Question 1

The process of convection involves

Accepted Answer

A)  the slow upward flow of warmer material and downward flow of cooler material 
B)  the trapping of charged particles in a magnetic zone 
C)  ultraviolet rays changing regular oxygen into ozone 
D)  water shaping deep cuts into the Earth's crust, such as the Grand Canyon 
E)  the electrocution of prisoners convicted of really terrible crimes 
A)  the slow upward flow of warmer material and downward flow of cooler material 
B)  the trapping of charged particles in a magnetic zone 
C)  ultraviolet rays changing regular oxygen into ozone 
D)  water shaping deep cuts into the Earth's crust, such as the Grand Canyon 
E)  the electrocution of prisoners convicted of really terrible crimes A

Question 2

In 1980, scientists suggested that the great mass extinction of 65 million years ago (which ended the reign of dinosaurs) may have been caused by a large impact from space. What discovery gives a big boost to this idea?

Accepted Answer

A)  the discovery of some possible traces of life in a meteorite from Mars 
B)  the discovery of a crater (about a mile across) near Flagstaff, Arizona 
C)  the discovery of a buried crater (about 200 km across) near Chicxulub, Mexico 
D)  the discovery of volcanoes on a moon of Jupiter's 
E)  the discovery of enormous trenches on the ocean floor 
A)  the discovery of some possible traces of life in a meteorite from Mars 
B)  the discovery of a crater (about a mile across) near Flagstaff, Arizona 
C)  the discovery of a buried crater (about 200 km across) near Chicxulub, Mexico 
D)  the discovery of volcanoes on a moon of Jupiter's 
E)  the discovery of enormous trenches on the ocean floor C

Question 3

In terms of numbers, the most common life-forms on Earth are

Accepted Answer

A)  humans 
B)  fish 
C)  microscopic creatures, too small to see with our eyes 
D)  birds 
E)  insects 
A)  humans 
B)  fish 
C)  microscopic creatures, too small to see with our eyes 
D)  birds 
E)  insects C

Question 4

A spot where magma rises to the surface can be seen as a

Accepted Answer

A)  volcano 
B)  fault 
C)  subduction zone 
D)  continental plate 
E)  swamp 
A)  volcano 
B)  fault 
C)  subduction zone 
D)  continental plate 
E)  swamp

Question 5

Mountains on Earth often have sharp peaks and edges to them, while mountains on the Moon look smooth and kind of dull in comparison. What gives the Earth's mountains their dramatically sharp shapes?

Accepted Answer

A)  rocks falling from space hit the mountains and shape them 
B)  water and ice flow over the Earth's mountains and erode them 
C)  the Earth's magnetic field is responsible for all the shapes on the surface 
D)  earthquakes in the mountain regions break big mountains into smaller ones 
E)  this is an unsolved problem in science
Section 8.3: Earth's Atmosphere 
A)  rocks falling from space hit the mountains and shape them 
B)  water and ice flow over the Earth's mountains and erode them 
C)  the Earth's magnetic field is responsible for all the shapes on the surface 
D)  earthquakes in the mountain regions break big mountains into smaller ones 
E)  this is an unsolved problem in science
Section 8.3: Earth's Atmosphere

Question 6

Which of the following points about our planet's atmosphere is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  it is slowly leaking atoms into space from its outermost regions 
B)  its mass is a substantial part of the mass of the Earth 
C)  warm air rises and cool air descends within it, setting up circulating currents ` 
D)  it is made mostly of nitrogen 
E)  one of its layers helps keep much of the ultraviolet radiation from space from reaching the surface 
A)  it is slowly leaking atoms into space from its outermost regions 
B)  its mass is a substantial part of the mass of the Earth 
C)  warm air rises and cool air descends within it, setting up circulating currents ` 
D)  it is made mostly of nitrogen 
E)  one of its layers helps keep much of the ultraviolet radiation from space from reaching the surface

Question 7

In which region of the Earth's atmosphere have you spent most of your life?

Accepted Answer

A)  the ionosphere 
B)  the stratosphere 
C)  the troposphere 
D)  the ozone layer 
E)  the mesosphere 
A)  the ionosphere 
B)  the stratosphere 
C)  the troposphere 
D)  the ozone layer 
E)  the mesosphere

Question 8

Regions where the continents or the sea floor are pulling apart are called

Accepted Answer

A)  convection zones 
B)  rift zones 
C)  subduction zones 
D)  magnetospheric zones 
E)  enterprise zones 
A)  convection zones 
B)  rift zones 
C)  subduction zones 
D)  magnetospheric zones 
E)  enterprise zones

