1. Surface ocean currents resulting from the prevailing
winds over the oceans illustrate a transfer of energy
from
A)
B)
C)
D)
lithosphere to atmosphere
hydrosphere to lithosphere
atmosphere to hydrosphere
stratosphere to troposphere
2. Chemical weathering will occur most rapidly when
rocks are exposed to the
A)
B)
C)
D)
hydrosphere and lithosphere
mesosphere and thermosphere
hydrosphere and atmosphere
lithosphere and atmosphere
3. The water sphere of the Earth is known as the
A) atmosphere
C) lithosphere
B) troposphere
D) hydrosphere
4. Why do many streams continue to flow during long
periods when there is no precipitation?
A) Soil moisture storage is recharged by vegetation
along the streams.
B) Ground water continues to move into the stream
channels.
C) An increase in potential evapotranspiration
(evaporation from leaves and other surfaces)
increases the stream runoff.
D) The porosity (spaces between soil particles)
beneath the stream channels becomes higher
than normal.
5. The graph below represents percentage of elements by
volume.
This graph best represents the elements of the Earth's
A) lithosphere
C) troposphere
B) hydrosphere
D) stratosphere
6. When rain falls on a soil surface, flooding at that
location would most likely occur if the
A)
B)
C)
D)
soil surface is permeable
soil surface is covered with vegetation
soil pore spaces are filled to capacity
infiltration rate (ability to soak in) exceeds the
precipitation rate
7. Base your answer to the following question on the paragraph below, which describes some factors that
affect Earth's climate.
Earth's climate is in a delicate state of balance. Many factors affect climate. Any small change
in the factors may lead to long-term cooling or warming of Earth's atmosphere. For example,
during the last 100 years, measurements have shown a gradual increase in atmospheric carbon
dioxide. This change has been linked to an increase in Earth's average atmospheric temperature.
Variations in the tilt of Earth's axis have been similarly linked to the occurrence of ice ages. Both
the increases in temperature and the occurrence of ice ages have been linked to changes in global
sea level.
How will the recent increase in average global temperature cause changes in ocean water level?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Global warming melts glaciers, causing a rise in sea level.
Increased precipitation causes a rise in sea level.
Increased evaporation could lower sea level.
Both A and C
8. Base your answer to the following question on the passage and map below. The map shows the
volcanic island, Krakatau, before and after the 1883 eruption.
Krakatau
On August 27, 1883, one of the largest volcanic eruptions ever recorded in history occurred.
Krakatau, a volcanic island nearly 800 meters in height, located at 6° S 105.5° E, exploded.
Two-thirds of the island was destroyed by the blast. Blocks of pumice produced by the eruption
were found floating in the ocean for months afterward.
Tsunamis produced by the eruption reached heights of 40 meters as they came ashore on nearby
islands. These destructive waves traveled 6360 kilometers in just 12 hours. Over 36,000 people
died and 165 coastal villages were destroyed.
Volcanic ash was blasted into the atmosphere to heights between 36 and 48 kilometers. Global
temperatures cooled as the ash traveled on air currents around the world.
The Krakatau eruption illustrates interactions between which of the following Earth's spheres?
A) Lithosphere and atmosphere
C) Lithosphere and hydrosphere
B) Atmosphere and hydrosphere
D) All of the above
9. Base your answer to the following question on the diagrams below. The diagrams represent the events
that occur when a large meteor, such as the one believed to have caused the extinction of many
organisms, impacts Earth's surface. Diagram A shows the meteor just before impact. Diagram B
represents the crater forming, along with the vapor and ejecta (the fragmented rock and dust) thrown
into the atmosphere.
Which statement best explains how global climate would most likely be affected after this large meteor
impact?
A) Large quantities of ejecta in the atmosphere would block insolation and lower global
temperatures.
B) An increase in vapor and ejecta would allow radiation to escape Earth's atmosphere and lower
global temperatures.
C) Ejecta settling in thick layers would increase the absorption of insolation by Earth's surface and
raise global temperatures.
D) Forest fires produced from the vapor and ejecta would raise global temperatures.
10. The cartoon below presents a humorous look at
wave action.
The ocean waves that are providing enjoyment for
Roy's companion are the result of the
A) interaction of the hydrosphere with the moving
atmosphere
B) interaction of the lithosphere with the moving
troposphere
C) absorption of short-wave radiation in the
stratosphere
D) absorption of energy in the asthenosphere
11. Which graph best illustrates the relative density of Earth's atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere?
