Planets, Sun & Moon
Earthquakes, Volcanoes & Tsunamies
Atmosphere
Weather
Rocks & Earth's Surfaces
100
During the month of April 2024, there will be a total solar eclipse visible for large portions of New York State. On which day in April will this solar eclipse occur?
(1) April 1
(2) April 8
(3) April 15
(4) April 23
What is April 8th?
100
Long Island is part of which New York State landscape region?
(1) Newark Lowlands
(2) Manhattan Prong
(3) Tug Hill Plateau
(4) Atlantic Coastal Plain
(4) Atlantic Coastal Plain
100
14 Which atmospheric gas is important because it protects living things on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation?
(1) nitrogen
(2) ozone
(3) methane
(4) water vapor
(2) ozone
100
29 What is the primary reason that water-filled cracks in rock widen in winter?
(1) Ice is less dense than water.
(2) Ice is more dense than water.
(3) Water expands when it freezes.
(4) Water contracts when it freezes.
(3) Water expands when it freezes.
100
The photograph below shows a New York State index fossil. This index fossil would be classified as a
(1) gastropod
(2) nautiloid
(3) coral
(4) brachiopod
(4) brachiopod
200
The constellation Orion is visible in New York State in the night sky during winter, but is not visible in New York State in the night sky during summer because
(1) Earth rotates on its axis
(2) Earth revolves around the Sun
(3) Orion rotates on its axis
(4) Orion revolves around the Sun
(2) Earth revolves around the Sun
200
25 The first S-wave of an earthquake took 10 minutes 40 seconds to travel to a seismic station from the epicenter of an earthquake. What is the distance from this seismic station to the epicenter of this earthquake, and how much time did it take for the first P-wave to travel that distance?
(1) 3200 kilometers; 4 minutes 40 seconds
(2) 3200 kilometers; 6 minutes
(3) 7200 kilometers; 4 minutes 40 seconds
(4) 7200 kilometers; 6 minutes
(2) 3200 kilometers; 6 minutes
200
11. The polar front jet stream in Earth’s atmosphere is located in the upper
(1) troposphere
(2) stratosphere
(3) mesosphere
(4) thermosphere
(1) troposphere
200
What is the primary source of energy that causes all weather phenomena on Earth?
(1) volcanic eruptions
(2) residual heat from Earth’s formation
(3) convection currents in the hydrosphere
(4) incoming solar radiation
(4) incoming solar radiation
200
Equal areas of which surface absorb the most insolation and heat up most rapidly on a sunny day?
(1) white sandy beach
(2) calm lake surface
(3) snow covered field
(4) crushed basalt rock
(4) crushed basalt rock
300
55 Determine the time of day at Atlanta and time of day at Los Angeles when it is 1:00 p.m. at Rochester, New York. Indicate a.m. or p.m. in both answers
Atlanta 1:00pm
Los Angeles: 10:00am
300
Which table below correctly shows the characteristics of seismic waves when they reach liquid material?
1
300
Compared to the average air temperature at the stratopause, the average air temperature at the mesopause is
(1) 55°C lower
(2) 55°C higher
(3) 90°C lower
(4) 90°C higher
(3) 90°C lower
300
The dry-bulb temperature is 18°C and the wetbulb temperature is 8°C on a psychrometer. What is the dewpoint?
(1) –5°C
(2) 2°C
(3) 10°C
(4) 19°C
(1) –5°C
300
Many periods of global warming have occurred during the last 100,000 years. The inferred primary cause of the current rise in global temperatures is the
(1) change in the eccentricity of Earth’s orbit
(2) change in position of tectonic plates
(3) increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases
(4) increase in sunspot activity
(3) increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases
400
2. Cosmic background radiation provides evidence of the
(1) Big Bang
(2) origin of the Sun
(3) radioactive decay in Earth’s core
(4) formation of the Milky Way Galaxy
(1) Big Bang
400
The photograph below shows the bedrock structure of an outcrop. Which process is responsible for the folding of this bedrock?
(1) volcanic activity
(2) earthquake activity
(3) crustal movement
(4) mass movement
(3) crustal movement
400
The photograph below shows “Mitten Butte,” a sand-blasted landscape feature in Monument Valley, Utah.
Which type of climate and agent of erosion are continuing to shape this landscape feature?
(1) humid climate and running-water erosion
(2) humid climate and wind erosion
(3) arid climate and running-water erosion
(4) arid climate and wind erosion
(4) arid climate and wind erosion
400
22 The cross section below represents a portion of Earth’s crust.
Compared to the sedimentary rock layers, the igneous rock is
(1) older than all the sedimentary rock layers
(2) younger than all the sedimentary rock layers
(3) older than the shale, but younger than the sandstone and limestone
(4) younger than the shale, but older than the sandstone and limestone
(3) older than the shale, but younger than the sandstone and limestone
500
The diagram below represents the Moon at one position in its orbit around Earth. The numbers represent locations on Earth’s surface.
At which numbered location would high tide be occurring when the Moon is in the location shown in the diagram?
(1) 1
(2) 2
(3) 3
(4) 4
(1) 1
500
26 Which two hot spots are located on the same tectonic plate?
(1) Tasman and Easter Island Hot Spots
(2) Hawaii and Yellowstone Hot Spots
(3) Iceland and Bouvet Hot Spots
(4) Canary Islands and St. Helena Hot Spots
(4) Canary Islands and St. Helena Hot Spots
500
Which two weather symbols represent severe weather?
3
500
The table below was prepared to compare the surface bedrock of four New York State locations. The table contains some errors.
For which New York State location in the table are both the geologic age of the surface bedrock and the dominant type of surface bedrock correct?
(1) Finger Lakes (3) Syracuse
(2) Mount Marcy (4) Watertown
(4) Watertown
600
At which location will the longest noontime shadow be observed on the date indicated in the diagrams?
(1) Equator
(2) Tropic of Cancer
(3) New York State
(4) Arctic Circle
(4) Arctic Circle
600
21 Why is volcanic ash a good geologic time marker?
(1) Ash deposits usually contain identifiable fossils.
(2) Ash is rapidly deposited over a large geographic area.
(3) Volcanoes are distributed worldwide.
(4) Volcanoes often continuously erupt over long periods of time.
(2) Ash is rapidly deposited over a large geographic area.
600
The cross section below represents a frontal boundary between two air masses. Arrows represent the direction of moving air masses.
The type of front represented at the boundary between the cold air mass and the cool air mass is
(1) an occluded front caused by a cold front overtaking a warm front
(2) an occluded front caused by a warm front overtaking a cold front
(3) a stationary front caused by a cold front overtaking a warm front
(4) a stationary front caused by a warm front overtaking a cold front
(1) an occluded front caused by a cold front overtaking a warm front
600
The data table below classifies three types of sand based on their particle diameters in centimeters. Which stream velocity would cause medium and coarse sand to settle to the bottom of the stream, while fine sand continues to move downstream?
(1) 1.0 cm/s (3) 5.0 cm/s
(2) 0.2 cm/s (4) 10.0 cm/s
(1) 1.0 cm/s