Multiple Choice
Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.
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A day on Saturn takes about 10 Earth hours. Which fact would best explain this
short day?
a. | Saturn is less dense than Earth. | c. | Saturn rotates more rapidly than
Earth. | b. | Saturn is much farther from the Sun than Earth, | d. | Saturn’s orbit has greater eccentricity
than Earth’s. |
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2.
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 The highest
elevation on this topographic map
can be no more than about
a. | 25 meters | c. | 45 meters | b. | 34 meters | d. | 49 meters |
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3.
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In an area where a river has cut deep
into
Earth, there are several layers of very different
rock exposed. The oldest rock layer is
most
likely to be the layer that is
a. | below the other layers. | c. | the most rich in fossils. | b. | the thickest
layer. | d. | igneous intrusive rock. |
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4.
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The existence of extraterrestrial life may
never
be proven, but this idea will become more
scientifically acceptable over time
if
a. | no one disputes this idea in a scientific
forum. | c. | alternative hypotheses are proposed
and
confirmed. | b. | hypotheses are made
related to the idea. | d. | increasing scientific evidence supports
the
idea. |
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5.
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Which of the following statements
best
describes how the planets of the solar system
formed?
a. | They are condensed rings of matter thrown
off by the
young Sun. | c. | The Sun captured them from smaller, older
nearby
stars. | b. | They are the remains of an exploded star once
paired
with the Sun. | d. | They formed from a nebular cloud of dust
and
gas. |
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6.
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Evidence suggests that Earth is about
4.6
billion years old, even though no Earth
rocks have been found that can be dated at
more than 4
billion years old. This discrepancy
is most likely caused by Earth’s original
crust
being
a. | difficult to date so precisely. | c. | blasted away during Earth’s formation. | b. | subject to extensive erosion. | d. | destroyed by solar
radiation. |
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7.
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Which of the following is the best
evidence that
Earth’s continents were once in vastly different
positions than they
are today?
a. | Penguins are found only in the
Southern
Hemisphere. | c. | Volcanoes encircle the Pacific
Ocean.
| b. | Fossils of tropical
plants are found in
Antarctica. | d. | Major rivers form deltas from
continental
erosion.
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8.
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Early telescopes showed stars as only points
of
light, while the planets appeared to be much
larger, providing evidence that stars
must
a. | be more plentiful in our solar system
than
planets. | c. | be much farther from Earth than
planets. | b. | travel in elliptical orbits like
planets. | d. | reflect much more light than planets. |
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9.
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What is the source of energy for the
Sun?
a. | hydrogen fusion | c. | nuclear
fission of metals | b. | internal
combustion | d. | burning of solar gases |
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10.
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The surfaces of planet Mercury and our
moon
contain some very large craters that are most
likely the result
of
a. | giant lava flows. | c. | nuclear
explosions. | b. | asteroid
impacts. | d. | large collapsed caves. |
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11.
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The Sun is an average yellow star in the
Milky
Way galaxy, which is described as
a. | a dwarf galaxy. | c. | an
elliptical galaxy. | b. | a spiral
galaxy. | d. | an irregular galaxy.
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12.
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As part of the modern theory of the origins
of
the elements, it is hypothesized that before the
formation of the stars, most of the matter
in the
universe consisted of what atoms?
a. | hydrogen and helium | c. | silicon
and lithium | b. | nitrogen and
carbon | d. | uranium and radium |
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13.
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Stars begin their life cycle in
a. | a black hole. | c. | a
nebula. | b. | a nova. | d. | a
supernova. |
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14.
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Astronomers have discovered vast
differences
in stars through their observations. One theory
used to explain these differences
is that
a. | the distances between stars are
vast. | c. | Earth’s atmosphere distorts our view of the
stars. | b. | stars are at different points in their life
cycles. | d. | there is too much light pollution on Earth to study
stars. |
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15.