A)
B)
C)
D)
12. Base your answer to the following question on
questions 13 and 14 on the diagrams below, which
show two soil cross sections from adjacent fields in
Nebraska. Both soils are the same except that human
activities have removed the vegetation from the
surface of field B. Each field has been receiving rain
for several hours.
Which change would most likely result from
replanting vegetation in field B?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Transpiration would decrease.
Runoff would increase.
Erosion would increase.
Water infiltration (ability to soak in) would
increase.
13. Base your answer to the following question on the
previous diagram.
If the skies remain clear for the week following this
rain, the water in the wet zone in field B will
A)
B)
C)
D)
mostly become surface runoff
partially evaporate into the air
all remain as stored water along the surface
mostly transpire into the ground
14. After a heavy rainstorm, vegetation on a hillslope
was completely removed. How will this removal of
vegetation affect the relative amounts of infiltration
(amount absorbed into the soil) and runoff that occur
during the next heavy rainstorm?
A) Infiltration and runoff will both be less.
B) Infiltration and runoff will both be greater.
C) Infiltration will be less and runoff will be
greater.
D) Infiltration will be greater and runoff will be
less.
15. Base your answer to the following question on questions 16 through 17 on the two graphs below,
which show the relationship between the amount of rainfall during a storm and the amount of
discharge into a nearby stream. Letter A represents the time when approximately 50% of the
precipitation from the storm has fallen. Letter B represents the time when peak runoff from the storm
is flowing into the stream. The delay is the difference in time between letters A and B on the graph.
Graph I shows data before urbanization (cities being built) in an area. Graph II shows data after
urbanization in the same area.
The delay time between points A and B on both graphs is due mainly to the time needed for
A)
B)
C)
D)
groundwater to evaporate
precipitation water to move into the streams
green plants to absorb precipitation
rainfall rate to decrease
16. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram for question 16.
How did urbanization affect delay time between points A and B and the maximum stream discharge?
A)
B)
C)
D)
The delay time decreased, and the maximum discharge decreased.
The delay time decreased, and the maximum discharge increased.
The delay time increased, and the maximum discharge decreased.
The delay time increased, and the maximum discharge increased.
17. The graph below shows atmospheric temperature
variations on Earth between 1956 and 1993. The
dates of three major volcanic eruptions are indicated.
What is the most probable reason that Earth's
atmospheric temperature decreased shortly after each
major volcanic eruption?
A) Water droplets produced by the eruptions
absorbed ultraviolet radiation.
B) Ozone produced by the eruptions absorbed
radiation from the Sun.
C) Volcanic dust from the eruptions blocked
radiation from the Sun.
D) Carbon dioxide gas from the eruptions blocked
ultraviolet radiation.
18. Base your answer to the following question on 19 and 20 the passage and the cross section below.
The passage describes the geologic history of the Pine Bush region near Albany, New York. The
cross section shows th bedrock and overlying sediment along a southwest to northeast diagonal line
through a portion of this are Location A shows an ancient buried stream channel and location B
shows a large sand dune.
The Pine Bush Region
The Pine Bush region, just northwest of Albany, New York, is a 40-square mile area of sand
dunes and wetlands covered by pitch pine trees and scrub oak bushes. During the Ordovician
Period, this area was covered by a large sea. Layers of mud and sand deposited in this sea were
compressed into shale and sandstone bedrock.
During most of the Cenozoic Era, running water eroded stream channels into the bedrock. One
of these buried channels is shown at location A in the cross section. Over the last one million
years of the Cenozoic Era, this area was affected by glaciation. During the last major advance of
glacial ice, soil and bedrock were eroded and later deposited as till (a mixture of boulders,
pebbles, sand, and clay).
About 20,000 years ago, the last glacier in New York State began to melt. The meltwater
deposited pebbles and sand, forming the stratified (layered due to particle size) drift. During the
5000 years it took to melt this glacier, the entire Pine Bush area became submerged under a large
350-foot-deep glacial lake called Lake Albany. Delta deposits of cobbles, pebbles, and sand
formed along the lake shorelines, and beds of silt and clay were deposited farther into the lake.
Lake Albany drained about 12,000 years ago, exposing the lake bottom. Wind erosion created
the sand dunes that cover much of the Pine Bush area today.
Till deposits were due to the interaction between the
A) Geosphere and hydrosphere
C) Hydrosphere and geosphere
B) Cryosphere and geosphere
D) Cryosphere and hydrosphere
19. The stratified drift formed from the interaction
between what spheres?
