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. Volcanoes are also found in __________ - where the denser oceanic plates are forced under continental plates; this adds massive volumes of water to the mantle - allowing magma to melt more readily and rise to the surface to form volcanoes






2. The North Pole is in the Arctic Ocean - and thus its temperature extremes are buffered by the water - The result is that the South Pole is consistently _______ during the southern winter than the North Pole during the northern winter






3. A major determiner of coastal climate






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






5. Faulting and folding






6. The motive force behind land breezes and sea/lake breezes - also known as on - or off - shore winds - Land absorbs and radiates heat faster than water - but water releases heat over a longer period of time






7. Form when magma or lava cools and solidifies - Depending on the rate of cooling - can contain visible crystals - while others can appear glassy






8. Tends to move slowly and is replenished slowly - and so it can remain in aquifers for thousands of years






9. The degrees north or south of the equator






10. The layers of sediment deposited in a quiet environment - Common sites of deposition are lakes - deltas at the mouths of rivers - beaches and sandbars along the coast - and (most important) the marine environment






11. Continental polar (dry - cold air)






12. 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






13. The variety of ways by which water moves across the land - This includes both surface runoff and channel runoff - As it flows - the water may percolate into the ground - evaporate into the air - become stored in lakes or reservoirs - or be extracted






14. The major mountains tend to occur in __________ - indicating tectonic plate boundaries and activity






15. Less than 1% of the earth; this relatively thin zone (5 to 25 miles) contains the only rocks we can study - even in the deepest mines or drill holes






16. Affected by factors such as weathering and impurities






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






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






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






20. The transformation of water from liquid to gas phases as it moves from the ground or bodies of water into the overlying atmosphere






21. The outermost part of the earth's interior is made up of two layers...






22. 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






23. 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






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






25. Occur when two plates push together - Such faults are strong and relatively deep - Where the strongest earthquakes occur Example: mountain building in the Himalayas and the Andes






26. Under solar conditions - gases are undergoing _____ to heavier elements with the increase of prodigious quantities of energy






27. The best determiner of climate - as it is consistently and directly correlated with temperature - other factors: Rain shadows - as well as water currents - elevation and so forth






28. The sun is not at the center of the disk - but out toward the perimeter - and is revolving around the ________






29. Paleontology: Fossil evidence indicates the similarity of fossils on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean - Continental 'jigsaw puzzle': The outlines of the continents seem to fit together






30. Piled in waves and indicate rain or snow






31. Seas - gulfs - bays - and other names






32. Volcanoes can also form where there is stretching and thinning of the...


33. How much matter is in the object






34. 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






35. Center: 3000


36. Giant masses of solid rock that float upon the earth's mantle - These plates move in relation to one another at one of three types of plate boundaries...






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






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






39. Take up about 1/3 of the earth's land surface - many are formed by rain shadows - Usually have a large diurnal (day) and seasonal temperature range - with high daytime temperatures






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






41. The rising of the earth's ocean surface caused by the tidal forces of the moon and the sun acting on the oceans






42. Tides may be...






43. Somewhat cooler disturbances in the photosphere






44. Common: wind - clouds - rain - snow - fog - dust storms - Less common: natural disasters such as tornadoes - hurricanes - and ice storms






45. Stars with the highest ___________ appear blue - while stars with the lowest surface temperature appear red






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






47. A semi - closed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it - and with a free connection to the open sea - Often associated with high levels of biological diversity - They are made up of brackish water - Often given names






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






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






50. 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