Unit 1 Test
Matching
Match each item with the correct statement below.
a. environment
f. Earth
b. axis
g. sun
c. GIS
h. Southern Hemisphere
d. the western United States
i. artifacts
e. Landsat
j. a year
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
“half sphere” 0 to 90S latitude
third planet from the sun
humans’ natural surroundings
computer software used to map the earth
tools and pottery from the past
an example of a huge region
center of the solar system
photos taken by satellites
a full revolution of the earth
imaginary line running through the earth’s center
Match each item with the correct statement below.
a. the moon
f. seasons
b. canyon
g. isthmus
c. geography
h. 23 1/2
d. Mt. Everest
i. Mariana Trench
e. 365 1/4
j. plateau
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
a narrow piece of land that connects two larger pieces of land
the study of the earth in all its variety
number of days it takes the earth to travel around the sun
a cold, rocky sphere with no water or atmosphere
changes caused by the earth’s year-long orbit
steep-sided lowland formed by a river cutting through a plateau
lowest spot on the earth’s surface
flat area at a high elevation
highest spot on the earth’s surface
number of degrees that the earth is tilted on its axis
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____
21. Which of the following is a human characteristic of a place?
____
a. fertile soil
c. amount of resources
b. available freshwater
d. languages spoken
22. The area that surrounds the earth’s core is called the ____.
a. magma
c. mantle
b. crust
d. continents
____
23.
____
24.
____
25.
____
26.
____
27.
____
28.
____
29.
____
30.
____
31.
____
32.
Which of the following phrases best completes the diagram?
a. continents move apart
c. volcanoes erupt
b. high mountain ranges result
d. all of the above
The angle of the sun’s rays causes the ____.
a. seasons
c. years
b. days
d. orbits
When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is summer in the ____.
a. Tropic of Cancer
c. Southern Hemisphere
b. North Pole
d. galaxy
The day with the fewest hours of sunlight occurs in the Northern Hemisphere in the ____.
a. summer
c. spring
b. autumn
d. winter
Off each coast of a continent lies a plateau called a(n) ____.
a. island
c. continental shelf
b. isthmus
d. trench
Which two gases form about 99 percent of the atmosphere?
a. oxygen and hydrogen
c. helium and hydrogen
b. nitrogen and oxygen
d. hydrogen and nitrogen
Water, wind, and ice move weathered material through a process called ____.
a. magma
c. mantle
b. earthquakes
d. erosion
The earth’s crust includes ocean floors and ____.
a. an inner core
c. continents
b. an outer core
d. straits
Dangerous rays from the sun are screened out on the earth by the ____.
a. equinoxes
c. atmosphere
b. oceans
d. solstices
Plates that form the earth’s crust float on liquid rock in the ____.
a. magma
c. mantle
b. atmosphere
d. tsunami
____
33.
____
34.
____
35.
____
36.
____
37.
____
38.
____
39.
____
40.
What is A in the diagram?
a. the moon
c. the sun
b. Earth
d. the Equator
Weathering is a process that ____.
a. causes people to move from one place to another
b. causes the movement of tectonic plates
c. causes earthquakes
d. breaks surface rocks into boulders, gravel, sand, and soil
The earth’s 1,000-mile (1,609-km)-thick cushion of gases is called the ____.
a. atmosphere
c. grid system
b. greenhouse effect
d. solar system
The point where a river empties into another body of water is called its ____.
a. source
c. valley
b. mouth
d. delta
Magma can be seen in a(n) ____.
a. river
c. active volcano
b. plain
d. plateau
Plains and mountains are examples of ____.
a. landforms
c. plateaus
b. hills
d. islands
About 70 percent of the earth’s surface is ____.
a. continents
c. water
b. islands
d. gases
The movement of the earth’s huge land masses is known as ____.
a. earthquake activity
c. erosion
b. continental collision
d. continental drift
____
41.
Which of the planets is closest to the sun?
a. Saturn
c. Venus
b. Earth
d. Mercury
____
42.
Which of the following is NOT a planet?
a. Moon
c. Pluto
b. Neptune
d. Earth
____
43.
Which of the following is a “belt” that orbits the Sun?
a. Jupiter
c. Uranus
b. Asteroids
d. Comet
____
44.
Which two planets are closest to Earth?
a. Mars and Venus
c. Jupiter and Mars
b. Moon and Mars
d. Sun and Venus
____
45.
What does a star inside a circle symbolize on this map?
a. national boundary
c. projection
b. national capital
d. other city
____
46.
Which feature on this map measures distance?
a. compass rose
c. type of projection
b. key
d. scale bar
____
47.
What is the capital of Germany?
a. Bremen
b. Hamburg
____
48.
c. Munich
d. Berlin
Which city on the map is farthest east?
a. Berlin
c. Dresden
b. Cologne
d. Rostock
“As we slowly climbed into the higher elevations, the air became colder. The
vegetation that surrounded us changed from great forests of pine trees to just small
flowering shrubs tucked among the rocks. When we reached the peak, we could see
for miles. Range after range filled the landscape in front of us.”
____
49.
