Earth Science Simulated Test 2

Name: ______________________________

Question 1 refers to the following information.

The earth is a planet that orbits a star that we call the Sun. The Sun has nine planets orbiting
around it. From the center out they are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune and Pluto. The moon orbits the earth and is referred to as a satellite. Other planets also
have moons orbiting them. There is an asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and
Jupiter. There are also comets that make long orbits that take them close to the sun and then far
away again. Together, all these objects make up the Solar System, the earths local
neighbourhood. In sum, the solar system includes the sun, nine planets and their moons,
asteroids, comets, meteoroids, interplanetary dust and plasma.
The Sun is one of several hundreds of billions of stars in the Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way
is the neighbourhood that the Sun belongs to. Many of the other stars have planetary systems
orbiting around them.
The Milky Way is only one of the many, many galaxies sprinkled throughout the universe.
When you look with a powerful enough telescope, the galaxies appear to be moving away from
each other which leads to the conclusion that the universe is expanding.
Question:
1. Galaxies are groups or systems of:
A. planets
B. meteoroids
C. stars
D. moons

Question 2 refers to the following information.

THE BIG BANG
The Big Bang theory is used to describe how the entire universe is likely to have
begun. Physicists theorize that if we (conceptually) go back far enough in time, we find the

universe starting out at a single point of very high energy and pressure. It would be hard for us to
recognize or even grasp how that looked.
It went through a series of expansions and evolutions where the substance of the universe
literally cooled down and formed what we see around us today.
This model has been put together by using many clues such as current expansion, various forms
of radiation that occur throughout space, and the re-creation of the original high-energy
conditions in laboratories.
THE EARTH
As the universe flung out its substance, atoms that took the form of hot gas and dust, this
material started to stick to itself and form clumps much like soap bubbles do. One or more of
these clumps formed the beginnings of the Milky Way and smaller ones formed the stars within
it. Our Solar System was a ball of gas and dust that coalesced under the force of its own gravity
to form the sun and planets.
The Earth, like all the other planets, took time to develop into the state that it is in now. It had a
process of hardening from a molten state over long periods of time.
Question:
2. The earth is a:
A. Moon
B. Star
C. Asteroid
D. Planet
E. Galaxy

Question 3 and 4 refer to the following information.

THE ATMOSPHERE
More commonly just called air; the earths atmosphere is relatively thick and made up of
nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%) and argon (1%) as well as trace amounts of carbon dioxide and
water vapor. The troposphere is the name of the lowest portion of the atmosphere, where we can
see clouds. The atmosphere plays the role of buffer between the earth and the sun. The earth has

an unstable atmospheric composition which is maintained by the biosphere, that is, the
atmospheric oxygen sustained through the interaction of solar energy with the earths plants.
The Water Cycle:
The water cycle, also called the hydrologic cycle, is the process of circulation of water within
the earths hydrosphere. It involves the change in the physical state of water between its liquid,
solid and gas phases. This cycle refers to the continuing exchange of water between land,
atmosphere, surface and subsurface waters and organisms. This cycle involves five main
physical actions: evaporation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and subsurface flow.
1. Evaporation: involves the transfer of water from bodies of surface water into the atmosphere
necessitating a change in the physical nature of water from liquid to gas. 90% of atmospheric
water comes from evaporation.
2. Precipitation: is the atmospheric moisture already condensed into clouds and falling to the
surface of the earth. Precipitation normally occurs in the form of rain, and sometimes snow, hail,
and fog.
3. Infiltration: The transition from surface water to groundwater is called infiltration.
Groundwater tends to be slow moving, so this water may return as surface water thousands of
years later.
4. Runoff: is the name for the different ways in which land surface water moves downhill to the
oceans. Streams and rivers often end in lakes for some time and dont make it to the ocean. A lot
of runoff will evaporate before reaching a body of water or an aquifer.
5. Subsurface flow: is the term for the movement of water within the earth in the vadose zone or
in aquifers. After infiltration, subsurface water often returns to the surface or seeps into the
ocean.
Question:
3. In terms of the water cycle, what is the name for the process in which water that melts off of a
snow cap reaches the ocean?
A. Subsurface flow
B. Infiltration
C. Evaporation
D. Precipitation
E. Runoff

Question:
4. Which of the five physical actions involves water changing into its gaseous state?
A Runoff
B. Evaporation
C. Precipitation
D. Infiltration
E. Subsurface flow

Question 5 and 6 refers to the following information.

