Laura Dodson

EDUC 323

Unit Test

Earth’s Systems Test (3.ESS2)

Multiple Choice: Read each question carefully. Select the correct answer choice by circling the
letter.

1. Which climate would an area be if the temperature is 94 °F outside year-round and located

near the equator?

A. Polar
B. Tropical
C. The mountains
D. Temperate

2. Which part of the water cycle fits where the question mark is?

A. Evaporation
B. Condensation
C. Precipitation
D. Runoff
3. When the air is cold with high density, what happens to the air?

A. The air rises higher into the atmosphere.

B. The air does not move.
C. The air turns colder.
D. The air moves closer to the ground.

4. All of the following are forms of precipitation except which one?

A. Rain
B. Snow
C. Clouds
D. Sleet

5. What are characteristics of a polar climate?

A. Mountains, warm air, and near the equator

B. Snow, cold temperatures, and mountains
C. Very hot, little rain, and sunny
D. Mild temperatures, lots of rain, and cloudy
Matching: Match the correct term with the definition by writing the corresponding letter next to
the correct definition. Some words may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

A. Cirrus B. Cotton C. Cumulus D. Cumulonimbus E. Normal Cloud

F. Nimbostratus G. Stratus H. Wave Cloud

1. ____This type of cloud has a flat base. They are "puffy" and look like cotton.
2. ____This cloud is dark and low in the sky. They are normally full of water droplets.
3. ____These clouds only form really high in the sky, and they are feather-like.
4. ____This type of cloud is a storm cloud, and they are sometimes called “Thunderheads.”
5. ____These clouds are “stringy” and typically cover the whole sky.

Short Answer: Answer each question with a short answer.

1. Which part of the water cycle involves changing a liquid to a gas? __________________

2. What is the pattern of weather an area has over an extended period of time? _______________

3. A storm that rotates in cylinder form and moves across land is called a __________________.

4. What is the water within the earth called? __________________

5. What type of storm produces lightning? ____________________

True or False: Determine whether each statement is True or False by writing T or F.

1. ____ Wind has an effect on the temperature of a climate.

2. ____ A thermometer is a tool used to measure air pressure.

3. ____ The term “nimbus” is used when clouds are higher than normal.

4. ____ Low pressure in the atmosphere means that it will be cloudy and rainy outside.

5. ____ When water condenses, it rains or snows.

Extended Response Essay: Answer the following prompt using 3-5 complete sentences.

Explain the various types of precipitation, temperature, and wind you might experience in each
of the climates we have discussed in class. (Polar, Temperate, and Tropical) Why do you think it
is important to know what the environment is like in each climate?

Restricted Response Essay: Answer the following prompt using 3-5 complete sentences.

A little boy named Joshua and his family used to live in Greenland which is a polar climate. His
family decided to move to Brazil which is a tropical climate. Compare and contrast the climate
that Joshua used to live in and the climate he lives in now.