Practice Quiz (Earth Science)

Many years ago, farmers and land owners living in the Tennessee and Mississippi river basins lost their homes and crops to flooding.  Levees were built to control the flood waters along these rivers. The first levees were high barriers made from clay and soil and were built in populated areas near water. In recent years these levees have begun to fail, and engineers are looking for ways current technology can help them build more effective levees and help with flood control in areas near water.

Which is the BEST option for the engineers?

• build new levees using concrete

• replace levees with drainage ditches

• build new levees using materials that are better able to contain and absorb the flood waters

• replace the levees with tunnels lined with metal that will transfer rainwater away from populated areas

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4

If more rain falls into a stream during a year than in previous years, how might the stream change? 

• Faster flowing water from upstream will deposit more sediment near the edges of the stream. The stream will appear more narrow.

• Faster flowing water will erode more of the loose soil from the edges and bottom of the stream. The stream will appear to get wider and deeper over the year.

• More water in the stream will weather and break down nearby rocks, causing broken rocks to fall into the stream. The stream will appear more shallow over the year.  

• More water in the stream will lead to larger areas of water freezing in the winter. The frozen water will push along the sides of the stream. The stream will appear to change direction over the year. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Kenneth was creating a book about the formation of different surface features. He drew this diagram to include in his book. Which caption should Kenneth include to describe his diagram?

• Mountains are created by destructive forces when the Earth’s surface splits along a fault. 

• Volcanoes are created by destructive forces when the Earth’s surface splits along a fault. 

• Mountains are created by constructive forces when tectonic plates collide along a fault. 

• Volcanoes are created by constructive forces when layers of lava cool and harden on top of the crust. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which of the following is the BEST argument for how to control beach erosion?

• A sand dune should be constructed because it forms quickly.

• A levee should be constructed because it drains the water away.

• A dam should be constructed because it will hold the water back.

• A jetty should be constructed because it sticks out into the ocean.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

A university installed a seismograph to measure seismic waves of earthquakes and record how long each earthquake lasts. 

Which question is the university MOST LIKELY trying to answer by collecting this data?

• Which type of building materials can withstand shaking during an earthquake?

• How can we stop the earthquake before it happens?

• When will the next earthquake occur?

• Where will the next earthquake occur?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Felix, Elvin, and Eddie are working on a science project. Their focus is controlling flooding using technology. 

Which question would they need to ask to better understand how technologies could predict the impact of flooding?

• What kind of climate change has taken place?

• What has the seismological study data reported?

• What has the satellite and radar image data reported?

• What kinds of flood awareness and education programs are available?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

John made a model to demonstrate how one of Earth’s surface features was created. He packed some damp sand into a small pail. He turned the pail upside down creating a pile of sand on one end of a table. He placed a bucket on a chair at the other end of the table. Then he used a spray bottle to spray a hard stream of water on top of the pile of sand spraying towards the empty bucket. Which of the following explains what John was demonstrating?

• how the constructive force of water creates a delta

• how the destructive force of water creates canyons

• how Earth’s destructive processes create mountains 

• how Earth’s constructive processes create sand dunes 

Large-scale flooding can change the appearance of a landscape over time. A student wants to build a model demonstrating how these changes happen. 

Which model would provide data about how landscape changes are caused by flooding?

• Fill a container with water and slowly drop a mixture of soil, clay, and pebbles into the water. Observe the changes over time as the water evaporates. 

• Fill a container with a mixture of soil, clay, and pebbles. Pour just enough water into the container to moisten the soil mixture. Observe the changes over time as the water evaporates. 

• Fill a container with a mixture of soil, clay, and pebbles. Carve a riverbed through the center of the soil mixture and run a steady stream of water through this channel into a drain. Observe the changes as the water runs through the riverbed. 

• Fill a container with a mixture of soil, clay, and pebbles. Carve a riverbed through the center of the soil mixture and slowly fill this channel with water without draining. Continue pouring water into the channel and observe the changes as the water level rises. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Which model BEST illustrates how chemical weathering changes Earth’s surface?

• place a piece of chalk beside another piece of chalk and rub them together

• place a piece of chalk on the table and smash it with a hammer

• place a piece of chalk in a clear cup and pour vinegar over it

• place a piece of chalk on the table and blow on it

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Lisa was asked to make a model to show how wind can change the Earth’s surface. She was given a flat metal tray, some sand, a ball of clay, and a straw. 

Which of the following describes the BEST way for Lisa to use the materials she was given to show how wind can change the Earth’s surface?

• Lisa should place a pile of sand at one end of the tray. Then she should form the clay into a ball and place it at the other end of the tray. Finally she should use the straw to blow over the top of the clay ball toward the pile of sand.

• Lisa should place a pile of sand at one end of the tray. Then she should form the clay into the shape of a ball and place the ball in the middle of the tray. Finally, she should use the straw to begin blowing the sand in the direction of the clay ball. 

• Lisa should place a pile of sand at one end of the tray. Then she should flatten out the clay into the shape of a pancake and place the clay pancake on top of the pile of sand. Finally she should use the straw to blow sand out from under the clay pancake toward the other side of the pan.

• Linda should place a pile of sand at one end of the tray. Then she should flatten out the clay and place it up against the edge of the pile of sand to form a wall in front of the sand. Finally she should use the straw to blow the sand over the clay toward the opposite end of the tray.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2