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Final Exam – Earth Science
Section A - Materials and Processes That Shape A Planet
AIM 1 – Cite evidence to demonstrate and explain that physical weathering and chemical
weathering cause changes to Earth materials
Objective a - Identify examples of physical weathering, such as the effect of wind, ice, etc. and describe
the changes caused in each
Use the picture below to answer the following.
Each spring, a crevice in the cliff wall widens and deepens.
1.
What is the best explanation for how physical weathering causes the crevice to widen and
deepen?
a. Winds deposit sand into the crevice.
b. Water freezes and expands in the crevice.
c. Snow melts and evaporates between the rocks in the crevice.
d. Air pollution in the area causes a reaction that widens the crevice.
Objective b - Describe the changes in materials caused by each of the chemical weathering
processes listed: rusting/tarnishing, dissolving by acid rain
2.
Which of these is an example of chemical weathering?
a. Water dissolves limestone.
b. A plant root expands a crack in a rock.
c. A river carries pieces of rock toward the ocean.
d. Rocks in a glacier scrape the rocks below them.
Objective c - Compare physical and chemical weathering and provide examples of
changes caused in Earth materials or features by each of these processes
Weathering is one way that the Earth’s surface is constantly changing. Scientists divide weathering
into two types: physical weathering and chemical weathering.
3.
What do chemical and physical weathering have in common?
a. They both are caused by acid rain.
b. They both change what the rock is made of.
c. They both break down rocks.
d. They both form igneous rock.
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4.
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Which best describes the difference between physical and chemical weathering?
a. Physical weathering changes rocks, but chemical weathering changes only minerals.
b. Physical weathering is caused by ice, but chemical weathering is caused only by water.
c. Chemical weathering changes the composition of a rock, but physical weathering does
not.
d. Physical weathering changes the composition of a rock, but chemical weathering does
not.
You always walk past the same rock on your way to school. The rock used to be rough and a grayish
color. Now the rock is smoother and has turned a reddish brown color.
5.
In the situation above, what is most likely the type of weathering you are observing.
a. Physical weathering
b. Chemical weathering
c. Mechanical weathering
d. Permeable weathering
AIM 2 - Differentiate among sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks based upon the
processes by which they are formed
Objectives: Identify and describe the processes that form sedimentary rock: deposition,
compaction, cementation, Identify and describe the processes that form igneous rocks: volcanic
eruptions, igneous intrusions Identify and describe the processes that form metamorphic rocks: high
temperature, pressure
6.
How are igneous rocks formed?
a. From cooling molten rock.
b. Debris and other minerals from the crust of the earth are compressed together.
c. Rock is moved to an environment where the minerals of the rock are unstable and the
rock changes.
d. None of the above.
7.
How are sedimentary rocks formed?
a. From cooling magnum rock.
b. Debris and other minerals from the crust of the earth are compressed together.
c. Rock is moved to an environment where the minerals of the rock are unstable and the
rock changes.
d. None of the above.
8.
How are metamorphic rocks formed?
a. From cooling magnum rock.
b. Debris and other minerals from the crust of the earth are compressed together.
c. Rock is moved to an environment where the minerals of the rock are unstable and the
rock changes.
d. None of the above.
Objective d - Cite features that can be used as evidence to distinguish among the three
types of rocks and relate these features to the processes that form each rock type
9.
Which type of rock contains the best fossil record?
a. Igneous
b. Magma
Use the picture below to answer the following.
c.
d.
Metamorphic
Sedimentary
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The picture shows a close-up view of fossils found within the cliff wall.
10. The cliff is most likely composed of:
a. Igneous rock
b. Molten rock
c. Metamorphic rock
d. Sedimentary rock
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Objective e – Describe the processes that change one form of rock into another (rock
cycle)
Use the information below to answer the following questions.
The rock cycle is a process that alters sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks, The diagram
below shows the rock cycle.
11. If molten lava from a volcano cools very quickly, it will form pumice. Given this information,
what kind of rock is pumice?
a. Igneous rock
b. Molten rock
c. Sedimentary rock
d. Metamorphic rock
12. This piece of pumice rock goes through weathering and erosion and eventually becomes
sedimentary rock. What processes is it undergoing to transform into this?
a. Melting
b. Heat and pressure
c. Weathering and erosion
d. Deposition, compaction, and cementation
13. This sedimentary rock gets buried deep underground and over time becomes metamorphic rock.
What did the rock undergo to become metamorphic.
a. Melting
b. Heat and pressure
c. Weathering and erosion
d. Deposition, compaction, and cementation
14. As this metamorphic rock gets pushed deeper and deeper underground and approaches the
mantle, it becomes magma. What process did this rock undergo.
