Earth science regents review

What is the approximate percent of oxygen by volume present in Earth's lower atmosphere? (1) 21% (3) 46% (2) 33% (4) 94%

(1) 21%

To an observer in New York State, the duration of daylight increases continuously from (1) March 1 to May 1 (2) June 1 to August 1 (3) September 1 to November 1 (4) December 1 to February 1

(1) March 1 to May 1

A city located on the coast of North America has warmer winters and cooler summers than a city at the same elevation and latitude located near the center of North America. Which statement best explains the difference between the climates of the two cities? (1) Ocean surfaces change temperature more slowly than land surfaces. (2) Warm, moist air rises when it meets cool, dry air. (3) Wind speeds are usually greater over land than over ocean water. (4) Water has a lower specific heat than land.

(1) Ocean surfaces change temperature more slowly than land surfaces

Which star is cooler and less luminous than the Sun? (1) Proxima Centauri (3) Rigel (2) Pollux (4) 40 Eridani B

(1) Proxima Centauri

A plane traveling in a straight line from Watertown to Utica would fly over which landscape region? (1) Tug Hill Plateau (2) Adirondack Mountains (3) St. Lawrence Lowlands (4) Champlain Lowlands

(1) Tug Hill Plateau

What best explains why, in early spring, ice remains longer on Lake Erie than on the surrounding land areas when the air temperature is above freezing? (1) Water has a higher specific heat than land. (2) Energy is needed for water to evaporate. (3) Cool winds from the surrounding land cool the ice on the lake. (4) Air temperature does not affect water temperature.

(1) Water has a higher specific heat than land.

Which change is most likely to occur in a landscape if its climate changes from humid to arid? (1) Wind will become a more important agent of erosion. (2) Surface features will become more rounded. (3) Chemical weathering will increase. (4) Vegetation will increase.

(1) Wind will become a more important agent of erosion.

An increase in the transparency of Earth's atmosphere is often caused by (1) a decrease in cloud cover (2) a decrease in solar radiation (3) an increase in airborne dust particles (4) an increase in the duration of insolation

(1) a decrease in cloud cover

Global warming is most likely occurring due to an increase in (1) carbon dioxide and methane gases in the atmosphere (2) oxygen and nitrogen gases in the atmosphere (3) ultraviolet radiation and x rays reflected from Earth (4) visible light and radio waves reflected from Earth

(1) carbon dioxide and methane gases in the atmosphere

Which radioactive isotope is most often used when determining the age of fossil bones found in sediments deposited during the Holocene Epoch? (1) carbon-14 (3) uranium-238 (2) potassium-40 (4) rubidium-8

(1) carbon-14

Most of the sediment that is compacted and later forms shale bedrock is (1) clay (3) sand (2) silt (4) pebbles

(1) clay

which processes of the water cycle return water vapor directly to the atmosphere?(1) evaporation and transpiration (2) infiltration and capillarity (3) freezing and precipitation (4) water retention and runoff

(1) evaporation and transpiration

cAs Earth travels in its orbit, Earth's axis (1) remains parallel

(1) remains parallel to itself at all Earth positions

What causes many surface winds to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere? (1) rotation of Earth on its axis (2) unequal heating of Earth's surface (3) gravitational force of the Moon (4) gravitational force of the Sun

(1) rotation of Earth on its axis

The curving of the planetary winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere is evidence of (1) the Coriolis effect (2) high- and low-pressure belts (3) Earth's revolution (4) the tilt of Earth's axis

(1) the Coriolis effect

The modern heliocentric model of planetary motion states that the planets travel around (1) the Sun in slightly elliptical orbits (2) the Sun in circular orbits (3) Earth in slightly elliptical orbits (4) Earth in circular orbits

(1) the Sun in slightly elliptical orbits

An earthquake occurs at 12:02 p.m. A seismic station records the first S-wave at 12:19 p.m. Which set of data shows the approximate arrival time of the first P-wave and the distance to the epicenter? (1) 12:11:25 p.m. and 4000 km (3) 12:19:40 p.m. and 4000 km (2) 12:11:25 p.m. and 6000 km (4) 12:19:40 p.m. and 6000 km

