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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
For all questions, NOTA represents none of the above answers is correct.
1. The theory that the universe is expanding is supported by data from the
(A) nuclear decay of radioactive materials
(B) nuclear fusion of radioactive materials
(C) blue shift of light from distant galaxies
(D) red shift of light from distant galaxies
(E) NOTA
2. This feature is best identified as
(A) a galaxy
(B) a comet
(C) an asteroid
(D) a star
(E) NOTA
3. Fourteen billion years represents the approximate age of
(A) Earth
(B) Earth’s Moon
(C) our solar system
(D) the universe
(E) NOTA
4. Which terms describe the motion of most objects in our solar system?
(A) noncyclic and unpredictable
(B) noncyclic and predictable
(C) cyclic and unpredictable
(D) cyclic and predictable
(E) NOTA
Page 1 of 15
2015
FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
5. Which planet has completed less than one orbit of the Sun in the last 100 years?
(A) Mars
(B) Mercury
(C) Neptune
(D) Uranus
(E) NOTA
6. Compared to the size and density of Earth, the Moon has a
(A) smaller diameter and lower density
(B) smaller diameter and higher density
(C) larger diameter and lower density
(D) larger diameter and higher density
(E) NOTA
7. In the Northern Hemisphere, planetary winds are deflected to the right due to the
(A) Doppler effect
(B) Coriolis effect
(C) tilt of Earth’s axis
(D) uneven heating of Earth’s surface
(E) NOTA
8. Which event is inferred to have contributed to the significant global climate change that may
have caused the mass extinctions of organisms at the end of the Late Cretaceous Epoch?
(A) the Big Bang
(B) an asteroid impact
(C) formation of Pangaea
(D) shifting of Earth’s magnetic poles
(E) NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
9. Which diagram best represents the regions of Earth in sunlight on June 21 and December 21?
[NP indicates the North Pole and the shading represents Earth’s night side. Diagrams are not
drawn to scale.]
(A) diagram 1
(B) diagram 2
(C) diagram 3
(D) diagram 4
(E) NOTA
10. Since Earth has an elliptical orbit, the
(A) distance between the Sun and Earth varies
(B) distance between the Sun and the other focus varies
(C) length of Earth’s major axis varies
(D) length of Earth’s period of revolution varies
(E) NOTA
11. The best evidence of Earth’s rotation is provided by the
(A) shape of Earth’s orbit
(B) shape of the Milky Way galaxy
(C) changes in the total yearly duration of insolation at a location on Earth
(D) apparent changes in the direction of swing of a Foucault pendulum
(E) NOTA
12. The model below shows the apparent path of the Sun as seen by an observer on the first day of
one of the four seasons. This apparent path of the Sun was observed on the first day of
1. Spring
2. Summer
3. Fall
4. Winter
5. NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
13. Which color of visible light has the shortest wavelength?
6. violet
7. green
8. yellow
9. red
10. NOTA
14. Examine the sketch of a bend in a river above. The arrows show the water flow direction. In
which of the four lettered locations will the water be moving at the lowest velocity?
(A) A
(B) B
(C) C
(D) D
(E) NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
The geologic cross section below includes an unconformity and an igneous intrusion.
15. Which two events produced the geologic unconformity in the rock record?
(A) intrusion of magma, followed by contact metamorphism
(B) intrusion of magma, followed by erosion of rock layers
(C) erosion of rock layers, followed by deposition of more sediments
(D) erosion of rock layers, followed by intrusion of magma
(E) NOTA
16. Which cross section best represents the valley shape where a rapidly flowing stream is cutting
into the bedrock in a mountainous area?
(A) cross section 1
(B) cross section 2
(C) cross section 3
(D) cross section 4
(E) NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
17. The natural sandblasting (abrasion) of surface bedrock in a desert region is the result of
(A) wind erosion
(B) wave erosion
(C) mass movement
(D) chemical precipitation
(E) NOTA
18. The minerals talc, muscovite mica, quartz, and olivine are similar because they
(A) have the same hardness
(B) are the same color
(C) contain silicon and oxygen
(D) break along cleavage planes
(E) NOTA
19. Cooler, older, oceanic lithosphere sinks into the mantle at ________.
(A) subduction zones along convergent plate boundaries
(B) transform fault zones along divergent plate boundaries
(C) rift zones along oceanic ridges
(D) sites of long-lived, hot spot volcanism in the ocean basins
(E) NOTA
20. A transform plate boundary is characterized by ________.
(A) two plates colliding and thrusting up a mountain range
(B) two plates moving apart and opening up a new ocean basin
(C) a deep, vertical fault along which two plates slide past one another in opposite
directions
(D) hot spot volcanism
(E) NOTA
21. Which lettered location has the highest elevation?
(A) location A
(B) location B
(C) location C
(D) location D
(E) NOTA
Page 6 of 15
FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
22. Which statement is best supported by Bowen’s Reaction Series?
(A) Most minerals crystallize at the same temperature.
(B) Most felsic minerals usually crystallize before most mafic minerals.
(C) Muscovite mica and quartz are the last minerals to crystallize as magma cools.
(D) Biotite mica is the first mineral to crystallize as magma cools.
(E) NOTA
23. Which processes are most likely to cause a rise in the water table?
(A) runoff and erosion
(B) precipitation and infiltration
(C) deposition and burial
(D) solidification and condensation
(E) NOTA
24. Much of the evidence for the evolution of lifeforms on Earth has been obtained by
(A) studying the life spans of present-day animals
(B) radioactive dating of metamorphic rock
(C) correlating widespread igneous ash deposits
(D) examining fossils preserved in the rock record
(E) NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
25. What kind of fault is illustrated in this figure above?
(A) normal fault
(B) reverse fault
(C) thrust fault
(D) strike-slip fault
(E) NOTA
The diagram below represents a model of Earth’s surface and internal structure. Letters A, B, C, and D
represent four different layers. Some depths below Earth’s surface are shown.
26. Which Earth layer is inferred to be composed of solid nickel and iron?
(A) layer A
(B) layer B
(C) layer C
(D) layer D
(E) NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
27. Which mineral is commonly mined as a source of the element lead (Pb)?
(A) galena
(B) quartz
(C) magnetite
(D) gypsum
(E) NOTA
28. The block diagram above represents a landscape where caverns and sinkholes have gradually
developed over a long period of time. Why did these caverns and sinkholes form?
(A) The bedrock chemically reacted with acidic groundwater.
(B) This type of bedrock contained large amounts of oxygen and silicon.
(C) Glacial deposits altered the shape of the bedrock.
(D) Crustal uplift formed gaps in the bedrock.
(E) NOTA
29. Compared to the oceanic crust, the continental crust is usually
(A) thicker, with a less dense granitic composition
(B) thicker, with a more dense basaltic composition
(C) thinner, with a less dense granitic composition
(D) thinner, with a more dense basaltic composition
(E) NOTA
30. Which agent of erosion is most likely responsible for the deposition of sandbars along ocean
shorelines?
(A) glaciers
(B) mass movement
(C) wave action
(D) wind action
(E) NOTA
31. Which minerals contain the two most abundant elements by mass in Earth’s crust?
(A) fluorite and calcite
(B) magnetite and pyrite
(C) amphibole and quartz
(D) galena and sulfur
(E) NOTA
Page 9 of 15
FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
A graph of tidal sea-level changes at a coastal city is shown below.
32. The number of hours from one high tide to the next high tide is approximately
(A) 4 hours
(B) 8 hours
(C) 12 hours
(D) 24 hours
(E) NOTA
33. A river’s current carries sediments into the ocean. Which sediment size will most likely be deposited in
deeper water farthest from the shore?
