GED Test Science Flash Review (2015)
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
Select the best answer to fill each blank from the choices that follow.
The _______ is a solid mass of iron with a temperature of about 7,000°F. The _______ is a mass of molten iron that surrounds the solid inner core. Electrical currents generated from this area produce Earth’s magnetic field. The _______ is composed of silicon, oxygen, magnesium, iron, aluminum, and calcium and is about 1,750 miles thick. When parts of this layer become hot enough, they turn to slow-moving molten rock or magma. The _______ is a layer from 4 to 25 miles thick, consisting of sand and rock.
• outer core
• crust
• inner core
• rocky mantle
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Select the best answer to fill each blank from the choices that follow.
Sunlight _______ water from the oceans, rivers, and lakes. Living beings need water for both the outside and the inside of their cells. In fact, vertebrates (you included) are about 70% water. Evaporated water _______ to form clouds that produce rain or snow onto the earth’s surface (_______).
• precipitation
• evaporates
• condenses
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The inner core is a solid mass of iron with a temperature of about 7,000°F. The outer core is a mass of molten iron that surrounds the solid inner core. Electrical currents generated from this area produce Earth’s magnetic field. Therocky mantle is composed of silicon, oxygen, magnesium, iron, aluminum, and calcium and is about 1,750 miles thick. When parts of this layer become hot enough, they turn to slow-moving molten rock or magma. The crust is a layer from 4 to 25 miles thick, consisting of sand and rock.
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Sunlight evaporates water from the oceans, rivers, and lakes. Living beings need water for both the outside and the inside of their cells. In fact, vertebrates (you included) are about 70% water. Evaporated water condenses to form clouds that produce rain or snow onto the earth’s surface (precipitation).
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Describe two ways that trees and other organisms contribute to the carbon cycle.
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What results when tectonic plates converge?
A. mountains
B. oceans
C. trenches
D. El Niño
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Explain how ocean currents can affect weather globally and locally. Answer briefly.
Sample answer (this answer may not match your own exactly).
Plants remove carbon dioxide, CO2, from the atmosphere and convert it to sugars through photosynthesis. During respiration, organisms take O2 from the atmosphere and replace it with CO2.
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Converging plates result in the creation of choice A, mountains. For example, the Andes mountain chain was formed by the Nazca Plate being pushed against the South American Plate. Tectonic plates can slide past each other, separate from each other (diverge), or come together (converge).
Oceans, such as the Atlantic, are formed by the separation of plates over millions of years. Trenches are deep channels in the ocean. El Niño is not caused by tectonic plates’ movement.
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Your answer will vary. Here is an example.
The Gulf Stream is an ocean current that runs from the tip of Florida and flows along the eastern United States to Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Because it carries warm water, it makes Northern Europe warmer than it would be otherwise.
The oceans can affect global weather. For example, El Niño is a band of very warm ocean water that develops off the western coast of South America and can cause climatic changes. Because El Niño’s warm waters feed thunderstorms, it creates increased rainfall across the eastern Pacific Ocean. Along the west coast of South America, El Niño reduces the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water that sustains large fish populations. The reduction in upwelling has led to fish kills off the shore of Peru. The impact of El Niño can be felt across the globe.
El Niño is
A. a current that flows from the tip of Florida along the eastern coastline of the United States.
B. the phenomenon of the sun’s rays bouncing off the Earth’s surface and being trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
C. very large destructive water waves caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides (not wind).
D. a band of warm ocean temperatures that develops off the west coast of South America.
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What is the role of the ocean in the carbon cycle?
A. The ocean absorbs carbon from the atmosphere.
B. The ocean produces carbon dioxide.
C. Ocean currents transfer heat.
D. Water evaporates from the ocean surface.
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Earthquakes are caused by
A. tsunamis.
B. global warming.
C. plate tectonics.
D. ocean currents.
The correct answer is choice D. El Niño develops in some years off the west coast of South America as a warm band of ocean water. The other choices describe the Gulf Stream, the greenhouse effect, and tsunamis.
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The ocean absorbs carbon from the atmosphere, choice A. The ocean does not produce carbon dioxide. The transfer of heat and water evaporating from the ocean surface are not related to the carbon cycle.
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Earthquakes are caused by the shifting of choice C, tectonic plates. Tsunamis (tidal waves) can result from earthquakes, but do not cause them. Global warming causes other natural disasters, but not earthquakes. Ocean currents do not cause earthquakes.
Compared to Earth’s crust, the inner core is
A. hotter and contains more molten iron.
B. hotter and contains more solid iron.
C. hotter and contains most of Earth’s mass.
D. hotter and contains mostly sand and rock.
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Solar power refers to the conversion of solar energy to another, more useful form. Sunlight can be harnessed and collected in special greenhouses. Photovoltaic cells can produce electricity when sunlight hits them. The amount of energy from the sun that reaches Earth is about 8,000 times the energy humans use. Many scientists are convinced that this form of energy will one day replace ordinary fossil fuels. In 2012, about 0.14% of all electricity generation was from solar power. This may seem like a small percentage of overall energy production, but it represents a 58% increase over 2011.
Why don’t we see more of our energy coming from solar power?
A. Sunlight is always available.
B. Fossil fuels are still cheaper.
C. Fossil fuels will never run out.
D. We do not know how to produce solar power.
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Choice B is correct. Earth’s inner core is a solid mass of iron with a temperature of about 7,000°F.
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Choice B is correct—fossil fuels are still cheaper. All the other answers are not accurate.
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Match each of the following natural resources with its correct label: renewable or nonrenewable.
• coal • sun
• gas • water
• oil • wind
• plants • wood
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The greenhouse effect occurs when the sun’s rays
A. bounce off Earth’s surface and are trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
B. pass through the atmosphere and warm Earth’s surface.
C. bounce off clouds and get absorbed by greenhouse gases.
D. move through the atmosphere and are absorbed by oceans.
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The greenhouse effect occurs when the sun’s rays bounce off Earth’s surface and are trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases, choice A. Greenhouse gases trap the sun’s rays in the atmosphere, causing a temperature rise similar to how a greenhouse works.
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A ____________ is a system of stars, stellar dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. The ____________ comprises the sun and all planets and other objects that orbit it (including Earth).
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Explain why the northern hemisphere experiences warming in the summer. Answer briefly.
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The length of an Earth day is determined by the time it takes for one
A. Earth rotation.
B. Earth revolution.
C. sun rotation.
D. sun revolution.
A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity, with a black hole at the center (sometimes). The solar system comprises the sun and all planets and other objects that orbit it (including Earth).
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Answers will vary. Here is an example.
The tilt of Earth causes the sun to hit the earth differently at different points in its revolution.
Because of the tilt of Earth’s axis, we experience spring, summer, fall, and winter. We experience summer in the northern hemisphere when Earth is on the part of its orbit where the northern hemisphere is oriented toward the sun and therefore the sun rises higher in the sky and is above the horizon longer, and its rays strike the ground more directly.
Conversely, in winter in the northern hemisphere, the hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, the sun rises low in the sky and is above the horizon for a shorter period, and its rays strike the ground more obliquely.
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The correct answer is choice A, Earth rotation. Earth spins (rotates) on its axis once every 23 hours and 56 minutes. This causes day and night, and makes most extraterrestrial objects seem to move around the sky in about one day.
The length of an Earth year is determined by the time it takes for one
A. Earth rotation.
B. Earth revolution.
C. sun rotation.
D. sun revolution.
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What happens when the moon moves between Earth and the sun?
A. solar eclipse
B. lunar eclipse
C. night
D. solar flares
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What happens when Earth moves between the moon and sun?
A. solar eclipse
B. lunar eclipse
C. night
D. solar flares
The correct answer is choice B, Earth revolution. Earth revolves around the sun, in an elliptical (but nearly circular) orbit, once a year. Earth moves about 67,000 miles per hour (107,000 km/hr) in its orbit. Earth moves around the center of the Earth-moon system once a month. Earth’s revolution around the sun takes much longer than its rotation on its axis. One complete revolution takes 365.24 days, or one year. The movement of the sun does not determine the length of an Earth year.
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The correct answer is choice A, solar eclipse. The moon eclipses the sun when it is between Earth and the sun.
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The correct answer is choice B, lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth moves between the sun and moon.
What happens to the surface of the earth when Earth rotates?
A. solar eclipse
B. lunar eclipse
C. night
D. solar flares
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What happens when the sun gives off large energy emissions?
A. solar eclipse
B. lunar eclipse
C. night
D. solar flares
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The correct answer is choice C, night. Night occurs due to Earth’s rotation.
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The correct answer is choice D, solar flares. Solar flares are large emissions of energy from the sun.
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Where on the graphic would the moon need to be located in order to create a solar eclipse?
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Which of the following most accurately explains why the northern hemisphere experiences warming in summer?
