Deck 24: Prelude: Welcome to Earth Science

Question 1

Which of the following is MOST true of a scientific law?

A)A scientific law is a possible explanation that can explain a set of data.
B)A scientific law describes a specific relationship or phenomenon.
C)A law is a scientific idea supported by an abundance of evidence.
D)A scientific law explains why a natural phenomenon occurs.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT true of the lithosphere? It

A)is relatively rigid.
B)consists of the crust and uppermost mantle.
C)is the outermost layer of the solid Earth.
D)forms an intact shell around the Earth.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The geosphere includes all of the following EXCEPT

A)mantle.
B)crust.
C)cryosphere.
D)core.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Groundwater is a part of which realm?

A)geosphere
B)hydrosphere
C)biosphere
D)atmosphere

Question 5

The condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere and subsequent transfer to the ocean viaprecipitation is an example of a(n)

A)cycle.
B)system.
C)method.
D)hypothesis

Question 6

Which of the following is MOST true of hypotheses in science?

A)A hypothesis is a possible natural explanation that can explain a set of data.
B)A hypothesis must be delineated before the start of any scientific endeavor.
C)A hypothesis is a scientific idea supported by an abundance of evidence.
D)It is important that hypotheses are proved correct.

Question 7

Which source of energy is MOST likely responsible for heating in the atmosphere?

A)gravity
B)internal energy
C)external energy
D)potential energy

Question 8

Which of the following is a terrestrial planet?

A)Mars
B)Jupiter
C)Saturn
D)Uranus

Question 9

The Earth is _______ years old.

A)4.54 million
B)4.54 billion
C)13.8 billion
D)14.5 billion

Question 10

Glaciers are a part of which realm?

A)geosphere
B)hydrosphere
C)biosphere
D)atmosphere

Question 11

What is the systematic study of natural phenomena based on observation, experimentation, and calculation?

A)philosophy
B)astrology
C)calculus
D)science

Question 12

Which of the following is a process that serves as a methodological approach to scientific inquiry?

A)the elemental method
B)the scientific method
C)hypothesis
D)theory

Question 13

Which source of energy is MOST likely responsible for plate tectonic movements?

A)gravity
B)internal energy
C)external energy
D)potential energy

Question 14

The Universe as we know it originated _________ years ago.

A)4.54 million
B)4.54 billion
C)13.8 billion
D)14.5 billion

Question 15

Which of the following is MOST true of the Jovian planets?

A)Earth is an example of one.
B)They are found closer to the sun.
C)They consist primarily of gas and ice.
D)They have solid surfaces.

Question 16

The movement of materials among different components of a given realm, or among different realms, over time is known as a(n)

A)cycle.
B)system.
C)method.
D)hypothesis.

Question 17

Rivers are in which part of the Earth System?

A)geosphere
B)hydrosphere
C)biosphere
D)atmosphere

Question 18

Which of the following statements is MOST true of a scientific theory?

A)Theory is a scientific word for a hypothesis.
B)A scientific theory is a new idea, yet to be tested.
C)Scientific theories are truths that are too theoretical to be tested directly.
D)A theory is a scientific idea supported by an abundance of evidence.

Question 19

Which of the following is a state of matter in which one would expect the atoms or molecules to move about freely but also to expand or contract as the size of the container changes?

A)solid
B)liquid
C)gas
D)plasma

Question 20

What is the source of external energy to the Earth System in this illustration?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 21

Which of the following resources is MOST renewable?

A)soil
B)aluminum
C)gold
D)trees

Question 22

Which of the following terms refers to whether we can continue to maintain or improve our standard of living without running out of natural resources?

A)renewability
B)sustainability
C)nonrenewability
D)anthropocene

Question 23

Does the Earth System encompass more realms than the geosphere? Explain.

Question 24

Earth Science is a multidisciplinary science. Why is this the case? Describe the principle disciplines that Earth Science encompasses.

Question 25

Explain the concept of geologic time. Why is this concept important to understanding change in the Earth system?

Question 26

Which of the following is LEAST likely to be assessed by an Earth scientist?

A)Tracking of monthly horoscopes using star charts.
B)Mapping locations likely to be inundated by floods.
C)Predicting the weekly weather forecast.
D)Analyzing climate patterns and change.

Question 27

Give an example that illustrates a cycle.

Question 28

How might Earth Science help you decide where to live?

Question 29

Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest for cattle grazing is an example of

A)anthropogenic change.
B)natural change.
C)sustainable change.
D)renewable change.

Question 30

Which of the following newsworthy topics is LEAST related to an aspect of Earth Science?

A)a major earthquake in Turkey
B)the eruption of a volcano in Mexico
C)the collapse of a building in New York
D)a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico