Multiple-Choice Exercise From the New York State Education Department. Regents High School Examination. Internet. Available from http://www.nysedregents.org; accessed January 22, 2012.; All rights reserved. No commercial, for-profit use of this material is allowed. E-mail comments and questions to Tami Maloney.
Choose the correct answer for each question.
Which object is closest to Earth?
the Sun
Venus
the Moon
Mars
The diagram below shows an observer on Earth measuring the altitude of Polaris.
What is the latitude of this observer?
90° N
66.5° N
43° N
23.5° N
What is the minimum water velocity needed in a stream to maintain the transportation of the smallest boulder?
100 cm/sec
200 cm/sec
300 cm/sec
500 cm/sec
Earth’s early atmosphere formed during the Early Archean Era. Which gas was generally absent from the atmosphere at that time?
water vapor
carbon dioxide
nitrogen
oxygen
The diagram below shows the Moon orbiting Earth, as viewed from space above Earth’s North Pole. The Moon is shown at eight positions in its orbit.
Spring ocean tides occur when the difference in height between high tide and low tide is greatest. At which two positions of the Moon will spring tides occur on Earth?
1 and 5
2 and 6
3 and 7
4 and 8
Compared to other groups of stars, the group that has relatively low luminosities and relatively low temperatures is the
Red Dwarfs
White Dwarfs
Red Giants
Blue Supergiants
Which sequence correctly lists the relative sizes from smallest to largest?
our solar system, universe, Milky Way Galaxy
our solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, universe
Milky Way Galaxy, our solar system, universe
Milky Way Galaxy, universe, our solar system
The diagram below represents a swinging Foucault pendulum.
This pendulum will show an apparent change in the direction of its swing due to Earth’s
curved surface
tilted axis
rotation
rotation
The diagram below shows the altitude of the Sun at solar noon on March 21, as seen by an observer at 42° N latitude.
Compared to the altitude of the Sun observed at solar noon on March 21, the altitude of the Sun observed at solar noon on June 21 will be
15° higher in the sky
23.5° higher in the sky
42° higher in the sky
48° higher in the sky
The diagram below shows Earth’s orbit around the Sun and different positions of the Moon as it travels around Earth. Letters A through D represent four different positions of the Moon.
An eclipse of the Moon is most likely to occur when the Moon is at position
A
B
C
D
In the Northern Hemisphere, planetary winds blowing from north to south are deflected, or curved, toward the west. This deflection is caused by the
unequal heating of land and water surfaces
movement of low-pressure weather systems
orbiting of Earth around the Sun
spinning of Earth on its axis
The table below shows air-pressure readings taken at two cities, in the same region of the United States, at noon on four different days.
The wind speed in the region between cities A and B was probably the greatest at noon on day
1
2
3
4
If the base of a cloud is located at an altitude of 2 kilometers and the top of the cloud is located at an altitude of 8 kilometers, this cloud is located in the
troposphere, only
stratosphere, only
troposphere and stratosphere
stratosphere and mesosphere
On a day with no wind, the air temperature outside a house is 10°C. The air temperature inside the house is 18°C. Which diagram best represents the air circulation pattern that is most likely to occur when a window of the house is first opened?
Most of the Gulf Stream Ocean Current is
warm water that flows southwestward
warm water that flows northeastward
cool water that flows southwestward
cool water that flows northeastward
Which event is the best example of erosion?
breaking apart of shale as a result of water freezing in a crack
dissolving of rock particles on a limestone gravestone by acid rain
rolling of a pebble along the bottom of a stream
crumbling of bedrock in one area to form soil
Which graph best shows the relationship between the concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere and the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the atmosphere?
The diagram below represents the direction of Earth’s rotation as it appears from above the North Pole. Point X is a location on Earth’s surface.
The time at point X is closest to
6 a.m.
12 noon
6 p.m.
12 midnight
Snowfall is rare at the South Pole because the air over the South Pole is usually
rising and moist
rising and dry
sinking and moist
sinking and dry
The four streams shown on the topographic maps below have the same volume between X and Y. The distance from X to Y is also the same. All the maps are drawn to the same scale and have the same contour interval. Which map shows the stream with the greatest velocity between points X and Y?