A. The northern hemisphere is closer to the sun in summer than in winter.
B. The northern hemisphere experiences longer days in summer.
C. The northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun in summer.
D. Earth’s tilt on its axis causes the sun’s rays to hit the northern hemisphere more directly in summer than in winter.
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A solar eclipse occurs when the moon eclipses the sun and is directly between Earth and the sun.
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Earth’s tilt on its axis causes the sun’s rays to hit the northern hemisphere more directly in summer than in winter, choice D.
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Pluto is no longer considered a planet because it
A. does not orbit the sun.
B. is too small.
C. is part of an asteroid belt.
D. does not have a moon.
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Pluto is part of an asteroid belt, choice C. It does orbit the sun as part of the Kuiper asteroid belt along with other large asteroids. Size is unrelated to designation as a planet, and Pluto has five known moons.
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Kenya is a country located on the eastern edge of the African continent.
The graph shows the number of hours during which the sun is visible in Kenya for each month.
Which statement correctly explains the lack of variation in daylight hours over the course of the year?
A. The length of the day is not dependent on daylight saving time.
B. Kenya receives direct sun all year long because it is on the equator.
C. Countries in the northern and southern hemispheres have opposite seasons.
D. Earth’s rotation places Kenya an equal distance from the sun during spring and fall.
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Kenya receives direct sun all year long because it is on the equator, choice B. The tilt of Earth’s axis does not substantially change the length of daily exposure of equatorial countries to the sun. Thus, the length of the day does not vary substantially over the course of the year.
Daylight saving time is the practice of advancing clocks during the lighter months so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less. In equatorial countries, such as Kenya, there is little variation between daylight and morning hours, and there is no observation of daylight saving time.
The difference of seasons in opposing hemispheres is due to the tilt of Earth’s axis and the proximity of the hemisphere to the sun. In winter, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. During winter months, the hemispheres will also experience shorter daylight hours. Kenya, an equatorial country, experiences little variance in daylight hours.
It is true that equatorial countries such as Kenya will not change position with relation to the sun in fall and spring as Earth rotates. However, this does not correctly explain the lack of variation in daylight hours over the course of an entire year.
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Which of the following is considered a renewable natural resource?
A. coal
B. natural gas
C. wind
D. oil
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Earth rotates on its __________ once every __________ and makes one complete revolution around the sun once every __________.
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Ocean currents can impact weather globally. Evidence of the effect of ocean currents on global weather can be seen in
A. earthquakes.
B. volcanoes.
C. tornados.
D. El Niño.
The correct answer is choice C, wind. A renewable natural resource, such as wind, is one that cannot be depleted. Oil is considered a nonrenewable natural resource as our planet has only a finite amount of it. The other choices are also examples of nonrenewable natural resources because they can be depleted.
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Earth rotates on its axis once every day and makes one complete revolution around the sun once every year.
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The correct answer is choice D, El Niño. El Niño is a band of very warm ocean water that develops off the western coast of South America and can cause climatic changes across the planet. Because El Niño’s warm waters feed thunderstorms, it creates increased rainfall across the eastern Pacific Ocean, higher temperatures in western Canada and the upper plains of the United States, and colder temperatures in the southern United States. In contrast to the flooding rains experienced in South America, the eastern coast of Africa can experience severe drought during an El Niño event. Earthquakes, volcanoes, and tornados are not related to ocean currents and do not have a global impact on weather.
Select the best answer to fill each blank from the choices (that follow).
Converging tectonic plates create ________ or island systems. When tectonic plates diverge, ________ are created.
• mountains
• cliffs
• oceans
• faults
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The sun’s rays bounce off the earth’s surface and are trapped in the atmosphere. This is referred to as the __________ effect.
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Tsunamis can be caused by
A. earthquakes.
B. wind.
C. global warming.
D. ocean currents.
Converging tectonic plates create mountains or island systems. When tectonic plates diverge, oceans are created.
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The sun’s rays bounce off the earth’s surface and are trapped in the atmosphere. This is referred to as the greenhouse effect.
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The correct answer is choice A, earthquakes. Tsunamis are very large, destructive water waves that are caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. Tsunamis used to be called “tidal waves” because they resembled a rising tide, but they have nothing to do with tides or ocean currents.
The high heat at Earth’s core is a combination of three factors. Select the correct three factors from the following choices.
• residual heat from Earth’s formation
• heat from the sun’s formation
• frictional heating, caused by denser parts of the core moving toward the center
• heat from the friction of the tectonic plates grinding together
• residual heat from the impact with another planet in the formation of the moon
• nuclear fission occurring within the inner core
• decay of radioactive elements, such as uranium, in the core
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Is this image correctly labeled?
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• residual heat from Earth’s formation
• frictional heating, caused by denser parts of the core moving toward the center
• decay of radioactive elements, such as uranium, in the core.
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No. The inner core is the center of the earth and is surrounded by the outer core. The mantle is underneath the crust, which is the outermost layer of Earth.
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Place the following gases that exist in Earth’s atmosphere in order of greatest to least amounts:
• oxygen
• nitrogen
• water vapor
• small amount of other gases
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Place the following layers of the atmosphere in order from farthest to closest to the planet’s surface:
• troposphere
• mesosphere
• thermosphere
• stratosphere
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What is the general order in which the following processes occur?
• evaporation of water
• precipitation
• condensation into clouds
The correct order is:
• nitrogen
• oxygen
• water vapor
• small amount of other gases
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The correct order is:
• thermosphere
• mesosphere
• stratosphere
• troposphere
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1. Evaporation of water leads to
2. condensation into clouds, which leads to
3. precipitation, which will lead back to evaporation of water.
What is the correct order of the following steps in the carbon cycle?
• These organisms release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere when they breathe.
• Plants convert carbon dioxide to sugars through photosynthesis.
• Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Bicarbonate ions (HCO3–) settle on the ocean floor and form sedimentary rock.
• The sugar in plants enters the food chain, first reaching herbivores, then carnivores, and finally scavengers and decomposers.
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Which of the following statements is NOT true about fossil fuels?
A. Fossil fuels come from the carbon of organisms that lived millions of years ago.
B. Burning fossil fuel releases energy, which is why these fuels are used to power machines.
C. When fossil fuels burn, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and causes global warming.
D. Fossil fuels are one of the main renewable resources in our environment.
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Select the best answer to fill the blank from the choices that follow.
Since the Industrial Revolution, when the consumption of energy to power machinery began to substantially expand, people have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by _________ by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests that absorb carbon dioxide.
• 10%
• 30%
• 50%
• 70%
• Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Plants convert carbon dioxide to sugars through photosynthesis.
• The sugar in plants enters the food chain, first reaching herbivores, then carnivores, and finally scavengers and decomposers.
• All these organisms release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere when they breathe.
• Bicarbonate ions (HCO3–) settle on the ocean floor and form sedimentary rock.
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Choice D is NOT true. Fossil fuels are not a renewable resource, as they are the carbon of organisms that lived millions of years ago.
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Since the Industrial Revolution, when the consumption of energy to power machinery began to substantially expand, people have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 30% by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests that absorb carbon dioxide.
Which of the following gases is released by burning fossil fuels and forests and is a major component of acid rain?
A. nitric oxide
B. calcium oxide
C. manganese
D. hydrogen peroxide
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Earth’s upper mantle and crust are part of the ___________________.
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What causes the motion of the plates of Earth’s crust?
What is the name of this process?
The correct answer is choice A, nitric oxide, which is released and becomes nitric acid within acid rain.
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Earth’s upper mantle and crust are part of the lithosphere.
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The motion of the plates of Earth’s crust is caused by convection (heat). This process is called plate tectonics.
When the plates move, they cause several familiar geological events to occur. Name one of these events.
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When one plate slides under another when the two plates meet, what is it called?
A. conduction
B. subverted
C. convection
D. subduction
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________ is created when a plate is pushed toward the planet’s core.
Volcanoes and earthquakes are caused when tectonic plates move.
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The correct answer is choice D, subduction.
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Magma is created when a plate is pushed toward the planet’s core.
What familiar part of the planet is created by two plates coming together?
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What familiar part of the planet is created by two plates moving away from each other?
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Ocean currents are caused by several factors. Which of the following options is NOT a cause of ocean currents?
A. the rise and fall of tides
B. precipitation
C. wind currents
D. density differences in water due to temperature and salinity in different parts of the ocean
mountains
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oceans
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The correct answer is choice B. Precipitation does not cause ocean currents, but the other three factors do cause them.
What is El Niño?
A. a tsunami
B. a fault line
C. an ocean current
D. a thunderstorm
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What is the name of the process that moves water directly from bodies of water into the atmosphere?
A. infiltration
B. evaporation
C. desublimation
D. condensation
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Which way does water move during infiltration?
