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Cycles in Earth Systems
8th Grade Science Systems Assessment
Water moves in a cycle in the Earth’s
system. The diagram below shows the
processes water goes through as it cycles.
Clouds
D
SUN
A
B
Land
Under Ground
Trees
C
Air
1 Describe a subsystem shown in the
Cycles in Earth Systems diagram.
Subsystems are subsets of interrelated parts within a larger
system. The following would be considered subsystems.





Lake
Cloud
Land surface
Trees
Underground
2
What is the source of energy for
all parts of the water cycle?




A.
B.
C.
D.
Sun
Soil
Wind
Ocean
3 Describe one of the processes involved in the water cycle and
indicate whether it is occurring at the place labeled A, B, C or D
on the Cycles in Earth Systems diagram.
A. Description of precipitation
B. Description of transpiration or evaporation
C. Description of evaporation
D. Description of condensation
4 What happens if the temperature of the air
warms in the system shown in the Cycles in
Earth Systems diagram?
 A. More water will soak into the ground.
 B. Water will stop condensing in the clouds.
 C. More water will evaporate from the lake and
surface of the land.
 D. Less water will evaporate from the lake and the
surface of the land.
5 The landscape in the Cycles in Earth Systems diagram does
not show how people change landscapes. People construct
buildings, harvest trees, grow crops, build roads, and much
more. Many of these activities affect the water as it cycles.
 Describe two changes
that people could do
to the landscape in the
Cycles in Earth Systems
diagram, and how that
change would affect
the water as it cycles.
Cloud
s
D
SUN
A
Land
Under
Ground
B
C
Examples
 Planting more forests or trees would cause more water
being stored in the trees.
 Building roads would cause less water to soak into the
ground or water could pick up impurities from cars.
 Building houses would cause less water to soak into the
ground, so there would be more surface runoff.
 Plowing fields and irrigating them would divert water
from flowing into the lake, and increasing salinization.
Clouds
Water dissolves substances, such as minerals and salt, as it passes through the
water cycle. The diagram of the water cycle above labels four types of water (A, B,
C, D). Put the different types of water in order, according to the amount of
Air dissolved substances (least to greatest dissolved substances).
Land
6 Water dissolves substances, such as minerals and salt, as it passes
through the water cycle. The diagram of the water cycle above labels
four types of water (A, B, C, D). Put the different types of water in order,
according to the amount of dissolved substances (least to greatest
dissolved substances).
7




What is the most abundant gas
in the atmosphere?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
8
Which gas in the atmosphere
varies the most?




Oxygen
Nitrogen
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
A.
B.
C.
D.
9 What is the most important factor
that results in the wind blowing?




A.
B.
C.
D.
The Earth’s surface heats unevenly.
Rising air becomes warmer from compression.
Warm air holds more water vapor than cold air.
Air becomes cooler when water vapor
condenses.
10 As a family climbs a mountain, they notice that it is
windier, cloudier, and feels colder the higher they climb.
What could explain why the air feels colder higher on the
mountain?
 A. The air could feel colder because air temperature
decreases the farther the air is above sea level.
 B. The air temperature is actually the same high on the
mountain as it is lower down, but the air would feel colder
because it is windier.
 C. The air temperature is actually the same high on the
mountain as it is lower down, but the air could feel colder
because they are closer to the clouds.
 D. Air temperature would actually increase the higher
they climb because they are getting closer to the sun, but
the air could feel colder because it is windier.