a. Melting
b. Heat and pressure
c. Weathering and erosion
d. Deposition, compaction, and cementation
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15. If any type of rock is broken down into sediment, what processes has it gone through?
a. Melting
b. Heat and pressure
c. Weathering and erosion
d. Deposition, compaction, and cementation
Section B – Earth History
AIM 1 – Explain how sedimentary rock is formed periodically, embedding plant and animal
remains and leaving a record of the sequence in which the plants and animals appeared and
disappeared
Objective a – Explain how sedimentary rock buried deep enough may be reformed by pressure
and heat and these re-formed rock layers may be forced up again (uplift) to become land surface and
even mountains
Objective b – Cite evidence to confirm that thousands of layers of sedimentary rock reveal
the long history of the changing surface of the Earth
Using the soil diagram provided, answer the questions that follow.
16. The diagram above is made of sedimentary rock. What is one characteristic in the diagram that
helps you know this is true.
a. The rock is made up of sediments.
b. The rock is layered.
c. The rock has large crystals.
d. The rock is smooth.
17. Which of the layers in the diagram is most likely the oldest?
a. Historic period
b. Woodland period
c. Archaic period
d. Paleoindian period
18. When bedrock in Maryland is examined, it often appears scraped and polished. Which of the
following most likely caused the bedrock to appear scraped and polished?
a. Crustal deformation
b. Frequent earthquakes
c. Glacial movement
d. Volcanic eruptions
Use the information below to answer the following.
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The Hawaiian Islands are home to some of the most studied volcanoes on Earth. The volcanoes erupt
often but are seldom explosive because of the magma that they produce. Kilauea volcano is located
on the largest of the Hawaiian Islands and rises over 4,200 feet about sea level. Kilauea has been
erupting continuously since 1983 and has resulted in new landmass.
19. Why do scientists study rock layers?
a. To find rock fragments
b. To find new species of organisms
c. To find evidence of the core of Earth
d. To find physical evidence of the history of Earth
20. If a geologist looked at a section of sedimentary rock and saw igneous rock in between some of
the layers, they could conclude that most likely:
a. This rock was placed there by humans
b. There were once earthquakes in the area
c. There were once tsunamis in the area
d. There were once volcanoes in the area
Objective c – Explain why some fossils found in the top layers of sedimentary rock are older than those
found beneath in lower layers: folding, breaking, uplift, faulting, tilting
AIM 2 – Recognize and explain that fossils found in layers of sedimentary rock provide evidence
of changing life forms
Objective a – Recognize how different types of fossils are formed, such as petrified remains,
imprints, molds, and casts
Objective b – Recognize and explain that the fossil record of plants and animals describes
changes in life forms over time
The surface of Earth is constantly changing.
21. Which of these findings provides the best evidence that the crustal surface of Earth has changed
over time?
a. Some rock layers are very thick.
b. Some species have become extinct.
c. Marine fossils are found in mountain areas.
d. Igneous rock is found on all tectonic plates.
22. While digging in your backyard, you uncover the fossil of a wooly mammoth. What does this
show about how Maryland’s climate has changed?
a. Maryland’s climate was once tropical.
b. Maryland’s climate was once arctic.
c. Maryland’s climate was once temperate.
d. Maryland’s climate was once oceanic.
Use the picture below to answer the following.
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23. Why do scientists study fossils?
a. To learn how the planet was formed
b. To study how organisms changed over time
c. To observe how drought affected the landscape
d. To understand how weathering affected rock layers
24. The close-up of the cliff wall shows fossils of marine life. What does this tell you about the
geological history of this area?
a. This was once a desert.
b. This was once beneath water.
c. This was once a forest
d. This was once a tundra
Use the information below to answer the following.
The Hawaiian Islands are home to some of the most studied volcanoes on Earth. The volcanoes erupt
often but are seldom explosive because of the magma that they produce. Kilauea volcano is located
on the largest of the Hawaiian Islands and rises over 4,200 feet about sea level. Kilauea has been
erupting continuously since 1983 and has resulted in new landmass.
A fossil found in a surface rock layers is of the same species as a fossil found in a deeper rock layer.
However, the two fossils differ slightly in structure.
