20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
Student: _____________________________________
Class:
_____________________________________
Date:
_____________________________________
The Nature of Science & Mapping Our World
Write the letter of the correct branch of Earth Science to its matching specialization.
a. Oceanography
b. Astronomy
c. Meteorology
d. Geology
e. Environmental Science
_____ 1. The study of objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere
_____ 2. The study of Earth’s oceans
_____ 3. The study of the materials that make up the Earth, the processes that form and change
these materials, and the history of the planet and its life-forms since its origin
_____ 4. The study of the forces and processes that cause the atmosphere to change and produce
weather
_____ 5. The study of the interactions of organisms and their surroundings
Fill in the blank with the correct word(s).
6.
A testable explanation of a situation that can be supported or disproved by careful procedures is
a(n) ________________________.
7.
A modern version of the metric system, _____________, is what most scientific studies use as a
system of measurement.
8.
The __________________________ is the name given to the imaginary line representing 0°
longitude.
9.
Lines of ______________________ run parallel to the equator.
10. Lines of longitude converge at the _______________.
11. The Earth is divided into ___________ time zones.
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
12. Label the diagram below.
13. Find the latitude and longitude of the points marked A through F. Be sure to tell if the
latitude is north or south and if the longitude is east or west.
Point A
Point B
Point C
Point D
Point E
Point F
14. Contour lines are shown at 25m intervals on this map. If in a flood the water rises to 525m,
which of the villages (P, Q, R, S, T) would flood? ___________________
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
15. Number the test tubes in the correct order for the Scientific Method.
State conclusion about the problem based
on the research and data collected
Interpret data
to test your experiment
16. Write the SI Unit used for the following measurements.
Length
_________________________________
Mass
_________________________________
Area
_________________________________
Volume
_________________________________
Density
_________________________________
Time
_________________________________
Temperature
_________________________________
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
17. The ___________________________ in an experiment is the factor that is changed by the
experimenter.
18. The ___________________________ is a factor that is affected by changes in the independent
variable.
19. A ___________________ is used in an experiment to show that the results of an experiment are
a result of the condition being tested.
The Atmosphere and the Oceans
True or False. If the statement is false, rewrite it to make it true.
20. _____________ The stratosphere is important because it contains the ozone layer, which blocks
harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
_____________________________________________________________________________
21. _____________ In the troposphere, pressure increases with altitude while temperature
decreases.
_____________________________________________________________________________
22. _____________ Humidity is the amount of precipitation that falls.
_____________________________________________________________________________
23. _____________ Isotherms are lines on a map that connect lines of equal pressure.
_____________________________________________________________________________
24. _____________ The Coriolis effect is caused by the rotation of Earth.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Answer the following questions.
25. What is an air mass? ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
26. Scientists classify air masses according to _________________________________ and
_________________________________________.
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
27. Use the picture below to fill in the table. Write down the characteristics of the type of air mass
shown (continental, maritime, polar, tropical).
Moisture
Temperature
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F
28. How are the air masses labeled “C” and “F” in the picture above alike and how are they
different?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
29. __________________________air masses form in the tropics and have low pressure.
30. Air masses that form over oceans are called _______________________air masses.
31. The area where air masses meet and do not mix becomes a(n) _______________________.
32. _____________________________air masses form over land, in the middle of continents.
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
33. The Köppen classification system classifies a climate based on average ___________________
and ____________________ for an area.
34. Why do polar and equatorial regions maintain fairly constant average temperatures?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
35. Label the diagram of the layers of the atmosphere, using the keywords below.

