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1 | |
How do scientists believe that Earth most likely formed?
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| | A) | from a star that cooled |
| | B) | from the collapse of a solar nebula |
| | C) | from the collision of two other planets |
| | D) | from a piece of the Sun that broke away |
| | E) | from an exploding star |
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2 | |
What was the source of the water that formed the oceans on Earth?
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| | A) | river water |
| | B) | underground bodies of water |
| | C) | the Sun |
| | D) | asteroids |
| | E) | water vapor from volcanic eruptions and ice from comets |
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3 | |
Which phrase best describes the visible surface of Earth?
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| | A) | 50 percent water and 50 percent land |
| | B) | about 70 percent water and 30 percent land |
| | C) | about 70 percent land and 30 percent water |
| | D) | about 90 percent land and 10 percent water |
| | E) | about 90 percent water and 10 percent land |
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4 | |
Which of the following statements best describes a geochemical cycle?
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| | A) | A geochemical cycle is the movement of elements from one chemical storehouse to another. |
| | B) | A geochemical cycle is the periodic occurrence of an ice age. |
| | C) | A geochemical cycle is the slow change in adaptation that organisms show over time. |
| | D) | A geochemical cycle refers to the seasonal changes of weather. |
| | E) | A geochemical cycle refers to the solar heating of Earth. |
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5 | |
Which of the following is the best definition of plate tectonics?
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| | A) | Earth's core is hot, molten rock and is the source of heat that leads to volcanic eruptions. |
| | B) | The land below Earth's oceans is flat and does not have underwater mountains and valleys similar to mountains found on the continents. |
| | C) | Earth's surface (crust) is made up of several large sections of land (plates) that slowly move around on the mantle, changing the position of continents as they move. |
| | D) | Earth's continents will someday be grouped together as a single, large landmass. |
| | E) | Earth is about 4.6 billion years old. |
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6 | |
What role does ozone play in making life possible on Earth?
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| | A) | Ozone is an atmospheric gas that humans and other organisms breathe, thus making life possible on Earth. |
| | B) | Ozone forms a blanket of atmospheric gas that surrounds Earth and helps keep Earth warm, preventing the occurrence of ice ages. |
| | C) | Ozone is a protective layer of atmospheric gas that protects Earth from the impact of large asteroids. |
| | D) | Ozone is an atmospheric gas that absorbs much of the dangerous, high-energy ultraviolet sunlight that otherwise would reach Earth's surface. |
| | E) | Ozone gas is the gas used by plants during the process of photosynthesis, making the production of food possible. |
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7 | |
What feature of Earth is responsible for the four seasons (summer, fall, winter, and spring)?
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| | A) | the tilt in Earth's rotation axis |
| | B) | the fact that Earth's surface is mainly water |
| | C) | the distance of Earth from the Sun |
| | D) | the movement of the Moon around Earth |
| | E) | the fact that summer months are generally much warmer than winter months |
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8 | |
What does a weather reporter mean by the statement, "The humidity level is 50 percent."
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| | A) | The air temperature is halfway between freezing and boiling. |
| | B) | There is a 50 percent chance of rain today. |
| | C) | Air pressure (barometric pressure) is rising. |
| | D) | The air currently contains 50 percent of the water vapor that it can hold. |
| | E) | There is an equal amount of blue sky and cloud cover. |
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9 | |
How is weathering different from erosion?
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| | A) | Weathering occurs only during winter months; erosion occurs only during summer months. |
| | B) | Weathering is the movement of rock fragments; erosion is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces. |
| | C) | Weathering is the breaking down of rock into smaller pieces; erosion is the movement of rock fragments. |
| | D) | Weathering is a breaking down of rock, while erosion is a combining of smaller rocks to make larger rocks. |
| | E) | Erosion occurs before weathering. |
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10 | |
What information can scientists gain from the study of fossils?
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| | A) | Fossils give clues about what causes seasons on Earth. |
| | B) | Fossils give clues about how Earth formed. |
| | C) | Fossils give clues about the exact age of Earth. |
| | D) | Fossils help scientists predict weather on a day-to-day basis. |
| | E) | Fossils give clues about extinct forms of life and about the aging process of Earth itself. |
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2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education