CRCT CRCT Practice Practice

AtmosphereAtmosphere

OceanOcean

WindWind

8. When dense, cold air pushes beneath warmer 8. When dense, cold air pushes beneath warmer atmospheric air, the lighter, warmer air rises. As this atmospheric air, the lighter, warmer air rises. As this air rises into the atmosphere, it cools and some of the air rises into the atmosphere, it cools and some of the water vapor in it condenses. water vapor in it condenses.

Which of the following will Which of the following will most likely most likely form as this form as this occurs? occurs?

A. a cloud A. a cloud

B. a rainbow B. a rainbow

C. a sunset C. a sunset

D. a tornado D. a tornado

30. What technology is used to measure the 30. What technology is used to measure the depth of the ocean?depth of the ocean?

A. submarines A. submarines B. radar B. radar C. telescopes C. telescopes D. sonar D. sonar

37. Which natural force creates surface 37. Which natural force creates surface ocean currents?ocean currents?

A. gravity A. gravity B. sunlight B. sunlight C. earthquakes C. earthquakes D. wind D. wind

43. On most ocean shorelines, the water 43. On most ocean shorelines, the water rises slowly and covers the land twice a rises slowly and covers the land twice a day. Then it slowly falls back. What is this day. Then it slowly falls back. What is this movement called?movement called?

A. current A. current B. wave B. wave C. tide C. tide D. drift D. drift

48. The ozone layer of the atmosphere 48. The ozone layer of the atmosphere protects the earth from excessive protects the earth from excessive ultraviolet radiation. Because ozone ultraviolet radiation. Because ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation the ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation the ozone layer islayer is

A. warmer than the layers surrounding it. A. warmer than the layers surrounding it. B. situated at the top of the ionosphere. B. situated at the top of the ionosphere. C. cooler than the layers surrounding it. C. cooler than the layers surrounding it. D. more than 100 km in thickness. D. more than 100 km in thickness.

52. Ocean water differs from freshwater in that it 52. Ocean water differs from freshwater in that it hashas

A. a higher temperature. A. a higher temperature. B. a lower temperature. B. a lower temperature. C. a higher concentration of sodium chloride. C. a higher concentration of sodium chloride. D. a higher concentration of silicon dioxide. D. a higher concentration of silicon dioxide.

The above diagram shows a portion of the structure of The above diagram shows a portion of the structure of Earth's atmosphere. The unidentified layer is theEarth's atmosphere. The unidentified layer is the

A. troposphere. A. troposphere. B. ionosphere. B. ionosphere. C. thermosphere. C. thermosphere. D. exosphere. D. exosphere.

64. When the velocity of a river changes 64. When the velocity of a river changes as it enters a quiet body of water, as it enters a quiet body of water, sediment is deposited and forms asediment is deposited and forms a

A. channel. A. channel. B. slope. B. slope. C. delta. C. delta. D. levee. D. levee.

75. At the seashore late in the afternoon on a hot, 75. At the seashore late in the afternoon on a hot, sunny day, a person often feels a strong breeze sunny day, a person often feels a strong breeze coming in from the ocean. Which of the following is coming in from the ocean. Which of the following is the reason for the breeze?the reason for the breeze?

A. The pounding waves generate air currents. A. The pounding waves generate air currents. B. The warm air over the ocean rushes in to B. The warm air over the ocean rushes in to replace the cool air that rises over the land. replace the cool air that rises over the land. C. The heavy, cool air over the ocean rushes in to C. The heavy, cool air over the ocean rushes in to replace the warm air that rises over the land. replace the warm air that rises over the land. D. There are no clouds to block the wind coming in D. There are no clouds to block the wind coming in from the ocean. from the ocean.

80. Sunlight is not currently used as a major source of energy. Why not?

A. Not enough sunlight reaches Earth to meet A. Not enough sunlight reaches Earth to meet our energy needs. our energy needs. B. Economical ways to capture and store large B. Economical ways to capture and store large amounts of solar energy have not been amounts of solar energy have not been developed. developed. C. Using sunlight for power will keep plants and C. Using sunlight for power will keep plants and animals from getting the energy they need. animals from getting the energy they need. D. Our reserves of gas and oil will last for D. Our reserves of gas and oil will last for several hundred years so there is no need to several hundred years so there is no need to change to solar energy. change to solar energy.