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Which of the following provides evidence
for
plate tectonics?
a. | sea-floor topography | c. | Coriolis effect | b. | ocean
currents | d. | atmospheric temperatures |
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16.
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A rift valley is evidence of which kind of
plate
boundary?
a. | convergent | c. | transform | b. | divergent | d. | uniform |
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17.
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The convergence of two continental
plates
would produce
a. | island arcs. | c. | folded
mountains. | b. | rift
valleys. | d. | trenches. |
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18.
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It is generally true that igneous
rocks
a. | contain primarily evaporates. | c. | normally contain fossils. | b. | can be scratched
with a penny. | d. | are composed of silicate minerals.
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19.
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Earthquake vibrations are detected,
measured,
and recorded by instruments called
a. | sonargraphs. | c. | Richter
scales. | b. | seismographs. | d. | magnetometers.
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20.
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 At which
location would earthquakes be least
likely to occur?
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21.
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Which type of volcano would be the
least
explosive?
a. | cinder cone | c. | shield
volcano | b. | stratovolcano | d. | composite
cone
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22.
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Which of the following energy sources is
most
likely to be abundant in California due to its
position on a plate
boundary?
a. | wind | c. | solar | b. | nuclear | d. | geothermal
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23.
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What energy resource is made possible by
the
volcanic activity in California?
a. | hydroelectricity | c. | geothermal energy | b. | nuclear
power | d. | solar energy
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24.
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The Long Valley Caldera in
east-central
California was formed by a massive volcanic
eruption about 760,000 years ago.
Since then,
it has erupted several times. Of the following,
which would be least likely
to indicate that
another eruption will soon occur?
a. | recurring earthquakes in the
vicinity | c. | changes in gas emissions from the
caldera | b. | decreases in precipitation in the
area | d. | uplifting of the floor of the caldera |
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25.
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Earthquake activity in California is
primarily
caused by
a. | the lowering of aquifer levels. | c. | mining activity during the nineteenth century. | b. | the interaction of tides with the coast. | d. | plates grinding
past each other along active
faults. |
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26.
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The main purpose of the California aqueduct
is
to
a. | allow inexpensive water routes for
transporting
commercial products. | c. | divert floodwater from populated
regions to sparsely populated areas. | b. | transport fresh
water to areas with dense
populations. | d. | provide abundant
ocean water to drier regions of California. |
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27.
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Only about 50% of the solar energy
directed
toward Earth penetrates directly to the surface.
What happens to the rest of the
radiation?
a. | It is absorbed or reflected by the
atmosphere. | c. | It is reflected off the Moon and back
into
space. | b. | It loses energy
traveling through space. | d. | It loses energy overcoming the Sun’s
gravity. |
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28.
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The Moon is very hot on the side facing the
Sun
and very cold on the dark side. This extreme
temperature difference is primarily due
to
the Moon’s
a. | mineral composition. | c. | reflective rocks. | b. | thin
atmosphere. | d. | lack of volcanic activity. |
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29.
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Which of these could increase average
global
temperatures?
a. | increased use of fossil fuels | c. | decreased carbon dioxide emissions | b. | increased ocean algal blooms | d. | increased numbers
of animal species
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30.
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The clouds that surround Venus are so
thick
that the planet actually absorbs less sunlight
than the Earth. Nevertheless, Venus has
a
surface temperature of more than 400 C.
Which of these best explains this high
surface
temperature?
a. | The bright surfaces of the clouds reflect
sunlight
back on the planet. | c. | The thick clouds in the atmosphere
prevent heat from escaping. | b. | The strong winds in
the atmosphere produce friction. | d. | The sulfuric acid in the clouds releases heat
energy. |
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31.
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More solar energy reaches the
equatorial
regions than the polar regions because the
equatorial regions
a. | are covered by a greater area of
land. | c. | have days with more hours of
light. | b. | have more vegetation to absorb
sunlight. | d. | receive sun rays closest to vertical. |
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32.
