Nature of Science
A scientist performs an experiment and asks other scientists around the world to replicate it. Why would other scientists most likely try to perform the same experiment?
A. To see if the experiment would be less expensive in another part of the world.
B. To find out if weather of various regions of the world would affect the results.
C. To confirm the results of the experiment conducted by the scientist.
D. To verify that the hypothesis of the experiment is a scientific law.
C. To confirm the results of the experiment conducted by the scientist.
Maria starts walking across the beach barefoot, but the sand is so hot she decides to put on a pair of sandals. What method of energy transfer affected Maria's feet while she was walking on the beach?
A. perspiration
B. conduction
C. convection
D. radiation
B. Conduction
Which layer of the atmosphere receives the least amount of radiation?
A. the exosphere
B. the ionosphere
C. the stratosphere
D. the troposphere
D. the troposphere
Some landforms develop slowly and other landforms develop rapidly. Which rapidly developing landform is often found in Florida?
A. cave
B. delta
C. mountain
D. sinkhole
D. sinkhole
Which information could be used to determine the climate of a region?
A. the humidity on a cloudy day
B. the total amount of rainfall in a year
C. the average wind speed during a specific week
D. the sea's surface temperature during a hurricane
B. the total amount of rainfall in a year
Scientists are always studying things even if they cannot see them, such as a virus, or touch the objects, such as the Sun. How should a scientist solve a scientific problem that involves matters that cannot be seen or touched?
A. He should decide that there was no solution to the problem and give up.
B. He should use creativity to work out more unusual solutions, such as creating a model to study.
C. He should conclude that it is too difficult for him and wait for a better scientist to solve the problem.
D. He should use conventional scientific methods again, retrying the same experiment he already performed.
B. He should use creativity to work out more unusual solutions, such as creating a model to study.
Addison's school day is delayed because of fog. Why is fog more often seen in the morning than in the afternoon?
A. because water is more likely to freeze when it is cooler
B. because water is more likely to circulate when it is cooler
C. because water is more likely to condense when it is cooler
D. because water is more likely to evaporate when it is cooler
C. because water is more likely to condense when it is cooler
How does the chemical composition of the middle layers of the atmosphere work to protect life on Earth?
A. The gases in the middle layers of the atmosphere absorb some of the harmful rays from the Sun.
B. The middle layers of the atmosphere produce oxygen from carbon dioxide, keeping the gases most important for life in balance.
C. The chemicals in the atmosphere create clouds that keep the harmful gases in the upper atmosphere away from the living organisms at the surface.
D. The chemicals in the middle layers of the atmosphere repel oxygen and carbon dioxide so that the gases most important to living organisms are kept at the surface.
A. The gases in the middle layers of the atmosphere absorb some of the harmful rays from the Sun.
A student visits a beach every summer and notices that each year, the water gets closer to the boardwalk. Which of the following is most likely the cause of the student's observation?
A. erosion
B. deposition
C. physical weathering
D. chemical weathering
A. erosion
Mia researches the average temperature and precipitation in Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Tampa for as many years as this data was recorded. She then searches historical writings to understand the conditions long-term residents described as normal or unusual. Based on the data she collects, Mia concludes that these cities have been humid subtropical for the entire period of our written record of the area. Which of the following terms best explains what Mia is describing when she uses the term "humid subtropical"?
A. climate
B. weather
C. precipitation
D. temperature
A. climate
A student is planning a science fair experiment. Why should the student write a detailed procedure?
A. It will ensure that the hypothesis will be proven correct.
B. It will help the student change multiple variables at once.
C. It will help someone else repeat the experiment and collect similar data.
D. It will help someone else to change parts of the experiment to test a new hypothesis.
C. It will help someone else repeat the experiment and collect similar data.
A hot air balloon relies on convection in order to fly. Which statement best describes what happens to the air inside a hot air balloon?
A. Warm air is rising and cold air is rising.
B. Warm air is rising and cold air is sinking.
C. Cold air is rising and warm air is sinking.
D. Cold air is sinking and warm air is sinking.
B. Warm air is rising and cold air is sinking.
The atmosphere surrounding Earth helps to maintain the various climates found around the world and keeps Earth from becoming extremely cold all over. How does the atmosphere help to keep Earth insulated and warm?
