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70 questions
The deflection of Earth’s planetary winds is an example of
the Coriolis effect
the Doppler effect
convection
gravitational pull
The universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old. Compared to the age of the solar system, the age of the universe is approximately
the same age as our solar system
two times older than our solar system
three times older than our solar system
four times older than our solar system
Planets that are closest to the Sun are identified as
low-density Jovian
low-density terrestrial
high-density Jovian
high-density terrestrial
Which process of the water cycle occurs when water absorbs 2260 Joules of heat energy per gram?
melting of ice
condensation of water vapor
evaporation of water
freezing of water
In which temperature zone of Earth’s atmosphere is the polar jet stream located?
lower thermosphere
lower mesosphere
upper stratosphere
upper troposphere
Arrows in the diagram above show three methods of energy transfer labeled A, B, and C. Which list correctly identifies the energy transfer processes A, B, and C?
A - conduction
B- convection
C - radiation
A - convection
B - conduction
C - radiation
A - convection
B - radiation
C - conduction
A - conduction
B - radiation
C - convection
What is the relative humidity of the air when the dry-bulb temperature is 4°C and the dewpoint is 4°C?
42%
46%
51%
56%
The diagram below represents the light spectra given off by the same element as observed under two different conditions. Spectrum A was observed when that element was heated in a laboratory. Spectrum B shows the same element as seen in the light from a distant star. The light spectrum observed from this distant star shows a
red shift, which indicates that the star is moving away from Earth
red shift, which indicates that the star is moving toward Earth
blue shift, which indicates that the star is moving away from Earth
blue shift, which indicates that the star is moving toward Earth
The diagrams shonw represent the constellations seen by an observer in New York State while looking toward the southern horizon at midnight on July 9 and January 8. Which motion is mainly responsible for the difference in the constellations visible at midnight on these two dates?
The Sun orbits Earth
Earth orbits the Sun
The stars in the constellations orbit Earth
Earth orbits the stars in the constellations
Most clouds form in the atmosphere when moist air
rises, expands, and cools to the dewpoint
rises, expands, and warms to the dewpoint
sinks, compresses, and cools to the dewpoint
sinks, compresses, and warms to the dewpoint
Equal areas of which surface would absorb the greatest amount of insolation on a sunny day?
light-colored, smooth surface
light-colored, rough surface
dark-colored, smooth surface
dark-colored, rough surface
Which natural event periodically weakens western surface ocean currents in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, resulting in a change in air temperature and precipitation patterns in the United States?
El Nino
transpiration
ocean tides
volcanic eruptions
Ocean gyres in the Northern Hemisphere consist of a number of surface ocean currents that, together, generally fl ow clockwise in a roughly circular pattern. Which list contains three warm surface ocean currents that make up most of the North Atlantic Ocean gyre?
Kuroshio Current, North Pacifi c Current, and California Current
Canary Current, North Equatorial Current, and Equatorial Countercurrent
Labrador Current, North Atlantic Current, and East Greenland Current
North Equatorial Current, Gulf Stream Current, and North Atlantic Current
Most of the oceanic oxygen that began to enter Earth’s atmosphere in the early Proterozoic Era was probably produced by
formation of silicate rocks
photosynthesis by cyanobacteria
impact events on Earth’s surface
outgassing from volcanoes
During which geologic period did plants and animals first appear in land environments?
Cambrian
Ordovician
Silurian
Devonian
Sedimentary rock layers that were deposited between 488 million and 444 million years ago are found on the surface at which two New York State locations?
Ithaca and Jamestown
Utica and Syracuse
Oswego and Old Forge
Albany and Massena
A volcanic ash layer is a good geologic time marker for correlating rock layers because the ash layer was deposited over a
limited geographic area over a short time
limited geographic area over a long time
wide geographic area over a short time
wide geographic area over a long time
The photograph shows the results of a landslide. This landslide is an example of
wind abrasion
glacial deposition
wave action
mass movement
Which cross section correctly represents a cold front and the air-mass movements associated with this front?
Earth’s interior at a depth of 3500 kilometers is believed to be
liquid at a temperature of approximately 4900°C
solid at a temperature of approximately 4900°C
liquid at a temperature of approximately 5400°C
solid at a temperature of approximately 5400°C
Compared to the density and composition of the oceanic crust, the continental crust is
less dense and more mafic
less dense and more felsic
more dense and less mafic
more dense and less felsic
An earthquake occurs at 10:05 a.m. At 10:09 a.m., the first P-wave from this earthquake is detected at a seismic station. Approximately how many kilometers (km) from the epicenter is this seismic station located?