A. from the air into the ground
B. from the ground up to the surface
C. from the surface down into the ground
D. from the surface into the air
El Niño is choice C, an ocean current.
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The correct answer is choice B, evaporation.
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The correct answer is choice C, from the surface down into the ground. Melting ice and snow on the earth’s surface penetrate or infiltrate into the ground.
Which of the choices matches the following description?
They can erode topsoil, destroy trees, grass, and crops, and even wash away homes. They can also contribute to the spread of disease by overflowing sewage and waste disposal infrastructure. The results of this natural hazard can take years to repair.
A. floods
B. hurricanes
C. tsunamis
D. droughts
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Which of the choices matches the following description?
They can tear up the land, produce rockslides, and cause flooding if a river is redirected. The effects of this natural hazard in a big city can be devastating.
A. hurricanes
B. tsunamis
C. earthquakes
D. droughts
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Which of the choices matches the following description?
They are also known as tropical cyclones—a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure center, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. They form over large bodies of relatively warm water. This natural hazard can wreak havoc along coasts, destroying plants, trees, and highways.
A. floods
B. hurricanes
C. tsunamis
D. droughts
Choice A, floods, can erode topsoil, destroy trees, grass, and crops, and even tear down homes. Floods can also contribute to the spread of disease by damaging sewage and waste disposal infrastructure. The results of a flood can take years to repair.
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Choice C, earthquakes, can tear up the land, produce rockslides, and cause flooding if a river is redirected. The effects of an earthquake in a big city can be devastating.
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Choice B, hurricanes, are also known as tropical cyclones. A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure center, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. They form over large bodies of relatively warm water. Hurricanes can wreak havoc along coasts, destroying plants, trees, and highways.
Which of the choices matches the following description?
They are very large, destructive water waves caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides (not wind). This natural hazard used to be called tidal waves because they resembled a rising tide, but they have nothing to do with tides.
A. floods
B. hurricanes
C. tsunamis
D. droughts
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Which of the choices matches the following description?
It occurs when an area receives substantially less precipitation than normal. This natural hazard can be designated after 15 days of reduced rainfall. Significant and sustained instances can impact crops and livestock and result in widespread food shortage, malnutrition, and famine.
A. flood
B. hurricane
C. tsunami
D. drought
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Describe what a natural resource is in your own words.
Choice C, tsunamis, are very large, destructive water waves caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides (not wind). Tsunamis used to be called tidal waves because they resembled a rising tide, but tsunamis have nothing to do with tides.
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Choice D, drought, occurs when an area receives substantially less precipitation than normal. Droughts can be designated after 15 days with reduced rainfall. Significant and sustained droughts can impact crops and livestock and result in widespread food shortage, malnutrition, and famine.
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Sample answer (this answer may not match your own exactly).
Air, water, sunlight, topsoil, and plant and animal life are examples of Earth’s natural resources. Natural resources occur and exist in nature and are used by humans for every aspect of survival.
The passing of one object in space through the shadow of another object is called an eclipse. The orbits of the moon and Earth in relation to the sun cause both solar and lunar eclipses to occur. During a solar eclipse, the specific alignment of these three objects causes the moon to cast a shadow on Earth. During a lunar eclipse, the alignment causes Earth to cast a shadow on the moon.
The following diagram shows the sun, Earth, and moon during a lunar eclipse. Where on the image would the moon need to be for a solar eclipse?
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In order for an eclipse to occur, the sun, Earth, and moon must be aligned in a particular way. When Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon, Earth will prevent sunlight from reaching the moon. This is a lunar eclipse. When the moon is positioned between the sun and Earth, the moon will prevent sunlight from reaching a portion of Earth. This is a solar eclipse.
On the diagram, the moon has reached the position in its orbit that is in Earth’s shadow, resulting in a lunar eclipse. From its current position on the diagram, the moon would need to travel 180° (or halfway) around its orbit to produce a solar eclipse. In this new position, the moon would cast a shadow on Earth.
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This chart illustrates how the color of the light emitted by a star is dependent on the star’s temperature.
Which of the following statements is supported by the data in the table?
A. In general, white stars are hotter than blue-white stars.
B. A star with a surface temperature of 3,700 K produces red light.
C. Yellow light is produced by stars within the narrowest temperature range.
D. The highest known surface temperature of a star is 25,000 K.
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The correct answer is choice C. Range can be determined by calculating the difference between the lowest and highest values in a data set. The table shows that the temperature of a yellow star is between 5,000 K and 6,000 K. This is a range of 1,000 K, which is the smallest (or narrowest) range listed in the table.
White stars have a maximum temperature of 11,000 K, which is the minimum temperature of blue-white stars.
Red stars have a maximum temperature of 3,500 K; a star with a temperature of 3,700 K would be within the range of an orange star.
The table does not provide information about the highest surface temperature recorded for a star, but indicates that blue stars have temperatures higher than 25,000 K.
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This diagram illustrates the structure of an ocean wave.
The period of a wave is the time required for the wave crest at point A to reach point B. The wave period can also be described as the amount of time required for a wave to do which of the following?
A. reach the shoreline
B. travel one wavelength
C. return to calm sea level
D. travel from crest to trough
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The correct answer is choice B. In the context of this ocean wave diagram, a wavelength is the horizontal distance between two crests (A and B). Using the given definition of wave period, it can be determined that the wave period is the amount of time required to travel one wavelength.
A shoreline is not shown or mentioned in the diagram.
Wave period relates to the horizontal movement of a wave, while calm sea level is a reference point used to measure the vertical movement of a wave. Also, in the diagram, points A and B used to measure wave period are both crests.
The time required to travel from crest to trough would be half of a wave period.
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) tracks the annual occurrence and effects of natural hazards in the United States. Based on its data, the USGS has calculated the probability of a natural hazard occurring in any given year that would cause 10 or more fatalities. The following table lists the probabilities for the four most commonly occurring natural hazards.
What is the probability of a hurricane and a tornado, each causing 10 or more fatalities, both occurring in the same year?
A. 0
B. 0.37
C. 0.96
D. 1.35
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The correct answer is choice B. A hurricane and tornado with ≥10 fatalities each occurring in the same year would be considered a compound event, because two events are occurring together. The probability of a compound event can be determined by multiplying the probabilities of each event occurring individually. The probability of a hurricane (0.39) multiplied by the probability of a tornado (0.96) provides a compound probability of 0.3744.
A probability of 0 indicates that there is no chance of an event occurring. Since there is a possibility of a hurricane and a possibility of a tornado occurring individually, there is also a possibility for both events occurring in the same year.
A probability of 0.96 is the probability of a tornado alone occurring during any given year. The probability of both a tornado and a hurricane occurring in the same year would be much lower because the probability of a hurricane is much lower (0.39) than the probability of a tornado (0.96).
A probability greater than 1 indicates that an event is guaranteed to occur. Since the individual probabilities of a hurricane or tornado occurring are both less than 1, the probability of both events occurring in the same year would also be less than 1.
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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) tracks the annual occurrence and effects of natural hazards in the United States. Based on its data, the USGS has calculated the probability of a natural hazard occurring in any given year that would cause 10 or more fatalities. The table lists the probabilities for the four most commonly occurring natural hazards.
Write the appropriate natural hazard from the table on the line in the passage.
A boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates lies along the west coast of the continental United States. The probability of a(n) _______________ with 10 or more fatalities is much higher in this region than the probability for the United States as a whole.
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The natural hazard that best completes this statement is earthquake. Earth’s crust is made up of tectonic plates. The location where two or more tectonic plates meet is called a plate boundary. When the built up pressure at a plate boundary becomes too great, energy is released in the form of an earthquake.
Earthquakes can be expected to occur most frequently along plate boundaries. Since the west coast of the continental United States lies on a plate boundary, the probability of an earthquake occurring in this region can be predicted to be much higher than the probability for the United States as a whole, most of which does not lie on plate boundaries.
The occurrence of hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes is not specifically tied to the activity of tectonic plates. An increase in the probability of any of these natural hazards along a plate boundary as compared to the United States as a whole is not a reasonable prediction.
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Information about five different fuel sources is listed in the following table.
Which factual statement is supported by the data in the table?
A. All cars will be fueled by hydrogen cells in the future.
B. Petroleum is a better fuel source for cars than ethanol.
C. Natural gas is too expensive to use as a fuel source for cars.
D. Ethanol fuel provides a car with less energy per gram than petroleum.
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The correct answer is choice D. This statement is supported by the data in the table. The energy content of ethanol is 27.3 kJ/g, about 16 kJ/g less than the energy content of petroleum (43.6 kJ/g).
The first statement is speculation based on data from the table. According to the table, hydrogen has the greatest energy content and releases no carbon dioxide. Although this data supports the speculation that cars may be fueled by hydrogen cells in the future, this statement is no guarantee. Also, although this data can be used to support the judgment that petroleum is a better fuel source than ethanol, that statement is an opinion rather than a fact. As well, while the data in the table suggests that natural gas is a relatively efficient and clean fuel source, the statement is speculation because no information is provided about the cost of natural gas.
