Content Benchmark E.8.A.6
Students know topography and patterns of global and local atmospheric movement influence
local weather which occurs primarily in the lower atmosphere. E/S.
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Understand how topography affects local weather and seasons (e.g.
rain shadow, global weather patterns, convection currents, lake effect, and global desert
patterns)
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. Use the diagram below to answer the following question.
(From:
http://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~tbw/wc.notes/15.climates.veg/climate/B/rain.shadow.deserts.diagram.
jpg)
What type of climate is expected on the leeward side of the mountain range?
A. Windy and rainy
B. Cold and snowy
C. Tropical
D. Desert
2. The weather for locations in Nevada is most likely influenced by
A. topography.
B. global weather patterns.
C. cold oceans.
D. warm oceans.
3.
Use the diagram of a rain shadow effect below to answer the following question.
(From: http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad316e/AD316E79.gif)
Clouds usually form on the windward side because this is where air
A. rises and cools.
B. rises and warms.
C. sinks and cools.
D. sinks and warms.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
4. On average, mountains and valleys have different weather, in which mountains have
A. less precipitation and warmer weather.
B. more precipitation and warmer weather.
C. more precipitation and cooler weather
D. less precipitation and cooler weather.
5. The Sierra Nevada Mountains impact the weather of Nevada by causing
A. rain shadows.
B. tornadoes.
C. hurricanes.
D. Monsoon rains.
6. If the temperature and humidity on the western side of a large lake were compared to the
eastern side of that lake, then on average, it would be reasonable to expect conditions at the
western side of the lake to
A. be higher in both the temperature and humidity.
B. have a higher temperature but the lower humidity.
C. have a lower temperature but the higher humidity.
D. be consistent in both the temperature and humidity.
2nd Item Specification: Recognize that most weather take place in the part of the
atmosphere closest to Earth.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
7. What is the approximate maximum altitude of the Earth’s atmospheric layer in which the
majority of weather occurs?
A. 0 km
B. 11 km
C. 48 km
D. 550 km
8. What is the layer of the atmosphere in which weather occurs?
A. troposphere
B. mesosphere
C. exosphere
D. stratosphere
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
9. Use the diagram below to answer the following question.
The temperature profile of the Troposphere is most similar to the
A. Exosphere.
B. Mesosphere.
C. Thermosphere.
D. Stratosphere.
10. Use the following diagram to answer the question.
Which combination of temperature and altitude is characteristic of the troposphere?
A. -60°C/20 km
B. -52°C/11 km
C. 20°C/10km
D. 52°C/11km
Constructed Response E.8.A.6
A. Construct an appropriate graph utilizing all the data displayed in the table below.
Month
March
April
May
June
Average
Temperature of
City 1
16 °C
18 °C
20 °C
24°C
Average
Temperature of
City 2
10 °C
15 °C
20 °C
40 °C
B. Based on the data table and graph, which city is most likely located near the ocean?
Which city is located inland? Explain your answer.
Content Benchmark E.8.A.6
Students know topography and patterns of global and local atmospheric movement influence
local weather which occurs primarily in the lower atmosphere. E/S.
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. D, DOK Level 1
2. A, DOK Level 1
3. A, DOK Level 1
4. C, DOK Level 2
5. A, DOK Level 2
6. B, DOK Level 2
7. B, DOK Level 1
8. A, DOK Level 1
9. B, DOK Level 2
10. B, DOK Level 2
Constructed Response E.8.A.6 Score Rubric:
Month v Average Temperature in °C
Average Temperature in °C
45
40
35
30
25
Series1
20
Series2
15
10
5
0
March
April
May
June
Month
Response addresses all parts of the question clearly and correctly.
A. See graph above.
3 points
B. Even though city #1 has higher temperatures in the first three
months, city #2 is located inland as there is a large variation in
the temperature between May and June. Coastal areas have
more consistent temperatures with less extreme variations. This
is true for city #1, not for city #2 as is seen with the 20° change
between 20°C and 40°C while city #1 only has a 4° change
between 20°C and 24°C.
2 points
Response addresses all parts of the question and includes only minor
errors.
1 point
Response does not address all parts of the question.
0 points
The response is totally incorrect or no response provided.