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Which diagram best models the movement
of
coastal air during the afternoon?
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33.
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 What causes the
wind deflection from the north
and south poles?
a. | the rotation of Earth on its axis | c. | the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to its
orbital
plane | b. | the oblate shape of
Earth | d. | the difference in total land mass of the two
hemispheres |
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34.
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 At which
location on the map would a rain
forest most likely be found?
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35.
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Which of these effects generally occurs as
the
result of a warm air mass and a cooler air mass
converging at Earth’s
surface?
a. | The sky becomes clear. | c. | Cloud formation decreases. | b. | Winds die down. | d. | Stormy weather
patterns develop. |
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36.
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Shifts in Earth’s continents most
likely caused a
change in Earth’s
a. | climatic regions. | c. | orbital
velocity. | b. | mass. | d. | atmospheric
temperature. |
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37.
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The Gulf Stream in the Northern Hemisphere
and
the Brazilian Current in the Southern
Hemisphere move poleward. Compared to
inland areas at the
same latitude, the coastal
areas bordering these currents will
a. | be warmer. | c. | have
more advection fogs. | b. | be more
arid. | d. | have shorter growing seasons. |
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38.
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Scientists have found fossils of tropical plants
in
Antarctica. How could tropical plants have
grown in Antarctica?
a. | At one time, Earth’s entire surface was
a
tropical rain forest. | c. | The rotation of Earth has increased,
causing cooling of the atmosphere. | b. | At one time,
Antarctica was located closer to the equator. | d. | Catastrophic
volcanic eruptions melted the ice and exposed the soil to
sunlight. |
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39.
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 Which of these
statements is best illustrated by
this diagram?a. | Animals under water eat plants. | c. | Water-dwelling animals breathe carbon
dioxide. | b. | Land animals exhale oxygen into water. | d. | Plants can take in
carbon dioxide from air or water. |
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40.
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From Earth’s atmosphere, carbon dioxide
is
used by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria during
the process of
a. | photosynthesis. | c. | decomposition. | b. | respiration. | d. | nitrogen fixation. |
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41.
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 The table above
lists the gases coming from a
modern Hawaiian volcano. If ancient volcanoes
gave off the same
gases, which gas would have
been most helpful in the development of early
life-forms
that could carry out photosynthesis?
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42.
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Earth’s atmosphere is divided into layers
that
are based upon their
a. | water content. | c. | gas
content. | b. | relative humidity. | d. | temperature
gradient. |
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43.
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 The diagram
above shows four layers of
Earth’s atmosphere. Which of the following
correctly labels
the layers represented by A, B,
C, and D (from Earth moving upward) in the
correct
sequence?a. | troposphere, stratosphere,
mesosphere,
thermosphere | c. | troposphere, mesosphere,
thermosphere,
stratosphere | b. | thermosphere,
mesosphere, stratosphere,
troposphere | d. | mesosphere,
troposphere, thermosphere,
stratosphere |
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44.
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The primitive atmosphere of Earth
was
deficient in free oxygen. What process was
primarily responsible for the development
of
the present percentage of free oxygen in the
Earth’s atmosphere?
a. | outgassing | c. | volcanic eruptions | b. | photosynthesis | d. | oxidation of iron-based
minerals |
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45.
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Which of the following human
activities
reduces the level of ozone in the atmosphere?
a. | using artificial lighting in scientific
polar
stations | c. | releasing chlorofluorocarbons from
aerosol cans | b. | using large banks
of solar cells for energy
production | d. | destroying large
areas of the equatorial rain forests |
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46.
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A teacher demonstrated the possible effects of acid rain by placing several
types of rocks in separate beakers containing a vinegar solution with a pH of 3. As time passed, some
of the solutions retained a pH of 3 while other solutions gradually reached a pH of 7. Which of the
following best explains this variation of Ph in this demonstration?
a. | All solutions eventually reach a pH of 7, so the experiment is not
complete. | c. | The rocks have varying chemical composition so some but not all of them react with
acid. | b. | Vinegar is an organic compound that reacts unpredictably with inorganic
rocks. | d. | The students should
have measured the pH immediately after mixing since acid rain reacts quickly in
nature. |
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47.
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 A student models an impact crater on the Moon
by dropping a marble from a known height onto a pan of smooth flour. Before reaching any conclusions
about the results of this simple experiment, the student repeats the activity several times so
that a. | differences produced by standard variability in conditions become
clear. | c. | her ability to simulate a meteor impact becomes more realistic with
practice. | b. | she can produce as large a crater as possible before measuring a
diameter. | d. | she can
illustrate a perfectly circular crater for her writ-up of the
experiment. |
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48.
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Which planet was formed from the light gases of the outer solar nebula?
a. | Mars | c. | Venus | b. | Mercury | d. | Uranus |
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49.
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Although many ancient civilizations designated certain patterns of stars as
constellations, they never included planets in their constellations. What feature of planets, as
opposed to stars, explains this?
a. | They look bigger than stars. | c. | There are not enough of them to
form a constellation. | b. | They are more difficult to see than
stars. | d. | They do not maintain
fixed positions relative to other planets or stars. |
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50.
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Fusion is a form of nuclear reaction resulting in an enormous release of heat
energy. The fusion of hydrogen to helium is a reaction that continuously occurs in
a. | the Sun and other typical stars. | c. | Earth’s outer core of molten
iron. | b. | the ionosphere and thermosphere. | d. | a comet’s tail of ionized
particles. |
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51.
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Relative cooling rates of igneous intrusive rocks can be estimated by comparing
rocks’
a. | crystal sizes. | c. | density. | b. | composition. | d. | chemical
reactivity. |
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52.
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The Richter scale measures which of the following earthquake
characteristics?
a. | intensity | c. | frequency | b. | magnitude | d. | probability |
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53.
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Geothermal energy is possible where there is
a. | wind. | c. | coal. | b. | oil. | d. | magma. |
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54.
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 Geothermal energy, a possible energy
resource, is based on which phenomenon? a. | There are concentrations of heat in some places of Earth’s
crust. | c. | Heat energy from the Sun penetrates deep into Earth. | b. | Earth’s
internal energy heats its surface more than the Sun does. | d. | Human activity is the largest source of heat
energy on Earth. |
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55.
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Venus is warmed by solar radiation, but its thick cloud cover increases the
temperature because the clouds
a. | prevent the escape of heat into space. | c. | absorb short light wavelengths,
leaving heat. | b. | convert solar radiation into heat. | d. | produce heat as they are pushed by strong
winds. |
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56.
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Air moving from the poles toward the equator turns west. The primary cause of
this global deflection is
a. | the shape and size of land masses. | c. | changes in the magnetic field.
| b. | larger cities surrounded by farmlands. | d. | the rotation of the
planet. |
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57.
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When a layer of cool air at the surface of Earth is found under a layer of
warmer air above it, the result is known as
a. | the Coriolis effect. | c. | a temperature inversion. | b. | the greenhouse
effect. | d. | an
upwelling. |
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58.
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Snow on the ground prevents polar climates from gaining heat by what
mechanism?
a. | heating by greenhouse gases | c. | reflection of solar
radiation | b. | heat spread from the equator | d. | release of heat from Earth’s
core |
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59.
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Carbon in the atmosphere is most often found as which of the following
compounds?
a. | stratospheric ozone | c. | carbon monoxide | b. | fossil fuel | d. | carbon dioxide |
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60.
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Most of the molecular oxygen in the early atmosphere of Earth resulted
from
a. | photosynthesis in primitive plants | c. | volcanic
eruptions | b. | decaying primitive plants and animals | d. | lightning striking
Earth |
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61.