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Natural gas, petroleum, and coal are fossil fuels. Ethanol is derived from biomass.
Information about five different fuel sources is listed in the following table.
Based on the data in the table, what is the best estimate of the energy content of fossil fuels?
A. 40 kJ/g
B. 42 kJ/g
C. 45 kJ/g
D. 50 kJ/g
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The correct answer is choice C. The passage identifies natural gas, petroleum, and coal as fossil fuels, because each is derived from the fossil remains of organisms. The energy content of each fossil fuel can be approximated to 50 kJ/g, 45 kJ/g, and 40 kJ/g, respectively. This provides an estimated average energy content of 45 kJ/g.
Choice A, 40 kJ/g, would be an appropriate estimate for the energy content of coal, not for the energy content of all three fossil fuels. Choice B, 42 kJ/g, would be an appropriate estimate for the energy content of petroleum and coal without including natural gas, which is also a fossil fuel. Choice C, 50 kJ/g, would be an appropriate estimate for the energy content of natural gas, not for the energy content of all three fossil fuels.
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According to the graph, in which atmospheric layers does temperature decrease as altitude increases?
A. mesosphere and exosphere
B. troposphere and thermosphere
C. stratosphere and thermosphere
D. troposphere and mesosphere
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The correct answer is choice D. In the graph, temperature increases to the right and altitude increases upward. Any portion of the graph that has a negative slope, or slopes to the left, indicates a decrease in temperature. The graph has a negative slope in the troposphere and mesosphere layers.
The graph has a negative slope within the mesosphere, but a slight positive slope in the exosphere. This means that temperature decreases as altitude increases in the mesosphere, but increases with altitude in the exosphere. The graph has a negative slope within the troposphere, but a positive slope in the thermosphere. Even though the slope is not constant within the thermosphere, the slope remains positive within this layer. This means that temperature decreases in the troposphere, but increases in the thermosphere. The graph has a positive slope within both the stratosphere and thermosphere. This means that temperature increases with altitude in both layers.
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Surface currents in the ocean are classified as warm or cold currents. In general, warm currents tend to travel from the equator toward the poles along the eastern coast of continents. Cold currents tend to travel from the poles toward the equator along the western coast of continents. The map shows the major surface ocean currents of the world.
Based on the statement and the map, which of the following statements about the Alaska current is true?
A. The Alaska current is a typical cold current because it travels along the western coast of the continent.
B. The Alaska current is not a true surface current because it does not follow the general pattern of surface currents.
C. The Alaska current is an exception to the general pattern because warm currents typically travel along the eastern coast of continents.
D. The Alaska current transports water from the North Pole toward the equator because it travels along the western coast of the continent.
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The correct answer is choice C. The Alaska current is a warm current. The passage states that warm currents typically travel along the eastern coast of continents, but the Alaska current travels along the western coast of North America.
Although the Alaska current does travel along the western coast of the continent, the map key indicates that it is a warm current. The Alaska current does not follow the typical pattern for a warm current, but is identified as a surface current on the map. Warm currents typically transport warm water originating near the equator toward the poles.
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There are two kinds of natural resources: renewable and nonrenewable resources. Which kind is crude oil?
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There are two kinds of natural resources: renewable and nonrenewable resources. Which kind is uranium?
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There are two kinds of natural resources: renewable and nonrenewable resources. Which kind is coal?
Crude oil is a fossil fuel and so is a nonrenewable resource.
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Uranium is a nuclear fuel and so is a nonrenewable resource.
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Coal is a fossil fuel and so is a nonrenewable resource.
There are two kinds of natural resources: renewable and nonrenewable resources. Which kind is wind power?
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There are two kinds of natural resources: renewable and nonrenewable resources. Which kind is pea starch?
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There are two kinds of natural resources: renewable and nonrenewable resources. Which kind is sugarcane?
Wind power is a constant and therefore is a renewable resource.
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Pea starch is created from a growing plant and can be used to make bioplastics, so it is a renewable resource.
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Sugarcane is a growing plant and can be used in making ethanol as fuel, so it is a renewable resource.
There are two kinds of natural resources: renewable and nonrenewable resources. Which kind is jatropha?
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What is the term for the planet’s huge variety of plants and animals?
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Oceans cover what percentage of Earth’s surface?
A. 50%
B. 32%
C. 70%
D. 94%
Jatropha is a weed that can be made into biodiesel fuel, so it is a renewable resource.
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biodiversity
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Oceans cover choice C, 70% of Earth’s surface.
Approximately what percentage of the total water on Earth is in the oceans?
A. 43%
B. 97%
C. 73%
D. 58%
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Global climate change is having significant negative effects on oceans, which absorb about one-fourth of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from human activities. This phenomenon is called _______.
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When CO2 is absorbed by the ocean, it interacts with saltwater to form carbonic acid. As CO2 levels in the atmosphere continue to increase, levels of carbonic acid in oceans also increase. This ocean acidification will harm plankton, adversely affect shellfish larvae, hinder the ability of corals to build new reefs, and cause serious food chain disruptions.
Coral reefs and estuaries (salty or brackish freshwater that runs into the ocean) sustain 75 percent of all commercial fish and shellfish during some point of their life cycles. One in six people on Earth depend on ocean fish for their primary source of protein.
How might a graph show how increasing quantities of CO2 in the oceans affect humans?
Oceans contain more than choice B, 97% of the total water on Earth.
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This phenomenon is called carbon sink. Oceans contain 500 times more carbon than the atmosphere.
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Answers may vary.
The graph would show increasing quantities of CO2 over time, and also the drop in fish replenishment and drop in protein intake for many humans.
As a result of warmer global temperatures, oceans are warming worldwide, producing adverse effects. Which of the following is NOT an adverse effect of warmer oceans?
A. The ice sheets in the Arctic are growing, with negative consequences for many species of marine mammals that live there.
B. Challenges to ocean creatures include increased marine diseases, invasive species, and the death of coral reefs.
C. Larger and more frequent storms are accelerating shoreline erosion.
D. Sea-level rise causes habitat loss and risk to islands and coastal homes.
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There are three ways that energy is transferred between Earth’s surface and atmosphere. What is one of those ways?
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Carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere can trap solar energy in a process known as what?
The correct answer is choice A. The statement that the ice sheets in the Arctic are growing, with negative consequences for many species of marine mammals that live there, is not true. The ice sheets in the Arctic are actually melting, which has a negative effect on the mammals living there.
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Conduction, convection, and radiation are all ways energy is transferred.
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Carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere can trap solar energy in a process known as the greenhouse effect.
Solar energy technology is catching up. Which of the following statements about this is NOT accurate?
A. Solar plants are now being constructed in many areas in the United States and throughout the world.
B. Solar plants are being constructed in large floating barges on the oceans.
C. In 2012, about 0.14% of all electricity generation was from solar power. This may seem like a small percentage of overall energy production, but it represents a 58% increase over 2011.
D. Many people are finding employment in the solar industry. In 2012, there were more than 119,000 solar workers in the United States, a 13.2% increase over employment totals in 2011.
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Wind power refers to the conversion of wind energy into a usable form of energy. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Large wind farms consist of hundreds of individual wind turbines, which are connected to the electric power grid. There are wind farms on land and in oceans.
B. Some countries are far ahead of the United States in harnessing wind power for energy. Denmark generates more than a quarter of its electricity from wind.
C. Tilting a windmill has become a regular practice for wind energy conversion.
D. In 2010, wind energy production was more than 2.5% of total worldwide electricity usage. The cost per unit of energy produced is similar to the cost of new coal and natural gas installations.
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Choice B is not an accurate statement. The other three statements are accurate regarding solar energy technology catching up.
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Choice C is not a true statement about wind power.
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____________ is heat energy produced in the rock and fluids beneath Earth’s crust. It can be found from shallow ground to several miles below the surface, and even farther down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma. Deep wells are drilled into underground reservoirs to tap steam and very hot water to drive turbines linked to electric generators.
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Summarize the concept of the Big Bang Theory in terms of how it relates to the structure of the universe.
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What are millions of stars bound near each other by gravity called?
Geothermal energy is heat energy produced in the rock and fluids beneath Earth’s crust. It can be found from shallow ground to several miles below the surface, and even farther down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma. Deep wells are drilled into underground reservoirs to tap steam and very hot water to drive turbines linked to electric generators.
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Answers may vary.
The Big Bang Theory is the theory that the universe originally was compressed into a tiny, high-density, high-pressure point in space, and when it blew out in a bang, the universe expanded outward and has continued since.
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These groupings of stars are called galaxies.
What is Earth’s galaxy called?
