Test your basic knowledge |

CSET Earth

Subjects : cset, science
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Around a new or full moon - when the sun - moon - and the earth form a line - the tidal forces due to the sun reinforce those of the moon - The tide's range is at a maximum and is called a spring tide (spring as in 'to jump/leap -' not the season)






2. Further caused by the elliptical orbit of the earth - Earth reaches perihelion (the point in its orbit closest to the sun) in January - and it reaches aphelion (farthest point from the sun) in July - Also depend on factors such as proximity to oceans






3. The stress is particularly severe in _________ - which are characterized by volcanism - metamorphism - deformation - and uplift






4. The tendency of a moving object to stay in a straight line or a stationary object to remain in place - Without _______ - a planet would be pulled into the sun






5. Large - dark clouds that indicate thunderstorms






6. The resulting dust layer would act as a shield - blocking out much of the sun's rays - This would result in lower global temperatures and a general _____ of the earth






7. Refers to the long - term weather patterns of a large geographical area and takes into account temperature - humidity - and precipitation






8. Travels around the earth each month - - Distance from the earth averages 237000 miles - Has rugged topography formed billions of years ago by volcanic eruptions and meteorite impacts - Mass is 1/6th that of Earth






9. The runoff produced by melting snow






10. The flow of water underground - in the vadose zone and aquifers - Subsurface water may return to the surface (as a spring or by being pumped) or eventually seep into the oceans






11. At any given time - regardless of season - the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience...






12. Formed from calcium carbonate - also an example of chemical sedimentary rocks - like roock salt - can contain organic or once - living matter and can record the history of that matter's formation in features such as strata - fossil evidence - and rip






13. An individual weighing 200 lbs on Earth would weigh more on a _______________ - Weight is a function of gravity






14. Forms over the Tropics and is warm






15. A land form that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area - with a peak - Usually produced by the movement of lithospheric plates






16. Not all runoff flows into rivers; much of it infiltrates into the ground through...






17. The degrees east or west of the prime meridian through Greenwich - England






18. Occur twice a year - when the tilt of the earth's axis is oriented neither from nor to the sun - causing the sun to be located vertically above a point on the equator - The name derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) - because at the e






19. A ______________ - such as the Mid - Atlantic Ridge - has examples of volcanoes caused by divergent tectonic plates pulling apart






20. Smooth layers of low clouds that indicate a chance of drizzle or snow






21. Classified as warm - water or cold - water currents






22. Water transpired from plants and evaporated from the soil






23. A major determiner of coastal climate






24. Evaporation often implicitly includes ___________ from plants - although together they are specifically referred to as evapotranspiration






25. Characterized by similar temperatures and moisture levels






26. An area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions associated with the plate boundaries surrounding the Pacific Ocean - In a 40000 km horseshoe shape - associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches - volcanic arcs - and volcanic






27. The breakdown of rocks - soils and minerals through direct contact with atmospheric conditions such as heat - water - ice - and pressure






28. The movement of rainwater as it filters through soil and rocks into the ground - becoming groundwater






29. Seas - gulfs - bays - and other names






30. Igneous rock that cools beneath the earth's surface - Examples: plutons - dikes - and batholiths






31. The state change where a solid (ice or snow) changes directly to a gas (water vapor)






32. Largest zone of the planet (68%); crystalline silicates - rich in magnesium - calcium - and iron; very hot and mainly solid - but local melting to magma is the source of volcanic eruptions






33. Occur when two plates pull away from each other - Such faults are generally weak and shallow Example: the Mid - Atlantic Range in the Atlantic Ocean






34. The atmosphere is a __________ - and so small changes to one part of the system can grow to have large effects on the system as a whole - This makes it difficult to accurately predict weather more than a few days in advance






35. 186000 miles/second






36. Maritime polar (wet - cold air)






37. 1 hour of time






38. Officially defined as sustained sea surface temperature anomalies of magnitude greater than 0.5






39. Both gravity and inertia work together to keep planets in orbit around the sun - Inertia makes a planet travel in a straight line






40. The breakdown of rocks - soils and minerals through atmospheric chemicals or biologically produced chemicals (also known as biological weathering)






41. The Pacific Ring of Fire has examples of volcanoes caused by ___________ coming together






42. Can thaw and melt - and the ensuing water flows overland as snowmelt






43. The science of the atmosphere and weather






44. Scientists theorize that massive volcanic eruptions on a global scale contributed to the earth's cooling - resulting in the onset of the...






45. A warm - water current that carries warm water from the Tropics to the Arctic regions of the North Atlantic Ocean - This accounts for higher temperatures and higher humidity on the Eastern Seaboard during the summer






46. Characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the same area - Atlanta tropical cyclone activity is generally enhanced during La Nina - Often follows the El Nino - especially when the latter is strong






47. Traces of ancient life preserved in the strata as shells - footprints - and the like - Soft plant and animal tissues decompose quickly in the presence of decay bacteria - which exist wherever oxygen exists






48. An opening - or rupture - in a planet's surface or crust - which allows hot molten rock - ash - and gases to escape from below the surface - Volcanic activity involving the extrusion of rock tends to form mountains or features like mountains over a p






49. Younger beds were originally deposited above older beds






50. Forms over land and is associated with dry air