A student obtains a cup of quartz sand from a beach. A saltwater solution is poured into the sand and allowed to evaporate. The mineral residue from the saltwater solution cements the sand grains together, forming a material that is most similar in origin to
an extrusive igneous rock
an intrusive igneous rock
a clastic sedimentary rock
a foliated metamorphic rock
Which coastal area is most likely to experience a severe earthquake?
east coast of North America
east coast of Australia
west coast of Africa
west coast of South America
Which characteristic is most useful in correlating Devonian-age sedimentary bedrock in New York State with Devonian-age sedimentary bedrock in other parts of the world?
color
index fossils
rock types
particle size
A seismic station 4000 kilometers from the epicenter of an earthquake records the arrival time of the first P-wave at 10:00:00. At what time did the first S-wave arrive at this station?
9:55:00
10:05:40
10:07:05
10:12:40
Which statement correctly describes the density of Earth’s mantle compared to the density of Earth’s core and crust?
The mantle is less dense than the core but more dense than the crust.
The mantle is less dense than both the core and the crust.
The mantle is more dense than the core but less dense than the crust.
The mantle is more dense than both the core and the crust.
Convection currents in the plastic mantle are believed to cause divergence of lithospheric plates at the
Peru-Chile Trench
Mariana Trench
Canary Islands Hot Spot
Iceland Hot Spot
According to fossil evidence, which sequence shows the order in which these four life-forms first appeared on Earth?
reptiles → amphibians → insects → fish
insects → fish → reptiles → amphibians
amphibians → reptiles → fish → insects
fish → insects → amphibians → reptiles
The fossil below was found in surface bedrock in the eastern United States.
Which statement best describes the formation of the rock containing this fossil?
The rock was formed by the metamorphism of sedimentary rock deposited in a terrestrial environment during the Cretaceous Period.
The rock was formed by the compaction and cementation of sediments deposited in a terrestrial environment during the Triassic Period.
The rock was formed by the compaction and cementation of sediments deposited in a marine environment during the Cambrian Period.
The rock was formed from the solidification of magma in a marine environment during the Triassic Period.
The diagram below shows an index fossil found in surface bedrock in some parts of New York State.
In which New York State landscape region is this gastropod fossil most likely found in the surface bedrock?
Tug Hill Plateau
Allegheny Plateau
Adirondack Mountains
Newark Lowlands
The topographic map below shows a hill. Points X and Y represent locations on the hill’s surface. Elevations are shown in meters.
40 m/km
80 m/km
100 m/km
120 m/km
The diagram below shows a sling psychrometer.
Based on the dry-bulb temperature and the wet-bulb temperature, what is the relative humidity?
66%
58%
51%
12%
Arrows in the block diagram below show the relative movement along a tectonic plate boundary.
Between which two tectonic plates does this type of plate boundary exist?
Nazca Plate and South American Plate
Eurasian Plate and Indian-Australian Plate
North American Plate and Eurasian Plate
Pacific Plate and North American Plate
Which map shows the two correctly labeled air masses that frequently converge in the central plains to cause tornadoes?
The diagram below shows four mineral samples, each having approximately the same mass.
If all four samples are placed together in a closed, dry container and shaken vigorously for 10 minutes, which mineral sample would experience the most abrasion?
quartz
amphibole
pyroxene
galena
Which block diagram best represents a portion of a plateau?
Base your answers to questions 36 through 38 on the graph below, which shows the crustal temperature and pressure conditions under which three different minerals with the same chemical composition (Al2SiO5) crystallize.
Under which crustal temperature and pressure conditions will andalusite form?
300°C and 6000 atmospheres
500°C and 2000 atmospheres
600°C and 4000 atmospheres
700°C and 8000 atmospheres
Base your answers to questions 36 through 38 on the graph below, which shows the crustal temperature and pressure conditions under which three different minerals with the same chemical composition (Al2SiO5) crystallize.