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What is the Big Dipper?
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What is one of the characteristics of a planet that makes it a planet?
The Milky Way
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a constellation
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A planet is a celestial body that has enough mass to be spherical, orbits the sun or other stars in other solar systems, and is not part of an asteroid belt.
What was one of the characteristics that caused Pluto to lose its status as one of the planets of our solar system?
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Which of the following statements about comets is NOT true?
A. A comet is a small, icy celestial body that, when passing close to the sun, may display a tail.
B. Comet tails are caused by solar radiation and solar wind.
C. Comets range from a few hundred meters to tens of kilometers across, and are composed of loose collections of quartz, diamond, and silicate.
D. The orbit of a comet can last a few years to several hundred years. For example, Halley’s comet is visible from Earth about every 75 years. Its next appearance should be in 2061.
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What is the main difference between an asteroid and a comet?
Pluto was long considered one of nine planets in Earth’s solar system, but in the 1990s, astronomers learned that Pluto was not a planet in its own orbit, but part of a belt of asteroids. Because of this, astronomers voted to change Pluto’s designation to dwarf planet in 2006.
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Choice C is not true. While the size of a comet can range from a few hundred meters to tens of kilometers across, the composition of a comet is ice, rock, and dust.
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Asteroids are similar to comets, but differ in composition. Asteroids are made up of metals and rocky materials and have no tail because they are not composed of ice. There are also millions of asteroids, some as small as dust particles. Others are as large as half a mile in diameter.
Where does the life cycle of a star begin?
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When a star is just being born, what could it be called?
A. a white dwarf
B. a protostar
C. a red giant
D. a main sequence star
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What is the longest stage of the life span of a star?
A. a white dwarf
B. a protostar
C. a red giant
D. a main sequence star
Stars begin in a place called stellar nurseries, which are a type of nebula. A nebula is a cloud of dust and gas, composed of about 97% hydrogen and 3% helium. Nebulae may be giant, with 1,000 to 100,000 times the mass of the sun, or smaller, with less than a few hundred times the mass of the sun.
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The correct answer is choice B, a protostar. This is before the star stabilizes and while it’s still gathering mass, energy, and density from the nebula in which it formed. Once it gets hot enough that the hydrogen atoms start fusing and it gathers enough mass, it moves on to the next stage of development.
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The correct answer is choice D. When a star becomes a main sequence star, it stabilizes and matures into stellar adulthood. The creation phase of a star the size of Earth’s sun can take up to 50 million years, but the adulthood phase then will last another 10 billion years.
Once a star the size of Earth’s sun runs out of hydrogen and its core collapses, what is its next possible stage?
A. a white dwarf
B. a protostar
C. a red giant
D. a main sequence star
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What causes things like black holes to occur?
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What is the Arctic Zone?
This stage would be choice C, the red giant stage. As the core collapses, it heats up and heats the upper layers of the star. These layers expand outward and the entire star gives off a cooler and redder light, which is why it’s called a red giant.
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Black holes are created when a very large star reaches the end of its life span at which time the following occurs:
• After the helium is gone, the star’s mass is enough to fuse carbon into heavier elements such as oxygen, neon, silicon, magnesium, sulfur, and iron.
• Once the core has turned to iron, it can no longer burn. The star collapses from its own gravity. The core becomes so tightly packed that protons and electrons merge to form neutrons.
• In less than a second, the iron core, which is about the size of Earth, shrinks to a neutron core with a radius of about 6 miles (10 kilometers).
• The core heats to billions of degrees and explodes in a supernova, releasing large amounts of energy and material into space. The remains of the core can form a neutron star or a black hole depending on the original star’s mass.
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The Arctic Zone is the climatic zone near the North or South Pole characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
Refer to the following passage to answer the next five questions.
Gas exchange between the air and oceans is primarily controlled by the air-sea difference in gas concentrations. It is not unusual for there to be differences in the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels between air and ocean because it takes about a year for surface ocean CO2 to equilibrate with the atmospheric CO2. Oceans hold large reservoirs of carbon that can be exchanged with the air because CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid. Ocean acidification is a result of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels interacting with the surface oceans. When increasing CO2 levels change the global climate, the temperature changes impact ocean circulation; in turn, ocean circulation impacts ocean CO2 uptake. Ocean acidification impacts marine ecosystems, which can also result in changes in the air-sea CO2 exchange.
What is the main topic of this passage?
A. mechanisms of ocean circulation and its effects
B. ocean acidification and its consequences
C. ocean CO2 absorption and its consequences
D. oceans and global climate change
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When carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean, it becomes ____________.
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The correct answer is choice C, ocean CO2 absorption and its consequences. When analyzing the subjects of each sentence, here is the breakdown:
1. Gas exchange between the air and oceans happens.
2. It is not unusual for there to be differences in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels between air and ocean.
3. Oceans hold large reservoirs of carbon that can be exchanged with the air.
4. Ocean acidification is a result of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels interacting with the surface oceans.
5. When increasing CO2 levels change the global climate, the temperature changes impact ocean circulation.
6. Ocean acidification impacts marine ecosystems, which can also result in changes in the air-sea CO2 exchange.
The majority of the subjects deal with carbon dioxide and the oceans, so the most likely main idea of this passage is ocean CO2 absorption and its consequences.
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When carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean, it becomes carbonic acid.
The third sentence of the passage states “CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid.”
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Which choice explains how increasing atmospheric CO2 necessarily alters atmospheric CO2?
A. Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels can decrease ocean acidification, which in turn puts more CO2 into the atmosphere.
B. Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels can decrease the ocean’s reservoir of carbonic acid, thereby decreasing atmospheric CO2.
C. Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels can change global temperature and impact ocean circulation, which impacts ocean CO2 uptake.
D. Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels can directly increase ocean absorption of CO2, thereby increasing atmospheric CO2 levels further.
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How do you find the context for the word equilibrate in the sentence “It is not unusual for there to be differences in the carbon dioxide (CO2) levels between air and ocean because it takes about a year for surface ocean CO2 to equilibrate with the atmospheric CO2”?
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How do you find the context for the phrase ocean acidification in the sentence “Ocean acidification is a result of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels interacting with the surface oceans”?
The correct answer is choice C. Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels can change global temperature and impact ocean circulation, which impacts ocean CO2 uptake.
The next to the last sentence states, “When increasing CO2 levels change the global climate, the temperature changes impact ocean circulation; in turn, ocean circulation impacts ocean CO2 uptake.” So, the mediator between increasing atmospheric CO2 and its self-regulation is global temperature and oceanic circulation.
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The word differences is the opposite and shows that equilibrate means to create an equal amount of CO2 between the surface ocean and atmosphere.
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The phrase is a result of leads to the cause of ocean acidification and relates it to carbon dioxide and the previous sentence “Oceans hold large reservoirs of carbon that can be exchanged with the air because CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid.”
From this diagram, what would you guess that desublimation means?
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From this diagram, what would you guess that condensation means?
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Your answer may vary.
This shows the phase change of the water vapor in the air into ice, so desublimation is the phase change of a gas into a solid.
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Your answer may vary.
This shows the change of water vapor in the air into clouds, leading to precipitation, so condensation is the phase change of a gas into a liquid.
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Which type of weather pattern would be expected with the weather front shown in the diagram?
A. a long band of widespread gentle rain or snow
B. a narrow band of widespread gentle rain or snow
C. a long band of severe thunderstorms
D. a narrow band of severe thunderstorms
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The correct answer is choice D, a narrow band of severe thunderstorms. In a cold front, the band of severe thunderstorms is narrow as the warm air rises rapidly against the steep advancing cold air mass.
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The diagram shows circulation within the world’s oceans. Which best describes ocean circulation patterns?
A. Currents generally move clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere.
B. Currents generally move clockwise in the southern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere.
C. Currents generally move counterclockwise in both hemispheres.
D. Currents generally move clockwise in both hemispheres.
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The correct answer is choice A. Currents generally move clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere. The diagram shows that ocean currents do move clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere.
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The diagram shows circulation within the world’s oceans. Predict how the currents would affect the ocean and climate of the Eastern coast of North America.
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Answers may vary.
The currents would bring warmer ocean water from the equator up along the coast, directing any weather patterns of storms and hurricanes up the coast. It also makes the climate warmer than it otherwise might be if the currents were not there.
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Refer to the following passage to answer the next three questions.
In 2009, the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) organized a science panel of expert scientists to review the published literature on sea level rise (SLR) and make projections for the state through 2100. The science panel projected that by 2100, a 0.4 m rise was certain, a 1.0 m rise was more likely, and a 1.40 m rise was possible (see graph). The panel recommended that the SLR projections be taken into consideration in future coastal planning.
