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. 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






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






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






4. 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






5. Oceans cover __ of the earth's surface






6. Bbreaking along flat surfaces






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






8. 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






9. 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






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. 186000 miles/second






12. 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






13. Tides may be...






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






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






16. 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






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






18. 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






19. 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






20. Forms south of the Arctic and is cold






21. 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






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






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






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






25. 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






26. 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






27. One tidal cycle per day






28. A natural flow of water - usually freshwater - traveling toward an ocean - a lake - or another stream






29. Occurs at the instant when the sun's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the observer's hemisphere - Depending on the shift of the calendar - the winter solstice occurs some time betw






30. 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






31. Some precipitation falls as ____ and can accumulate as ice caps and glaciers - which can store water for thousands of years






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






33. Ancient astronomers found that eclipses occurred periodically and learned to predict them accurately - Lunar and solar






34. Cirrus - Stratus - Cumulonimbus - Altostratus






35. 1 hour of time






36. 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






37. Human civilization has lasted only _____ years






38. Nearest galaxy - about 20 million light - years away






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






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

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41. Center: 3000

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42. Volcanoes are generally found where ________ are diverging or converging






43. Forms over the Tropics and is warm






44. The lateral movement of the plates is typically at speeds of ___ mm annually






45. 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






46. 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






47. The precipitation that is intercepted by plant foliage and eventually evaporates back to the atmosphere rather than falling to the ground






48. 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






49. 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






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