EARTHS RESOURCES
Conservation of earths resources involves the protection and smart management of the natural
resources supplied by the earth for the benefit of each and every person and every living
organism on this planet. Without conservation, all of the natural resources that are necessary for
supporting life, like air, water, minerals, soil, animals, and energy will be destroyed. Currently,
we waste incomprehensible amounts of natural resources every day through conscious
recklessness as well as through negligence and ignorance. If we do more to conserve, we will
save money and our environment. The more the earths populations increase, the greater a
demand there is on the earths limited resources, which increases the need for conservation and
the search for alternative energy sources.
Different Forms of Energy
Currently, the majority of our energy comes from non-renewable energy sources that can never
be replaced once they are exhausted. About 90% of our energy comes from fossil fuels like crude
oil, natural gas, and coal. Because of this incredible rate of use and the impending loss of all of
our natural resources, many scientists and activists have turned towards alternate forms of
energy. These include methanol, ethanol, garbage and plant material, corn, wind energy, solar
energy, hydroelectricity, and tidal energy. These are called renewable energy sources.
Question:

5. Why are people looking for renewable energy sources?

A. Because theyre hippies
B. Because we will soon be out of non-renewable energy sources
C. Because theyre bored
D. Because they want to increase our energy use
E. None of the above
Question:
6. Crude oil, natural gas, and coal are called
A. Nuclear energy sources
B. Alternate energy sources
C. Renewable energy sources
D. Fossil fuel sources

Question 7 and 8 refer to the following information.

Clay soil forms a fairly effective barrier against the movements of water. It also swells and
shrinks significantly as its water content changes. Sandy soil, in contrast, allows water to move
freely and does not change shape as the water content varies.
7.

In which statement is the appropriate soil selected for its intended site?

a)

Sandy soil would make a good lining for a toxic waste site.

b)

Clay soil would work well in a drain field.

c)

Clay soil would be a good foundation for a large building.

d)

Clay soil would form a good liner if a person built a pond.

e)

A sandy lake bottom would prevent water from seeping out of the lake.

8.

Which statement describes the contrast between the clay soil & sandy soil?

a)

Both soils are good for farming.

b)

Sandy soil is a better barrier than clay soil

c)

Both soils are good liners.

d)

Clay soil allows water to move freely, while sandy soil does not.

e)

Sandy soil allows for good drainage, while clay soil does not.

Questions 9 and 10 refer to the following information.

The water cycle is a process that describes how water moves from Earth to the atmosphere and
back again. The Sun provides energy for the water cycle. In evaporation, heat from the Sun
changes water to a gas, water vapour. Water evaporates from oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams.
As it evaporates, it moves upward into Earths atmosphere.
As the water vapour rises in the atmosphere, it is cooled. As the water vapour cools, it
condenses, or changes back to liquid form. Droplets of condensed water vapour form clouds.
When the clouds can hold no more condensed water vapour, the droplets fall to Earth as
precipitation such as rain. The rain soaks into the ground, moves along the ground in streams and
rivers, or evaporates. Once the water evaporates, the water cycle repeats.
9.

Which of the following statements best summarizes the passage and diagram?

a)

Precipitation such as rain is part of the water cycle.

b)

The Sun is responsible for adding energy to the water cycle.

c)

Water moves from the ground upward to the clouds.

d)

Water on Earth is recycled through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

e)

Rainwater runoff is the source of the water for the water cycle.

10.

Evaporation is the step where what happens?

a)

Heat from the Sun changes water to a gas

b)

Water vapour rises in the atmosphere

c)

Water soaks into the ground

d)

Droplets fall to Earth

e)

Particles are absorbed by the earth

Questions 11 and 12 refer to the following diagram and information.

When damp air blows against a mountain, the air rises. As it moves higher, it gets colder. For
every 1,000 feet the air rises, its temperature drops 3 degrees. Clouds also form because moisture
condenses as air becomes colder. When the air has reached the top of the mountain, it is quite
dry. As the dry, cold air moves down the other side of the mountain, it heats up about 5 1/2
degrees for every 1,000 feet of descent. It heats up more because the moisture is gone.
11. The diagram shows that moist air arriving at a mountain has a temperature of 40F at an
altitude of 5,000 feet. The air rises to 12,000 feet to cross the mountain. Which of the following
best describes the condition of this air when it arrives back down at 5,000 feet on the other side
of the mountain?
a)

40F; dry

b)

colder than 19F; moist

c)

warmer than 40F; dry

d)

warmer than 40F; moist

e)

between 19 and 40 F; dry

12.

Which place/land would most likely not occur on the right side of the mountain?

a)

African plains

b)

Phoenix, Arizona

c)

Amazon Rainforest

d)

Sydney, Australia

e)

Middle Eastern Desert

Questions 13 and 14 refer to the following information.

