Common Terms in Earth and Life Science

What are non-living components of the environment?

• Abiotic

• Biotic

• Ecosystem

• Biodiversity

What is a method of determining the exact age of rocks or fossils?

• Relative Dating

• Absolute Dating

• Carbon Dating

• Stratigraphy

What is a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce?

• Adaptation

• Evolution

• Mutation

• Selection

What is the process by which cells produce energy using oxygen?

• Anaerobic Respiration

• Aerobic Respiration

• Fermentation

• Photosynthesis

What are cold-blooded vertebrates that live both on land and in water?

• Reptiles

• Amphibians

• Fish

• Mammals

What is the layer of gases surrounding Earth?

• Lithosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Atmosphere

• Biosphere

What are organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis?

• Heterotrophs

• Autotrophs

• Carnivores

• Herbivores

What is the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem?

• Biodiversity

• Population

• Community

• Ecosystem

What is the process by which water vapor turns into liquid water?

• Evaporation

• Condensation

• Precipitation

• Transpiration

What is the gradual movement of continents across Earth's surface?

• Plate Tectonics

• Continental Drift

• Seafloor Spreading

• Subduction