25. Differences in the structures of the fossils indicate that
a. This species changed over time
b. This species has many predators
c. The life span of this species changed
d. The food supply of this species changed
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Section C - Plate Tectonics
AIM 1 – Recognize and describe the internal and external structure of the Earth
Objective a – c: Recognize and describe that the Earth’s mantle: lies between the core and
the crust, is very hot, has properties of both solids and liquid; Recognize and describe that the
Earth’s core: is at the center of the Earth, is very hot, is dense and metallic; Identify and describe
the Earth’s crust: the solid crust consists of separate plates, the plates constantly move in
different directions due to convection currents, the plates interact with one another as a result
of plate motion
Drilling to the Mantle
In early 2005, scientists working in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) drilled the
third deepest hole ever made in the ocean floor. They were attempting to reach the mantle of Earth.
They drilled under water instead of on land because ocean plates are much thinner than continental
plates—5 kilometers thick as opposed to 30 kilometers thick.
The IODP drilling occurred at the Atlantis Massif, a large dome-shaped area in the North
Atlantic Ocean that is about 16 kilometers wide. In this area, the crust is very thin and the ocean is
shallow, making the project easier.
Seismic data were used to choose the location of the thinnest crust. This area is
characterized by metamorphic rock deposits. Unfortunately, scientists think the drilling occurred
about 305 meters from the correct location. Although rock was recovered from up to 1,416 meters
below the sea floor, the mantle was not reached.
There were still useful results, however. One scientist said that the rock collected was from
some of the deepest sections of the crust ever reached. These rocks will give geologists a chance to
learn more about how the crust was formed.
Rocks brought to the surface from deep in the crust of Earth help geologists better
understand the structure of the planet and how it formed. Early ideas about the evolution of Earth
are being revised because of these new rock samples.
Scientists know that mantle material is very different from crust material. For example,
mantle rock has a different texture and composition than crust material. The amount of minerals in
the crust also is different from the amount of minerals in the mantle.
Use the technical passage 'Drilling to the Mantle' to answer the following question.
26. Which feature best represents the crust of Earth?
a. Iron-based rocks
b. Separate moving plates
c. Thickest under the ocean floor
d. Composed mainly of molten rock
27. Choose the correct order of Earth’s layers starting the outside going in.
a. Crust, mantle, inner core, outer core
b. Crust, outer core, inner core, mantle
c. Crust, mantle outer core, inner core
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d.
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Inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
28. What is the main difference between the core and the mantle of the Earth?
a. The core contains liquid metal and the mantle is solid metal
b. The core is composed of granite and the mantle is composed of iron and nickel
c. The core is the larger than the mantle in thickness.
d. The core contains solid iron and nickel while the mantle contains liquid iron and nickel.
29. The lithosphere is split into pieces called:
a. Tectonic plates
b. Tangential plates
c. Lithospheric shelves
d. Tectonic slabs
30. The mantle is an important layer of the Earth’s structure. Which letter below identifies this
semi-liquid layer.
a.
b.
c.
d.
AIM 2 – Recognize and explain how major geologic events are a result of
the movement of Earth’s crustal plates
Objective a – Recognize and describe the evidence for plate
movement: shape of continents, continuity of geologic features and fossils
on the continents, ocean rifts/seafloor spreading, global patterns of
earthquakes and volcanoes
31. Which of the following is NOT a piece of evidence that the position of
Earth’s continents are constantly changing?
a. Geology
b. Fossils
c. Astronomy
d. Climate change
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32. Which of the following has caused the continents to spread apart?
a. The eruption of volcanoes
b. Huge plates moving underneath the ground have moved the continents apart
c. The shaking of the ground caused by earthquakes
d. The continents have always been spread apart.
33. Scientists found fossils of identical creatures on Africa and South America. What does this tell
you about the Earth?
a. Africa and South America are the same continent
b. Africa and South America used to be next to each other
c. All animals are on each continent
d. All of these animals can swim or fly long distances
Objective b – Recognize and explain that major geologic events (earthquakes, volcanic
activity, sea floor spreading) occur along crustal plate boundaries
34. Many processes on Earth occur at or near tectonic plate boundaries. Which geological events are
most common along tectonic plate boundaries?
a. Erosion and deposition
b. Hurricanes and tornadoes
c. Earthquakes and volcanoes
d. Tidal waves and sedimentation
Section E – Interactions of Hydrosphere and Atmosphere
AIM 1 – Cite evidence to explain the relationship between the hydrosphere and atmosphere
Objective a – Describe the composition of the atmosphere and hydrosphere
Use the diagram to answer each question.