1000 km
2000 km
2600 km
5600 km
The aerial photograph below shows two streams that have been displaced by tectonic movement along the San Andreas fault. The arrows show the relative direction of movement along the fault. This movement occurred along which type of plate boundary?
convergent
divergent
transform
complex
The magnitude of an earthquake is a number that represents the
arrival time of the first P-wave
difference in arrival times between P- and S waves
distance to the epicenter
energy released by an earthquake
The Genesee River flows across both the Allegheny Plateau and the Erie-Ontario Lowlands in New York State. This river flows
northward, in the same general direction as the Hudson River
northward, in the same general direction as the Niagara River
southward, in the same general direction as the Hudson River
southward, in the same general direction as the Niagara River
What is the name of the largest sediment that can be transported by a stream moving at a velocity of 100 centimeters per second (cm/s)?
silt
sand
pebbles
cobbles
Which mineral is commonly used as an abrasive?
garnet
halite
sulfur
graphite
If a metamorphic rock bubbles when a drop of acid is placed on its surface, the rock is most likely
schist
slate
marble
quartzite
The map shows a portion of the coast of Texas. Letter X indicates features formed by wave action. What is the name of the features indicated by letter X?
barrier islands
island arc
deltas
moraines
The diagrams below represent the crystal shape and type of cleavage of two different minerals. The crystal shape and type of cleavage of these two minerals are determined mainly by the minerals’
color and type of luster
streak and hardness
composition and atomic arrangement
density and magnetism
The block diagram represents a meandering stream. Which table indicates where the greatest stream velocity and the greatest rate of stream erosion occur?
The diagram represents the size and shape of a pebble. This pebble and 20 other pebbles having a similar size and shape were placed in a rock tumbler with water and allowed to abrade for five days. Which diagram best represents the size and shape of this pebble after the five-day period?
The photograph below shows bedrock composed of sediments that have been deposited by wind. This bedrock is most likely
sandstone
limestone
hornfels
granite
Which diagram below best represents both the relative wavelength of visible light entering a house through a window and the relative wavelength of infrared rays being given off by a table within the house?
Base your answer on the maps below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The maps show a portion of India and Southeast Asia, bordering on the Indian Ocean, during the winter and summer monsoon seasons. Large areas of high and low air pressure are shown during each season.
Which two-letter symbol represents the most likely air mass formed over portions of the Indian Ocean shown on the maps?
mP
mT
cP
cT
Base your answer on the maps below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The maps show a portion of India and Southeast Asia, bordering on the Indian Ocean, during the winter and summer monsoon seasons. Large areas of high and low air pressure are shown during each season.
The heavy monsoon rains affecting India and Southeast Asia occur during
winter, when winds blow from the land
winter, when winds blow toward the high pressure
summer, when winds blow from the ocean
summer, when winds blow toward the high pressure
Base your answer graph shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The graph shows the closest distance between Earth and Mars during each year from 2001 to 2035. Distances are measured in astronomical units (AU). One AU equals the average distance from Earth to the Sun.
Mars reaches its closest distance to Earth approximately every
16 years
8 years
3 years
0.36 years
Base your answer graph shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The graph shows the closest distance between Earth and Mars during each year from 2001 to 2035. Distances are measured in astronomical units (AU). One AU equals the average distance from Earth to the Sun.
How many million kilometers is one astronomical unit?
108.2 million km
149.6 million km
227.9 million km
377.5 million km
Base your answer on the three Sun’s path diagrams below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagrams represent the position of the noon Sun along its apparent daily path as seen by an observer on the first day of three consecutive months (X, Y, and Z). The observer was located in Utica, New York.
Which dates are represented by months X, Y, and Z?
X-February 1, Y-March 1, Z-April 1
X-May 1, Y-June 1, Z-July 1
X-August 1, Y-September 1, Z-October 1
X-November 1, Y-December 1, Z-January 1
Base your answer on the three Sun’s path diagrams shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagrams represent the position of the noon Sun along its apparent daily path as seen by an observer on the first day of three consecutive months (X, Y, and Z). The observer was located in Utica, New York.
Which characteristic of the Sun’s apparent daily path stays constant from month X to month Z?
locations of sunrise and sunset
altitude of the noon Sun
length of time that the Sun moves along its apparent path
rate of the Sun’s movement along its apparent path
Base your answer on the geologic cross section of a portion of Earth’s crust shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. None of the rock units has been overturned.
The youngest rock unit shown in the cross section is
breccia
conglomerate
sandstone
shale
Base your answer on the geologic cross section of a portion of Earth’s crust shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. None of the rock units has been overturned.
Which process most probably produced the irregularly shaped boundary between the limestone and the shale?
folding
faulting
contact metamorphism
erosion
Base your answer on the geologic cross section of a portion of Earth’s crust shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. None of the rock units has been overturned.
Which sequence shows the relative ages of the gabbro, granite, and schist from oldest to youngest?
gabbro —› granite —› schist
gabbro —› schist —› granite
schist —› granite —› gabbro
schist —› gabbro —› granite
Base your answer on the cross section shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents the landscape features and rock units of the Grand Canyon region in the southwestern United States. The names and ages of some rock formations are shown.
Which agent of erosion is mainly responsible for the formation of the Grand Canyon?
running water
glacial ice
wind
wave action
Base your answer on the cross section shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents the landscape features and rock units of the Grand Canyon region in the southwestern United States. The names and ages of some rock formations are shown.
Approximately how many million years ago (mya) was the Coconino sandstone deposited as sediment?
180 mya
275 mya
330 mya
495 mya
Base your answer on the cross section shown and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents the landscape features and rock units of the Grand Canyon region in the southwestern United States. The names and ages of some rock formations are shown.