82. An air mass gets its temperature and 82. An air mass gets its temperature and humidity fromhumidity from

A. the land or water over which it forms. A. the land or water over which it forms. B. changes in the upper atmosphere. B. changes in the upper atmosphere. C. the latitude at which it forms. C. the latitude at which it forms. D. the air masses that surround it. D. the air masses that surround it.

85. The jet stream has a great impact on changing weather conditions in an area because it

A. does not change with the seasons. A. does not change with the seasons. B. keeps the atmosphere supplied with B. keeps the atmosphere supplied with moisture. moisture. C. is a determinant of major air C. is a determinant of major air movements. movements. D. speeds up evaporation following D. speeds up evaporation following precipitation. precipitation.

3. Which contains the greatest amount of 3. Which contains the greatest amount of Earth'sEarth's freshwater freshwater??

A. groundwater A. groundwater B. oceans and seas B. oceans and seas C. lakes and rivers C. lakes and rivers D. glaciers and polar ice cap D. glaciers and polar ice cap

11. Life on Earth is protected from the 11. Life on Earth is protected from the Sun's ultraviolet radiation bySun's ultraviolet radiation by

A. the cloud cover. A. the cloud cover. B. dust particles. B. dust particles. C. water vapor. C. water vapor. D. the ozone layer. D. the ozone layer.

19. Most water vapor in the atmosphere 19. Most water vapor in the atmosphere comes fromcomes from

A. evaporation from oceans. A. evaporation from oceans. B. evaporation from soil. B. evaporation from soil. C. transpiration from plants. C. transpiration from plants. D. the burning of fossil fuels. D. the burning of fossil fuels.

21. One way the North Atlantic Ocean is 21. One way the North Atlantic Ocean is different from the South Pacific Ocean is different from the South Pacific Ocean is that the North Atlantic hasthat the North Atlantic has

A. a greater average depth. A. a greater average depth. B. a higher average pressure. B. a higher average pressure. C. a larger average concentration of salt. C. a larger average concentration of salt. D. a lower average temperature. D. a lower average temperature.

25. Nights tend to be cooler than days 25. Nights tend to be cooler than days becausebecause

A. winds blow more strongly at night. A. winds blow more strongly at night. B. the part of Earth in darkness receives less B. the part of Earth in darkness receives less energy. energy. C. cooler air in the upper atmosphere drops C. cooler air in the upper atmosphere drops closer to Earth's surface. closer to Earth's surface. D. water vapor condenses when it is cooled. D. water vapor condenses when it is cooled.

27. Wind results when two air masses 27. Wind results when two air masses collide that have a difference incollide that have a difference in

A. size. A. size. B. pressure. B. pressure. C. latitude. C. latitude. D. altitude. D. altitude.

33. The energy source that powers Earth's 33. The energy source that powers Earth's water cycle iswater cycle is

A. Earth's rotation. A. Earth's rotation. B. heat from the Sun. B. heat from the Sun. C. radiation from Earth's core. C. radiation from Earth's core. D. the Sun's gravity. D. the Sun's gravity.

41. The salts in the sea come from41. The salts in the sea come from

A. weathering and erosion of rocks. A. weathering and erosion of rocks. B. acid rain. B. acid rain. C. particles falling from space. C. particles falling from space. D. organisms that live in the sea. D. organisms that live in the sea.

42. Which term refers to the area at the 42. Which term refers to the area at the seashore that is underwater during high seashore that is underwater during high tide and exposed during low tide?tide and exposed during low tide?

A. intertidal zone A. intertidal zone B. neritic zone B. neritic zone C. open-ocean zone C. open-ocean zone D. mid-ocean zone D. mid-ocean zone

43. Which ocean current moves 43. Which ocean current moves perpendicular to the shore and sometimes perpendicular to the shore and sometimes carries swimmers out to sea?carries swimmers out to sea?