What type of landform are these people describing?
a. hill
c. plateau
b. mountain
d. canyon
____
50.
On which of the following landforms could these people be located?
a. Plateau of Tibet
c. North European Plain
b. Mt. Everest
d. Great Rift Valley
____
51.
What type of plant life is found on the peak of the landform in this quote?
a. desert cactus
c. towering forests
b. low-lying shrubs
d. tropical ferns
“At the beginning of our adventure, we stood upon a flat lowland. Our mules then
started to carefully pick their way down the steep-sided walls. On our way down, we
could see where a river had long ago carved through the various rock layers of the
earth. Four hours later, our mules and our sore bodies reached the river at the
bottom.”
____
52.
On what type of landform are these mules walking?
a. canyon
c. plain
b. continental shelf
d. isthmus
____
53.
Which of the following phrases from the quote tells you that the mules are NOT walking on a
hill or mountain?
a. steep-sided walls
c. various rock layers
b. river at the bottom
d. a flat lowland
____
54.
____
55.
According to the diagram, what type of landform is H?
a. island
c. isthmus
b. peninsula
d. strait
a. A
b. K
Which of the following letters represents a volcano on the diagram?
c. M
d. R
____
56.
Which of the following is labeled as “L” on the diagram?
a. strait
c. glacier
b. lake
d. gulf
____
57.
According to the diagram, what does the letter “M” show?
a. volcano
c. plateau
b. hills
d. glacier
____
____
58.
a.
b.
c.
d.
According to the diagram, which of the following is related to physical geography?
the number of fish in an area
the number of fishers in an area
the word for “fish” in the local language
how people in the area eat their fish
a.
b.
c.
d.
According to the diagram, which of the following is related to human geography?
the cold climate of an area
the types of vegetation that grow in cold climates
the types of clothing worn in cold climates
the location of a landmass near the North Pole
59.
____
60.
More sunlight reaches the Northern Hemisphere than the Southern Hemisphere during the
a. Vernal Equinox.
c. Summer Solstice.
b. Autumnal Equinox.
d. Winter Solstice.
____
61.
The Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun during the _____.
a. Vernal Equinox
c. Summer Solstice
b. Autumnal Equinox
d. Winter Solstice
____
62.
Summer occurs in the Southern Hemisphere during the _____.
a. Winter Solstice
c. Autumnal Equinox
b. Summer Solstice
d. Vernal Equinox
____
63.
The North Pole experiences several weeks of constant darkness during the _____.
a. Vernal Equinox
c. Autumnal Equinox
b. Summer Solstice
d. Winter Solstice
____
64.
This diagram shows Earth’s _____.
a. rotation on its axis
b. human geography
c. revolution around the sun
d. atmosphere
____
65.
What is the innermost layer of the earth?
a. core
c. crust
b. mantle
d. shelf
____
66.
Which layer of the earth is the thinnest?
a. inner core
c. crust
b. outer core
d. mantle
____
67.
Earth’s continents are part of the _____.
a. core
c. mantle
b. magma
d. crust
____
____
68.
Which letter on the map is located on the continent of Africa?
a. A
c. C
b. B
d. D
69. v Which continent is labeled with the letter “H”?
a. Asia
c. Europe
b. Africa
d. Australia
____
70.
Which continent is located north of Africa?
a. North America
c. Europe
b. South America
d. Antarctica
____
71.
What does the letter “G” show on this map?
a. Atlantic Ocean
c. Indian Ocean
b. Pacific Ocean
d. Arctic Ocean
____
72.
What was the name of the single large landmass that existed 200 million years ago?
a. Eurasia
c. Eurafrica
b. America
d. Pangaea
____
73.
Which landmass was NOT connected to another landmass 65 million years ago?
a. North America
c. India
b. Eurasia
d. Australia
“A thousand feet below us, at the center of a valley of black lava . . . an enormous
cone that didn’t exist a week ago erupts [continuously], hurling lava bombs as big as
cars hundreds of feet into the air. ...The golden river of lava to our left is pouring
from a [crack] in a summit crater belching smoke and ash above us.”
National Geographic
____
____
74.
75.
What is the quote describing?
a. an earthquake
b. a tsunami
c. a fault
d. a volcano
The quote uses the phrase “golden river of lava.” What is the scientific word for this melted
rock?
a. magma
b. core
c. mantle
d. weathering
“Two continents, Australia and Antarctica, stand alone, while the others are joined in
some way. Europe and Asia are actually parts of one huge landmass called Eurasia. A
narrow neck of land called the Isthmus of Panama links North America and South
America. Only the human-made Suez Canal separates Africa and Asia.”
____
76.
Which of the following continents is NOT connected to any other continent?
a. Europe
c. Australia
b. Asia
d. North America
____
77.
What type of landform connects North America and South America?
a. a peninsula
c. a canal
b. a strait
d. an isthmus
____
78.
Which continent was naturally connected to Africa, but now is separated by a human-made
feature?
a. Europe
c. Antarctica
b. Asia
d. South America
Short Answer
79.
What is the difference between B and H on the diagram?
80.
Use the diagram to write a short description of our solar system.
81.
