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TEST NAME: Earth in Space Fall 15
TEST ID: 647819
GRADE: 09 ­ 11
SUBJECT: Life and Physical Sciences
TEST CATEGORY: School Assessment
Earth in Space Fall 15
Page 1 of 10
Student: Class:
Date:
1. A new planet is discovered orbiting a single star. The planet has one moon. According to Kepler’s First Law,
what do scientists know about the orbit of the planet around the star?
A.
The orbit is circular with the star at the center of the circle.
B.
The orbit is elliptical with the star at one focus of the ellipse.
C.
The planet takes 12 times longer to orbit the star than the moon takes to orbit the planet.
D.
The planet orbits the star in a direction opposite to the direction of the moon’s orbit of the planet.
13. The breakdown of ozone into oxygen results from the electromagnetic absorption spectrum of ozone. This
production of oxygen in the ozone layer is caused by exposing ozone to a strong source of which type of
electromagnetic radiation?
A.
radio waves
B.
microwaves
C.
infrared light
D.
ultraviolet light
2. The figure shows the path of a planet orbiting the Sun. The three areas shaded in gray have equal areas.
According to Kepler’s Second Law, which conclusion is supported by the data?
A.
The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F are all equal.
B.
The time interval from A to B is twice the interval from E to F.
C.
The time intervals from A to B, C to D, and E to F combine to be equal to one half of a full orbit.
D.
The time intervals from C to D and from E to F combine to be equal to the time interval from A to B.
Earth in Space Fall 15
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28. The diagram shows the difference in sunlight reaching Earth at Points 1 and 2.
Based on the diagram, what is another difference between Points 1 and 2?
A.
Tides will be higher at Point 2 than at Point 1.
B.
The pull from gravity will be greater at Point 2 than at Point 1.
C.
Each day is slightly longer than 24 hours at Point 1 and slightly shorter at Point 2.
D.
The region at Point 1 is experiencing summer while the region at Point 2 is experiencing winter.
3. The oceans cover more of Earth’s surface than land does, and that partially explains why Earth’s surface is
not uniformly heated by the Sun. Which statement accurately explains how oceans and land absorb and
retain the Sun’s energy?
A.
More energy is absorbed and stored by oceans than by land.
B.
More energy is absorbed and stored by land than by oceans.
C.
Although oceans absorb more energy than land, land stores more energy than oceans.
D.
Although land absorbs more energy than oceans, oceans store more energy than land.
4. A blueberry bush uses energy from the Sun to make carbohydrates. Which set of energy transformations
best describe this process?
A.
radiant energy → chemical energy → nuclear energy
B.
radiant energy → nuclear energy → chemical energy
C.
nuclear energy → radiant energy → chemical energy
D.
nuclear energy → chemical energy → radiant energy
5. Which statement best explains an aspect of the differential heating of Earth’s surface by the Sun?
A.
Liquids and solids absorb and store heat differently.
B.
Photons interact differently with solids and liquids.
C.
The atmosphere over the ocean is different than the atmosphere over land.
D.
Photosynthesis in the oceans uses more solar energy than photosynthesis on land.
6. Which fact best supports the importance of sunlight to life on Earth?
A.
Few organisms live in the hottest parts of the Sahara.
B.
Few organisms live in the center of the continent of Antarctica.
C.
Few organisms live in the high peaks of the Himalayas.
D.
Few organisms live in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park.
Earth in Space Fall 15
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7. Mars’ axial tilt is 25.19°. Earth’s axial tilt is 23.5°. What does this most likely indicate about Mars?
A.
Mars has more extreme seasonal changes than Earth.
B.
Mars has less extreme seasonal changes than Earth.
C.
Mars’ year is longer than Earth’s year.
D.
Mars’ year is shorter than Earth’s year.
8. Which is true about the way sunlight changes from winter to summer?
A.
Sunlight travels faster in summer.
B.
Sunlight is more intense in summer.
C.
Sunlight has higher wavelengths in summer.
D.
Sunlight has greater frequencies in summer.
23. Edinburgh, Scotland receives
hours of daylight in the summer and 7 hours of daylight in the winter.
Which best explains the long summer days in Edinburgh?
A.
Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer, so more of the rays of the Sun reach Edinburgh.
B.
Edinburgh is tilted toward the Sun in the summer, so it is exposed to more sunlight.
C.
The rate of rotation of Earth changes as the seasons change, exposing Edinburgh to more sunlight.
D.
The location of Edinburgh near the Arctic Circle results in the city receiving direct sunlight in the summer.
9. In which layer of the Sun does nuclear fusion occur?
A.
core
B.
radiative zone
C.
convection zone
D.
chromosphere
Earth in Space Fall 15
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10. The Sun and other stars are powered by nuclear fusion. Which of these statements correctly describes one
of the processes that occur during nuclear fusion in stars?
A.
hydrogen nuclei combine to become a helium nucleus, absorbing energy.
B.
helium nuclei combine to become a hydrogen nucleus, releasing energy.
C.
hydrogen nuclei combine to become a helium nucleus, releasing energy.
D.
helium nuclei combine to become a hydrogen nucleus, absorbing energy.