A. rip current A. rip current B. swelling B. swelling C. surface current C. surface current D. longshore current D. longshore current

44. There are three major zones in the 44. There are three major zones in the ocean: the surface, the middle, and the ocean: the surface, the middle, and the ocean floor. Which form of ocean life lives ocean floor. Which form of ocean life lives mainly in the middle zone?mainly in the middle zone?

A. plankton A. plankton B. coral B. coral C. nekton C. nekton D. benthos D. benthos

45. What are the two dominant elements 45. What are the two dominant elements in Earth's atmosphere?in Earth's atmosphere?

A. oxygen and carbon dioxide A. oxygen and carbon dioxide B. hydrogen and helium B. hydrogen and helium C. nitrogen and oxygen C. nitrogen and oxygen D. silicon and hydrogen D. silicon and hydrogen

48. Which are the two most abundant 48. Which are the two most abundant elements dissolved in seawater?elements dissolved in seawater?

A. Ca and Cl A. Ca and Cl B. Na and Mg B. Na and Mg C. Na and Cl C. Na and Cl D. Mg and Ca D. Mg and Ca

50. The phenomenon that causes the 50. The phenomenon that causes the winds to be deflected to the left or right winds to be deflected to the left or right due to Earth's rotation is calleddue to Earth's rotation is called

A. Steno's laws. A. Steno's laws. B. the Coriolis effect. B. the Coriolis effect. C. the nebular hypothesis. C. the nebular hypothesis. D. differentiation. D. differentiation.

71. High spring tides generally result from71. High spring tides generally result from

A. mild earthquake activity. A. mild earthquake activity. B. heavy spring rains. B. heavy spring rains. C. the alignment of Earth, the Moon, and C. the alignment of Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. the Sun. D. thawing polar ice caps. D. thawing polar ice caps.

74. Water in Earth's atmosphere comes 74. Water in Earth's atmosphere comes mainly frommainly from

A. the oceans. A. the oceans. B. tropical rain forests. B. tropical rain forests. C. glaciers. C. glaciers. D. underground rivers. D. underground rivers.

75. The section of a continent that lies just 75. The section of a continent that lies just off the shoreline and extends beneath the off the shoreline and extends beneath the ocean is called the continentalocean is called the continental

A. plain. A. plain. B. shelf. B. shelf. C. basin. C. basin. D. ridge. D. ridge.

76. Which of these is the76. Which of these is the most most important important function of the ocean?function of the ocean?

A. giving off water vapor into the A. giving off water vapor into the atmosphere atmosphere B. supplying people with chemicals B. supplying people with chemicals C. warming up large nearby landmasses C. warming up large nearby landmasses D. generating electricity D. generating electricity

77. Most modern cities obtain their 77. Most modern cities obtain their drinking water fromdrinking water from

A. surface reservoirs. A. surface reservoirs. B. rivers and streams. B. rivers and streams. C. underground reservoirs. C. underground reservoirs. D. desalinated ocean water. D. desalinated ocean water.

78. Which process is78. Which process is most most important to important to the water cycle?  the water cycle?  

A. flooding   A. flooding   B. erosion   B. erosion   C. evaporation   C. evaporation   D. farm irrigation   D. farm irrigation  

79. The ozone layer in Earth's upper atmosphere is important to living organisms because it

A. absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the A. absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Sun. B. breaks down harmful pollutants into normal B. breaks down harmful pollutants into normal atmospheric gases. atmospheric gases. C. supplies the oxygen living organisms require C. supplies the oxygen living organisms require to carry on respiration. to carry on respiration. D. traps heat close to Earth's surface to maintain D. traps heat close to Earth's surface to maintain temperatures necessary for life. temperatures necessary for life.

80. Earth's atmosphere can be divided into four main regions. Listed in order of increasing altitude, the four regions are the

A. thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, A. thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere. and troposphere. B. thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, B. thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and troposphere. and troposphere. C. troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, C. troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, and stratosphere. and stratosphere. D. troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, D. troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. and thermosphere.