If the climate of the Grand Canyon region became more humid, the rate of weathering and erosion would most likely
decrease, and the landscape features would become more rounded
decrease, and the landscape features would become more angular
increase, and the landscape features would become more rounded
increase, and the landscape features would become more angular
Which graph best shows the general relationship between air pressure and altitude?
In which sequence are the celestial objects correctly listed in order from the smallest mass to the largest mass?
Saturn, solar system, Milky Way, universe
Saturn, universe, Milky Way, solar system
Milky Way, Saturn, solar system, universe
Milky Way, universe, solar system, Saturn
The best evidence of Earth’s rotation is provided by the
Foucault pendulum and global warming
Foucault pendulum and Coriolis effect
Moon phases and global warming
Moon phases and Coriolis effect
Urbanization affects the amount of vegetation and runoff in an area by
decreasing vegetation and decreasing runoff
decreasing vegetation and increasing runoff
increasing vegetation and decreasing runoff
increasing vegetation and increasing runoff
The photograph shows wire netting installed over a steep rock outcrop. This wire netting has been installed to prevent loss of property or life resulting from
crosscutting and downwarping
folding and faulting
weathering and erosion
high winds and fl ooding
In which cross section do the arrows represent the most probable direction of air movement over land and water surfaces at an ocean coast on a hot, sunny, summer afternoon?
Labeled lines on the map below show the inferred location of Earth’s equator during the middle of several geologic periods. Approximately how many million years ago (mya) was the region around current-day Watertown, New York, located the nearest to the equator?
270 mya
330 mya
340 mya
450 mya
How many half-lives have passed if a sample contains 25% of its original carbon-14?
1 half life
2 half lives
3 half lives
4 half lives
Radioactive carbon-14 is often useful in determining the absolute age of geologic samples because radioactive isotopes
decay at a regular rate
become less stable during decay
remain unchanged over time
stabilize after four half-lives
The area of land drained by this river and its tributaries is best described as the river’s
topography
watershed
water table
floodplain
Which cross section best represents the profile of the bottom of the river between points X and Y at location A?
The apparent path of the Sun through the sky is caused by
Earth's revolution around the Sun
Earth's rotation on its axis
the Sun's revolution around Earth
the Sun's rotation on its axis
What is the approximate time of day when the Sun is at position C?
6 a.m.
9 a.m.
3 p.m.
6 p.m.
The cross section shown represents a lithospheric plate boundary.
In which diagram do the arrows show the relative directions of plate movement at this type of plate boundary?
Which two minerals are commercial sources of iron?
galena and graphite
muscovite mica and biotite mica
garnet and fluorite
hematite and magnatite
Which agent of erosion causes the sandblasting of bedrock?
glaciers
wind
running water
wave action
During explosive volcanic eruptions, large amounts of ash entering Earth’s atmosphere often rise to an altitude of 20 kilometers. What is the most likely effect of this ash cloud?
a decrease in the insolation reaching Earth's surface
a decrease in the thickness of Earth's atmospheric layer
an increase in the insolation reaching Earth's surface
an increase in the thickness of Earth's stratosphere layer
When it is solar noon at a location at 75° W longitude, what is the solar time at a location at 120° W longitude?
9 a.m.
12 noon
3 p.m.
12 midnight
The diagram shown represents eight positions of the Moon in its orbit.
Why are high tides on Earth greatest when the Moon is in position A and in position E?
The Moon is closer to the Sun.
The Moon is closer to Earth
The Moon, the Sun, and Earth are aligned.
The Moon is in the same phase at both locations.
Which gas is inferred to have been absent from Earth’s atmosphere during the Early Archean Era?
carbon dioxide
nitrogen
oxygen
water vapor
The map shows the location of India and the Indian Ocean.
Which statement best describes the monsoon winds during the rainy season in India?
Warm, moist air flows from India to the Indian Ocean
Warm, moist air flows from the Indian Ocean to India
Cold, dry air flows from India to the Indian Ocean
Cold, dry air flows from the Indian Ocean to India
How long after receiving the first P-wave from an earthquake centered 4000 kilometers away does a seismic station receive its first S-wave from the same earthquake?
1 minute
5 minutes 35 seconds
7 minutes
12 minutes 40 seconds
Which evidence recorded at seismic stations following an earthquake supports the inference that Earth’s interior changes from solid rock to molten iron and nickel at the mantle-core boundary?
P-waves arrive earlier than S-waves.
P-waves and S-waves are both recorded at all stations.
Only S-waves are recorded at all stations.
Only P-waves are recorded on the opposite side of Earth.
The diagram shown represents cross sections of equal-size beakers A, B, and C filled with beads.
Which statement best compares the porosity in the three beakers?
Beaker A and beaker B have the same porosity, and beaker C has the least porosity
Beaker A and beaker B have the same porosity, and beaker C has the greatest porosity.
Beaker B has the greatest porosity, beaker A has less porosity, and beaker C has the least porosity
Beaker C has the greatest porosity, beaker B has less porosity, and beaker A has the least porosity.
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