A)
B)
C)
D)
Hydrosphere and geosphere
Cryosphere and hydrosphere
Hydrosphere and atmosphere
Atmosphere and geosphere
20. Base your answer to the following question on passage and map below. The map shows a portion of
the continent of Antarctica.
Antarctica's Ice Sheet
The size and shape of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet depends on many factors, including
melting and freezing beneath the glacier, the amount of snowfall, snow removal by wind, iceberg
formation, and the rate of ice flow. Glacial moraines are found in the Executive Committee
Mountains shown on the map. Moraines are located up to 100 meters in elevation above the
present ice sheet surface, which indicates that a thicker ice sheet existed 20,000 years ago.
The world's oceans and climate are influenced by Antarctica's ice. Even a small increase in sea
level from melting glaciers would be a disaster for the nearly two billion people who live near
coastal areas.
State the latitude and longitude of Byrd Station. Your answer must include both the units and the
compass directions.
A) Latitude: 80° S Longitude: 135° W
C) Latitude: 80° S Longitude: 120° W
B) Latitude: 70° S Longitude 135° W
D) Latitude 70° S Longitude 105° W
21. Base your answer to the following question on the
diagram below, which represents latitude and
longitude lines on Earth. Points A through E
represent locations on Earth. Arrows represent
direction of rotation.
What is the approximate latitude and longitude of
location A?
A) 160° N, 15° E
C) 15° N, 160° E
B) 160° S, 15° W
D) 15° N, 160° W
22. Base your answer to the following question on
the map below. The isolines on the map show the increases in elevation that have occurred since the
end of the ice age in this part of North America. A and B are two points on isolines. Several towns
within the area are indicated.
What is the approximate latitude and longitude of Fort George?
A) 54º N 78º W
B) 66º N 82º W
C) 78º N 54º W
D) 82º N 66º W
23. Base your answer to the following question on the
latitude and longitude system shown below. The map
represents a part of the Earth's surface and its
latitude-longitude coordinates. Points A through F
represent locations in this area.
How are latitude and longitude lines drawn on a
globe of the Earth?
A) Latitude lines are parallel and longitude lines
meet at the poles.
B) Latitude lines are parallel and longitude lines
meet at the Equator.
C) Longitude lines are parallel and latitude lines
meet at the poles.
D) Longitude lines are parallel and latitude lines
meet at the Equator.
24. Base your answer to the following question on the following map and passage. The map shows the
extent of summer ice-melt zones on Greenland in 1992 and 2002. The summer melt zone is an area
where summer heat turns snow and ice around the edges of the ice sheet into slush and ponds of
meltwater. Three coastal locations are shown on the map.
Arctic Meltdown
Scientists are concerned because average arctic temperatures are rising. The Greenland Ice
Sheet, the dominant area of continental ice in the arctic region, broke all previous records for
melting in 2002.
In 2004, the total amount of ice resting on top of the continental crust in the arctic region was
estimated to be about 3,100,000 cubic kilometers. If all this ice were to melt, the ocean levels
would rise approximately 8.5 meters. A reduction in ice-covered areas exposes more land
surfaces. This increases absorption of insolation and accelerates arctic warming. Scientists
continue to collect data to define the role of greenhouse gases in the warming of the arctic region.
What is the approximate latitude and longitude of Godthab, Greenland?
A) 51.5° N 64° W B) 70.5° N 22° W C) 64° N 51.5° W D) 22° N 70.5°W
25. The isoline diagram below represents an elevation
field.
Which profile best represents the topography along
line AB?
A)
B)
C)
D)
26. The diagram below is a three-dimensional model of a landscape region.
Which map view best represents the topography of this region?
A)
B)
C)
D)
27. Base your answer to the following question on the
topographic map below. Points X, Y, and Z are
locations on the map. Elevations are expressed in
meters.
Which profile best represents the topography along
the dashed line from point X to point Y?
A)
B)
C)
D)
28. Base your answer to the following question on the map and profile shown below. The map shows the
major areas of the North Atlantic Ocean. Letters A, B, C, and D represent locations on the ocean
floor. The profile represents the ocean bottom from point X in North America along the dashed line to
point Y in Africa. Note that the profile is vertically exaggerated.
Classification of the ocean bottom into the areas shown is based on the
A) distance from continental landmasses
C) age of ocean-bottom rocks
B) topography of the ocean floor
D) type of ocean-bottom sediments
Earth Science
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