11. A student observes the Milky Way galaxy in the night sky. Which characteristic of the galaxy makes it
visible?
A.
The galaxy’s stellar nebulae reflect the Sun’s light.
B.
Billions of stars in the galaxy carry out nuclear fusion.
C.
Tons of compressed matter begin to radiate visible light from the galaxy center.
D.
The galaxy spins at a speed that generates a large amount of molecular friction.
12. Which of the following best describes an interaction between Earth and solar energy that functions to warm
up the planet?
A.
absorption of solar energy by continental land masses
B.
use of solar energy in the process of photosynthesis
C.
reflection of solar energy from polar snowcaps
D.
transformation of solar energy into auroras
27. Earth’s spherical shape results in an uneven distribution of sunlight reaching Earth’s surface.
This uneven distribution is most directly responsible for differences in which climatic variable at different
latitudes on Earth’s surface?
A.
wind speed
B.
temperature
C.
annual rainfall
D.
average humidity
15. What is the primary means through which the Sun warms Earth?
A.
fluctuation of subatomic particles
B.
fluctuation of gravitational fields
C.
transfer of energy through conduction
D.
transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves
Earth in Space Fall 15
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16. Most ultraviolet (UV) rays are deflected or absorbed by the atmosphere, but some of these rays pass easily
through the atmosphere and penetrate Earth’s surface.
Which substance in the atmosphere absorbs most of the ultraviolet rays?
A.
chlorofluorocarbon
B.
ozone
C.
nitrogen
D.
water
17. The fusion reaction that fuels the Sun converts hydrogen into
A.
carbon.
B.
iron.
C.
neon.
D.
helium.
18. A student reads the following statement.
The presence of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere is important to Earth’s ability to support human
life. How would Earth be different without greenhouse gases in its atmosphere?
A.
More heat from solar radiation would escape into space.
B.
More solar radiation would be reflected back into space.
C.
More solar radiation would penetrate Earth’s crust and mantle.
D.
More heat from solar radiation would be stored in Earth’s core.
Earth in Space Fall 15
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19. A direct alignment of bodies in the solar system can occur.
This alignment causes which phenomenon at Point X on Earth?
A.
low tides
B.
full moon
C.
solar eclipse
D.
winter season
20. Regions of Earth experience seasons at different times.
At which position in the orbit of Earth would City X have summer?
A.
1
B.
2
C.
3
D.
4
21. The influence of the Moon on the tides on Earth is greater than that of the Sun. Which best explains this?
A.
The Moon is more similar in composition to Earth than the Sun.
B.
The Moon has a smaller mass than Earth and the Sun.
C.
The Moon has a higher density than the Sun.
D.
The Moon is closer to Earth than the Sun.
Earth in Space Fall 15
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22. An astronomer observes that a planet rotates faster after a meteorite impact. Which is the most likely effect
of this increase in rotation?
A.
Planetary density will decrease.
B.
Planetary years will become longer.
C.
Planetary days will become shorter.
D.
Planetary gravity will become stronger.
24. The diagram represents Earth, showing two cities and the axis of rotation.
The current temperature in City X is higher than in City Y. Based on the diagram, which statement best
explains this temperature difference?
A.
It is winter in City Y.
B.
City X is closer to the Sun.
C.
It is nighttime in City Y.
D.
City X is in the northern hemisphere.
25. During the year, the angle at which the path of the Sun appears in the sky varies. In the Northern
Hemisphere, the path of the Sun appears higher on the horizon during the summer and lower on the horizon
during the winter. Which factor most contributes to the variation in the path of the Sun across the sky?
A.
the rotation of Earth
B.
the tilted axis of Earth
C.
the flattening of Earth at the poles
D.
the elliptical shape of the orbit of Earth
26. India is in the Northern Hemisphere and Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. In June, it is summer in
India and winter in Australia. What is the main reason the seasons are opposite in the two countries?
A.
because Earth is tilted on its axis
B.
because the Sun rotates on its axis
C.
because Earth revolves around the Sun
D.
because of the distance between the countries
Earth in Space Fall 15
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29. Earth travels on an elliptical orbit around the Sun.
When Earth is at the point labeled on the diagram, it moves most quickly in its orbit. Which best explains this
more rapid motion of Earth?
A.
The amount of solar heat reaching Earth is greatest at this point.
B.
The Sun’s gravitational pull on Earth is strongest at this point.
C.
Earth is closest to the Sun’s magnetic field at this point.
D.
Earth is closest to the Sun’s radioactivity at this point.
14. The diagram below gives the names for energy at different wavelengths across the electromagnetic
spectrum.
Energy at which wavelength is most likely to be absorbed by the ozone layer in Earth’s stratosphere?
A.
0.10 nm
B.
250 nm
C.
0.01 cm
D.
95 m
30. A tide is the periodic rise and fall of the surface of the ocean. Several factors combine to cause the tides.
Which has the greatest effect on the height of a tide?
A.
the revolution of Earth around the Sun
B.
the gravitational pull of the Moon
C.
the gravitational pull of the Sun
D.
the tilt of Earth on its axis
Earth in Space Fall 15
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Earth in Space Fall 15
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