Download Document

CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 1 of 20
Study Guide: Found
on http://www.in.nesinc.com/Content/STUDYGUIDE/IN_SG_SRI_044.htm
(Links to an external site.)
1. A climatologist analyzes historical data and hypothesizes that
the dramatic reduction in the extent of sea ice in the Arctic
compared with the long-term average is increasing the
frequency of large dips in the jet stream during the summer
and fall. These dips in the jet stream often bring contrasting air
masses in contact, which can be a factor in the development of
extreme weather events. Other scientists strongly criticize the
climatologist's hypothesis, stating that dips in the jet stream
are common and the increased incidence of extreme weather is
just due to chance. Which of the following additional types of
information would provide the strongest support for the
climatologist's hypothesis?
A. current evidence showing that when the jet stream flow
dips southward or northward, extreme weather events are
more likely to occur
B. results from a climate modeling study showing that
changes in average temperatures and the extent of sea ice
in the Arctic could affect the flow of the jet stream
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 2 of 20
C. a hypothesis describing a possible mechanism that
connects seasonal changes in sea ice to changes in the
flow of the jet stream
D. evidence that shows a consistent correlation between
periods of low sea ice and an increased frequency in the
development of large dips in the jet stream's flow
2. Which of the following characteristics is shared by both good
electrical conductors and good heat conductors?
A. free movement of electric charges between adjacent
atoms
B. close packing of electron shells surrounding the atomic
nuclei
C. net positive electric charge that promotes the flow of
electrons
D. covalent bonds that share electrons between adjacent
atoms
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 3 of 20
3. An important feature of Big Bang cosmology that is supported
by observational astronomy is that the universe:
A. is increasing its total mass over time.
B. contains a great deal of dark matter.
C. formed from an earlier collapsed universe.
D. is expanding at an accelerating rate.
4. Pulsars are stars that give off precisely spaced bursts of
radiation. Which of the following is responsible for this
phenomenon?
A. The strong magnetic field of a neutron star causes it to
emit radiation in two narrow beams that sweep by Earth
as the star spins.
B. The presence of a neutron star orbiting very close to the
pulsar causes a recurring increase in the pulsar's energy
output.
C. The buildup and collapse of a neutron star's magnetic field
repels and attracts ionized gases on the star's surface.
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 4 of 20
E. The low mass of a pulsar produces alternating cycles of
nuclear fusion and chemical burning that release different
amounts of energy.
5. The differences between Earth's atmosphere and the
atmospheres of the other terrestrial planets are primarily due
to:
A. Earth's axial tilt and its surface reflectivity.
B. the elliptical shape and velocity of Earth's orbit.
C. Earth's size and its distance from the sun.
D. the strength and orientation of Earth's magnetic field.
6. Use the information below to answer the question that follows.
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 5 of 20
The refraction of seismic waves as they travel from the location of
an earthquake through Earth's interior creates a P-wave shadow
zone, as shown in the diagram. The existence of the P-wave shadow
zone primarily provides evidence for which of the following?
A. convection currents in the lower mantle
B. a liquid outer core
C. plastic flow in the upper mantle
D. a solid inner core
6. Index fossils are important diagnostic tools for relative dating
and correlating geologic strata. Which of the following
characteristics of an extinct species would make it a useful
index fossil?
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 6 of 20
A. slow evolutionary development in a unique but stable
environmental setting
B. a long period of minimal evolutionary change in a variety
of different habitats
C. wide geographic distribution over a relatively short period
of geologic time
D. a specialized adaptation to a specific ecosystem during a
particular geologic era
7. Which of the following is a property of quartz that is a major
cause for its predominance in river sands and other noncoastal
inland settings?
A. low melting point
B. high tendency to fracture
C. high specific gravity
D. low chemical reactivity
9. Use the information below to answer the question that follows.
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 7 of 20
The generalized bedrock geologic map of Indiana shows that over
the southern half of the state the youngest rocks are exposed to the
west while the bedrock becomes increasingly older toward the east.
