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. (in descending order of size) the Pacific Ocean - the Atlantic Ocean - the Indian Ocean - the Southern Ocean and the Arctic Ocean






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






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






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






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






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






7. Comprises one global - interconnected body of salt water often (though generally recognized as several separate oceans) - A continuous body of water with relatively free interchange among its parts






8. 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






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






10. 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)






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






12. 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






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






14. 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






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






16. 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






17. 186000 miles/second






18. 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






19. Large - dark clouds that indicate thunderstorms






20. Forms over the Tropics and is warm






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






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






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






24. Forms over water and is associated with wet air






25. The transformation of water vapor to liquid water droplets in the air - producing clouds and fog






26. Bbreaking along flat surfaces






27. Zero degrees latitude - generally has a tropical climate (warm and wet); at the extreme northern and southern latitudes (polar regions) - the climate is very cold and dry






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






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






30. 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






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






32. 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






33. 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






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






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






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






37. Faulting and folding






38. Occur along plate boundaries






39. On maps - the characteristics of an air mass are represented by two letters: The lowercase letter represents ________ - and the uppercase letter represents temperature






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






41. Some water infiltrates deep into the ground and replenishes ________ - which store huge amounts of freshwater for long periods of time






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






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






44. Some groundwater finds openings in the land surface and emerges as...






45. Improved land - use practices can limit erosion by using techniques such as...






46. Sedimentary rocks containing large fragments of other rock material - e.g. Sandstone






47. The degrees north or south of the equator






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






49. Featherlike clouds that indicate fair weather






50. Hotspot volcanoes are also found elsewhere in the Solar System - especially on...