81. Most dissolved minerals in the oceans 81. Most dissolved minerals in the oceans come fromcome from

A. precipitation from clouds. A. precipitation from clouds. B. underwater volcanic activity. B. underwater volcanic activity. C. weathering and erosion of rocks found on C. weathering and erosion of rocks found on land. land. D. meteorites and other matter from outer D. meteorites and other matter from outer space. space.

83. What causes the tides in Earth's 83. What causes the tides in Earth's oceans?oceans?

A. gravity due to the Sun and the Moon A. gravity due to the Sun and the Moon B. solar energy from the Sun B. solar energy from the Sun C. Earth's revolution around the Sun C. Earth's revolution around the Sun D. rotation of the Sun D. rotation of the Sun

1. What causes the outside of the windshield of a car to get icy on a cold autumn night when there is no rain?  

A. Moisture comes from inside the car and A. Moisture comes from inside the car and freezes.   freezes.   B. Water vapor from the air freezes on the B. Water vapor from the air freezes on the glass.   glass.   C. Water that is already on the glass freezes. C. Water that is already on the glass freezes.     D. Hydrogen and oxygen in the air combine D. Hydrogen and oxygen in the air combine and form water, and it freezes.   and form water, and it freezes.  

4. During the water cycle, when water 4. During the water cycle, when water vapor changes to liquid water, it is calledvapor changes to liquid water, it is called

A. evaporation. A. evaporation. B. condensation. B. condensation. C. freezing. C. freezing. D. boiling. D. boiling.

5. In order for precipitation to occur on 5. In order for precipitation to occur on Earth, water from oceans, lakes, and Earth, water from oceans, lakes, and rivers mustrivers must

A. condense. A. condense. B. freeze. B. freeze. C. expand. C. expand. D. evaporate. D. evaporate.

12. Many gallons of freshwater pour into the oceans each day. However, the salinity balance is maintained because

A. sea organisms consume the freshwater. A. sea organisms consume the freshwater.

B. the water becomes salty as it enters the B. the water becomes salty as it enters the ocean. ocean. C. water continuously evaporates back out C. water continuously evaporates back out of the ocean. of the ocean. D. salty glacial water is also evaporating D. salty glacial water is also evaporating from the ice caps. from the ice caps.

17. Janet designed an experiment to determine whether the depth of water in a container had an effect on how quickly the water evaporated. In order to carry out her experiment, which variable would Janet need to change?

A. the amount of water in the container A. the amount of water in the container B. the width of the container B. the width of the container C. the location of the container C. the location of the container D. the material the container is made of D. the material the container is made of

21. In the morning, Mary noticed there was dew on the grass. In the afternoon, the grass was dry. What most likely happened to the water?

A. It went into the ground. A. It went into the ground. B. It went into the air. B. It went into the air. C. It formed clouds. C. It formed clouds. D. It no longer exists. D. It no longer exists.

22. Which best represents the order of seafloor features as you move from the shoreline to the deep ocean?

A. continental slope continental shelf continental A. continental slope continental shelf continental rise mid-ocean ridge rise mid-ocean ridge B. continental rise continental shelf mid-ocean B. continental rise continental shelf mid-ocean ridge continental slope ridge continental slope C. continental shelf continental slope continental C. continental shelf continental slope continental rise mid-ocean ridge rise mid-ocean ridge D. mid-ocean ridge continental rise continental D. mid-ocean ridge continental rise continental shelf continental slope shelf continental slope

23. The ozone layer protects us from

A. global warming. A. global warming. B. ultraviolet radiation. B. ultraviolet radiation. C. infrared rays. C. infrared rays. D. harmful chemicals. D. harmful chemicals.

43. Which two physical changes are 43. Which two physical changes are essential processes in the water cycle?  essential processes in the water cycle?  