Question 9

For scientists, one bar is

Accepted Answer

A)  equal to the distance from one end of a continental plate to another 
B)  the pressure with which 1 square centimeter of the Earth's atmosphere presses down at the surface 
C)  the average height of the ozone layer above the Earth (before we began to deplete it) 
D)  the density of the material at the center of the Earth (in solid form) 
E)  a place to relax after a long day of making models of the Earth 
A)  equal to the distance from one end of a continental plate to another 
B)  the pressure with which 1 square centimeter of the Earth's atmosphere presses down at the surface 
C)  the average height of the ozone layer above the Earth (before we began to deplete it) 
D)  the density of the material at the center of the Earth (in solid form) 
E)  a place to relax after a long day of making models of the Earth

Question 10

The Moon is heavily cratered, but the Earth which "lives next door" is NOT. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  the magnetism of the Moon is more likely to attract metallic objects to hit it 
B)  all objects from space (no matter what their size) burn up in the Earth's atmosphere 
C)  the craters on the Moon are the result of active volcanoes; the Earth has few volcanoes compared to the Moon 
D)  the active geology and weather on Earth destroy traces of impacts over millions of years 
E)  the Earth is heavily cratered, but all the craters are under the ocean 
A)  the magnetism of the Moon is more likely to attract metallic objects to hit it 
B)  all objects from space (no matter what their size) burn up in the Earth's atmosphere 
C)  the craters on the Moon are the result of active volcanoes; the Earth has few volcanoes compared to the Moon 
D)  the active geology and weather on Earth destroy traces of impacts over millions of years 
E)  the Earth is heavily cratered, but all the craters are under the ocean

Question 11

The Van Allen belt is

Accepted Answer

A)  a region of trapped charged particles in the Earth's magnetosphere 
B)  a region where the ultraviolet light from the Sun is blocked from getting further down 
C)  a region where industrial pollution has made a smoggy layer in the atmosphere 
D)  a zone of small orbiting meteorites high above the Earth, which fall down from time to time 
E)  a piece of clothing worn by astronomers after they get their PhD's
Section 8.2: Earth's Crust 
A)  a region of trapped charged particles in the Earth's magnetosphere 
B)  a region where the ultraviolet light from the Sun is blocked from getting further down 
C)  a region where industrial pollution has made a smoggy layer in the atmosphere 
D)  a zone of small orbiting meteorites high above the Earth, which fall down from time to time 
E)  a piece of clothing worn by astronomers after they get their PhD's
Section 8.2: Earth's Crust

Question 12

An increase in the Earth's temperature by several degrees Celsius would result in:

Accepted Answer

A)  a huge increase in the rate of motion of the continental plates and far more earthquakes 
B)  an increase in the Earth's magnetism, increasing the size of the VanAllen belts 
C)  the melting of many glaciers, a rise in sea levels, and more flooding of towns near the coasts of the continents 
D)  a new ice age 
E)  the Moon coming closer to the Earth 
A)  a huge increase in the rate of motion of the continental plates and far more earthquakes 
B)  an increase in the Earth's magnetism, increasing the size of the VanAllen belts 
C)  the melting of many glaciers, a rise in sea levels, and more flooding of towns near the coasts of the continents 
D)  a new ice age 
E)  the Moon coming closer to the Earth

Question 13

The largest part of the Earth is its

Accepted Answer

A)  oceanic crust 
B)  continental crust 
C)  mantle 
D)  core 
E)  atmosphere 
A)  oceanic crust 
B)  continental crust 
C)  mantle 
D)  core 
E)  atmosphere

Question 14

Which part of the Earth has the greatest density?

Accepted Answer

A)  oceanic crust 
B)  continental crust 
C)  mantle 
D)  core 
E)  Bayonne, New Jersey 
A)  oceanic crust 
B)  continental crust 
C)  mantle 
D)  core 
E)  Bayonne, New Jersey

Question 15

What relatively recent event shows that impacts continue to happen in our solar system even today?

Accepted Answer

A)  a large asteroid hit a town near San Francisco and made an enormous crater 
B)  a comet (which broke into more than 20 pieces) hit the planet Jupiter in 1994 
C)  one of the moons of Mars collided with Mars and made a huge explosion, sending pieces throughout the solar system 
D)  Pluto collided with another planet, and broke into two pieces 
E)  the Mt. Pinatubo volcano in the Philippines erupted in June 1991 
A)  a large asteroid hit a town near San Francisco and made an enormous crater 
B)  a comet (which broke into more than 20 pieces) hit the planet Jupiter in 1994 
C)  one of the moons of Mars collided with Mars and made a huge explosion, sending pieces throughout the solar system 
D)  Pluto collided with another planet, and broke into two pieces 
E)  the Mt. Pinatubo volcano in the Philippines erupted in June 1991

