Which is the location where volcanic islands are formed due to hot-spots?
A
B
C
D
Which is the location where subduction occurs, creating a volcanic island arc?
A
B
C
D
Which is the location where new crust is being created because of seafloor spreading?
A
B
C
D
Using the soil triangle above, what are the percentages of sand, silt, and clay at Point U?
Sand - 40% Silt - 40% Clay - 20%
Sand - 50% Silt - 20% Clay - 30%
Sand - 60% Silt - 30% Clay - 10%
Sand - 40% Silt - 30% Clay - 30%
Using the soil triangle above, what are the percentages of sand, silt, and clay at Point V?
Sand - 60% Silt - 30% Clay - 10%
Sand - 40% Silt - 30% Clay - 30%
Sand - 40% Silt - 40% Clay - 20%
Sand - 50% Silt - 20% Clay - 30%
Which soil composition would be the best choice for lining a landfill?
Point V
Point T
Point U
Point W
Most gases are found in this region of the atmosphere.
Mesosphere
Troposphere
Thermosphere
Stratosphere
The beneficial ozone layer is in this region of the atmosphere.
Mesosphere
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Thermosphere
The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are in this region of the atmosphere.
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Which of the lettered choices in the soil profile above represents the region with the greatest concentration of organic material?
A
B
C
D
Which of the following causes the air to rise high into the atmosphere in the areas labeled A, B, and C on the diagram?
The rotation of the Earth shifting the direction of the air upward
Warm, moist air that is less dense than the surrounding air
El Nino circulation patterns
Rain shadows over mountain ridges
The primary cause of Earth’s seasons is the
Constant tilt of Earth’s rotational axis with respect to the plane of its orbit around the sun
Periodic wobbling of Earth on its axis of rotation
Changing distance of Earth from the Sun at different times of the year
Periodic changes in solar energy output
Which latitude shown on the diagram above experiences 24 hours of daylight on December 21?
B
A
C
D
Which of the following is most likely the composition of the soil sample?
Sand - 10% Silt - 40% Clay - 50%
Sand - 30% Silt - 40% Clay - 30%
Sand - 80% Silt - 20% Clay - 20%
Sand - 20% Silt - 10% Clay - 80%
Which of the following properties of the soil sample most influences the flow of water through the sample?
Permeability
Color
Fertility
pH
During an El Nino-Southern Oscillation event, which of the following best describes conditions in the eastern part of the tropical Pacific Ocean (e.g. near Peru and Ecuador)?
Sea Surface Temperature - High Rainfall - High
Sea Surface Temperature - Low Rainfall - High
Sea Surface Temperature - Low Rainfall - Low
Sea Surface Temperature - High Rainfall - Low
The table below refers to the annual anchovy catch and average sea surface temperature off the coast of Peru from 1995 through 2001.
The high sea surface temperature in 1998 was most likely due to
El Nino
Global warming
Pacific Annual Oscillation
Eutrophication
The table below refers to the annual anchovy catch and average sea surface temperature off the coast of Peru from 1995 through 2001.
The low anchovy catch in 1998 was most likely the result of
Reduced surface runoff due to drought
An increase in the population of anchovy predators
Reduced ocean upwelling along the coast
An increase in the number of hurricanes
Which of the following does NOT exert a major influence on Earth’s overall climate?
The annual amount of solar radiation that reaches Earth’s surface
The seasonal development of temperature inversions in geographical basins
The concentrations of specific gases in Earth’s atmosphere
The distribution of land masses and oceans, in combination with Earth’s topography
Which of the following is the correct order of soil particles in order of INCREASING size?
Sand-clay-silt
Clay-silt-sand
Clay-sand-silt
Silt-clay-sand
Most of the Earth’s deserts are at approximately 30° latitude, north and south, because these latitudes are characterized by
Generally warm currents
Slow-moving jet streams
Enhanced solar radiation
Descending dry air currents
Which of the following is the best method for preventing soil erosion near a waterway?
Cover the waterway in concrete
Plant vegetation along the sides of the waterway
Burn the vegetation so only soil remains
Kill all the vegetation using herbicides
Which of the following best describes why understanding a watershed and its boundaries is important in designing housing developments along a river?
Surface water and storm water runoff will drain downstream within the watershed boundaries, so it is important to understand the flow of water through the watershed
Watersheds provide space for cultivating land to produce food and other products, so it is important to avoid locating a housing development on the most fertile land
The water contained in a watershed is more likely to become polluted if the soil has high permeability, so it is important to locate all point sources to reduce contamination
Watersheds provide habitats for hundreds of marine species, so it is important to protect their feeding and nesting sites when designing housing for humans
Which of the following should be included in a watershed map to best determine the non–point source of a pollutant, such as fertilizer, found in a river?
The total area and the average yearly precipitation of the watershed
The total volume of groundwater in the aquifer
The land use upstream of the river and water quality indicators in streams that run downstream into the river
The total volume of surface water of the river and the land use downstream of the river
Which of the following best explains why City B regularly receives less precipitation than City A?
The rain shadow effect causes City B to be drier because the mountain blocks precipitation from reaching the city.
Air that is forced upward on the side of the mountain near City B leads to the formation of stratospheric clouds.
The urban heat island from City B causes a warmer climate that leads to reduced cloud formation.
As air rises up the side of the mountain near City B, the temperature and the relative humidity increase, causing increased precipitation on the other side of the mountain over City A.