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






2. 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






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






4. 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






5. 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






6. Human civilization has lasted only _____ years






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






8. Continental polar (dry - cold air)






9. Piled in waves and indicate rain or snow






10. Almost all familiar weather phenomena occur in the __________ (the lower part of the atmosphere)






11. The farther from the tropics you are positioned - the ________ the angle of the sun - This causes those locations to be cooler due to the indirect sunlight






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






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






14. Somewhat cooler disturbances in the photosphere






15. 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)






16. Seas - gulfs - bays - and other names






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






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






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. Water transpired from plants and evaporated from the soil






21. 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






22. The fossiliferous strata record is only the last __% of the earth's history






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






24. Two feldspars (orthoclase and plagioclase) - quartz - olivine - and augite - These five minerals are silicates - built from interlocking silicon and oxygen atoms






25. Seasons are marked by changes in the amount of sunlight - which in turn often cause cycles of dormancy in plants and hibernation in animals - These effects vary with latitude and with proximity to bodies of water






26. Runoff and groundwater are stored as ________ in lakes






27. Spiral - elliptical - and irregular form are speckled throughout the visible universe - Largest telescope has detected galaxies to its limit of several billion light - years






28. 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






29. Texture is important in classifying ______ sedimentary rocks






30. The center of the sun may have a temperature of millions of degrees; the visible surface - the ______ - is about 6000






31. Maritime tropical (wet - warm air)






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






33. Occur along plate boundaries






34. The result of the buildup of once - living things






35. Rising air currents take the vapor up into the atmopshere where cooler temperatures cause it to condense into ____






36. A major determiner of coastal climate






37. 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






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






39. 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






40. 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






41. 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...






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






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






44. 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






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






46. 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






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






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






49. 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






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