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. Weather occurs primarily due to density (temperature and moisture) differences between one location and another - These differences can occur due to the angle of the sun at any particular spot - which varies by latitude from the tropics






2. Forms over the Tropics and is warm






3. The evaporation of these oceans is how we get most of our __________ - and their temperature determines our climate and wind patterns






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






5. Cause pressure differences - A hot surface heats the air above it and the air expands - lowering the air pressure and its density






6. The spectra of distant objects display a red shift - which is interpreted as meaning that they are rapidly receding from us - This apparent expansion of the universe has given rise to the big bang theory of cosmology - in which one primeval mass expl






7. Some infiltration stays close to the land surface and can seep back into surface - water bodies (and the ocean) as...






8. The difference between levels of ocean water at high and low tides






9. Test the item against materials of known hardness; for example - use your fingernail or the graphite in a pencil to attempt to scratch the items. This process should result in assigning a relative hardness to the unknown items.






10. 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






11. Generally forms deep in the mantle as one type of rock changes into another - Due to intense pressure - can show signs of bending and distortion - Examples: schist - marble - gneiss - and slate






12. Two types of mountains are formed - depending on how the rock reacts to the tectonic forces






13. 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






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






15. After the moon has waxed through crescent - quarter - and gibbous phases - a ________ appears - At that time - the moon rises at sunset - and we see all of its illuminated side - Then the phase wanes gradually to another new moon






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






17. Natural chemical compounds that are the crystals that make up rocks - Each has a specific composition or narrow range of composition






18. The process of chemical or physical breakdown of earth rocks - soils - and their minerals






19. Earth movements - The result of forces within the earth - where temperature and pressure differences lead to instability






20. - The materials left over after the rock breaks down combine with organic material - The mineral content is determined by the parent material; thus - a soil derived from a single rock type can often be deficient in one or more minerals for good ferti






21. Typically the tidal mouths of rivers and are often characterized by _____________ or silt carried in from terrestrial runoff - frequently from offshore






22. Comprised of the crust and the rigid uppermost part of the mantle - broken up into tectonic plates (7 major and many minor) - ride on the asthenosphere






23. Believed to originate at a much greater distance from the Sun - in a cloud (the Oort cloud) consisting of debris left over from the condensation of solar nebula - Comets are thrown from the outer planets or nearby stars - or as a result of collisions






24. There are approx. _____ days between each lunar cycle






25. Huge systems of stars - Milky Way is estimated to have 100 billion stars arranged in a great disk






26. The earth is believed to be about ___ billion years old






27. Oceans cover __ of the earth's surface






28. Distance to closest stars can be calculated by measuring the _________ - a slight shift in apparent position against the background of more distant stars as the earth travels around the sun






29. Due to a combination of differential heating and geometry - hen the sun rises - it is the tops of the mountain peaks which receive first light - and as the day progresses - the mountain slopes take on a greater heat load than the valleys - This resul






30. A small Solar System body that orbits the Sun - When close enough to the sun - exhibits a visible coma (atmosphere) or a tail - both primarily from the effects of solar radiation upon the comet's nucleus - Have a variety of different orbital periods






31. Human civilization has lasted only _____ years






32. 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






33. 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






34. The strength of gravity in our solar system depends on both the masses of the celestial objects and the _______ between them






35. This upslope wind is called a...






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






37. Different visual appearance; when discovered - comets show a perceptible coma while asteroids do not






38. Seas - gulfs - bays - and other names






39. Igneous rock that forms on the earth's surface - Examples obsidian - basalt - and pumice






40. Water transpired from plants and evaporated from the soil






41. Gas giants Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus and Neptune have diameters far larger than Earth's and have far greater masses






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






43. The cold - water current that flows north to south off the _____________ keeps the West Coast fairly cool during the summer - Cold - water currents create cooler temperatures in areas that would otherwise be much warmer






44. Occur along plate boundaries






45. Sun heats water in the oceans - Water evaporates as vapor into the air - Ice and snow can sublimate directly into water vapor...- Over time - the water reenters the ocean - where the water cycle started






46. Somewhat cooler disturbances in the photosphere






47. Used to arrange strata in a standard order - Used to measure the amount of radioactive decay in minerals and calculate the time at which the rock formed






48. Runoff and groundwater are stored as ________ in lakes






49. Takes place when the moon passes between the earth and the sun - with the moon blocking the sunlight for about two minutes - A total ___________ may be seen only from a small zone on the earth






50. Darkens the moon as the earth passes between it and the sun - casting a shadow on the moon - may be seen from anywhere the moon is visible - about half of the earth