Which of the following best describes the cause of this geographic
trend in the age of bedrock deposits?
A. Bedrock in the west was more resistant to erosion.
B. Eastern areas were more heavily eroded by glaciers.
C. Bedrock strata are tilted downward toward the west.
D. Western strata have been thrust over eastern strata.
10. If current climate trends continue, the average global
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 8 of 20
temperature of the troposphere is expected to increase significantly
in the coming decades. Under this type of warming scenario, which
of the following changes in the carbon cycle will trigger the most
significant positive feedback, further increasing the temperature of
the troposphere?
A. Warming of the ocean surface will increase the biological
productivity of marine phytoplankton in high-latitude
regions.
B. Melting of permafrost in arctic regions will increase the
biological breakdown of previously frozen organic matter.
C. Lessening of the temperature gradient between low and high
latitudes will spread vegetation into previously barren
regions.
D. Warming of the deep ocean will cause the breakdown of
methane clathrates buried in the sediments of the ocean
floor.
11. A camper in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 10,000
feet is boiling water for cooking pasta. Which of the following best
describes why the pasta will not cook at the same rate at this
elevation as at a lower elevation?
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 9 of 20
A. The lower molecular mass of atmospheric gases increases the
boiling point of water.
B. The kinetic energy of water molecules is reduced relative to
the kinetic energy of air molecules.
C. The equilibrium vapor pressure of water is directly related to
the atmospheric pressure.
D. The condensation rate of water vapor increases as the
density of atmospheric gases decreases.
12. Use the information below to answer the question that follows.
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 10 of 20
In the geologic cross section shown, four wells have been drilled into
two aquifers separated by an aquitard. Water can only enter from
the bottom of the wells. Given the location of the wells and the
hydrogeologic conditions, which of the wells is most likely a freeflowing artesian well?
A. Well A
B. Well B
C. Well C
D. Well D
13. Which of the following best describes how most of the harmful
high-frequency ultraviolet radiation from the sun is blocked by the
atmosphere before it reaches Earth's surface?
A. The lower troposphere contains particulates that reflect ultraviolet
radiation.
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 11 of 20
B. The thermosphere contains electrically charged particles that
deflect ultraviolet radiation.
C. The upper troposphere contains water droplets that refract
ultraviolet radiation.
D. The stratosphere contains a layer of concentrated ozone that
absorbs ultraviolet radiation.
14. Many of Earth's driest climate regions are located within several
degrees of 30° north and south latitude. The very low annual
average precipitation near this latitude of the subtropics primarily
results from:
A. heating of the ground surface by solar energy.
B. sinking of cool and dry air aloft that creates high pressure.
C. removal of moist air masses by the trade winds.
D. drying out of air masses as they rise into the cold air aloft.
15. As part of the Earth and space science curriculum, a science
teacher is planning to have weekly discussions on policy issues
associated with content being covered in class. The teacher plans to
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 12 of 20
initiate the activity by writing several open-ended questions on the
board and asking students to respond to the questions with answers,
comments, or additional questions. Which of the following strategies
would most effectively help those students who are uncomfortable
speaking in public benefit from this activity?
A. breaking the class into small discussion groups that elect a
spokesperson to present their ideas or responses
B. having students respond as part of the discussion activity through
exit slips, online forums, or interactive journals
C. designating two different students each week to lead the
discussion as part of a class participation requirement
D. requiring students to write an essay after the discussion to
evaluate their understanding of the questions and related content
ANSWER KEY:
1. Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
formulation of testable hypotheses and the principles and procedures
for designing and conducting scientific investigations. Since climate is a
highly complex system, the specific mechanisms responsible for a
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 13 of 20
change in the climate system are often not determined. Correlations that
show a consistent relationship between one part of the climate system
(e.g., Arctic sea ice) and another (e.g., fluctuations in the path of the jet
stream), however, are considered valuable evidence for determining how
different parts of the climate system interact. For this reason, if a
climatologist demonstrates that a correlation exists between sea-ice
extent and the frequency of dips in the jet stream over many years, it
provides strong evidence supporting the relationship between these two
phenomena.
2. Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
basic concepts and major principles of physical science. It is not a
coincidence that certain materials, such as silver and copper, which are
good conductors of electricity, are also good conductors of heat.
Metallic bonding is responsible for the conductive nature of these
materials. These types of conductive metals are made up of a lattice of
metal atoms whose outer shell electrons are free to move throughout
the lattice. The conduction of heat in conductive metals occurs through
the transfer of kinetic energy from collisions between adjacent atoms
and as a result of the collisions between delocalized electrons.
3. Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
Big Bang theory of the universe's origin, evidence supporting the Big
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 14 of 20
Bang theory, the scale and evolution of the universe, and Hubble's law.
The Big Bang theory states that the universe began with a massive
release of energy that initiated the expansion of space and the
formation of matter. Using spectral analysis of extremely distant objects
in the universe, astronomers have shown that the expansion of the
universe that began with the Big Bang has continued and that the rate
of expansion is accelerating.
4. Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, characteristics and life cycles of different
types of stars, and the nucleosynthesis of elements. Pulsars are spinning
neutron stars that produce beams of radiation that hit Earth in precisely
spaced pulses each time the star spins. The strong magnetic field of a
pulsar causes emitted radiation to be in two narrow zones aligned with
the star's magnetic field. As the star spins, these beams of radiation
sweep over Earth at regular intervals, making the star's emitted energy
appear to pulsate.
5. Correct Response: C.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
nebular theory of the solar system's origin. The four terrestrial planets
have very different surfaces, interiors, and atmospheres. Astronomers
theorize that these differences are a result of the terrestrial planets'
different sizes (and consequently their different masses) and the distance
they are from the sun. These variables in turn control the factors that
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 15 of 20
created the different atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars or, as in
the case of Mercury, left it with no atmosphere. The mass and size of a
planet affects its internal temperature and thus the amount of tectonic
and volcanic activity—a major source of atmospheric gases. A planet's
size and mass also affect a planets' ability to retain gases by
gravitational attraction. Distance from the sun affects the amount of
solar energy reaching the terrestrial planets and this affects the presence
and state of water and other gases in their atmospheres. The presence
of liquid water on Earth, for example, appears to be responsible for
removing some carbon dioxide from the Earth's early atmosphere and
supporting the development of photosynthetic organisms—the primary
source of oxygen in Earth's unique atmosphere.
6. Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of
Earth's internal structure and the properties and physical and chemical
characteristics of Earth's layered interior. The P-wave shadow zone exists
because as P-waves cross the boundary between the lower mantle and
outer core, they are refracted due to the change in viscosity at the
interface between these two layers. The behavior of P-waves at the
interface indicates that the outer core is liquid. The fact that S-waves are
not able to pass through the outer core also indicates that this layer is
liquid.
7. Correct Response: C.
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 16 of 20
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
principles and applications of radiometric dating, relative dating, and
stratigraphy. Index fossils are so named because they are useful for
establishing the relative age of the geologic deposits in which they are
found. An index fossil differs from other fossils in that the species of
organism from which the fossil formed existed for a relatively short
period of geologic time (i.e., a few hundreds of thousands of years) and
had a wide geographic extent. These attributes mean that sedimentary
rock strata containing a particular index fossil can be correlated to
sedimentary rock strata in other parts of the world that contain the
same index fossil. In this way, sedimentary rock strata that are part of
well-dated geologic sequences can be used to establish the relative age
of other geologic deposits containing the index fossil.
8. Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
characteristics, identification, and composition of rocks and minerals,
including the rocks and minerals of Indiana. Quartz (SiO2) is composed
of one silicon atom and two oxygen atoms. Quartz has a threedimensional framework in which oxygen is completely shared by
adjacent silicon atoms. This means that all the bonds in quartz are of
the strong silicon-oxygen type, giving quartz its low chemical reactivity,
resistance to chemical weathering, and hardness.
9. Correct Response: C.
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 17 of 20
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of
weathering, erosion, and deposition. The generalized bedrock geologic
map of Indiana shows that the oldest strata are located in the
easternmost part of the state, while the age of bedrock deposits
becomes increasingly younger toward the west. Since the bedrock strata
of Indiana have not been overturned, older strata are on the bottom
with increasingly younger strata toward the top. The bedrock strata are
tilted toward the west and as erosion leveled the region, the younger
layers that were on the top in the eastern part of the state were eroded
away, leaving older strata exposed in the eastern part of the state and
increasingly younger strata toward the west.
10. Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
physical and chemical processes of the carbon cycle and its relationship
to human activities, the climate system, and ocean chemistry. The
melting of permafrost in arctic regions will increase the breakdown of
organic matter in the permafrost layer that has been frozen for
thousands of years. As this organic material is broken down by
microbes, methane is generated. This is a natural process in the Arctic,
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 18 of 20
but melting of the permafrost greatly increases both the rate at which
the process occurs and the amount of biomass available for
decomposition. Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas and so
its increased release into the atmosphere is expected to increase the
temperature of the atmosphere, which in turn will cause more
permafrost to melt and more methane to be released in a classic
positive feedback loop.
11. Correct Response: C.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
physical and chemical properties of water. The boiling point of water is
the temperature at which the water's equilibrium vapor pressure equals
the surrounding atmospheric pressure. Since the average atmospheric
pressure decreases with increased elevation, less energy input is needed
to reach water's equilibrium vapor pressure at an elevation of 10,000
feet. This means that water boiling in an open container high in the
Rocky Mountains will not be as hot as it would be at sea level, requiring
additional cooking time for foods like pasta.
12. Correct Response: C.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of
groundwater aquifers, watersheds, and groundwater flow processes. A
well drilled into an aquifer will be a free-flowing artesian well if the
water table surface is above the top of the well. In the geologic cross
section, only Well C has been drilled in a location such that the top of
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 19 of 20
the well is below the water table surface of the aquifer from which it is
drawing water (i.e., the lower aquifer in the cross section). Since water
enters the wells at the bottom, only Well C draws water from the lower
aquifer and has its top below the water table surface of that aquifer.
13. Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
structure, composition, and properties of the atmosphere's different
layers. The ozone layer in the stratosphere is composed of a region of
relatively concentrated ozone (O3) molecules that absorb ultraviolet
radiation with wavelengths between approximately 200 to 310
nanometers—the UV-B range. Aside from damaging plants and causing
sunburn, this type of ultraviolet radiation can cause genetic mutations
and skin cancer.
14. Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the
global climate system, changes in climate over geologic time, and recent
climate change. The low-precipitation regions that typify land areas at
approximately 30º north and south are known as subtropical highpressure ridges. These two belts of high pressure are formed when air at
the equator rises and then flows north and south until it eventually sinks
back toward the surface in a circulation pattern known as a Hadley Cell.
As the air rises at the equator, it loses some of its moisture in the form
of equatorial precipitation. The subsidence of this now relatively dry air
CORE Secondary Education Earth/Space
Science Practice
Page 20 of 20
at approximately 30° north and south latitudes causes it to warm
adiabatically, creating land areas with hot dry conditions.
15. Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of
strategies and skills for planning and designing science instruction,
including the use of techniques and approaches that meet the needs of
diverse learners. In the activity described a teacher wants to encourage
students to share comments, ideas, and questions relevant to the policy
issues that relate to Earth and space science content. A good way to
elicit this kind of interactive communication with students in general, but
especially students who are shy speaking in public, is to have the
students use exit slips, interactive journals, or online forums to
communicate about the topics under discussion.