The report’s SLR projection agreed with projections from other science panels, including in Miami-Dade County (1–2 m), Rhode Island (1–1.5 m), Maine (1 m), Oregon (1.4 m), and the Puget Sound (1 m). However, it disagreed with a linear projection from historical data that SLR would be 0.2 m.
In response to the report, an advocacy group of coastal businesses and government officials from coastal counties lobbied the state legislature to consider a bill declaring that only the linear projection could be considered in any NC coastal planning. The bill was revised to ignore SLR in any coastal planning and mandated a new report from the panel, in which all data and hypotheses regarding changes in sea level (linear rise, accelerated rise, decrease, etc.) should be listed, not just those with the consensus of the scientific community; the bill was passed and signed into law in 2012.
The advocacy group cited discredited scientific studies, arguing that there was no scientific consensus on SLR, and ridiculed the science panel. The group successfully convinced the legislature and many citizens.
This passage is based on Denying sea-level rise: How 100 centimeters divided the state of North Carolina, by Alexander Glass and Orrin Pilkey, originally published in ©Earthmagazine.org, and Earth Magazine, p. 26, May 2013.
Are the claims in the article regarding sea level rise from reliable sources?
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Yes. The claims were made from government science panels in North Carolina, Miami-Dade County, Rhode Island, Maine, Oregon, and the Puget Sound.
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Are the sea level rise claims verified with supporting data?
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Are there a variety of sources to help establish evidence and resolve conflicting information?
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A forecast shows the chance of rain on Friday is 10%, 30%, 70%, and 50% for Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Chicago, respectively. What is the probability that it will rain in all four cities on Friday?
Yes. A graph from the CRC science panel report was included.
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No. The conflicting SLR projection from historical data was mentioned, but the source was not identified. The conflict between the scientific panel’s projection and the projection from historical data is a central theme of the passage.
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The correct answer is 0.0105 or 1.05%. Here’s the solution:
P(Miami) = 10% = 0.1
P(Los Angeles) = 30% = 0.3
P(Seattle) = 70% = 0.7
P(Chicago) = 50% = 0.5
P(all 4 cities) = P(Miami) · P(Los Angeles) · P(Seattle) · P(Chicago)
P(all 4 cities) = 0.1 · 0.3 · 0.7 · 0.5
P(all 4 cities) = 0.0105 = 1.05%
Carlos wants to make his home more energy efficient, and he wants an affordable and environmentally responsible solution. Carlos lives in the western United States. His house is located on a small lot in an urban neighborhood that is sparsely landscaped.
Which of these options would meet all of Carlos’s needs and criteria?
A. Place solar panels on the roof.
B. Install a wind turbine in the front yard.
C. Replace an oil-fired furnace with a wood-burning stove.
D. Contact electricity companies to compare prices and negotiate rates.
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Keesha has a farm and sells her extra produce at the local farmer’s market. She wants to make her business and home more energy efficient and environmentally responsible. She lives in the middle of the United States on a large plot of land in the country, with lots of flat plains around her.
Which of these options would meet all of Keesha’s needs and criteria?
A. Place solar panels on the roof.
B. Install wind turbines in the fields.
C. Replace an oil-fired furnace with a wood-burning stove.
D. Contact electricity companies to compare prices and negotiate rates.
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The correct answer is choice A, place solar panels on the roof. Incorporating solar panels into his home would allow Carlos to use less fossil fuel energy while saving money.
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The correct answer is choice B, install wind turbines in the fields. Installing wind turbines would allow Keesha to use less fossil fuel energy, save money, and also take advantage of the wind movement where she is located.
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The chart presents information on ultraviolet radiation. It is divided into wavelength ranges identified as UVA, UVB, and UVC.
People are most likely to be at risk of sunburn at
A. 10 A.M., because the UVA rays are the greatest.
B. 12 P.M., because more UVB rays reach the earth.
C. 2 P.M., because UVC rays are least harmful.
D. 4 P.M., because the UVA rays have less strength.
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The correct answer is choice B, 12:00 P.M., because more UVB rays reach the earth. UVB rays cause sunburns. The greatest percentage of UVB rays reach the earth at noon (12 P.M.), making it the most likely time of day for sunburn to happen.
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The chart presents information on ultraviolet radiation. It is divided into wavelength ranges identified as UVA, UVB, and UVC.
Based on the wavelengths noted, what can you determine about the wavelengths of UVA, UVB, and UVC?
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Answers may vary.
UVA is a longer wavelength than UVB, and UVC is the shortest of them.
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Refer to the following passage to answer the next three questions.
Billions of barrels of oil are believed to be locked in soft, finely stratified sedimentary shale formations throughout the United States. Natural gas and oil companies are hard at work freeing these resources. Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly referred to as fracking, is a drilling process in which millions of gallons of fresh water, sand, and chemicals are injected under high pressure into a well. This cracks the existing rock and releases the natural gas and oil.
The fluids used in hydraulic fracturing, and the wastewater that comes back up the well, need to be disposed of. The safest, most cost-efficient method of disposal involves injecting the fluids into disposal wells thousands of feet underground. The wells are encased in layers of concrete and usually store the waste from several different wells. Each holds about 4.5 million gallons of chemical-laced water.
Sometimes, injections of waste into these wells cause earthquakes. These earthquakes occur as crevices, previously containing oil, are filled with water. The resulting pressure change needed to push the water underground can trigger a slip in a nearby fault line.
Based on the information in the passage, where are the natural gas deposits that are targeted by hydraulic fracturing?
A. underneath sand
B. in shale formations
C. inside concrete wells
D. below the water table
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The correct answer is choice B, in shale formations. Soft, finely stratified sedimentary shale formations are home to billions of barrels of oil as well as natural gas.
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On the map, the circles indicate locations of earthquakes caused by or related to energy technologies. The larger the circle, the larger the earthquake.
What is the activity in the key that results in earthquakes with the greatest magnitude?
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According to the information in the passage, which of the following statements best describes concerns about the possible sustainability of hydraulic fracturing?
A. Ongoing fracking could pollute the air.
B. The potential for earthquakes is increasing.
C. Fresh water supplies in shale outcroppings are scarce.
D. Gas and oil surpluses cause less reliance on wind and solar resources.
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The correct answer is Oil/Gas Extraction. The circles in the activity legend indicate the location of earthquakes that were “caused by or related to energy technologies. The larger the circle, the larger the earthquake.” The largest circles on the map are black, which represents Oil/Gas Extraction.
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The correct answer is choice C, fresh water supplies in shale outcroppings are scarce. Water is scarce in the regions targeted by hydraulic fracturing, and the sustainability of fresh water must be addressed. When “millions of gallons of fresh water, sand, and chemicals are injected under high pressure into a well,” the reality of the vast amounts of this resource being used comes to light.
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Refer to the following passage to answer the next four questions.
Ocean acidification occurs when seawater absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This causes the water to become more acidic. Dissolved carbon dioxide increases the hydrogen ion concentration in the ocean, which decreases the ocean’s pH level. Calcifying organisms such as corals, oysters, and sea urchins find it more difficult to build shells and skeletons in acidic water.
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere comes from many sources. When humans burn oil or gas to generate power, carbon dioxide is released. Carbon dioxide is also a greenhouse gas, which means it leads to warmer temperatures on Earth’s surface by trapping heat in the air.
Based on the graph and the information from the passage, what year presented the lowest risk of ocean acidification?
A. 1960
B. 1970
C. 1990
D. 2010
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The correct answer is choice A, 1960. Ocean acidification occurs when seawater absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The point on the graph indicating the lowest concentration of atmospheric CO2 is 1960.
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Referencing the passage, which effect from carbon dioxide could have a direct negative impact on marine food webs?
A. reduced calcification of coral
B. increased air pollution from cars
C. rising sea levels from melting glaciers
D. warmer temperatures on Earth’s surface
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Which type of coastal erosion would be most impacted by ocean acidification?
A. abrasion
B. attrition
C. corrosion
D. hydraulic action
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When considering both the passage and the image, overall, what statement might be inferred?
A. Ocean acidification is not a problem.
B. Before the 1990s, seawater pH did not exist.
C. Carbon dioxide comes from only one source.
D. Calcium carbonate can be dissolved by acidic water.
The correct answer is choice A, reduced calcification of coral. Increased acidification of ocean waters creates a poor environment for calcifying marine animals. Corals are primary consumers in marine food webs. When corals cannot properly function and they begin to die, the secondary and tertiary consumers are negatively impacted.
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The correct answer is choice C, corrosion. The process of corrosion occurs when materials with a low pH chemically weather cliff rocks with a high pH. The increased acidity of seawater significantly contributes to the way sea cliffs break apart.
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The correct answer is choice D. Calcium carbonate can be dissolved by acidic water. This can be determined by “Calcifying organisms such as corals, oysters, and sea urchins find it more difficult to build shells and skeletons in acidic water.” Since calcifying has the same root as calcium, it seems likely that this is the true statement. The other statements are all false.