Many physical and chemical processes change Earths surface. These processes involve the
action of wind, water, ice, heat, and gravity. Five of these processes are defined below.
1.

abrasionwearing a way of rock by the grinding of ice, soil, or other materials against it

2.

creepvery slow movement of soil downhill

3.

depositionaccumulation of substances that are no longer dissolved in water

4.

exfoliationpeeling or flaking of thin layers from the surface of rock

5.

leachingthe removal of minerals from the soil as water moves through it

13.
A woman decided to replant her African violet because it was no longer growing well.
When she removed the plant from its container, she found that the bottom and sides of the pot
were covered with a thick layer of white salts.
The layer of salts formed as a result of which process?
a)

Abrasion

b)

Creep

c)

Deposition

d)

Exfoliation

e)

Leaching

14.
A rancher noticed that the fences he put in some years ago across the side of a hill now
tip downward rather than point upward.
The fence posts now point downhill because of which process?
a)

Abrasion

b)

Exfoliation

c)

Deposition

d)

Creep

e)

Leaching

Question 15 refers to the following information.

A man discovers seashells embedded in rocks on the top of a mountain and concludes that at one
time an inland sea covered the mountain.
15.

Which of the following statements suggests that another explanation might be possible?

a)

The uplifting of Earths crust that was once part of the ocean floor formed the mountains.

b)

Over time mountains are worn down by weather and water and new surfaces are exposed.

c)

A huge undersea mountain range runs the entire length of the Atlantic Ocean.

d)

Over a long period of time, mud that covered the seashells hardened into rock.

e)
Many islands are actually the tops of undersea volcanoes that stick up above the surface
of the water.

Questions 16 and 17 refer to the following information.

The powerful Gulf Stream and other currents encircle much of the North Atlantic Ocean. Within
this area, away from prevailing winds, lies the nearly motionless Sargasso Sea. Large masses of
sargassum seaweed accumulate on the surface and float on remarkably clear blue water. Because
there is almost no current here, no water enters the area. The whole area remains warm under the
suns light. No upwelling currents occur in the motionless mass of water, so no nutrients are
brought up from the depths below. Other than the floating seaweed and the eels that spend part of
their life cycle there, the Sargasso is a "dead sea."
16. What makes the Sargasso a "dead sea?
a)

No ships can sail through the mass of seaweed.

b)

As in a desert, no rain falls on the Sargasso.

c)

Its blue, warm water cannot support life.

d)

Surface winds stir up violent storms.

e)

It supports relatively little life because of the lack of nutrients.

17. Given the information in the passage, at what location on the map would you expect to find
the calmest waters?
a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D
e) E
Questions 18 through 20 refer to the following information.
Returning a spacecraft to Earth intact is a difficult operation. How can the craft be slowed down
for landing? The ideal method would be to use braking rockets similar to those used to launch
the craft. Unfortunately, this type of braking system would require putting a gigantic rocket into
orbit simply to land the spaceship.
All spacecraft so far have used an aerodynamic systemone that uses Earths atmosphere as a
brake. This method relies on the physical law that an object will come to rest only when its
kinetic energyenergy of motionis converted to some other form of energy, such as light,
sound, or heat.
A spacecraft moving 18,000 miles per hour contains an enormous amount of kinetic energy. This
energy is converted mainly into heat as the craft plows back into Earths atmosphere, and friction
with the air begins to slow it down. Space engineers developed several ways to remove this heat
so that the spacecraft would not burn up: (1) A heat shield in front of the craft heats up to several
hundred degrees Celsius and radiates heat back into the air. (2) Part of the outside shell of the
craft is burned off as the shell absorbs the heat. (3) The surface of the craft heats up the air in
contact with it, leaving behind a stream of hot air.
Although the aerodynamic landing system is not ideal, it will be used for a long time because it
is less costly and more fuel-efficient than other braking systems.
18. According to the passage, what must be true if a space vehicle is to stop?
a) The spacecrafts kinetic energy must be reduced to zero.
b) The spaceship must absorb atmospheric heat.
c) The vehicle must absorb heat, light and sound energy.

d) A landing rocket must be must be launched to release heat energy.

e) Heat energy of the air must change into other forms of energy.

19. According to the passage, braking rockets could slow down and stop a landing spaceship.
When would such a braking rocket be necessary?
a) for a spaceship landing on a faraway planet.
b) for a spaceship landing on a planet with a strong pull of gravity.
c) for a spaceship landing on a planet with a cold surface.
d) for a spaceship landing on a planet with no atmosphere.
e) for a spaceship landing on Earth under adverse weather conditions.

20. Which of the following statements from the passage indicates that values influence peoples
behaviour and decisions?
a) Aerodynamic braking will be used for a long time because of its fuel economy and low cost.
b) Returning a spacecraft to Earth is difficult.
c) Kinetic energy must be converted to other energy forms.
d) The successful re-entry of a spacecraft into Earths atmosphere depends on physical
principles.
e) Power braking would require carrying a large rocket to land the spaceship.