(2) 12:11:25 p.m. and 6000 km

What is the approximate minimum stream velocity needed to keep a particle in motion that has a diameter of 10 centimeters? (1) 110 cm/s (3) 325 cm/s (2) 190 cm/s (4) 425 cm/s

(2) 190 cm/s

To a nighttime observer on Earth, how many degrees do the stars appear to move around Polaris in 3 hours? (1) 60° (3) 3° (2) 45° (4) 15°

(2) 45°

What is the approximate density of a mineral with a mass of 262.2 grams that displaces 46 cubic centimeters of water? (1) 1.8 g/cm3 (3) 6.1 g/cm3 (2) 5.7 g/cm3 (4) 12.2 g/cm3

(2) 5.7 g/cm3

3 A high tide occurred at 6:00 a.m. at a beach on Long Island. The next high tide at this same beach would occur at approximately (1) 12:15 p.m. on the same day (2) 6:30 p.m. on the same day (3) 12:45 p.m. on the following day (4) 7:00 a.m. on the following day

(2) 6:30 p.m. on the same day

What is the approximate time difference between the first P-wave and the first S-wave recorded at a seismic station located 8000 kilometers from an earthquake's epicenter? (1) 8 minutes 40 seconds (2) 9 minutes 20 seconds (3) 11 minutes 20 seconds (4) 20 minutes 40 seconds

(2) 9 minutes 20 seconds

El Cuy is a South American city located at 40° south latitude. The first day of winter at this location occurs on June 21. During which month would the coldest day of the year most likely occur at this location? (1) May (3) November (2) July (4) January

(2) July

Which plate tectonic events occurred as the Iapetus Ocean closed? (1) Taconian orogeny and Grenville orogeny (2) Taconian orogeny and Acadian orogeny (3) Alleghenian orogeny and Acadian orogeny (4) Alleghenian orogeny and Grenville orogeny

(2) Taconian orogeny and Acadian orogeny

Which statement best compares the intensity and angle of insolation at noon on March 21 and June 21? (1) The intensity and angle of insolation are greatest on March 21. (2) The intensity and angle of insolation are greatest on June 21. (3) The intensity of insolation is greatest on June 21 and the angle of insolation is greatest on March 21. (4) The intensity of insolation is greatest on March 21 and the angle of insolation is greatest on June 21

(2) The intensity and angle of insolation are greatest on June 21.

Which planet's day (period of rotation) is longer than its year (period of revolution)? (1) Mercury (3) Jupiter (2) Venus (4) Saturn

(2) Venus

Mineral crystals of quartz, biotite mica, and amphibole are produced primarily by the (1) chemical reaction of elements in seawater (2) cooling and solidification of magma (3) deposition of sediments by a glacier (4) metamorphism of bituminous coal

(2) cooling and solidification of magma

`Which geologic event occurred in New York State at about the same time as the extinction of dinosaurs and ammonoids? (1) formation of the Queenstown DeltaWhich geologic event occured in New York State at about the same time as the extinction of dinosaurs and ammonoids? (1) formation of the Queenston Delta (2) deposition of the sands and clays underlying Long Island (3) initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean (4) advance and retreat of the last continental ice sheetvvv(3) initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean (4) advance and retreat of the last continental ice sheet

(2) deposition of the sands and clays underlying Long Island

In which two Earth regions is oxygen the second most abundant element by volume? (1) crust and hydrosphere (2) hydrosphere and troposphere (3) troposphere and core (4) core and crus

(2) hydrosphere and troposphere

Most of the electromagnetic energy radiated from Earth's surface is in the form of (1) ultraviolet rays (3) gamma rays (2) infrared rays (4) x rays

(2) infrared rays

A Foucault pendulum appears to change its direction of swing because Earth (1) is tilted on its axis (2) is spinning on its axis (3) has a curved surface (4) has a density of 5.5 g/cm3

