Have an account?
Skip to Content
Build your own quiz
30 questions
Show Answers
See Preview
- 1. Multiple Choice
Water evaporates from a lake into the air, forming clouds. The clouds eventually form rain and it falls to the ground. In which spheres does this cycle happen?
geosphere and cryosphere
cryosphere and hydrosphere
hydrosphere and atmosphere
thermosphere and atmosphere
- 2. Multiple Choice
The layers of Earth's atmosphere perform specific functions. Study the illustration below, which shows the layers of the atmosphere.
Which layer of the atmosphere absorbs solar radiation that would be harmful to certain elements of the biosphere?
troposphere
mesosphere
stratosphere
thermosphere
- 3. Multiple Choice
When animals breathe, they take in oxygen from the air. The oxygen is used to obtain energy from food. This example demonstrates interaction between which two spheres?
atmosphere and biosphere
cryosphere and atmosphere
biosphere and hydrosphere
hydrosphere and geosphere
- 4. Multiple Choice
Earth’s spheres interact in many ways. Which describes how the hydrosphere and atmosphere interact?
A heavy snowfall adds mass to a glacier.
Polluted air kills several animal species.
Magma erupts and releases trapped gases.
Ocean currents influence weather patterns.
- 5. Multiple Choice
Earth’s spheres interact in many ways. What is one way that the cryosphere and biosphere interact?
A glacier picks up rock and sediment as it moves down a valley.
Heavy rains bring an end to a dry period on the African savannah.
A volcanic eruption destroys the plants on an island.
A melting glacier provides fresh water for plants and animals in the valley below the glacier.
- 6. Multiple Choice
The atmosphere insulates Earth, keeping the temperature warmer and more stable than it would otherwise be. This insulating effect has an impact on other Earth spheres. What might happen to the cryosphere if the insulating effect of the atmosphere increased?
Less of the cryosphere would enter the hydrosphere.
More of the cryosphere would enter the hydrosphere.
The cryosphere would become bigger.
The cryosphere would not change.
- 7. Multiple Choice
Look at the illustration. The volcanic eruption is sending out clouds of dust and ash. An interaction between which two spheres is being demonstrated?
biosphere and geosphere
cryosphere and biosphere
geosphere and atmosphere
atmosphere and hydrosphere
- 8. Multiple Choice
Which set of the spheres on Earth would BEST represent animal species in a forest?
atmosphere, geosphere, cryosphere
geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere
biosphere, geosphere, atmosphere
cryosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere
- 9. Multiple Choice
Albert wanted to create a model to show that water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere helps insulate the planet. He filled 4 jars halfway with water at room temperature (25 °C). He put a lid on two jars and left two jars open. He placed the jars on windowsills in his classroom. He left the blinds up in windows I and II and closed the blinds in windows III and IV. Study the lab picture setup.
Which setup best models Albert’s hypothesis that water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere helps insulate the planet?
I
II
III
IV
- 10. Multiple Choice
Samal read a story about transforming a planet so that it resembles Earth and can sustain life. The characters in the story wanted to create an artificial atmosphere on Mars that closely resembled Earth’s atmosphere. Most of the story was fiction, but there was one detail about Earth’s atmosphere that Samal recognized as true.
Which detail about Earth’s atmosphere is true?
It has no effect on surface temperatures.
It shields life forms on the surface from radiation.
It allows meteors to strike the surface.
It is thicker over places where there are high elevations.
- 11. Multiple Choice
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is high energy and can damage cells. Earth’s ozone layer blocks a lot of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. In the past, some products used by people contained a chemical that destroyed the ozone layer. These chemicals have been banned in an attempt to preserve the ozone layer. What would happen to life on Earth if the ozone layer disappeared?
Some animals would develop skin and eye damage
Fish would grow to increasingly larger sizes.
Many plant species would grow out of control and deplete soils of nutrients.
Lakes and rivers would experience an increase in algal growth, which would deplete oxygen in the water.
- 12. Multiple Choice
The surface of the moon, which is rocky, is covered with craters that were formed when meteorites struck its surface. Earth’s surface, which is also rocky, shows fewer meteorite impacts. Which statement below explains why there are so few meteorite craters on Earth?
There is more weathering and erosion on the moon’s surface than on Earth’s surface.
The moon's gravity shields Earth from most of the meteoroids on a path for Earth.
Earth’s atmosphere causes most meteoroids to burn up before they impact.
Earth’s crust is rockier than the moon’s, so meteorite impacts rarely make craters.
- 13. Multiple Choice
Maggie is comparing the characteristics of Mercury and Earth. She notes that there is a large range between the daytime and nighttime temperatures on Mercury. In comparison, temperatures in Florida do not vary as much, as shown in the table.
What condition best explains the larger temperature range on Mercury than on Earth?
length of Mercury’s year
absence of liquid water on Mercury
presence of ice on Mercury
presence of very thin atmosphere on Mercury
- 14. Multiple Choice
Adam is studying ice ages that have occurred throughout Earth's history. He learns that when there is more ice covering Earth's surface, there is less evaporation of water, and less water vapor in the air. If water vapor helps to trap thermal energy from the sun, what effect does less water vapor have on Earth’s atmosphere?