With the two diagrams shown here, what can you determine about how Ptolemy and Copernicus saw the solar system?
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Answers may vary.
Ptolemy saw the solar system as a system with the sun and other planets orbiting Earth, while Copernicus saw the solar system as a system in which the sun was the center and Earth and other planets orbit it.
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The chart presents information on ultraviolet radiation. It is divided into wavelength ranges identified as UVA, UVB, and UVC.
With the chart and diagram, what can you determine about UVC waves?
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Answers may vary.
UVC does not reach the surface of the earth, so does not affect humans.
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Refer to the following passage to answer the next four questions.
As the world searches for alternatives to petroleum, corn-based ethanol and other biofuels derived from organic material have been considered as the perfect answer to transportation fuel problems. In fact, a U.S. government energy bill mandates that over 30 billion gallons of biofuels a year be used by the year 2020. However, separate studies released by the Nature Conservancy and Ivy League institutions reveal that ethanol may not be the best answer in the fight against global warming. They say biofuels could make things worse.
Biofuel crops, such as corn and sugarcane, remove carbon from Earth’s atmosphere while they are growing. When biofuels are burned, they emit fewer greenhouse gases than fossil fuels like coal or oil. This makes biofuels almost carbon-neutral. However, studies are showing that ethanol could be even more dangerous for the environment than fossil fuels. The Ivy League study noted that clearing previously untouched land to grow biofuel crops releases long-contained carbon into the atmosphere. While planting biofuel crops in already tilled land is all right, the problem arises when farmers disturb new land to grow more sugarcane or corn. Additionally, food and feed crops are being displaced by biofuel crops. The Nature Conservancy warns that “converting rainforests, peat lands, savannas, or grasslands to produce biofuels in Brazil, Southeast Asia and the United States creates a ‘biofuel carbon debt’ by releasing 17 to 420 times more carbon dioxide than the fossil fuels they replace.” Other negative effects include the extreme amounts of water needed for irrigation, runoffs from pesticides and fertilizers, and the natural gas used to make the fertilizers that adds to the carbon deficit.
Are the claims in the article from reliable sources?
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Are the claims in the article verified with supporting data?
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Yes. The article mentions studies released by the Nature Conservancy and Ivy League institutions. These institutions generally count as reliable and valid sources.
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This article excerpt does not include copies of the data from the studies it mentions. However, the following quote from the Nature Conservancy does provide some supporting data for the answer: “converting rainforests, peat lands, savannas, or grasslands to produce biofuels in Brazil, Southeast Asia and the United States creates a ‘biofuel carbon debt’ by releasing 17 to 420 times more carbon dioxide than the fossil fuels they replace.”
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Are there a variety of sources to help establish evidence and resolve conflicting information?
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List at least three pieces of evidence from the passage that support the claim that ethanol is not a sustainable source of transportation fuel.
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Yes, the article cites reports from the Nature Conservancy, Ivy League institutions, and a U.S. government energy bill.
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Answers may vary.
• Clearing previously untouched land to grow biofuel crops releases long-contained carbon into the atmosphere.
• Growing biofuel crops displaces food and feed crops.
• Biofuel crops need extreme amounts of water for irrigation.
• Treating fields of biofuel crops with pesticides and fertilizers creates pollution when these chemicals run off into waterways.
• Making fertilizers for growing biofuel crops requires natural gas, which adds to the carbon deficit.
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Refer to the following passage to answer the next nine questions.
Approximately one billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency. This deficiency is thought to be largely due to insufficient exposure to the sun. In some cases, poor diet can also play a role. There is increasing evidence that vitamin D deficiency also increases a person’s susceptibility to autoimmune conditions. Additionally, a lack of vitamin D can impact bone development.
The main source of vitamin D in the body comes from exposing the skin to sunlight. Just 10 minutes of exposure to ultraviolet B radiation wavelengths between 280 and 315 nm, five days a week, will give most people enough vitamin D. However, extended exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun is known to increase the risk of skin cancer. Widespread campaigns for the use of sunscreen and sun avoidance have reduced the incidences of skin cancers. However, sunscreens with sun protection factors of 15 or higher also decrease the body’s ability to synthesize vitamin D by 99%.
According to the information in the passage, what are the two consequences of vitamin D deficiency?
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poor bone development and autoimmune disease
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According to the passage, how do we make vitamin D?
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According to the passage, what type of radiation is necessary to make vitamin D?
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How much daily sunlight exposure is necessary to make vitamin D?
exposure to ultraviolet radiation
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UVB radiation (315 to 280 nm)
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10 minutes
From information in the passage, what are the apparent contradictions regarding vitamin D deficiency and sunlight exposure?
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When does the amount of UVA reaching Earth peak?
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When does the amount of UVB reaching Earth peak?
While exposure to ultraviolet radiation is important for your body to make vitamin D, it also puts you at risk for cancer.
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Before 10 A.M. and after 2 P.M.
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Noon
Does wearing sunscreen reduce UV exposure?
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Gathering the information in the passage and chart, explain in your own words how we can safely expose our skin to ultraviolet radiation to make vitamin D, but minimally risk skin cancer.
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Yes, when the SPF value is greater than 15.
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Answers may vary.
A daily exposure of 10 minutes of UVB sunlight therapy at noon has been shown to reduce risks of autoimmune disease and improve bone health. UVB peaks at noon, while UVA peaks after 2 P.M. So, by going outside for 10 minutes around noon and wearing a sunscreen with an SPF factor less than 15, we can have beneficial sunlight therapy for vitamin D synthesis with a relatively low risk of skin cancer associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
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If you lived in New York, which diagram shows the Earth’s position in June?
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In diagram A, New York is in summer and it is June.
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If you lived in the Antarctic Circle, what would the sun do at sunset every day?
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What is the season along the Tropic of Capricorn in this diagram?
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Answers may vary.
The sun would not actually set, as this part of the planet is tilted so far toward the sun that there is no nighttime.
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This season would be winter, because the days are shorter as that part of the earth is tilted away from the sun.
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One of these images is a heliocentric model of the solar system and the other is a geocentric model of the solar system.
What does a heliocentric model mean in the context of these images?
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A heliocentric model is set with the sun as the center of the solar system.
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One of these images is a heliocentric model of the solar system and the other is a geocentric model of the solar system.
What does a geocentric model mean in the context of these images?
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A geocentric model is set with Earth as the center of the solar system and universe.
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When is the next high tide according to this graph?
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There will next be a high tide at 1 A.M.
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What can you determine about tides from this image?
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They are cyclical, like waves.
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Jovian planets are also known as gas giants. In the solar system, there are several of these planets, specifically Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus.
When considering these planets, what is different about them compared to Earth?
A. They are more dense and closer to the sun.
B. They are less dense and farther from the sun.
C. They are less dense and closer to the sun.
D. They are more dense and farther from the sun.
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The time zone difference is about how many degrees per hour?
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The correct answer is choice B, they are less dense and farther from the sun.
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15 degrees per hour
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Which celestial body is the largest?
A. Jupiter
B. Saturn
C. the Milky Way
D. the sun
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A ___________ is a pattern or grouping of stars such as the Big Dipper.
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A __________ is a celestial body that has enough mass to be spherical, orbits the sun or other stars in other solar systems, and is not part of an asteroid belt.
Choice C, the Milky Way, is definitely the largest in size as it contains all the other celestial bodies listed.
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A constellation is a pattern or grouping of stars such as the Big Dipper.
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A planet is a celestial body that has enough mass to be spherical, orbits the sun or other stars in other solar systems, and is not part of an asteroid belt.
Why was Pluto reclassified as not a planet?
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When helium fuel runs out, the core of a star will expand and cool, and the upper layers will expand and eject material that will collect around the dying star to form a _________.
A. black hole
B. red giant
C. planetary nebula
D. protostar
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Near the end of its life, the radius of a star increases to become a _________.
A. black hole
B. red giant
C. planetary nebula
D. protostar
Answers may vary.
Pluto was considered one of nine planets in Earth’s solar system, but in the 1990s, astronomers learned that Pluto was not a planet in its own orbit, but part of a belt of asteroids.
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When helium fuel runs out, the core of a star will expand and cool, and the upper layers will expand and eject material that will collect around the dying star to form choice C, a planetary nebula.
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Near the end of its life, the radius of a star increases to become choice B, a red giant.
Some of the responses to oceanic acidification include reducing CO2 emissions, climate engineering, iron fertilization, and using carbon-negative fuels. Which of these is a practice that is already being done?
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Earth’s inner core is a solid mass of iron with a temperature of about 7,000°F. The high heat at Earth’s core is a combination of which three of the following factors?
• residual heat from the moon’s formation
• residual heat from Earth’s formation
• frictional heating, caused by the tectonic plates moving against each other
• frictional heating, caused by denser parts of the core moving toward the center
• decay of radioactive elements, such as uranium, in the core. The inner core is approximately 1,500 miles in diameter.