A. oxidation and reduction   A. oxidation and reduction   B. evaporation and condensation   B. evaporation and condensation   C. mixing and separating   C. mixing and separating   D. ebbing and flowing   D. ebbing and flowing  

44. Which processes are responsible for 44. Which processes are responsible for the distribution of freshwater to inland the distribution of freshwater to inland locations on the continents?locations on the continents?

A. rotation and revolution A. rotation and revolution B. tides and ocean currents B. tides and ocean currents C. solar storms and magnetism C. solar storms and magnetism D. moving air masses and gravity D. moving air masses and gravity

45. What makes seawater different from the water in our homes?

A. Seawater contains dissolved minerals. A. Seawater contains dissolved minerals. B. Seawater is a heavy isotope of freshwater. B. Seawater is a heavy isotope of freshwater. C. Seawater has the chemical formula H2O2. C. Seawater has the chemical formula H2O2. D. Seawater is much older than freshwater. D. Seawater is much older than freshwater.

46. If you could look at the deep ocean floor, which is the best description of what you would see?

A. high mountains and deep valleys A. high mountains and deep valleys B. flat, silt-covered, lifeless regions B. flat, silt-covered, lifeless regions C. coral reefs with many varieties of life C. coral reefs with many varieties of life D. ocean ridges with active volcanoes D. ocean ridges with active volcanoes

48. Cold air is more dense than warm air. When a cold air mass moves into a warm air mass, causing a cold front, the warm air mass is

A. compressed into a smaller mass, as it becomes A. compressed into a smaller mass, as it becomes even warmer. even warmer. B. forced backward, as the approaching cold air B. forced backward, as the approaching cold air replaces it. replaces it. C. wedged upward, where its water vapor condenses. C. wedged upward, where its water vapor condenses. D. squeezed downward, causing clouds and rain. D. squeezed downward, causing clouds and rain.

59. Algae and other producers need lots of sunlight. Most ocean algae would be found in the water —

A. on the abyssal plain A. on the abyssal plain

B. in the oceanic trench B. in the oceanic trench

C. above the continental shelf C. above the continental shelf

D. beside the continental slope D. beside the continental slope

64. 64. Which of the following is a renewable Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?source of energy?

A. Natural gas A. Natural gas

B. Coal B. Coal

C. Oil C. Oil

D. Falling water D. Falling water

65. By increasing the height of smokestacks, industries in the Midwest reduced the local concentration of air pollutants. However, the pollution was carried by wind to the Northeast where it contributed significantly to —

A. reduced rainfall A. reduced rainfall

B. soil erosion B. soil erosion

C. mass wasting C. mass wasting

D. acid rain D. acid rain

69. During which of these phases of the moon will the tides be highest?

A. B. C.

D.

71. At which ocean feature would the greatest amount of water pressure be exerted?

A. Continental shelf A. Continental shelf

B. Continental slope B. Continental slope

C. Abyssal plain C. Abyssal plain

D. Trench D. Trench

79. Which of these will cause the greatest high tides?

A. F.

B. G.

C. H.

D. J.

80. Barrier islands are low and narrow sandy islands that form a rim offshore from a coastline. These islands protect inland shores from the surf, especially during storms. These islands are becoming increasingly developed because people want to live by the open ocean, yet the islands themselves are not permanent. Why aren't the islands permanent?

A. People develop the islands and remove sand during housing A. People develop the islands and remove sand during housing construction. construction.

B. Offshore earthquakes cause the islands to sink below sea B. Offshore earthquakes cause the islands to sink below sea level. level.

C. The wind and the waves are constantly redistributing the C. The wind and the waves are constantly redistributing the sand. sand.

D. Development companies mine the sand for use in inland D. Development companies mine the sand for use in inland construction projects. construction projects.

85. The pictures show different stages in the development of a river valley. Which picture shows the first stage of development?

A.

B.

C.

D.

87. The Earth's surface can change either quickly or slowly. Which of these can happen when rocks and soil in the Earth move suddenly?

A. Landslides A. Landslides

B. Tornadoes B. Tornadoes

C. Hurricanes C. Hurricanes

D. Blizzards D. Blizzards