Less water vapor would cause more clouds to form in the atmosphere.
Less water vapor would cause the atmosphere to be colder.
Less water vapor would cause the atmosphere to be warmer.
Less water vapor would cause more X-rays from the sun to reach Earth's surface.
- 15. Multiple Choice
You have learned that the ozone layer protects Earth by absorbing some harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Which layer of the atmosphere absorbs harmful X-rays and gamma rays from the sun?
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere
exosphere
- 16. Multiple Choice
Infrared radiation from the sun passes through nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the atmosphere. But it is trapped near Earth’s surface by carbon dioxide and water vapor, and reradiated back to Earth. Suppose the temperature of Earth's atmosphere became warmer. Which statement would best explain why?
Carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere are trapping less infrared radiation.
More infrared radiation is passing through the atmosphere to the surface.
The amount of oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere is decreasing.
The amount of water vapor and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing.
- 17. Multiple Choice
The illustration shows four layers of Earth’s atmosphere. Each layer serves as a filter, blocking some radiation from outer space while allowing other radiation to pass through.
Which layer of the atmosphere receives the least amount of radiation?
the exosphere
the ionosphere
the stratosphere
the troposphere
- 18. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a way science and technology do NOT affect local economies?
Science and technology can provide a source of jobs.
Science and technology can be detrimental to the environment.
Science and technology can provide better workplace communications.
Science and technology keep people healthier so they are more productive.
- 19. Multiple Choice
Scientific research has shown that carbon dioxide levels, which contribute to global climate change, have been increasing for many years due to human activity.
Based on this information, which of these statements best describes a course of action that likely will lead to a decrease in CO2 levels in the atmosphere?Countries should choose to ignore the information about carbon dioxide levels.
Countries should agree to limit the carbon dioxide they emit into the atmosphere.
Countries should show the information about carbon dioxide in a different type of graph.
Countries should take steps to increase the carbon dioxide they emit into the atmosphere.
- 20. Multiple Choice
Scientific theories are supported by large amounts of evidence. What is the most likely fate of a scientific theory?
It will change dramatically and quickly.
It will remain exactly the same over time.
It will be modified over time as new evidence is found.
It will be completely discarded when new evidence is found.
- 21. Multiple Choice
The atmosphere serves as a buffer between Earth and the Sun. Which of the following wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation are absorbed by the ozone layer?
X-rays
infrared radiation
radio waves
ultraviolet radiation
- 22. Multiple Choice
When do scientists form hypotheses, and why are hypotheses MOST valuable to the scientific method?
Scientists form hypotheses when they communicate their results. These hypotheses are valuable because they are explanations from science.
Scientists form hypotheses as experiments are conducted. These hypotheses are valuable because they are the conclusions of tests.
Scientists form hypotheses only after their experiments are complete. These hypotheses are valuable because they are the conclusions of tests.
Scientists form hypotheses before experiments are conducted. These hypotheses are valuable because they guide the research to be attempted.
- 23. Multiple Choice
Scientific theories frequently change over time. What does this indicate about scientific theories in general?
that scientific theories are often wrong
that scientific theories are revised as new evidence is discovered
that scientists formulate theories before they fully understand the evidence
that scientists routinely make incorrect assumptions that later need to be corrected
- 24. Multiple Choice
A group of scientists tested a hypothesis about acid rain's effects on soil quality. The data from their experiment did not support their hypothesis. What does it mean for scientists if their data does not support their hypothesis?
They will need to discard this data and find other data that supports the hypothesis.
They will need to devise a new hypothesis based on the data analysis.
Their ideas will not be valuable to other scientists.
Their investigation will never be fully explained.
- 25. Multiple Choice
Scientific theories are often refined, but they are rarely replaced. Which answer BEST describes why this is true?
Theories are widely accepted by the scientific community, and it is too difficult to get so many scientists to switch their support from an existing theory to a new one.
Scientific theories are explanations of natural phenomena, based on observation and experimentation.
Theories are well supported by evidence generated through extensive testing.
Scientific theories cannot be disproved.
- 26. Multiple Choice
If we didn't have the 'greenhouse effect' at all, Earth would
have volcanoes erupting everywhere
Cool to a point where we could not live here
Catch on fire
blow up from being hit by meteors
- 27. Multiple Choice1. Certain gases in the atmosphere – water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – help maintain the Earth’s temperatures and climate. These are called: __________ .A. ozone gasesA. solar gasesA. greenhouse gasesA. stomach gases
- 28. Multiple ChoiceWhat happens to the temperature if more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere?Temperature goes upTemperature goes down
- 29. Multiple Choice
What layer is the ozone in?
mesosphere
thermosphere
stratosphere
troposphere
- 30. Multiple ChoiceThe layers of the atmosphere in order from bottom to top are
thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
troposphere, mesosphere, atmosphere, thermosphere
exosphere
mesosphere, thermosphere, troposphere, stratosphere, exospheretroposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
- Answer choicesTagsAnswer choicesTags