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Which of the following is NOT part of the rocky mantle?
• silicon
• oxygen
• magnesium
• iron
• aluminum
• calcium
• meteors
• water
reducing CO2 emissions
In a statement from 2009, the InterAcademy Panel recommended that global anthropogenic CO2 be reduced to 50% of the 1990 level by 2050.
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• residual heat from Earth’s formation
• frictional heating, caused by denser parts of the core moving toward the center
• Decay of radioactive elements, such as uranium, in the core. The inner core is approximately 1,500 miles in diameter.
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At this time, meteors are not a part of the rocky mantle.
The troposphere is the lowest portion of Earth’s atmosphere. What percentages of the atmosphere’s mass, water vapor, and aerosols do you think it contains, respectively?
A. 50%, 32%, 40%
B. 70%, 60%, 77%
C. 80%, 99%, 99%
D. 75%, 65%, 65%
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The correct answer is choice C, 80%, 99%, 99%. The troposphere contains 80% of the atmosphere’s mass and 99% of the water vapor and aerosols.
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The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere and is known for having stratified layers of temperature. How far up is this layer?
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Carbon is found in which of the following items?
A. oceans, in the form of bicarbonate ions (HCO3–)
B. living organisms
C. fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas
D. all the above
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This layer exists anywhere from 10 km to 50 km up.
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Choice D, all the items contain carbon.
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Since the Industrial Revolution, when the consumption of energy to power machinery began to substantially expand, people have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by ___ by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests that reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide.
A. 10%
B. 50%
C. 30%
D. 80%
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Burning fossil fuels and forests also releases nitrogen. All forms of fixed nitrogen are greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
What can you conclude from this pair of statements?
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Earth’s upper mantle is rigid and, together with the crust, is part of the lithosphere. The lower mantle flows slowly at a rate of ________ per year.
A. a foot
B. a few centimeters
C. a mile
D. a kilometer
Since the Industrial Revolution, when the consumption of energy to power machinery began to substantially expand, people have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by choice C, 30% by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests that reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide.
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Answers may vary.
Burning fossil fuels and forests causes global warming.
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The lower mantle flows slowly at a rate of choice B, a few centimeters per year.
Evidence suggests that about 200 million years ago, all continents were a part of one landmass, now called ________.
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Over the years, the continents have slowly separated in a process called ________.
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The force needed to move billions of tons of rock is great. When plates move, some of the energy is released as ________.
Evidence suggests that about 200 million years ago, all continents were a part of one landmass, now called Pangaea.
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Over the years, the continents have slowly separated in a process called continental drift.
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The force needed to move billions of tons of rock is great. When plates move, some of the energy is released as earthquakes.
When two tectonic plates separate, energy is released, earthquakes occur, and magma is released. The Atlantic Ocean was formed by the separation of plates over millions of years.
What is the word for this type of movement by the tectonic plates?
• subduction
• diverging
• converging
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At some tectonic plate boundaries, one plate slides under the other. As the plate slides under the other, the crust melts as it goes deeper into the earth. What is this process called?
• subduction
• diverging
• converging
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As one plate slides under the other, the crust melts as it goes deeper into the earth. This creates ________, which rises to the surface and can form volcanoes.
To diverge is to separate, so when two plates separate, this is called diverging.
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Subduction is what happens when one plate slides under the other.
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This creates magma, which rises to the surface and can form volcanoes.
Select the best answer to fill the blank from the choices that follow.
________ plates result in the creation of mountains. For example, the Andes Mountains were formed by the Nazca Plate being pushed into the South American Plate. When two oceanic plates meet each other, it often results in the formation of an island arc system.
• Subducting
• Diverging
• Converging
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Molten material from inside Earth often breaks through the floor of the ocean and flows from fissures, where it is cooled by water, resulting in the formation of ___________.
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As molten material flows from a fissure, it forms adjacent ________.
Converging plates result in the creation of mountains.
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Molten material from inside Earth often breaks through the floor of the ocean and flows from fissures, where it is cooled by water, resulting in the formation of igneous rocks.
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As molten material flows from a fissure, it forms adjacent ridges.
Wind currents are generally measured in meters per second, also known as what?
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If a wind current is moving at 25 knots, how many miles per hour would that be?
(1 knot = 1.15 mph)
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The Gulf Stream is an ocean current that runs up from the tip of Florida, flowing along the eastern coastline of the United States to Newfoundland, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Because of this warm water being carried, what can you determine about the Gulf Stream’s effect?
knots
(1 knot = 1.15 miles per hour or 1.85 kilometers per hour)
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28.75 miles per hour
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Answers may vary.
Because it carries warm water, the Gulf Stream makes Northern Europe warmer than it would be without it.
What is one effect of El Niño on the global weather?
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The effects of human activity on the planet’s plant and animal ________ are a growing concern of environmental activists and scientists.
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During the last 100 years, temperatures have increased by ___°C.
Answers may vary.
• increased rainfall across the eastern Pacific Ocean
• reduces the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water that sustains large fish populations along the west coast of South America
• worldwide temperature shifts
• higher temperatures in western Canada and the upper plains of the United States
• colder temperatures in the southern United States
• Parts of the southern and eastern coast of Africa can experience severe drought.
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The effects of human activity on biodiversity are a growing concern of environmental activists and scientists.
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In the last 100 years, temperatures have increased by 1°C.
Increased levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases cause increased temperatures worldwide known as ____________.
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The sun’s energy reaches Earth in the form of light radiation. Plants use this light to synthesize sugar molecules, which people consume and derive energy from. What is this process called?
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The sun heats Earth’s surface and drives ________ within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents.
Increased levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases cause increased temperatures worldwide known as global warming.
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photosynthesis
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The sun heats Earth’s surface and drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents.
___________ refers to the conversion of solar energy to another, more useful form.
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What is the equator?
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What is the geochemical cycle?
Solar power refers to the conversion of solar energy to another, more useful form.
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The equator is the imaginary line drawn around the earth that runs east and west at 0° latitude.
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The geochemical cycle is the circulation of elements in the biosphere. For example, water, carbon, and nitrogen are recycled in the biosphere. A water molecule in the cell of your eye could have been at some point in the ocean, in the atmosphere, in a leaf of a tree, or in the cell of a bear’s foot.
What is geology?
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What is a hemisphere?
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What is igneous rock?
Geology is the study of rocks and minerals.
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A hemisphere is half of the earth, either the northern or southern half of the globe as divided by the equator or the eastern or western half as divided by the prime meridian.
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An igneous rock is a rock formed through the cooling of magma.
What is a land breeze?
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What is latitude?
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What is longitude?
A land breeze develops on the shoreline due to unequal heating of the air above the land and ocean. Land breeze occurs at night when the air above the land is cooler and the air above the ocean is warmer. The breeze blows from the land to the sea.
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Latitude is the coordinate used to measure positions on Earth north or south of Earth’s equator, ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles. Latitude is measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
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Longitude is the coordinate used to measure positions on Earth east or west of the prime meridian, ranging from 0° at the prime meridian to 180° east or 180° west longitude. The prime meridian goes through Greenwich, England. Longitude is measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds.
What is a longitudinal wave?
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What is retrograde motion?
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What is right ascension?
A longitudinal wave has the same direction of vibration as its direction of travel. The motion of the particles in the medium is parallel to the direction of wave propagation. Sound is an example of a longitudinal wave.
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Retrograde motion is the apparent westward motion of objects in the sky from one night to another.
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Right ascension is the celestial coordinate similar to that of longitude on Earth. Right ascension is measured in hours, minutes, and seconds with 24 hours making up 360° around the celestial sphere.
What is a rock cycle?
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What is a sea breeze?
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What is the temperate zone?
A rock cycle is a concept in geology that summarizes how rocks of different types are formed and how they can be transformed from one type into another.
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A sea breeze develops on the shoreline due to unequal heating of the air above the land and ocean. Sea breeze occurs during the day when the air above the ocean is cooler and the air above the land is warmer. The breeze blows from the sea to the land.
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The temperate zone is a climatic zone characterized by four seasons, usually a hot summer, cold winter, and moderate spring and fall.
What is a terrestrial planet?
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What is a terminal moraine?
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What is the polar zone?
A terrestrial planet is one of the inner planets of the solar system that have characteristics similar to those of Earth. The terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are small, have few or no moons, and have no rings. They have thin or no atmosphere, are rocky, and have high density and low mass. Terrestrial planets are located close to the sun and are close to each other. They have long rotation rates and have short revolution periods around the sun.
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A terminal moraine is a ridge of material deposited by a glacier at its farthest point of advance.
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The polar zone is the climatic zone near the North or South Pole characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers.