1. The graph shows altitude and atmospheric pressure.
Altitude
(feet) Air Pressure
(pounds per square inch)
sea level 14.7
10,000 10.2
20,000 6.4
30,000 4.3
40,000 2.7
50,000 1.6
In which layer of the atmosphere is air pressure the lowest?
(1 point)
Responses
the troposphere
the troposphere
the mesosphere
the mesosphere
the thermosphere
the thermosphere
the stratosphere
the stratosphere
2. Which statement best explains how atmospheric gases affect Earth's average temperature?(1 point)
Responses
The gases cool Earth by allowing most of the Sun's heat to escape into space.
The gases cool Earth by allowing most of the Sun's heat to escape into space.
The gasses warm Earth by allowing all Sun rays to travel to Earth's surface.
The gasses warm Earth by allowing all Sun rays to travel to Earth's surface.
The gasses warm Earth by trapping heat energy in between Earth and Earth's atmospheric layers.
The gasses warm Earth by trapping heat energy in between Earth and Earth's atmospheric layers.
The gasses cool Earth by decreasing the precipitation formed in the atmosphere.
3. In the troposphere, the bottom layer of Earth's air, the temperature changes from 17°C to −51°C, getting colder as you go higher. But in the layer above, called the stratosphere, the temperature goes up to −15°C as you go higher. Why does the temperature increase with altitude in the stratosphere?(1 point)
Responses
Because ozone reflects energy from the Sun.
Because ozone reflects energy from the Sun.
Because meteoroids break apart in this layer.
Because meteoroids break apart in this layer.
Because meteoroids absorb light in this layer.
Because meteoroids absorb light in this layer.
Because ozone absorbs energy from the Sun.
Because ozone absorbs energy from the Sun.
4. A diagram of air movement is shown below.
The picture shows a rock hill with an arrow coming from the left going to the right while curving up which says Warm air and an arrow coming from the right going to the left while curving down which says Cold air
What does this diagram show?
(1 point)
Responses
Sea breeze
Sea breeze
Hurricane
Hurricane
Land breeze
Land breeze
Tornado
5. Which of the following is one of the reasons a sea breeze occurs during the day?(1 point)
Responses
The land warms slower than the water.
The land warms slower than the water.
The land cools faster than the water.
The land cools faster than the water.
The land cools slower than the water.
The land cools slower than the water.
The land warms faster than the water.
6. The diagram shows the layers of Earth’s atmosphere.
Which statement BEST compares the atmospheric layers closest to and farthest from Earth's surface to the other layers of Earth's atmosphere?
(1 point)
Responses
The pressure is lowest in these layers.
The pressure is lowest in these layers.
The pressure is highest in these layers.
The pressure is highest in these layers.
The temperatures are lowest in these layers.
The temperatures are lowest in these layers.
The temperatures are highest in these layers.
7. Which best describes how the Sun causes wind?(1 point)
Responses
Energy from the Sun heats the air unevenly, causing differences in air pressure. Wind occurs when air moves from high to low-pressure areas.
Energy from the Sun heats the air unevenly, causing differences in air pressure. Wind occurs when air moves from high to low-pressure areas.
Energy from the Sun excites air particles in the atmosphere, which move around faster and more randomly, creating wind.
Energy from the Sun excites air particles in the atmosphere, which move around faster and more randomly, creating wind.
Energy from the Sun energizes water particles in the ocean, which move around faster and more randomly, creating wind.
Energy from the Sun energizes water particles in the ocean, which move around faster and more randomly, creating wind.
Energy from the Sun is reflected back toward the Sun by Earth's lands and oceans. Wind occurs as the energy moves from Earth back into space.
Select the best answer that describes what would most likely happen if Earth did not have an atmosphere.(1 point)
Responses
Humans and animals would not survive because the oxygen level would increase, but plants would survive because the carbon dioxide level would remain the same.
Humans and animals would not survive because the oxygen level would increase, but plants would survive because the carbon dioxide level would remain the same.
Humans and animals would survive because they would have more oxygen to breathe, and plants would survive because the carbon dioxide level would increase.
Humans and animals would survive because they would have more oxygen to breathe, and plants would survive because the carbon dioxide level would increase.
Humans and animals would not survive because they would not have oxygen to breathe, and plants would not survive without the carbon dioxide provided by humans and animals.
Humans and animals would not survive because they would not have oxygen to breathe, and plants would not survive without the carbon dioxide provided by humans and animals.
Humans and animals would survive because they would have more oxygen to breathe, and plants would survive because the carbon dioxide level would increase.
Select which option best describes how temperature affects ocean currents.(1 point)
Responses
Surface ocean currents are warmer and less dense than deep ocean currents.
Surface ocean currents are warmer and less dense than deep ocean currents.
Surface ocean currents are cooler and less dense than deep ocean currents.
Surface ocean currents are cooler and less dense than deep ocean currents.
Surface ocean currents are warmer and more dense than deep ocean currents.
Surface ocean currents are warmer and more dense than deep ocean currents.
Surface ocean currents are cooler and more dense than deep ocean currents.
The picture below shows the ocean floor topography. The letters represent certain ocean feature points.
What is the ocean feature at point Y?(1 point)
Responses
midocean ridge
midocean ridge
seamount
seamount
trench
trench
continental slope
Which of the following statements would NOT be accurate regarding the topography map of a section of an ocean if a student draws it?(1 point)
Responses
There are multiple mountain ranges under the sea.
There are multiple mountain ranges under the sea.
Volcanic activity in the oceans produces more pieces of Earth's crust.
Volcanic activity in the oceans produces more pieces of Earth's crust.
Islands in the ocean may be the tops of underwater mountains.
Islands in the ocean may be the tops of underwater mountains.
The deepest ocean trenches contain the most sea life.
For a month, a student observed the tides at a local beach. The student recorded the heights of the high and low tides relative to the average water level. Some of the readings are shown in the table.
Reading Relative Height
of High Tide (m) Relative Height
of Low Tide (m)
1 4.5 -1.3
2 1.1 0.5
3 2.0 0.2
4 3.4 -0.7
Which reading was most likely recorded when the Moon was closest to Earth?
(1 point)
Responses
1
1
3
3
4
4
2
The picture shows how the gravity of the Moon and the Sun impacts Earth.
What is happening at point X in the diagram?
(1 point)
Responses
average sea level
average sea level
low tide
low tide
solar tide
solar tide
high tide
high tide
Which statement best explains how the Moon causes tides?(1 point)
Responses
The force of the Moon's gravity pulls ocean water along a beach or harbor into a high tide for a few hours and then lets it drop to a low tide.
The force of the Moon's gravity pulls ocean water along a beach or harbor into a high tide for a few hours and then lets it drop to a low tide.
The pull of the Moon's gravity causes ocean water to bulge out, and the tidal bulge moves around the world as the Earth rotates and the Moon orbits Earth.
The pull of the Moon's gravity causes ocean water to bulge out, and the tidal bulge moves around the world as the Earth rotates and the Moon orbits Earth.
When the Moon is over an ocean beach or harbor at night, the tide in that place forms a high tide and it creates a low tide when the Moon is not visible during the day.
When the Moon is over an ocean beach or harbor at night, the tide in that place forms a high tide and it creates a low tide when the Moon is not visible during the day.
A full moon causes high tides, a new moon causes low tides, and other phases of the Moon cause tides that rise and fall.
The map illustrates the paths of the main ocean currents around the world.
What is the most accurate description for the cause of surface ocean currents?
(1 point)
Responses
The location of the continents cause the surface ocean currents.
The location of the continents cause the surface ocean currents.
The prevailing winds cause the surface ocean currents.
The prevailing winds cause the surface ocean currents.
The deep ocean currents cause the surface ocean currents.
The deep ocean currents cause the surface ocean currents.
The pull of the moon's gravity cause the ocean currents.
The map illustrates the recorded salinity, which refers to the salt content in the ocean's surface water.
What is the most accurate explanation for the salinity levels in the highlighted area?(1 point)
Responses
The flow of a major river enters the ocean in this region and increases the amount of freshwater.
The flow of a major river enters the ocean in this region and increases the amount of freshwater.
The highlighted regions receive more direct sunlight resulting in higher temperatures and evaporation leaving salt behind.
The highlighted regions receive more direct sunlight resulting in higher temperatures and evaporation leaving salt behind.
The weathering of rocks causes large amounts of salt to enter the ocean in this region.
The weathering of rocks causes large amounts of salt to enter the ocean in this region.
The highlighted regions represent the deepest trenches of Earth's oceans because salt makes the water dense.