Changes in Earth
How does the test for hardness differ from cleavage when comparing properties of minerals?
A. Cleavage tests require scratching, while hardness tests require observing how minerals break.
B. Hardness tests require scratching, while cleavage requires observing how minerals break.
C. Hardness tests the dust or sediment of a mineral, while cleavage tests its luster.
D. Cleavage tests the dust or sediment of a mineral, while hardness tests its luster.
B. Hardness tests require scratching, while cleavage requires observing how minerals break.
Which is the best explanation for why it is cooler during night hours than day hours?
A. The night side of Earth is always rotated away from the hot sun.
B. The night side of Earth is always closer to the hot sun.
C. The moon’s rotation at night warms air over Earth.
D. The moon’s rotation at night cools air over Earth.
A. The night side of Earth is always rotated away from the hot sun.
What can people do to help reduce air pollution?
A. burn their trash as much as they can
B. drive their cars as often as possible
C. cut down all the trees in their yards
D. use public transportation as much as possible
D. use public transportation as much as possible
A town near a desert must transport water from far away. This increases the price of drinking water. What is one way that the residents of the town could conserve water?
A. taking shorter showers
B. drinking flavored water
C. using more plants to decorate homes
D. doing outdoor work around noon
A. taking shorter showers
After large rainstorms, Mrs. Jane's town has a problem with flooding. Mrs. Jane is working on a plan to stop the flooding. Which plan should she choose for her town?
A. set up a loud speaker that will warn people about the rainstorm
B. plant trees because the roots help the soil soak up rainwater
C. build more buildings because the roofs will block the rainwater
D. lay concrete over more areas of land to stop the water from rising
B. plant trees because the roots help the soil soak up rainwater
Alan was trying to identify a mineral. He used his fingernail and a penny to scratch the mineral. Which test is Alan using to help identify the mineral?
A. cleavage
B. hardness
C. luster
D. streak
B. hardness
Which factor causes day and night on Earth?
A. revolution of the planet
B. the wobble of the planet
C. the speed of the planet
D. rotation of the planet
D. rotation of the planet
Mr. Anderson owns a restaurant. He wants to make changes at the restaurant that will help the environment. What change could Mr. Anderson make to save trees?
A. print the restaurant menus on recycled paper
B. change the cloth napkins for paper napkins
C. reuse glass bottles as salt and pepper shakers
D. buy fruits and vegetables from local farmers
A. print the restaurant menus on recycled paper
How is sedimentary rock formed?
A. compaction → erosion → weathering → deposition
B. deposition → weathering → compaction → erosion
C. erosion → deposition → weathering → compaction
D. weathering → erosion → deposition → compaction
D. weathering → erosion → deposition → compaction
Why are different phases of the moon seen at different times throughout the month?
A. because the moon changes shape as it rotates around Earth
B. because of the positions of the moon, sun, and Earth during the month
C. because the sun blocks part of the moon during different times of the month
D. because as Earth revolves around the moon, the moon moves farther away from Earth
B. because of the positions of the moon, sun, and Earth during the month
Becca is trying to determine if a mineral is metallic or non-metallic. Which two mineral identification tests should Becca use?
A. color and streak
B. luster and streak
C. cleavage and color
D. hardness and cleavage
B. luster and streak
Which choice best explains the side of Earth that faces away from the sun as Earth rotates on its axis?
A. It is warm and dark.
B. It is warm and light.
C. It is cool and light.
D. It is cool and dark.
D. It is cool and dark.
Trees help keep the air clean. They make the air better for animals to breathe. They also keep areas cooler and change how the wind moves. When a fire destroys the trees in an area, what could be a result of having fewer trees?
A. There could be cleaner air in the area.
B. There could be more shade in the area.
C. The temperature in the area could become warmer.
D. The animals in the area could breathe more easily.
C. The temperature in the area could become warmer.
Why is the new moon phase in the lunar cycle not visible from Earth?
A. The sun is between the moon and Earth, and the sun′s light is not able to reflect from the moon.
B. Earth is between the moon and the sun, and the sun′s light is not able to reflect from the moon.
C. The moon is between Earth and the sun, and the sun′s light is not able to reflect from the moon.
D. The moon is above Earth and the sun, so the sun′s light is not able to reflect from the moon.
C. The moon is between Earth and the sun, and the sun′s light is not able to reflect from the moon.
Which would most likely cause an increase in erosion to a flat area with little vegetation?
A. high humidity
B. increased rainfall
C. increased sunlight
D. cold temperatures Earth's Changing Surface
B. increased rainfall
Why are metamorphic rocks unlikely to contain fossils?
A. because of the erosion during formation
B. because of the hot gases and molten lava during formation
C. because of the extreme heat and pressure during formation
D. because they become trapped in layers of sediment during formation
C. because of the extreme heat and pressure during formation
Sarah looks out of her window and sees a night sky. What will the sky look like after Earth makes one complete rotation on its axis?
A. foggy
B. dark
C. sunny
D. bright
B. dark
Cities are often hotter than their surrounding areas because roads and buildings can absorb more heat from the Sun than grass and trees can absorb.
The hotter temperatures can harm animals and plants. How can cities help to solve this problem?
A. by planting more trees
B. by moving more people and animals into the city
C. by building taller buildings
D. by moving plants and trees out of the city
A. by planting more trees
Which action would cause a change to Earth’s surface in a few days?
A. weathering
B. a glacier carving out a valley
C. a volcano erupting and spewing lava
D. erosion moving packed soil downstream
C. a volcano erupting and spewing lava
Imagine that a large amount of pesticide was spilled onto the ground, and the plants near the spill died.
If the deer in the area did not have enough plants to eat, and wolves need the deer for food, what might happen to the deer and wolves?
A. Many deer will starve, and the wolves will start eating the bushes.
B. Many deer and wolves will starve.
C. Nothing will happen to the deer and wolves.
D. The deer will start to hunt the wolves for food.
B. Many deer and wolves will starve.
Which is most likely a characteristic of a sedimentary rock?
A. hard and dense
B. soft, crumbly layers
C. a glassy appearance
D. layers of same-sized crystals
B. soft, crumbly layers
Why does the moon’s appearance change each night?
A. because of the moon’s distance from the sun
B. because of the moon’s path around the sun
C. because of the moon’s distance from Earth
D. because of the moon’s path around Earth
D. because of the moon’s path around Earth
Humans cut down the trees around a lake. This causes the soil on the bank to slide into the lake. Now, the lake's water is murky and not as much sunlight gets through the water. Which of these is true?
A. The Sun is not part of the ecosystem of the lake.
B. The fish will not be able to get to the surface of the lake to breathe.
C. Without sunlight, the plants in the lake may not grow. This will not affect the fish in any way.
D. Without sunlight, the plants in the lake may not grow. Many fish depend on the plants.
D. Without sunlight, the plants in the lake may not grow. Many fish depend on the plants.
. A wildfire destroys most of the plant life in a forest. What would most likely happen to the animals that lived in the forest?
A. There would be more animals because animals would not have to compete with plants for water.
B. There would be no animals because they would not be able to adapt to the changes.
C. There would be the same number of animals because they would be able to avoid the fire.
D. There would be fewer animals because there would be less food available.
D. There would be fewer animals because there would be less food available.
Which statement best describes the appearance of a waning moon?
A. The moon appears dark.
B. The moon appears full and bright.
C. The moon appears to be growing larger each night.
D. The moon appears to be getting smaller each night.
D. The moon appears to be getting smaller each night.