Use the diagram to explain why the United States experiences changes in
seasons.
82.
What is the scale of miles on this map?
83.
Are the black lines on this map rivers or boundaries? How can you tell?
Essay
84.
What are some of the powerful forces that change the earth’s surface?
Describe the causes and the results of one of these forces that you have
read about or seen on TV news programs.
85.
What are the seasons like in the area of the United States where you live?
Describe the seasons and what causes them.
86.
What are some of the human and physical features in the area of the United
States where you live?
87.
How does the sun affect life on the earth?
Unit 1 Test
Answer Section
MATCHING
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
H
F
A
C
I
D
G
E
J
B
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
Average
Easy
Easy
Average
Easy
Average
Easy
Average
Easy
Easy
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
G
C
E
A
F
B
I
J
D
H
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
Average
Easy
Average
Average
Easy
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
Easy
Average
Average
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
Average
Easy
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
Average
MULTIPLE CHOICE
21. ANS: D
PTS: 1
22. ANS: C
PTS: 1
23. ANS: C
PTS: 1
MSC: Document Based Question
24. ANS: A
PTS: 1
25. ANS: C
PTS: 1
26. ANS: D
PTS: 1
27. ANS: C
PTS: 1
28. ANS: B
PTS: 1
29. ANS: D
PTS: 1
30. ANS: C
PTS: 1
31. ANS: C
PTS: 1
32. ANS: C
PTS: 1
33. ANS: C
PTS: 1
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
MSC:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
ANS:
MSC:
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
A
PTS: 1
B
PTS: 1
C
PTS: 1
A
PTS: 1
C
PTS: 1
D
PTS: 1
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
A
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
B
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
A
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
B
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
B
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
B
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
B
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
A
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
B
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
A
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
DIF:
Average
Average
Average
Easy
Easy
Average
Average
Average
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Challenging
DIF:
Challenging
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Challenging
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Challenging
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Challenging
59. ANS:
MSC:
60. ANS:
MSC:
61. ANS:
MSC:
62. ANS:
MSC:
63. ANS:
MSC:
64. ANS:
MSC:
65. ANS:
MSC:
66. ANS:
MSC:
67. ANS:
MSC:
68. ANS:
MSC:
69. ANS:
MSC:
70. ANS:
MSC:
71. ANS:
MSC:
72. ANS:
MSC:
73. ANS:
MSC:
74. ANS:
MSC:
75. ANS:
MSC:
76. ANS:
MSC:
77. ANS:
MSC:
78. ANS:
MSC:
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
A
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
A
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
A
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
B
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
A
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
C
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
D
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
B
PTS: 1
Document Based Question
DIF:
Challenging
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Average
DIF:
Easy
DIF:
Easy
SHORT ANSWER
79. ANS:
B is a strait, or a narrow body of water between two landmasses. H is an isthmus, or a narrow strip
of land that connects two larger bodies of land.
PTS: 1
DIF: Average
MSC: Document Based Question
80. ANS:
The sun is at the center of our solar system. Nine planets revolve around the sun, with Mercury
located closest to the sun and Pluto located farthest from the sun. Earth is the third planet from the
sun. Some planets have moons and/or rings. Asteroids and sometimes comets are included in our
solar system.
PTS: 1
DIF: Challenging
MSC: Document Based Question
81. ANS:
Earth is tilted 23 1/2 degrees on its axis. This tilt brings some areas of Earth closer to the sun as
Earth makes its year-long orbit around the sun. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted closer to
the sun, it experiences summer. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, winter
occurs.
PTS: 1
DIF: Challenging
MSC: Document Based Question
82. ANS:
About 1/2 inch equals 100 miles on this map.
PTS: 1
DIF: Average
MSC: Document Based Question
83. ANS:
The key tells you that the black lines are national boundaries. The black lines may also be rivers,
but this map is showing political features, not physical features.
PTS: 1
DIF: Average
MSC: Document Based Question
ESSAY
84. ANS:
Answers will vary but should include earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, weathering, and erosion.
Students might describe an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or flood in their area or in some other
part of the world. They should describe the way it affected the places involved and the people
living there. They should also explain the forces beneath the earth’s crust or on the earth’s surface
that cause the change.
PTS:
1
DIF:
Challenging
85. ANS:
Answers will vary according to where students live but should mention the names of the seasons
there the changes in climate experienced. Students should explain that seasons are caused by the
tilt of the earth on its axis and the earth’s orbit around the sun. When the sun’s rays fall directly on
a place, people enjoy the warmth of summer. When a place receives only indirect rays, people
experience winter.
PTS: 1
DIF: Challenging
86. ANS:
Answers will vary according to where students live but should mention such human features as
towns, cities, highways, schools, and other human-made features as well as the physical features
and landforms found there such as hills, plains, valleys, rivers, oceans, lakes, and mountains.
PTS: 1
DIF: Challenging
87. ANS:
Answers will vary but should mention that the sun provides the light and heat that allow all forms
of life on the earth to exist. The earth’s revolution and rotation around the sun cause the seasons
and climate on our planet.
PTS:
1
DIF:
Challenging