Name: ______________________________
Final Proficiency Review Worksheet
7th Grade Science
Date: _________________ Period: _____
Fill-in the chart below
Event
Solar
Eclipse
Description
The Moon comes directly
between the Sun and Earth
blocking sunlight from
Earth
Lunar
Eclipse
The Moon passes through
Earth’s shadow, sunlight is
blocked from the Moon.
Neap
Tide
The Moon, Earth, and Sun
form a right angle. This
means that the Sun’s gravity
works against the Moon’s
Lowest high tides and
highest low tides
Spring
Tide
Sun, Earth, and Moon are
in a straight line so the
gravity of the Sun and Moon
combine to create the
highest high tides and the
lowest low tides
Phases
of the
Moon
Caused by the relative
position of the Earth, Sun,
and Moon. A phase is what
lit part of the Moon is visible
from Earth.
Drawing
Where do most earthquakes and volcanoes occur? Explain why these geological
events occur here.
Most earthquakes occur in concentrated zones, because they occur along
plate boundaries. Another event that occurs along plate boundaries are
volcanic eruptions. The reason that both of these events occur along plate
boundaries is the movement and stress forces at these boundaries.
Earthquakes are most likely to form at transform boundaries, but can
form at convergent and divergent boundaries, as well as far from plate
boundaries. Volcanoes form mostly near divergent and convergent
boundaries, however they can also form at hot spots.
Explain the hypothesis of continental drift. What type of evidence did Wegener
use (be specific). Why didn’t scientists accept the hypothesis during Wegener’s
lifetime?
Wegener’s hypothesis stated that all the continents were once a huge
super continent and has since drifted apart. Wegener used two types of
evidence. The first type was fossil evidence. He found that the fossil of
the Mesosaurus on both Africa and South America. The Mesosaurus is a
fresh water reptile so there is no possible way that it could have swam
across a salt water ocean. The other type of evidence he found was
geologic evidence.
Wegener found that mountains that are now
separated by oceans were formed around the same time and are composed
of the same type of rock. His hypothesis was not accepted because he
could not explain what caused the continents to move.
What are the four Earth Systems? Name and Describe each. What interactions
(cycles) take place between each of them? Name and describe each cycle.
Earth’s components form systems, the four Earth systems are the
atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and the geosphere. The
atmosphere is the outermost system; it is a mixture of gases and particles
of matter. The hydrosphere contains all of Earth’s water. The biosphere
contains all living things on Earth. The geosphere is the largest Earth
system, it is made up of the solid parts of Earth.
These Earth systems are all in constant interaction. One example of an
interaction between all four systems is the water cycle. Throughout the
water cycle, water is in the hydrosphere, but it also moves between the
geosphere, biosphere, and the atmosphere.
OR
These Earth systems are all in constant interaction. One example of an
interaction between all four systems is the rock cycle. Rocks are part of
the geosphere, and through weathering and erosion they interact with the
hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.
OR
These Earth systems are all in constant interaction. One example of an
interaction between all four systems is the carbon cycle. Throughout the
carbon cycle, carbon moves from the biosphere to the atmosphere, then
from the atmosphere to the geosphere, from the geosphere to the
hydrosphere and the atmosphere, and then back to the biosphere.