(2) is spinning on its axis

Which two properties are most useful in distinguishing between galena and halite? (1) cleavage and color (2) luster and color (3) hardness and streak (4) streak and cleavage

(2) luster and color

Which information best supports the inference that the universe began with an explosion? (1) measurements of rates of decay using carbon-14 (2) measurements of cosmic background radiation (3) calculations of the distance from the Sun to each asteroid in the asteroid belt (4) calculations of the temperature and luminosity of stars

(2) measurements of cosmic background radiation

Which agent of erosion most likely formed the drumlins and finger lakes in New York State? (1) running water (3) wave action (2) moving ice (4) mass movement

(2) moving ice

Which element, found in both biotite mica and muscovite mica, makes up the greatest percent by volume of Earth's crust? (1) nitrogen (3) potassium (2) oxygen (4) silicon

(2) oxygen

The direction of movement of the major surface ocean currents is most affected by Earth's (1) tilted axis (3) rate of revolution (2) prevailing winds (4) tidal action

(2) prevailing winds

The direction of swing of a Foucault pendulum appears to change due to Earth's (1) revolution (3) spherical shape (2) rotation (4) elliptical orbit

(2) rotation

Which soil characteristic allows greater amounts of water retention? (1) large-size particles (2) small-size particles (3) high-density particles (4) low-density particles

(2) small-size particles

What caused the interior of Earth to separate into layers? (1) a decrease in the rate of rotation of Earth (2) the gravitational pull on materials of varying densities (3) variations in heating by the Sun due to Earth's tilt (4) collisions with meteors and comets

(2) the gravitational pull on materials of varying densities

The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Current modify the climate of northwestern Europe by making the climate (1) warmer and drier (2) warmer and more humid (3) cooler and drier (4) cooler and more humid

(2) warmer and more humid

The arrival time of the first earthquake P-wave at a seismograph station was 10:11:20 (hours:minutes:seconds). If the epicenter of the earthquake is 8000 km away, what was the approximate arrival time of the first S-wave from this earthquake? (1) 10:02:00 (3) 10:20:40 (2) 10:09:20 (4) 10:32:00

(3) 10:20:40

Due to radioactive decay, an igneous rock sample now contains one-fourth of the amount of potassium-40 that it originally contained. The age, in years, of this rock sample is approximately (1) 0.7 109 y (3) 2.6 109 y (2) 1.3 109 y (4) 5.2 109 y

(3) 2.6 109 y

The inferred temperature and pressure of Earth's interior at a depth of 3,000 kilometers are approximately (1) 1000°C and 0.5 million atmospheres (2) 1000°C and 1.0 million atmospheres (3) 5000°C and 1.5 million atmospheres (4) 5000°C and 3.0 million atmospheres

(3) 5000°C and 1.5 million atmospheres

The longest portion of the Genesee River in New York State flows through which landscape region? (1) Erie-Ontario Lowlands (2) Tug Hill Plateau (3) Allegheny Plateau (4) St. Lawrence Lowlands

(3) Allegheny Plateau

The winds shift from southwest to northwest as heavy rains and hail begin to fall in Albany, New York. These changes are most likely caused by the arrival of (1) an mT air mass (3) a cold front (2) a cT air mass (4) a warm front

(3) a cold front

The best evidence that Earth rotates on its axis is the changing (1) phases of the Moon (2) altitude of the noontime Sun from day to day (3) apparent path of a Foucault pendulum (4) velocity of Earth in its orbit

(3) apparent path of a Foucault pendulum

To an observer on Earth, the Sun appears brighter than the star Rigel because the Sun is (1) hotter than Rigel (2) more luminous than Rigel (3) closer than Rigel (4) larger than Rigel

(3) closer than Rigel

A non vesicular rock is made entirely of green 2-millimeter-diameter crystals that have a hardness of 6.5 and show fracture, but not cleavage. The rock is most likely (1) shale (3) dunite (2) phyllite (4) schist