Stratosphere

Thermosphere

Troposphere

Mesosphere

Ozone layer

Exosphere
Write T or True if the statement is true; write F or False if the statement is false.
36. _________ Ozone is a gas made up of four oxygen atoms.
37. _________ In addition to Earth, many of the other planets in the Solar System have
atmospheres.
38. _________ The main function of the ozone layer is to shield the Earth from the harmful ultraviolet
rays of the sun.
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
Fill in the blanks with the correct words.
39. The layer of gases that surrounds Earth is called the _______________.
40. ___________ makes up about 78% of Earth's atmosphere.
41. ___________ makes up about 21% of Earth's atmosphere.
42. The ________________ contains the uppermost part of the mesosphere and the lower part of
the thermosphere.
Multiple Choice
43. What layer of the atmosphere does weather occur in?
a) Stratosphere
b) Thermosphere
c) Mesosphere
d) Troposphere
45. What layer of the atmosphere do we live in?
a) Stratosphere
b) Thermosphere
c) Mesosphere
d) Troposphere
46. What is the coldest layer of the atmosphere?
a) Stratosphere
b) Thermosphere
c) Mesosphere
d) Troposphere
47. What is the hottest layer of the atmosphere?
a) Stratosphere
b) Thermosphere
c) Mesosphere
d) Troposphere
49. In which layer of the atmosphere do Aurora Borealis (northern lights) appear?
a) Stratosphere
b) Thermosphere
c) Mesosphere
d) Troposphere
50. What layer of the atmosphere is the ozone layer found?
a) Stratosphere
b) Thermosphere
c) Mesosphere
d) Troposphere
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
51. In which layer of the atmosphere do meteorites burn?
a) Stratosphere
b) Thermosphere
c) Mesosphere
d) Troposphere
52. In which layer of atmosphere is temperature increasing with increasing altitude?
a) Thermosphere and Mesosphere
b) Troposphere and Stratosphere
c) Mesosphere and Troposphere
d) Thermosphere and Stratosphere
54. How does atmospheric pressure change with altitude?
a) decreases
b) stays the same
c) increases
d) both increases and decreases
55. Which is the lowest layer of the atmosphere?
a) Stratosphere
b) Thermosphere
c) Mesosphere
d) Troposphere
56. _________________, a warming of Earth’s surface and the lowest layer of the atmosphere
caused by the presence of carbon dioxide, and certain other gases in the air.
a) Ozone layer
b) Carbon cycle
c) Greenhouse effect
d) Climate change
57. Describe the following ways in which thermal energy is transferred:
Conduction:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Convection:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
Radiation:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
58. Match the definition with the correct term on the right.
____ Periodic rise and fall of sea level
Breaker
____ The difference between high tide and low tide
Estuary
____ Type of tide with the highest high tides and
Spring tide
lowest low tides
____ Type of tide that occurs when the Sun, Moon,
Wave
and Earth form a 90o angle.
____ Collapsing wave that forms when a wave
Tidal range
reaches shallow water and becomes so steep
that the crest topples forward
____ Vertical movement of ocean water that occurs
Tide
when winds push the surface waters aside and
it is replaced with cold, deeper waters
____ Coastal area of low salinity where rivers or
Neap tide
streams enter the ocean
____ Rhythmic movement that carries energy
through ocean waters that is generated mainly
by wind moving over the surface of the water
Upwelling
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
59. What percentage of ocean water is made up of salt? ________________
60. What are two factors that cause differences in ocean water density?
________________________________________________________________________________
61. The basic causes of tides are the gravitational attraction among _____________, the
____________, and the _______________.
62. _______________ has the greatest influence on tides because of its proximity to Earth.
63. Explain how salinity and temperature affect the density of ocean water.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
64. List the major and minor oceans.
Major Oceans
Minor Oceans
65. _______________________ and ______________________ were two sources of early oceans.
66. Besides salt, what else is present in seawater?
________________________________________________________________________________
67. Put the following in the order in which they occur.
_______ Salty water migrates along the ocean floor toward the equator.
_______ Sea ice forms during winter.
_______ Cold, salty water sinks.
_______ Salt ions accumulate beneath the ice.
20.21 Earth and Space Science
Midterm Exam Study Guide
68. Label the parts of a wave.
A. _____________________________
B. _____________________________
C. _____________________________
D. _____________________________
69. What percentage of Earth is covered by ocean? ________
The Northern Hemisphere? _________
The Southern Hemisphere? _________
70. What is the temperature of seawater below the thermocline? ______________