1. What is the basic difference between ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation? A) half-life B) temperature C) wavelength D) wave velocity 2. In New York State, the risk of sunburn is greatest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on summer days because A) the air temperature is hot B) the angle of insolation is high C) Earth's surface reflects most of the sunlight D) the Sun is closest to Earth 3. Very cold climates occur at Earth s North and South Poles because the polar regions A) are usually farthest from the Sun B) absorb the greatest amount of insolation C) receive the most hours of daylight D) receive low-angle insolation 4. If Earth s axis were tilted less than 23.5, which seasonal average temperature change would occur in New York State? A) Spring and fall would be cooler. B) Spring and fall would be warmer. C) Winter would be cooler. D) Summer would be cooler. 5. On which day of the year would the intensity of insolation at Kingston, New York, most likely be greatest? A) March 21 B) June 21 C) September 23 D) December 21 6. If Earth s axis were tilted 35 instead of 23.5, the average temperatures in Vermont would most likely A) decrease in both summer and winter B) decrease in summer and increase in winter C) increase in summer and decrease in winter D) increase in both summer and winter 7. How many times will the Sun s perpendicular rays cross Earth s Equator between March 1 of one year and March 1 of the next year? A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4 8. To an observer in Pennsylvania, the Sun appears to rise each day somewhere along the A) northern horizon B) southern horizon C) eastern horizon D) western horizon 9. As the altitude increases within Earth s stratosphere, air temperature generally A) decreases, only B) increases, only C) decreases, then increases D) increases, then decreases 10. An air temperature of 95ºC most often exists in which layer of the atmosphere? A) troposphere B) stratosphere C) mesosphere D) thermosphere 11. Ozone is concentrated in Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of 20 to 35 kilometers. Which atmospheric layer contains the greatest concentration of ozone? A) mesosphere B) thermosphere C) troposphere D) stratosphere 12. Why do most clouds form in the troposphere? A) Air pressure rises with increasing altitude. B) The dewpoint is too high in the other layers of the atmosphere. C) The other layers of the atmosphere are too cold to contain water. D) The lowest 11 km of the atmosphere contains almost all of the atmospheric water vapor. 13. If atmospheric pressure measurements were taken at regular intervals from sea level to the stratopause, the measurements would most likely show that the pressure A) decreases, only B) increases, only C) remains the same D) decreases, then increases 14. As altitude increases from the tropopause to the mesopause, the atmospheric temperature will A) decrease, only B) increase, only C) decrease, then increase D) increase, then decrease
15. The diagram below shows Earth as viewed from space. 18. The diagram below shows the apparent daily path of the Sun, as viewed by an observer at a certain latitude on three different days of the year. Which season is beginning in the Northern Hemisphere? A) spring B) summer C) fall D) winter 16. The model below shows the Sun's apparent path across the sky for an observer in New York State. At which latitude were these apparent Sun paths most likely observed? A) 0 B) 23.5 N C) 43 N D) 66.5 N 19. The diagram below shows the noontime shadows cast by a student and a tree. On which day of the year was this path observed? A) March 21 B) June 21 C) September 21 D) December 21 17. At which latitude is the Sun directly overhead on certain days of the year? A) 23.5 N B) 42 N C) 66.5 N D) 90 N If the time is solar noon and the student is located in New York State, in what direction is the student facing? A) north B) south C) east D) west
Base your answers to questions 20 and 21 on the diagram below, which represents an exaggerated view of Earth revolving around the Sun. Letters A, B, C, and D represent Earth's location in its orbit on the first day of each of the four seasons. 20. Earth s rate of revolution around the Sun is approximately A) 1 per day B) 360 per day C) 15 per hour D) 23.5 per hour 21. Which location in Earth s orbit represents the first day of fall (autumn) for an observer in Pennsylvania? A) A B) B C) C D) D
Base your answers to questions 22 through 24 on the diagram below, which represents a model of the sky (celestial sphere) for an observer in New York State. The curved arrow represents the Sun s apparent path for part of one day. The altitude of Polaris is also indicated. 22. Where is this observer most likely located? A) Massena B) Oswego C) Slide Mountain D) Mt. Marcy 23. According to this diagram, what is the Sun s altitude at solar noon? A) 23.5 B) 42 C) 48 D) 90 24. On which date could this observation of the Sun s apparent path have been made? A) March 21 B) July 21 C) October 21 D) December 21
Base your answers to questions 25 through 27 on the diagram below, which shows a model of the apparent path and position of the Sun in relation to an observer at four different locations, A, B, C, and D, on Earth s surface on the dates indicated. The zenith (z) and the actual position of the Sun in the model at the time of the observation are shown. [The zenith is the point directly over the observer.] 25. Where on Earth s surface is the observer at location C located? A) at the Equator B) at the South Pole C) at the North Pole D) in Oswego, New York 26. According to the Sun s actual position shown in the diagrams, the most intense insolation is being received by the observer at location A) A B) B C) C D) D 27. From sunrise to sunset at location B, the length of the observer s shadow will A) increase, only B) decrease, only C) increase, then decrease D) decrease, then increase 28. The apparent daily path of the Sun changes with the seasons because A) Earth's axis is tilted B) Earth's distance from the Sun changes C) the Sun revolves D) the Sun rotates 29. During how many days of a calendar year is the Sun directly overhead at noon in New Jersey? A) only 1 day B) only 2 days C) 365 days D) 0 days 30. The cartoon characters below are watching the Sun set. Toward which general direction are the characters looking? A) north B) south C) east D) west
31. The tilt of the Earth on its axis is a cause of the Earth's A) uniform daylight hours B) changing length of day and night C) 24-hour day D) 365 -day year 32. In New York State, how do the points of sunrise and sunset change during the course of 1 year? A) They vary with each season in a cyclic manner. B) They move toward the north in the autumn months. C) They move toward the south in the spring months. D) They remain the same during the four seasons. 33. In the diagram below, the direct rays of the Sun are striking the Earth's surface at 23 N. What is the date shown in the diagram? A) March 21 B) June 21 C) September 23 D) December 21 34. During which season in the Northern Hemisphere is the Earth closest to the Sun? A) spring B) summer C) fall D) winter
Answer Key Winds (version 2) 1. C 2. B 3. D 4. D 5. B 6. C 7. B 8. C 9. B 10. D 11. D 12. D 13. A 14. D 15. D 16. D 17. A 18. C 19. A 20. A 21. C 22. C 23. C 24. A 25. C 26. A 27. D 28. A 29. D 30. D 31. B 32. A 33. B 34. D