Which mineral has a chemical composition most similar to andalusite, sillimanite, and kyanite?
pyrite
gypsum
dolomite
potassium feldspar
Base your answers to questions 36 through 38 on the graph below, which shows the crustal temperature and pressure conditions under which three different minerals with the same chemical composition (Al2SiO5) crystallize.
If bedrock at a collisional plate boundary contains andalusite crystals, these crystals are changed into sillimanite and/or kyanite as temperature and pressure conditions increase. What is this process called?
weathering
solidification
metamorphism
cementation
Base your answers to questions 39 through 41 on the diagram below, which has lettered arrows showing the motions of Earth and the Moon.
These lettered arrows represent motions that are
noncyclic and unpredictable
noncyclic and predictable
cyclic and unpredictable
cyclic and predictable
Base your answers to questions 39 through 41 on the diagram below, which has lettered arrows showing the motions of Earth and the Moon.
Which two motions are completed in about the same amount of time?
A and B
B and C
C and D
A and D
Base your answers to questions 39 through 41 on the diagram below, which has lettered arrows showing the motions of Earth and the Moon.
Which lettered arrow represents the motion that causes the Moon to show phases when viewed from Earth?
A
B
C
D
Base your answers to questions 42 and 43 on the diagram below, which represents a model of a radioactive sample with a half-life of 5000 years. The white boxes represent undecayed radioactive material and the shaded boxes represent the decayed material after the first half-life.
How many more boxes should be shaded to represent the additional decayed material formed during the second half-life?
12
6
3
0
Base your answers to questions 42 and 43 on the diagram below, which represents a model of a radioactive sample with a half-life of 5000 years. The white boxes represent undecayed radioactive material and the shaded boxes represent the decayed material after the first half-life.
Which radioactive isotope has a half-life closest in duration to this radioactive sample?
carbon-14
potassium-40
uranium-238
rubidium-87
The photograph below shows a sign near the Esopus Creek in Kingston, New York.
The main purpose of the word “watershed” on this sign is to communicate that the Esopus Creek
is a tributary of the Hudson River
is a flood hazard where it flows into the Hudson River
forms a delta in the Hudson River
contains ancient fish fossils
Base your answers to questions 45 and 46 on the diagrams below. Diagrams A, B, and C represent three different river valleys.
Which bar graph best represents the relative gradients of the main rivers shown in diagrams A, B, and C?
Base your answers to questions 45 and 46 on the diagrams below. Diagrams A, B, and C represent three different river valleys.
Most sediments found on the floodplain shown in diagram A are likely to be
angular and weathered from underlying bedrock
angular and weathered from bedrock upstream
rounded and weathered from underlying bedrock
rounded and weathered from bedrock upstream
Base your answers to questions 47 through 49 on the graph below, which shows the amount of insolation during one year at four different latitudes on Earth’s surface.
This graph shows that insolation varies with
latitude and time of day
latitude and time of year
longitude and time of day
longitude and time of year
Base your answers to questions 47 through 49 on the graph below, which shows the amount of insolation during one year at four different latitudes on Earth’s surface.
Why is less insolation received at the equator in June than in March or September?
The daylight period is longest at the equator in June.
Winds blow insolation away from the equator in June.
The Sun’s vertical rays are north of the equator in June.
Thick clouds block the Sun’s vertical rays at the equator in June.
Base your answers to questions 47 through 49 on the graph below, which shows the amount of insolation during one year at four different latitudes on Earth’s surface.
Why is insolation 0 cal/cm2/min from October through February at 90° N?
Snowfields reflect sunlight during that time.
Dust in the atmosphere blocks sunlight during that time.
The Sun is continually below the horizon during that time.
Intense cold prevents insolation from being absorbed during that time.
The diagram below shows tubes A and B partly filled with equal volumes of round plastic beads of uniform size. The beads in tube A are smaller than the beads in tube B. Water was placed in tube A until the pore spaces were filled. The drain valve was then opened, and the amount of time for the water to drain from the tube was recorded. The amount of water that remained around the beads was then calculated and recorded. Data table 1 shows the measurements recorded using tube A.
If the same procedure was followed with tube B, which data table shows the measurements most likely recorded?