(A) pebble
(B) sand
(C) silt
(D) clay
(E) NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
34. The photograph below shows an outcrop where a light-colored, igneous rock is cross cut by a darkcolored, igneous rock. This fine-grained, dark-colored, igneous rock is most likely
(A) rhyolite
(B) diorite
(C) basalt
(D) gabbro
(E) NOTA
35. One major difference between mechanical weathering and chemical weathering is that mechanical
weathering
(A) leaves the composition of the rock unchanged.
(B) causes decomposition of rock through organic acids.
(C) breaks down rock through hydrolysis.
(D) changes rock by the process of oxidation.
(E) NOTA
36. Which soil characteristic allows greater amounts of water retention?
(A) large-size particles
(B) small-size particles
(C) high-density particles
(D) low-density particles
(E) NOTA
37. Paleomagnetic surveys of the Atlantic Ocean indicate that the oceanic crust is
(A) older near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and younger near Africa.
(B) older near North America and younger near Africa.
(C) younger near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and older near North America.
(D) younger near North America and older near Africa.
(E) NOTA
38. What causes most of the waves in the ocean?
(A) Tides
(B) Earthquakes
(C) Wind
(D) Tsunamis
(E) NOTA
39. What is the dewpoint when the dry-bulb temperature is 12°C and the wet-bulb temperature is 7°C?
(A) 1°C
(B) - 5°C
(C) 28°C
(D) 48°C
(E) NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
40. In which atmospheric temperature zone does most precipitation occur?
(A) thermosphere
(B) mesosphere
(C) stratosphere
(D) troposphere
(E) NOTA
41. The map of North America below shows the source region of an air mass forming mostly over
Mexico. This air mass originating over Mexico is classified as
(A) continental polar
(B) continental tropical
(C) maritime polar
(D) maritime tropical
(E) NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
42. Which cross section above best represents how surface winds form by midafternoon near a
shoreline on a hot summer day? [Diagrams are not drawn to scale.]
(A) cross section 1
(B) cross section 2
(C) cross section 3
(D) cross section 4
(E) NOTA
43. The cross section below represents a prevailing wind flow that causes different climates on the
windward and leeward sides of a mountain range. Compared to the temperature and moisture of
the air rising on the windward side, the temperature and moisture of the air descending at the same
altitude on the leeward side will be
(A) warmer and drier
(B) warmer and more moist
(C) cooler and drier
(D) cooler and more moist
(E) NOTA
Page 13 of 15
FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
44. Which two processes lead to cloud formation in rising air?
(A) compressing and cooling
(B) compressing and warming
(C) expanding and cooling
(D) expanding and warming
(E) NOTA
45. If air has a dry-bulb temperature of 2°C and a wet-bulb temperature of –2°C, what is the relative
humidity?
(A) 11%
(B) 20%
(C) 36%
(D) 67%
(E) NOTA
46. Near which two latitudes are most of Earth’s dry climate regions found?
(A) 0° and 60° N
(B) 0° and 30° S
(C) 30° N and 60° N
(D) 30° N and 30° S
(E) NOTA
47. A psychrometer is used to determine which weather variables?
(A) wind speed and wind direction
(B) percentage of cloud cover and cloud height
(C) air pressure
(D) air temperature
(E) NOTA
48. In the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds around the center of a hurricane move
(A) clockwise and inward
(B) clockwise and outward
(C) counterclockwise and inward
(D) counterclockwise and outward
(E) NOTA
49. Equal areas of which surface will absorb the most insolation?
(A) partially melted snowfield
(B) blacktop parking lot
(C) white sand beach
(D) lake surface
(E) NOTA
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FGCU STEM
Middle School Earth &
Space Science Individual
2015
50. Which event is inferred by most scientists to be responsible for a climate change that has recently
led to a decrease in the size of most glaciers?
(A) a decrease in the rate of divergence of lithospheric plates along a mid-ocean ridge
(B) a decrease in the amount of insolation reaching Earth’s surface
(C) an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere
(D) an increase in the amount of vegetative cover in the tropics
(E) NOTA
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