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Other Sciences
6th -
8thgrade
STAAR Category 3: Earth and Space Part 2
32 questions
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- 1. Multiple ChoiceThe model below shows two continental plates. The folded mountains in this model form at which type of plate boundary?Transform boundaryDivergent boundarySubduction boundaryConvergent boundary
- 2. Multiple ChoiceThe satellite photograph below shows a large meteorite crater that is 1200m in diameter and 170m deep. This crater is located in a flat, arid part of northeastern Arizona. How will this crater most likely change over time?It will get deeper as it fills with water.It will rise up like a volcanic crater.It will become less deep as the rim erodesIt will widen as it fills with lava.
- 3. Multiple ChoiceWhich of these locations on Earth experiences the least change in the number of daylight hours throughout the year?EquatorNorth PoleTropic of CancerTropic of Capricorn
- 4. Multiple ChoiceWhat is one condition that is necessary for a hurricane to form?Warm ocean waterA strong cold frontCold ocean waterA strong warm front
- 5. Multiple ChoiceThe thick black lines on the map below show the locations of mid-ocean ridges. Which geologic feature is most likely to form at a mid-ocean ridge?PeninsulaVolcanoDeltaPlateau
- 6. Multiple ChoiceA section of a topographic map is shown below. What is the difference in elevation in meters between Point X and Point Y on the map?1240m1600m400m360m
- 7. Multiple ChoiceA student sets up the investigation shown below. The movement of colored water through the gravel best models _____.condensation of water vaporsurface runoff of precipitationconservation of waterpollution of groundwater
- 8. Multiple ChoiceEarth would not have seasons if it ____.no longer tilted on its axisstopped rotating on its axistook an additional month to orbit the sunrevolved around the sun in the opposite direction
- 9. Multiple ChoiceScientists recently discovered that rocks collected from the Franklin Mountains in West Texas and rocks collected from mountains in eastern Antarctica were exactly the same age. Further research showed that the rocks were chemically and geologically the same and came from the same magma source. This discovery provides evidence of ____.coastal erosionplate tectonicsocean currentsglacial melting
- 10. Multiple ChoiceThe satellite image below shows a ship channel between South Padre Island and Boca Chica beach in South Texas. Sand is sometimes removed from the ship channel through a process called dredging to make it easier for ships to travel through. Recently sand from the bottom of the channel was moved to area beaches. Without this transfer of sand, what would most likely occur in this area in the future?The ship channel would become deeper, and the island would move west toward the mainland.The ship channel would become shallower, and the beaqch would become narrower.The ship channel would become narrower, and the island would become completely covered with water.The ship channel would become wider, and the island would sink into the Gulf of Mexico.
- 11. Multiple ChoiceA student draws the model shown below. Which of these best compares the conditions at Location X and Location Y?It is day at Location X and night at Location Y.It is winter at Location X and summer at Location Y.There is more hours of daylight at Location X than at Location Y.The moon is brighter when viewed from Location X than when viewed from Location Y.
- 12. Multiple ChoiceThe diagram below shows a model of the movement of two tectonic plates. When the plates collide, one plate often moves below the other plate. The rising magma that can result from this type of plate movement may produce ____.Fossil layersvolcanic islandsdeep-sea sedimentseafloor spreading
- 13. Multiple ChoiceThe diagram below shows four positions in Earth's orbit around the sun. The Northern Hemisphere experiences the beginning of spring when Earth is in _______.Position 1Position 2Position 3Position 4
- 14. Multiple ChoiceThe points labeled W and Y on the topographic map below show the campsites of two families. Each family hiked to the elevation on the map marked X. The arrows show the paths taken by both families. What was the change in elevation, to the nearest ten meters, for the family that took the steepest path to Point X?100 m120 m40 m60 m
- 15. Multiple ChoiceHurricanes and similar storm systems begin over oceans. The map below shows average surface temperatures of the oceans in the summer. Based on the map, which area probably produced the most violent storm system?Area 1Area 2Area 3Area 4
- 16. Multiple ChoiceThe Himalayan mountains are shown on the map below. Which student correctly identified the geologic process that formed the Himalayan mountains?Student 1Student 2Student 3Student 4
- 17. Multiple ChoiceDifferent relative positions of the sun, the moon, and Earth have different effects on Earth's oceans. Which model shows the positions of the sun, the moon, and Earth that have the greatest effect on ocean tides?FGHJ
- 18. Multiple ChoiceA student wants to use a spinning basketball to model the day-and-night cycle on Earth. What should the student do in order to best model the cause of the day-and-night cycle?Spin the ball in different directionsTilt the ball while it is spinningPaint one half of the ball black and the other half whiteShine a bright light on one side of the ball
- 19. Multiple ChoiceThunderstorms are more common in some areas than in others. The map shows the average number of thunderstorms per year in different parts of the United States. Why are there significantly more thunderstorms in Florida than in California?The state of Florida is smaller than the state of CaliforniaThe air in Florida is more stable than the air in CaliforniaThe air above Florida holds less moisture than the air above CaliforniaThe ocean currents near Florida are warmer than the ocean currents near California
- 20. Multiple ChoiceThe image shows a plate boundary. Arrows have been added to indicate the movement of the plates. What plate boundary feature is also shown?A ridge formed by an inactive convergent boundaryA balley forming at an active divergent boundaryA fault forming at an active transform boundaryA volcano formed by an active transform boundary
- 21. Multiple ChoiceThe satellite photo shows San Francisco, California, which has many miles of coastline and an inland bay. Which area of the coastline has most likely experienced the greatest effects of erosion from waves over hundreds of years?Area NArea PArea SArea T
- 22. Multiple ChoiceThe map below shows the locations of four active volcanoes in the Caribbean Sea. What do these volcanoes indicate about plate tectonics in the region?The volcanoes form an island arc, indicting a converging plate boundary.The volcanoes form a line, indicating a diverging plate boundary.Two plates are moving past each other, causing faulting and magma formation.Two plates are moving apart, creating new seafloor.
- 23. Multiple ChoiceA student stands at the point marked X on the topographic map below. What height in meters must the student climb in order to reach the top of the hill?183m250m253m303m
- 24. Multiple ChoiceIn the summer many people enjoy going to the beach. Which diagram shows the position of Earth when it is summer in Argentina, which is located in the Southern Hemisphere?ABCD
- 25. Multiple ChoiceThe weather map shows the weather conditions for one day across the united States. Based on the weather map, which city will most likely experience decreasing temperatures during the next 24 hours?Denver, because it is raining thereMinneapolis, because a cold front is approachingAtlanta, because a warm front is approachingHouston, because it is in a high-pressure area
- 26. Multiple ChoiceThe San Andreas fault is a transform fault. The map below shows a student's approximation of where the fault line crosses through the United States. Students were asked to make maps predicting which way land would most likely move over thousands of years.ABCD
- 27. Multiple ChoiceWhich of these changes would likely occur if the rate of Earth's rotation on its axis increased?The length of the seasons would be shorter.The length of the seasons would be longer.The length of a day would be shorter.The length of a day would be longer.
- 28. Multiple ChoiceThis satellite photograph shows an area in Alaska after a fire occurred. Which statement best describes the most likely effect the fire had on the river in the 12 months after it occurred?Less sediment flowed into the river because the fire heated up the soil and made it drier.The amount of vegetation increased and less sediment flowed into the river because the fire produced ash that mixed with the soil.More sediment flowed into the river because the fire destroyed most of the vegetation holding the sediment in place.More sediment flowed into the river because the fire disrupted animal habitats and caused animals to leave the area.
- 29. Multiple ChoiceA mid-ocean ridge separates the Pacific plate and the Nazca plate off the western coast of South America. Which statement best describes the relative motions of the Pacific and Nazca plates?The pacific and Nazca plates are both moving to the east.The pacific and Nazca plates are both moving to the west.The Pacific plate is moving to the west, and the Nazca plate is moving to the east.The Pacific plate is moving to the east, and the Nazca plate is moving to the west.
- 30. Multiple ChoiceA student drew the model below to represent a part of a watershed and some human activities that affect the watershed. How do the industrial, agricultural, and residential activities of humans most likely affect the groundwater in the area?The activities prevent most of the water from evaporating into the atmoshpere.Pollutants from the activitices percolate throught the soil and enter the water table.The activities replace the groundwater used.All of the above.
- 31. Multiple ChoiceThe topographic map shows the location of a park ranger at Point X when a message is received that an injured hiker needs help at Point Z. Which of these is closest to the difference in elevation between the locations of the ranger and the injured hiker?2,050 m450 m910 m3,650 m
- 32. Multiple ChoiceThe model shows Earth in several positions relative to the sun. In which position is it winter in North America?Position 1, because North America receives the most direct sunPosition 2, because North America is tilted towards the sunPositon 3, because North America is parallel to the sunPosition 4, because NOrth America is tilted away from the sun
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