(3) dunite

When did the earliest humans appear on Earth? (1) before the earliest dinosaurs (2) before the earliest flowering plants (3) during the Pleistocene Epoch (4) during the Late Triassic Epoch

(3) during the Pleistocene Epoch

The surface bedrock in the Hudson Highlands consists mostly of (1) diabase, dolostone, and granite (2) slate, siltstone, and basalt (3) gneiss, quartzite, and marble (4) limestone, shale, sandstone, and conglomerate

(3) gneiss, quartzite, and marble

Which type of surface bedrock is most commonly found in New York State's Tug Hill Plateau region? (1) intrusive igneous rock layers (2) extrusive igneous rock layers (3) horizontal sedimentary rock layers (4) faulted metamorphic rock layer

(3) horizontal sedimentary rock layers

A blue shift of the light from a star indicates that the star (1) will soon become a main sequence star (2) will soon become a giant star (3) is moving closer to Earth (4) is moving away from Earth

(3) is moving closer to Earth

A landslide is an example of (1) river deposition (3) mass movement (2) glacial scouring (4) chemical weathering

(3) mass movement

Which mineral will scratch fluorite, galena, and pyroxene? (1) graphite (3) olivine (2) calcite (4) dolomite

(3) olivine

Approximately 2.2 billion years ago, which gas was first added in large amounts to Earth's atmosphere from life-forms that evolved in the oceans? (1) carbon dioxide (3) oxygen (2) water vapor (4) nitrogen

(3) oxygen

What controls the direction of movement of most surface ocean currents? (1) density differences at various ocean depths (2) varying salt content in the ocean (3) prevailing winds (4) seismic activity

(3) prevailing winds

The bedrock of the Adirondack Mountains was formed mainly by the (1) cementation of clastic sediments and precipitates from seawater (2) compaction and recrystallization of volcanic material (3) regional metamorphism of sedimentary and igneous rocks (4) contact metamorphism of unconsolidated gravels

(3) regional metamorphism of sedimentary and igneous rocks

Evidence that Earth revolves around the Sun is provided by the (1) apparent rising and setting of the Sun during one day (2) apparent rising and setting of Polaris during one day (3) seasonal changes in the apparent positions of constellations (4) hourly changes in the apparent direction of the swing of a Foucault pendulum

(3) seasonal changes in the apparent positions of constellations

Why is the surface of Mercury covered with meteor impact craters, while Earth's surface has relatively few craters? (1) Mercury is larger than Earth, so it gets hit with more meteors. (2) Mercury is an older planet, so it has a longer history of meteor impacts. (3) Earth's less dense water surface attracts fewer meteors. (4) Earth's hydrosphere and atmosphere destroyed or buried most meteor impact sites

(4) Earth's hydrosphere and atmosphere destroyed or buried most meteor impact sites

Which sequence of stars is listed in order of increasing luminosity? (1) Spica, Rigel, Deneb, Betelgeuse (2) Polaris, Deneb, 40 Eridani B, Proxima Centauri (3) Barnard's Star, Alpha Centauri, Rigel, Spica (4) Procyon B, Sun, Sirius, Betelgeus

(4) Procyon B, Sun, Sirius, Betelgeus

Which surface feature was produced by crustal movements at a transform plate boundary? (1) East African Rift (3) Tasman Hot Spot (2) Aleutian Trench (4) San Andreas Fault

(4) San Andreas Fault

Which weather variable generally decreases when wind speed is increasing, clouds are thickening, and visibility drops? (1) relative humidity (3) precipitation (2) dewpoint (4) air pressure

(4) air pressure

A river's current carries sediments into the ocean. Which sediment size will most likely be deposited in deeper water farthest from the shore? (1) pebble (3) silt (2) sand (4) clay

(4) clay

Which texture best describes an igneous rock that formed deep underground? (1) glassy (3) fine grained (2) vesicular (4) coarse grained