Gases in Dry Air
Gas
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
Carbon dioxide
Neon
Helium
Methane
Krypton
Hydrogen
Percentage by Volume
78
21
0.93
0.038
0.0018
0.00052
0.00015
0.00011
0.00005
35. In addition to oxygen, which gases make up the largest percentage of Earth’s atmosphere?
a. Hydrogen, helium, and water vapor
b. Hydrogen, Methane, and Ozone
c. Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor, and Nitrogen
d. Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Helium
36. Which gas is most abundant in the air?
a. Neon
b. Oxygen
c. Argon
d. Nitrogen
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Objective b – Recognize and describe the water cycle as the distribution and circulation
of Earth’s water through the glaciers, surface water, groundwater, oceans, and atmosphere
37. What does A represent?
a. melting
b. condensation
c. evaporation
d. precipitation
38. Which step of the water cycle is shown by letter C?
a. melting
b. condensation
c. evaporation
d. precipitation
Objective c – Identify and describe how the temperature and precipitation in a
geographic area are affected by surface features and changes in atmospheric and ocean
content: relative location of mountains, volcanic eruptions, proximity (closeness) to large
bodies of water, heat energy of ocean currents
39. Changes in weather are related to changes in the movement of:
a. the Sun
b. the Moon
c. air masses
d. tectonic plates
40. As altitude (elevation) increases, air pressure
a. decreases
b. increases
c. remains the same
41. Two friends, Tania and Fatima, are hiking up a mountain. Tania is at the top and Fatima is at the
bottom. Which is true about the two hikers.
a. Tania has more air pressure pushing down on her than Fatima
b. Fatima has more air pressure pushing down on her than Tania
c. Tania is in more violent weather than Fatima
d. Fatima is in more violent weather than Tania
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Tania
Fatima
42. Foods cook faster with greater air pressure. Where would foods cook the fastest?
a. at sea level
b. in the space station orbiting Earth
c. on the top of Mount Everest
d. on the Moon
AIM 2 – Recognize and describe the various factors that affect climate
Objective a – Identify and describe how the temperature and precipitation of an area are
affected by surface and ocean features: relative location of mountains, proximity (closeness) to large
bodies of water, warm and cold ocean currents
Objective b – Recognize and describe the global effects of volcanic eruptions, greenhouse gases,
and El Nino
AIM 3 Identify and describe the atmospheric and hydrospheric conditions related to weather
systems
Objective a – Identify and describe weather patterns associated with high and low
pressure systems and the four frontal systems using appropriate data displays including
weather maps
43. When air near the ground is warmed by sunlight, which of the following occur?
a. the warm air radiates and becomes cool again
b. the warm air evaporates into the cooler air
c. the warm air expands and rises, resulting in convection
d. the warm air loses its ability to hold water and precipitates
Use the information below to answer Numbers 54 through 56.
The map below shows the geographic relationship between two cities in the United States.
Cleveland, Ohio is approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Baltimore, Maryland.
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The data below represents the weather conditions on a specific Monday in Cleveland, Ohio and
Baltimore, Maryland.
Weather Condition
Temperature
Winds
Air pressure
Precipitation
Cloud cover
Cleveland
7°C (45°F)
From NW, 40 kilometers per
hour
1,008 millibars, stable
Heavy rains
Cloudy
Baltimore
25°C (77°F)
From SW, 8 kilometers per
hour
1,015 millibars, falling
None
Clear
Average air pressure = 1,013 millibars
44. On this Monday, the weather in Cleveland is influenced by a
a. Tornado
b. Blizzard
c. Low pressure area
d. High pressure area
45. A weather forecaster in Baltimore said, “There will be increasing clouds in Baltimore late
Monday night.”
Which statement about the Monday weather best supports this prediction?
a.
b.
c.
d.
In Cleveland, clouds are clearing.
In Baltimore, the air pressure is falling
In Clevland, the air pressure is stable
In Baltimore, there is a moderate breeze from the southwest
46. Which description best represents a high pressure system in the northern hemisphere?
a. Winds flowing outward and counterclockwise
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b.
c.
d.
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Winds flowing inward and counterclockwise
Winds flowing outward and clockwise
Wind flowing inward and clockwise
Objective b – Identify and explain the relationship between the rotation of a planet or
moon on its axis and the length of the solar day for that celestial object
Objective c – Identify and explain the cause of the phases of the moon
47. Which statement best explains the cause of the phases of the moon?
a. The sun hides part of the surface of the moon.
b. The sun, the moon, and Earth are in a straight line in space.
c. Only part of the illuminated moon is visible from Earth.
d. Only the light from the back side of the sun is reflected by the moon.
A new moon, as viewed from Earth, is diagrammed below.
48. Which statement best describes how a new moon occurs?
a. Earth receives no sunlight.
b. The moon receives no sunlight.
c. Earth is between the moon and the sun.
d. The moon is between Earth and the sun.