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. Takes approx. seven and a half earth months to revolve around the sun - Takes approx. eight earth months to rotate on its axis - a day on ________ is longer than a year






2. A major determiner of coastal climate






3. Thought to originate in the Kuiper Belt - or associated scattered discs - which lie beyond the orbit of Neptune






4. 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






5. The movement (carrying away or displacement) of solids (sediment - soil - rock - and other particles) - usually by the agents of currents such as wind - water - or ice by downward or down - slope movement in response to gravity






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






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. Seas - gulfs - bays - and other names






9. A huge ball of incandescent gases - Its mass is more than 300000 times that of the earth - Principal constituents are the lightest elements - hydrogen and helium






10. Travels in an orbit that is slightly elliptical (oval) - and so the distance from the sun ranges from 91.5 to 94.5 million miles - Its daily rotation deforms the earth to a flattened spheroid - with a polar radius slightly less than the equatorial ra






11. 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






12. 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






13. Maritime polar (wet - cold air)






14. 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






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






16. Forms over the Tropics and is warm






17. Water returns to the land surface at __________ than where it entered - under the force of gravity or gravity - induced pressures






18. Result from the earth's axis being tilted to its orbital plane - NOT the result of the variation in the earth's distance to the sun (Because of its elliptical orbit - the earth as a whole is slightly warmer when away from the sun; this is because the






19. The strong temperature contrast between polar and tropical air gives rise to the ________






20. Bodies similar to the sun but immensely distant - Closest stars are 4 light - years away






21. Cirrus - Stratus - Cumulonimbus - Altostratus






22. Piled in waves and indicate rain or snow






23. The process in which one type of rock changes into another






24. Large - scale movements of the earth's lithosphere - - The theory encompasses the older concepts of continental drift (first half of 20th century) and seafloor spreading (1960s)






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






26. (or summer time zones) include an offset (typically +1 hour) for daylight saving time






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






28. Bbreaking along flat surfaces






29. 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






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






31. 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






32. Can influence climate by sending tremendous volumes of dust - ash - and smoke into the atmosphere






33. Forms over water and is associated with wet air






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






35. Runoff and groundwater are stored as ________ in lakes






36. Tides may be...






37. Younger beds were originally deposited above older beds






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






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






40. 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






41. 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






42. Formed by sodium chloride






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






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






45. One tidal cycle per day






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






47. The degrees north or south of the equator






48. 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






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






50. When the moon is at first quarter or third quarter - the sun - earth and moon form a 90- degree (right) angle with the earth at the vertex - The combined effect of this alignment of the sun - earth - and moon results in tidal ranges on the earth - Wh