STUDY GUIDE FOR EARTH COMMON ASSESSMENT
ALL QUESTIONS/STATEMENTS IN BOLD SHOULD BE
ANSWERED (in complete sentences) ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF
PAPER
Earth’s Surface: Key ideas
*Topography is the shape of the land and is determined by elevation, relief, and
landforms. (Pgs. 14-18)
*Topographic maps: What type of information does a topographic map provide
about landforms? How would you recognize a river? A depression? A hilltop? (Pgs.
29-33)
VOCABULARY TO KNOW: topographic map - contour line - contour interval - index
contour – elevation - relief
Weathering: Key Ideas
*What causes mechanical weathering? Freezing and thawing, heating and
cooling/release of pressure, growth of plants, actions of animals, and abrasion - Provide
examples of these. (Pgs. 41-42)
*What causes chemical weathering? Water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, living organisms,
acid rain - Provide examples of these. (Pgs. 43-44)
*What two factors determine the rate of weathering? Type of rock and climate –
Explain why these are factors. (Pg. 45)
VOCABULARY TO KNOW:
Weathering –Erosion – Mechanical weathering - Chemical weathering – Permeable
Soil Formation and Composition: Key Ideas (Pgs. 49-55)
*Soil is loose weathered rock and other materials on Earth’s surface. What is the
composition of the other materials?
*What determines the rate of soil formation?
*What are the soil horizons? What do we find in each horizon?
*How do living organisms help the soil?
VOCABULARY TO KNOW: soil – bedrock – humus – loam - soil horizon – litterdecomposers
Rock Cycle
*What is the rock cycle?
*What are the three types of rock? How do each form?
Use the worksheet “The Rock Cycle” in your binder to help with these questions.
Erosion and Deposition: Key Ideas
*What are the four types of mass movement? Can you explain each? (use chart in
notes)
*How does erosion and deposition work to constantly wear down and build up the
earth’s surface? Read pages 66 – 69 in you book.
*What is the major agent of erosion? What is the result of deposition along the
course of a stream? Review exploring the course of a river (pages 72-81 in book)
VOCABULARY TO KNOW: Erosion - Deposition – Sediment - Meander
Fossils: Key ideas (Pgs. 106-112)
*How do most fossils form?
*What does the fossil record show us?
VOCABULARY TO KNOW: Fossil – Paleontologist – Mold – Cast
Trace fossil – Scientific Theory - Evolution – Extinct – Preserved remains – Petrified
fossil
Ages of Rocks: Key Ideas (Pgs. 113-117)
*What is the Law of Superposition?
*What are index fossils and why are they useful?
VOCABULARY TO KNOW: Relative and absolute age – Index fossil - Intrusion
Extrusion – Fault – Unconformity
Geologic Time: Key Ideas & Earth’s History (Pgs. 123-140)
*Geologic time scale – record of life forms and geologic events on Earth
*What are the three ERAS of geologic time?
VOCABULARY TO KNOW: Era – invertebrate – period – epoch – mass extinction