(4) coarse grained

A ship is at a location of 40° S 77° W. Which type of surface ocean current and tectonic plate boundary are located beneath this ship? (1) warm ocean current and a transform boundary (2) warm ocean current and a convergent boundary (3) cool ocean current and a transform boundary (4) cool ocean current and a convergent boundary

(4) cool ocean current and a convergent boundary

A 65.5-million-year-old impact crater in Mexico provides evidence for the cause of the (1) breakup of Pangaea (2) evolution of the earliest corals (3) Alleghenian orogeny (4) extinction of ammonoids

(4) extinction of ammonoids

Evidence supports the idea that increases in carbon dioxide and methane in Earth's atmosphere are major contributors to global warming. This is based primarily on the fact that carbon dioxide and methane are excellent absorbers of (1) gamma rays (3) visible light (2) microwaves (4) infrared radiation

(4) infrared radiation

In which Earth layer does the pressure reach 3.5 million atmospheres? (1) crust (3) outer core (2) stiffer mantle (4) inner core

(4) inner core

Which geologic event occurred in New York State at the end of the Triassic Period? (1) domelike uplift of the Adirondack region (2) formation of the Catskill delta (3) retreat of the last continental ice (4) intrusion of the Palisades sill

(4) intrusion of the Palisades sill

The fault most likely occurred after (1) all bedrock layers were formed (2) layer C formed, but before layer D formed (3) layer A formed, but before layer B formed (4) layer B formed, but before layer C formed

(4) layer B formed, but before layer C formed

Which rock weathers most rapidly when exposed to acid rain? (1) quartzite (3) basalt (2) granite (4) limestone

(4) limestone

Great amounts of energy are released in the core of a star as lighter elements combine and form heavier elements during the process of (1) compaction (3) radioactive decay (2) condensation (4) nuclear fusion

(4) nuclear fusion

Obsidian's glassy texture indicates that it formed (1) slowly, deep below Earth's surface (2) slowly, on Earth's surface (3) quickly, deep below Earth's surface (4) quickly, on Earth's surface

(4) quickly, on Earth's surface

Which mineral would most likely become rounded at the fastest rate when tumbled along a stream bottom? (1) garnet (3) plagioclase feldspar (2) pyroxene (4) selenite gypsum

(4) selenite gypsum

Scientists infer that most of Earth's earliest atmosphere was produced by (1) a collision with a giant gas cloud (2) capturing gases from a nearby planet (3) vaporizing comets that impacted Earth's surface (4) the escape of gases from Earth's molten surface

(4) the escape of gases from Earth's molten surface

Which two 23.5°-latitude locations are influenced by cool surface ocean currents? (1) the east coast of North America and the west coast of Australia (2) the east coast of Asia and the east coast of North America (3) the west coast of Africa and the east coast of South America (4) the west coast of North America and the west coast of South America

(4) the west coast of North America and the west coast of South America

During which Northern Hemisphere season is Earth closest to the Sun? (1) spring (3) autumn (2) summer (4) winter

(4) winter

2 Which event is cyclic and predictable? (1) a volcano erupting above a subducting tectonic plate (2) an earthquake occurring at the San Andreas Fault (3) Jupiter's apparent movement across the night sky (4) an asteroid striking Earth's surface

3) Jupiter's apparent movement across the night sky

What is the color and type of rock that forms oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges? (1) light colored and igneous (2) light colored and sedimentary (3) dark colored and igneous (4) dark colored and sedimentary

3) dark colored and igneous

seasonal changes on earth are primarily caused by the (1) parallelism of the Sun's axis as the Sun revolves around Earth (2) changes in distance between Earth and the Sun (3) elliptical shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun (4) tilt of Earth's axis as Earth revolves around the Sun

4) tilt of Earth's axis as Earth revolves around the Sun

A paved blacktop parking lot was built on what was once a soil-covered field. This area will now experience increased runoff when rain occurs because the paved parking lot has (1) less capillarity (3) greater infiltration (2) less permeability (4) greater porosity

less permeability