Pennsylvania. What is the main difference in the weather in the two locations?
A. air pressure
B. humidity
C. temperature
D. wind speed
C. temperature
Most places near the equator have warm tropical climates. Some places near the equator are much cooler and even have snow. Where in a tropical climate are you most likely to find cooler weather and snow?
A. at the top of a tall mountain
B. at sea level near a cold ocean current
C. in cloudy places near a desert region
D. at the base of a mountain range that blocks air flow
A. at the top of a tall mountain
Which of the following correctly compares the inner planets of the Solar System to the outer planets?
A. The inner planets have rings, while the outer planets do not have rings.
B. The inner planets have few or no moons, while the outer planets have many moons.
C. The inner planets have longer year lengths, while the outer planets have shorter year lengths.
D. The inner planets are composed mostly of gas, while the outer planets are composed mostly of solids.
B. The inner planets have few or no moons, while the outer planets have many moons.
Mitchell is looking at the stars in the night sky. How many stars are there in a galaxy?
A. thousands
B. hundreds
C. billions
D. one
C. billions
At home in Clearwater, Florida, Mary Ellen watches the local weather report on the news. The announcer states that a high-pressure system is over the area. Which item should Mary Ellen take with her to the park?
A. gloves
B. rain coat
C. sunglasses
D. snow boots
C. sunglasses
Antonio observes the weather one afternoon. He concludes that thunderstorms are likely. Which observation best supports his conclusion?
A. There is a light wind.
B. The temperature is 23℃ (75℉).
C. The winds are blowing from the east.
D. The clouds are mainly cumulonimbus.
D. The clouds are mainly cumulonimbus.
6.Centerville and Poplar Bluff are both cities within the Temperate climate zone. Centerville averages 25 inches of precipitation per year. Poplar Bluff averages 43 inches. Which of these factors could account for the greater precipitation at Poplar Bluff?
A. more trees
B. fewer animals
C. greater elevation
D. nearness to an ocean
D. nearness to an ocean
Which statement best describes comets?
A. Comets rotate on an axis.
B. Comets have thick atmospheres.
C. Comets can sometimes have moons.
D. Comets are composed of ice, rock, and gas.
D. Comets are composed of ice, rock, and gas.
Our solar system is in the Milky Way galaxy. Which statement is NOT true of all galaxies?
A. They contain billions of stars.
B. They can be seen from Earth.
C. They are constantly moving through space.
D. They contain gas and dust where new stars form.
B. They can be seen from Earth.
Precipitation occurs when water moves from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface. The water can be in liquid or solid form. Which two forms of precipitation consists of solid water?
A. hail and rain
B. sleet and rain
C. hail and sleet
D. rain and snow
C. hail and sleet
The panhandle of Oklahoma is high prairie. It receives about 17 inches of rainfall a year. The panhandle of Florida is a coastal plain. It receives about 65 inches of rainfall a year. Which is the best description of the humidity in these areas?
A. low in Oklahoma, low in Florida
B. high in Oklahoma, low in Florida
C. low in Oklahoma, high in Florida
D. high in Oklahoma, high in Florida
C. low in Oklahoma, high in Florida
7.Which of these bodies of water has the greatest effect on the climate of neighboring land?
A. ocean
B. pond
C. river
D. lake
A. ocean
What do Neptune and Uranus have in common?
A. Both planets are very hot.
B. Both planets have an atmosphere.
C. Both planets have the same number of moons.
D. Both planets consist of an iron core with a rocky mantle.
B. Both planets have an atmosphere.
Venus is sometimes called the “evening star.” Why is this NOT a correct statement?
A. Venus is a planet, not a star.
B. Other stars can be seen in the sky after sunset.
C. Only planets can be seen in the sky after sunset.
D. Venus can be seen during the day, but not in the evening.
A. Venus is a planet, not a star.
A weather forecaster predicts that there will be high humidity and high levels of precipitation in an area. How does humidity differ from precipitation?
A. Humidity is water that falls as a liquid, and precipitation is water that falls as a solid.
B. Humidity is water that falls as a solid, and precipitation is water that falls as a liquid.
C. Humidity describes gaseous water mixed in air, and precipitation is liquid or solid water.
D. Humidity describes the amount of air pressure in the atmosphere, and precipitation describes the type of cloud.
C. Humidity describes gaseous water mixed in air, and precipitation is liquid or solid water.
Locations around the world can be placed within three different climate zones. Scientists study the weather of a place over a period of many years to determine its climate. Which are the main factors that determine a location’s climate and its climate zone?
A. average wind speed and temperature
B. average temperature and precipitation
C. average length of day and time of year
D. average number of cloudy days and sunny days
B. average temperature and precipitation
Coos Bay, Oregon and Boise, Idaho are approximately at the same latitude. In January, the average temperature in Coos Bay is 11.7ºC (53º F). The average temperature in Boise is 2.7º C (37º F). What is the most likely reason for the difference in the average January temperatures of the two cities?
A. Coos Bay is near the Pacific Ocean.
B. Coos Bay gets more precipitation.
C. Boise is located in a desert.
D. Boise is at a lower elevation.
A. Coos Bay is near the Pacific Ocean.
Earth, Mars, Mercury, and Venus belong to the same group in the Solar System. To which group do they belong?
A. gas giants
B. outer planets
C. inner planets
D. moons of the Sun
C. inner planets
BONUS Climate Question!
Which factors affect temperature and precipitation within a climate zones?
A. Latitude, elevation and proximity to water
B. Latitude, number of cities and time of year
C. Elevation, types of plants and time of year
D. Elevation, number of rivers and proximity to water
A. Latitude, elevation and proximity to water
Sleet is frozen precipitation that looks like small bits of ice. How does sleet form?
A. It forms when rain freezes as it falls to Earth.
B. It forms when raindrops melt as they fall to Earth.
C. It forms when hail stones melt as they fall to Earth.
D. It forms when hail stones freeze as they fall to Earth.
A. It forms when rain freezes as it falls to Earth.
Johanna is explaining to her friend how to determine the climate of an area. Which instruction is she most likely to give her friend?
A. Measure the highest and lowest temperatures for one day.
B. Find the average weather conditions over a period of many years.
C. Measure the weather conditions one day and compare them to other days.
D. Record the precipitation and the wind speed for several months.
B. Find the average weather conditions over a period of many years.
Savitri is making a model of a tundra. A tundra is a treeless area that usually gets less than 10 inches of precipitation each year. The soil below the surface is frozen. Which climate zone does Savitri’s model show?
A. equatorial
B. temperate
C. tropical
D. polar
D. polar