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It has been determined that the oldest rocks retrieved from the Moon by Apollo
astronauts were formed 4.44 billion years ago, while the oldest rocks found on Earth are less than 4
billion years old. This difference is most likely because
a. | Earth formed well after the Moon was formed. | c. | Earth’s oldest rocks have
been recycled by plate tectonics and erosion. | b. | Earth cooled more slowly than the
Moon. | d. | Earth and the Moon
were both captured by the Sun’s gravity at different times. |
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62.
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Before humans visited the Moon and brought back lunar rocks, the age of the Moon
was unknown. Radioisotope dating of these rocks showed that the age of the oldest lunar rock was
closest to
a. | 186,000 years | c. | 4.4 billion years | b. | 6.5 million years | d. | 15 billion
years |
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63.
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An astronomer uses a telescope to observe a star. The color of the star
indicates that it has a size and surface temperature similar to that of the Sun. Using this
information, the astronomer can conclude that the star
a. | is older than the Sun. | c. | is moving very quickly away from Earth. | b. | will survive for
several billion years. | d. | has
a mass similar to the mass of Jupiter. |
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64.
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Which of the following is most responsible for the formation of new crust
at the edge of a tectonic plate?
a. | mountain building at a continent-continent convergent boundary. | c. | two tectonic plate
sliding past one another at a transform boundary. | b. | magma rising up from the mantle at a divergent
boundary. | d. | subduction of one
oceanic plate under another at a convergent boundary. |
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65.
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Which of the following is most likely to produce a fragmented sedimentary
rock?
a. | magma fractured on the ocean floor | c. | gravel deposited in a silt
bed | b. | calcite crystallized from seawater | d. | limestone dissolved in cave
formation |
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66.
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Water is important to so many different types of industry. Which
industry’s water requirements the greatest burden on California’s fresh water
supply?
a. | aerospace | c. | tourism | b. | manufacturing | d. | agriculture |
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67.
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What is the driving force for surface ocean currents?
a. | density layering | c. | the Coriolis effect | b. | global winds | d. | salt
concentration |
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68.
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Temperature inversions can occur when
a. | hot air rises during the night and sinks during the day. | c. | cool air becomes
trapped below warm air. | b. | air is heated directly by solar
radiation | d. | places are warmer
in winter than summer. |
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69.
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Ocean surface currents are created by
a. | differences in water temperature. | c. | friction with
winds. | b. | differences in water density. | d. | salinity
variations. |
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70.
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Sailing from the Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean Sea is difficult because
the sea flows into the ocean instead of the ocean flowing into the sea. This phenomenon occurs
because the Mediterranean Sea has a higher density du to a
a. | higher salinity | c. | lower air pressure | b. | lower volume | d. | higher oxygen
content |
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71.
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 Where would deserts most likely be found on
Planet X?
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72.
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Which of the following was made possible by the presence of photosynthetic
bacteria on Earth?
a. | a water cycle | c. | carbon fixation | b. | an oxygen cycle | d. | anaerobic
respiration |
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73.
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The release of carbon from limestone reservoirs into the atmosphere is
most often accomplished by the
a. | abrasion of the limestone by wind-blown sands. | c. | formation of stalagmites and
stalactites in limestone caves. | b. | destruction of limestone by
lichens. | d. | chemical reaction
between limestone and rainwater. |
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74.
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During periods of increased global temperatures, which of the following is
most likely to occur?
a. | a decrease in atmospheric CO2 | c. | a decrease in
earthquakes | b. | an increase in atmospheric CO2 | d. | an increase in
earthquakes |
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75.
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The first atmosphere that formed above Earth was most likely due to what
process?
a. | eruption of volcanoes | c. | development of land plants | b. | movement of
water | d. | occurrence of violent
storms |
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76.