A. The atmosphere creates heat as Earth moves through space, helping to insulate Earth.
B. The atmosphere traps the heat generated by Earth's core and helps maintain Earth's climate.
C. The atmosphere helps spread the warmth from the water near the equator to other parts of Earth.
D. The atmosphere helps trap heat energy from the Sun and energy radiated from Earth to maintain the climate.
D. The atmosphere helps trap heat energy from the Sun and energy radiated from Earth to maintain the climate.
Which aspect of Florida's landforms is most rapidly affected by changes in wind speeds?
A. delta formation
B. dune location
C. glacier velocity
D. lake depth
B. dune location
A person is on the beach when he realizes he has run out of SPF sunscreen lotion. Which statement does not describe something that he can do to protect himself from too much exposure to the Sun?
A. Stay in the shade as much as possible.
B. Wear a hat borrowed from a friend or family member.
C. Wrap a towel around himself while sitting on the beach.
D. Only go outside between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
D. Only go outside between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Which of the following investigations is most likely an experimental investigation?
A. observing cells under a microscope
B. measuring the width of a desk with a meter stick
C. using a hand lens to examine four different rocks
D. testing how far a marble will roll depending on ramp height
D. testing how far a marble will roll depending on ramp height
The rainforest is hot, humid, and has frequent rainfall. In what way does the interaction between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere assist in maintaining this type of climate?
A. The Sun’s rays are trapped by the atmosphere, keeping temperatures and humidity high for most of the year.
B. The hydrosphere sends water to the clouds through the process of transpiration, fueling the water cycle.
C. The Sun supplies energy for the evaporation and transpiration of water, causing frequent rainfall and hot, humid temperatures.
D. The rainforest is in close proximity to the equator, allowing the hydrosphere to release frequent rainfall, fueling the water cycle.
C. The Sun supplies energy for the evaporation and transpiration of water, causing frequent rainfall and hot, humid temperatures.
Which of the following explains why different latitudes on Earth receive different amounts of solar energy?
A. The Sun is hotter in the summer than the winter.
B. Energy from the Sun is lost while travelling through space.
C. The Earth turns more quickly at the poles than it does at the equator.
D. The Sun's rays strike more directly over the equator than at the poles.
D. The Sun's rays strike more directly over the equator than at the poles.
A hiker finds a smooth, rounded pebble along the shore of a stream that is flowing down from a mountain. Which of these most likely caused the pebble to have this appearance?
A. heat from the Sun
B. movement of water
C. changes in temperature
D. chemicals in the environment
B. movement of water
What is the best example of an interaction among the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere?
A. beach erosion
B. plant growth
C. volcanic eruption
D. wave action
B. plant growth
Susan and Fred performed an experiment to investigate the rates at which various colored cotton T-shirts absorb energy from the Sun.
Where should the students put a duplicate set of the shirts to use as a control group?
A. outside and away from direct sunlight
B. outside and encased in an airtight container
C. inside a climate-controlled science classroom
D. in direct sunlight next to the shirts being tested
A. outside and away from direct sunlight
Which pair of Earth's spheres interact the most when ocean waves break onto a beach?
A. atmosphere and biosphere
B. geosphere and atmosphere
C. hydrosphere and biosphere
D. geosphere and hydrosphere
D. geosphere and hydrosphere
In which atmospheric action can we see evidence of conduction ?
A. Air increases in density and sinks back towards the Earth.
B. Radiation from the Sun heats the surface of the Earth.
C. The surface of the Earth heats the air that contacts it.
D. Cold air pushes warm air upward creating a current.
C. The surface of the Earth heats the air that contacts it.
Where do most of the interactions between the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the geosphere occur?
A. in the air
B. in the water
C. underground
D. at the surface of the earth
D. at the surface of the earth
Which of the following statements tells a specific way that hurricanes have caused property damage in Florida?
A. Storm surges have caused flooding.
B. Lawns and landscapes have died because of dry conditions.
C. The ground has become weak and shifted, damaging the foundations of homes and businesses.
D. The ventilation systems in homes and businesses have needed to be cleaned because of smoke damage.
A. Storm surges have caused flooding.