Planets, Sun & Moon
Atmosphere & Earthquakes
Weather
Rocks & Earth's Surfaces
Miscellaneous
100
What is Earth’s approximate rate of revolution?
(1) 1°/hour
(2) 1°/day
(3) 15°/hour
(4) 15°/day
(2) 1°/day
100
Which graph most accurately represents the approximate percentage of Earth’s surface covered by the hydrosphere?
3
100
Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy was one of the most severe hurricanes to affect the northeastern United States in many years. On October 29, 2012, this storm made landfall in New Jersey. It produced a 14-foot storm surge, which is a rise in the level of ocean water along a coast caused by strong winds and low air pressure. The Moon also enhanced the effects of this storm surge, since the Moon was in full phase at the time Hurricane Sandy made landfall. During a full Moon, above-normal high tides occur on Earth.
What was the surface wind circulation pattern around the center of Hurricane Sandy?
(1) counterclockwise and outward
(2) counterclockwise and inward
(3) clockwise and outward
(4) clockwise and inward
(2) counterclockwise and inward
100
26. Which mineral is usually present in pegmatite, phyllite, and siltstone?
(1) quartz
(2) garnet
(3) olivine
(4) pyroxene
(1) quartz
100
During which geologic period did humans first appear on Earth?
(1) Quaternary
(2) Paleogene
(3) Triassic
(4) Permian
(1) Quaternary
200
The names and appearances of four Moon phases viewed by an observer in New York State in June are shown below.
1
200
Which factor is responsible for the circulation of convection currents occurring in the hydrosphere, troposphere, and mantle?
(1) radioactive decay
(2) solar radiation
(3) density differences
(4) planetary winds
(3) density differences
200
Which diagram correctly matches the weather front symbol with its atmospheric cross section?
2
200
The diagram below represents rock A changing into rock B.
Which process causes rock A to change into rock B?
(1) melting
(2) solidification
(3) precipitation
(4) metamorphism
(4) metamorphism
200
Which planet takes approximately twice as long as Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun?
(1) Venus
(2) Mars
(3) Jupiter
(4) Saturn
(2) Mars
300
Which table best lists the differences between a terrestrial planet and a Jovian planet in our solar system?
1
300
In which atmospheric temperature zone is the polar front jet stream located?
(1) thermosphere
(2) mesosphere
(3) stratosphere
(4) troposphere
(4) troposphere
300
The arrows on the two maps below show how the monsoon winds blow over India during the summer and winter seasons
Compared to the amount of rainfall that India receives during the summer monsoon season, the amount of rainfall that India receives during the winter monsoon season is
(1) less because winds blow from the water to the land
(2) less because winds blow from the land to the water
(3) more because winds blow from the water to the land
(4) more because winds blow from the land to the water
(2) less because winds blow from the land to the water
300
Which agent of erosion produced many of the large parallel grooves and scratches seen in surface bedrock across New York State?
(1) mass movement
(2) wind
(3) running water
(4) glaciers
(4) glaciers
300
In our solar system, the orbits of the planets are best described as
(1) elliptical with the Sun at one focus
(2) elliptical with Earth at one focus
(3) circular with the Sun at one focus
(4) circular with Earth at one focus
(1) elliptical with the Sun at one focus
400
Which two factors caused Earth and the other planets to become layered during the formation of our solar system?
(1) gravity and densities of materials making up the planet
(2) gravity and percent of water in the planet’s composition
(3) distance from the Moon and densities of materials making up the planet
(4) distance from the Moon and percent of water in the planet’s composition
(1) gravity and densities of materials making up the planet
400
A seismic station is located 2000 kilometers from the epicenter of an earthquake. Which seismogram indicates the correct time difference between the arrival of the first P-wave and the first S-wave at this station?
4
400
If the Tug Hill Plateau region of New York State is experiencing lake-effect snow, winds are most likely blowing in which direction?
(1) north to south
(2) south to north
(3) east to west
(4) west to east
(4) west to east
400
The surface bedrock at Old Forge, New York, is mostly
(1) flat-lying, sedimentary rock formed during the Grenville Orogeny
(2) flat-lying, sedimentary rock formed during the Acadian Orogeny
(3) intensely metamorphosed rock formed during the Grenville Orogeny
(4) intensely metamorphosed rock formed during the Acadian Orogeny
(3) intensely metamorphosed rock formed during the Grenville Orogeny
400
Approximately what percentage of potassium-40 remains in the 1.0-billion-year-old bedrock of the Hudson Highlands landscape region of New York State?
(1) 10%
(2) 25%
(3) 60%
(4) 75%
(3) 60%
500
At a location in the Northern Hemisphere, a camera was placed outside at night with the lens pointing at a group of stars. The shutter was left open for a few hours, resulting in the image of star trails shown below.
The star at the center of the image did not leave a trail because the star is
(1) too far away to observe its movement
(2) too massive to move in space
(3) not luminous enough to leave a trail
(4) centered over Earth’s axis
(4) centered over Earth’s axis
500
The diagram below represents magnetic patterns of normal and reversed polarity of ocean crust on the west side of a mid-ocean ridge. Letters A, B, C, D, and E represent locations on the seafloor on the east side of the mid-ocean ridge.
Which two locations on the east side of the mid-ocean ridge represent areas of reversed magnetic polarity?
(1) A and B
(2) B and D
(3) C and D
(4) E and A
(2) B and D
500
19. Which set of psychrometer measurements was recorded when the dewpoint was 4°C?
(1) dry bulb, 4°C; wet bulb, 1°C
(2) dry bulb, 14°C; wet bulb, 9°C
(3) dry bulb, 20°C; wet bulb, 16°C
(4) dry bulb, 28°C; wet bulb, 13°C
(2) dry bulb, 14°C; wet bulb, 9°C
500
The table below shows the hardness of some common items.
Which mineral could be scratched by an iron nail, but not by a penny coin?
(1) quartz
(2) halite
(3) dolomite
(4) amphibole
(3) dolomite
500
The cross section below represents sedimentary rock layers A, B, and C. An igneous intrusion is labeled D. Line E represents a fault. Overturning has not occurred.
Which events occurred after the formation of rock layer A?
(1) igneous intrusion D and faulting at E
(2) deposition of sediments in rock layers B and C
(3) faulting at E and deposition of sediments in rock layer C
(4) formation of sedimentary rock layer B and igneous intrusion D
(1) igneous intrusion D and faulting at E