Question 16

Scientists have been concerned about a set of industrial chemicals called CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons) because they:

Accepted Answer

A)  seep into the groundwater and increase the chances of earthquakes 
B)  rise into the atmosphere and keep the Earth's heat from escaping 
C)  rise into the atmosphere and destroy ozone 
D)  rise into the atmosphere and absorb x-rays from space, which we need down here 
E)  increase the chances of volcanic eruptions where the Earth's crust is thin 
A)  seep into the groundwater and increase the chances of earthquakes 
B)  rise into the atmosphere and keep the Earth's heat from escaping 
C)  rise into the atmosphere and destroy ozone 
D)  rise into the atmosphere and absorb x-rays from space, which we need down here 
E)  increase the chances of volcanic eruptions where the Earth's crust is thin

Question 17

The most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere is

Accepted Answer

A)  oxygen 
B)  ozone 
C)  water vapor 
D)  argon 
E)  nitrogen 
A)  oxygen 
B)  ozone 
C)  water vapor 
D)  argon 
E)  nitrogen

Question 18

Rocks that have not been chemically modified by being significantly heated are called

Accepted Answer

A)  sedimentary 
B)  lava 
C)  metamorphic 
D)  primitive 
E)  igneous 
A)  sedimentary 
B)  lava 
C)  metamorphic 
D)  primitive 
E)  igneous

Question 19

One way in which the ozone layer is useful for life forms on the Earth's surface is that it

Accepted Answer

A)  presses down on the continental plates, and makes it more difficult for them to slip 
B)  keeps the heat of the Sun from escaping, making the Earth a bit warmer 
C)  is so thick that meteors from space all burn up there, regardless of size 
D)  absorbs ultra-violet light, preventing much of it from reaching the surface 
E)  glows brilliantly at sunset, making scenes that lovers can enjoy 
A)  presses down on the continental plates, and makes it more difficult for them to slip 
B)  keeps the heat of the Sun from escaping, making the Earth a bit warmer 
C)  is so thick that meteors from space all burn up there, regardless of size 
D)  absorbs ultra-violet light, preventing much of it from reaching the surface 
E)  glows brilliantly at sunset, making scenes that lovers can enjoy

Question 20

The type of rock we find predominant in the crust of the Earth's continents is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  magnetospheric rock 
B)  granite 
C)  lava 
D)  basalt 
E)  metal 
A)  magnetospheric rock 
B)  granite 
C)  lava 
D)  basalt 
E)  metal

Exam 8: Earth As a Planet

The process of convection involves

In 1980, scientists suggested that the great mass extinction of 65 million years ago (which ended the reign of dinosaurs) may have been caused by a large impact from space. What discovery gives a big boost to this idea?

In terms of numbers, the most common life-forms on Earth are

A spot where magma rises to the surface can be seen as a

Mountains on Earth often have sharp peaks and edges to them, while mountains on the Moon look smooth and kind of dull in comparison. What gives the Earth's mountains their dramatically sharp shapes?

Which of the following points about our planet's atmosphere is FALSE?

In which region of the Earth's atmosphere have you spent most of your life?

Regions where the continents or the sea floor are pulling apart are called

For scientists, one bar is

The Moon is heavily cratered, but the Earth which "lives next door" is NOT. Why?

The Van Allen belt is

An increase in the Earth's temperature by several degrees Celsius would result in:

The largest part of the Earth is its

Which part of the Earth has the greatest density?

What relatively recent event shows that impacts continue to happen in our solar system even today?

Scientists have been concerned about a set of industrial chemicals called CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons) because they:

The most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere is

Rocks that have not been chemically modified by being significantly heated are called

One way in which the ozone layer is useful for life forms on the Earth's surface is that it

The type of rock we find predominant in the crust of the Earth's continents is called:

Science and the Universe: a Brief Tour

Observing the Sky: the Birth of Astronomy

Orbits and Gravity

Earth, Moon, and Sky

Radiation and Spectra

Astronomical Instruments

Other Worlds: an Introduction to the Solar System

Cratered Worlds: the Moon and Mercury

Earthlike Planets: Venus and Mars

The Giant Planets

Rings, Moons, and Pluto

Comets and Asteroids: Debris of the Solar System

Cosmic Samples and the Origin of the Solar System

The Sun: a Garden-Variety Star

The Sun: a Nuclear Powerhouse

Analyzing Starlight

The Stars: a Celestial Census

Celestial Distances

Between the Stars

The Birth of Stars and the Discovery of Planets Outside the Solar System

Stars From Adolescence to Old Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes and Curved Space-Time

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Supermassive Black Holes

The Evolution and Distribution of Galaxies

The Big Bang

Life in the Universe

Filters