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An astronomer notes the
change in position of Mars over several nights and then calculates that Mars orbits the Sun once
every 400 Earth days. This figure is considerably lower than the 687 Earth-day orbit that is widely
accepted for Mars. The scientist should
a. | publish the findings to reveal the
flaw in established orbital theories. | c. | gather a new set of data and see if the results remain the
same. | b. | form a hypothesis to explain how the orbit of Mars can vary so
greatly. | d. | add 287 days to the calculations to
match the accepted figure. |
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77.
|
The diameter of Saturn
is almost ten times that of the Earth, yet its density is much less. This can best be explained by the fact that Saturn
a. | is farther from the
Sun. | c. | has a shorter period of
rotation. | b. | is a gaseous planet. | d. | has a ring around its center. |
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78.
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Before the telescope was
invented, people had the idea that the planets were closer to Earth than were the stars. Which piece
of evidence contributed to this conclusion?
a. | The planets were the only objects
with visible moons. | c. | The stars were
consistently brighter than the planets. | b. | The Milky Way was sometimes visible during the day.
| d. | The planets appeared to move much more quickly than the
stars. |
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79.
|
Scientific evidence suggests
that magnesium is formed by stars during
a. | photosynthesis | c. | nuclear fusion | b. | the fission of carbon atoms | d. | convection inside
sunspots |
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80.
|
The final stage of a
star’s existence is
determined by its mass. The most massive stars will end their lives
as a. | supergiant
stars | c. | white dwarf stars | b. | neutron stars | d. | black holes |
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81.
|
The youngest rocks on the ocean floor are typically located near what
feature?
a. | a mid-ocean ridge | c. | an abyssal plain | b. | a continental shelf | d. | a subduction
trench |
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82.
|
Landslides in California are caused by a combination of environmental factors,
such as heavy precipitation, and geological factors such as
a. | karst topography and poor
drainage. | c. | reverse faulting
and perched water tables. | b. | crust folding and artesian springs. | d. | steep topography and unstable soil
structure. |
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83.
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The majority of fresh water in California is used for
a. | drinking | c. | livestock | b. | agriculture | d. | fire fighting |
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84.
|
Permanent deforestation can contribute to potential global warming by
a. | decreasing atmospheric CO2 levels | c. | decreasing atmospheric
N2 levels | b. | increasing atmospheric CO2
levels | d. | increasing
atmospheric N2 levels |
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85.
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Earth rotates in an easterly direction. Therefore southward wind currents in the Northern Hemisphere appear to be deflected to
the
a. | east | c. | north | b. | west | d. | south |
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86.
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When comparing temperatures
of two California regions of the same latitude, students found that the nighttime temperature dropped
significantly at the desert site but only slightly at the coastal site. This difference is mostly
caused by
a. | lower wind speeds in the desert than at the coast. | c. | lower carbon dioxide levels in the
desert than at the coast. | b. | less water vapor in the desert than at the
coast. | d. | less vegetation in
the desert than at the coast. |
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87.
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What piece of evidence
supports the theory that volcanic eruptions formed Earth’s early atmosphere?
a. | Volcanoes expel gases with chemical
compositions which closely match the ratios of non-photosynthetic gases in air.
| c. | Volcanoes expel a mixture of gases
consisting almost entirely of water vapor and oxygen. | b. | Volcanoes are clustered near the equator, so their gas output spreads
over Earth’s surface. | d. | Volcanic eruptions are inversely
proportional to local atmospheric pressure. |
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88.
|
Which of the following
processes puts carbon from a
forest floor back into the atmosphere?
a. | combustion | c. | evaporation | b. | photosynthesis | d. | transpiration |
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89.
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According to many scientists,
what process led to the formation of the early atmosphere of Earth?
a. | outgassing | c. | asteroid collision | b. | metamorphism | d. | galactic dust |
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90.
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According to scientists,
which of the following material categories is thought to be the primary cause for the depletion of
the ozone layer?
a. | chlorofluorocarbons
| c. | fossil fuels | b. | coal-containing sulfur | d. | hydrocarbons |
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