Weather Chapter Test A Multiple Choice Write the letter of the correct answer on the line at the left. 1. The most dangerous aspect of a snowstorm is often the a. high winds. b. depth of snow. c. brightness. d. air temperature. 2. Cold, dry air affecting the northern United States in winter often comes from a. maritime polar air masses. b. maritime tropical air masses. c. continental polar air masses. d. continental tropical air masses. 3. What is the name of the process by which water vapor enters the atmosphere during the water cycle? a. condensation b. evaporation c. precipitation d. convection 4. The collecting of weather data in the last 40 years has been improved mostly by a. balloons and satellites. b. more people who study clouds. c. military aircraft. d. astronaut observations. 5. Relative humidity can be measured with a(an) a. anemometer. b. barometer. c. psychrometer. d. thermometer. 6. Weather associated with an anticyclone is generally a. cloudy but dry. b. unpredictable. c. wet and cloudy. d. dry and clear. 1
7. Two conditions are required for cloud formation: cooling of the air and a. the absorption of infrared energy. b. the unequal heating of Earth s surface. c. the presence of particles in the air. d. the influence of the Coriolis effect. 8. On average, a snowfall of 20 centimeters would equal a rainfall of a. 1 centimeter. b. 2 centimeters. c. 3 centimeters. d. 4 centimeters. 9. Very high feathery clouds are called a. stratus clouds. b. cumulonimbus clouds. c. cirrus clouds. d. nimbostratus clouds. 10. Small lines at the end of the shaft that represents wind direction on a weather map indicate a. air temperature. b. wind speed. c. air pressure. d. relative humidity. 11. A drought is a long period of a. heavy, damaging rains. b. unusually hot weather. c. less rainfall than normal. d. rain coming late in the year. 12. When a warm air mass and a cold air mass meet and neither can move the other, the result is a(n) a. occluded front. b. warm front. c. stationary front. d. cold front. 13. How does lake-effect snow form? a. Warm, moist air blows over colder land and then over water. b. Warm, dry air blows over large lakes and then over land. c. Cold, moist air blows over warm land and then over water. d. Cold, dry air blows over large lakes and then over land. 2
Completion Fill in the line to complete each statement. 14. On newspaper weather maps, colors are often used to indicate ranges for different areas. 15. Storms that form within large cumulonimbus clouds and produce rain and lightning are called. 16. A hurricane s storm surge is caused by a combination of high winds and. 17. Sudden, violent floods that occur shortly after a storm are called. 18. A long period of scarce rainfall or dry weather called a _ may result in a shortage of water. True or False If the statement is true, write true. If it is false, change the underlined word or words to make the statement true. 19. The boundary where unlike air masses meet but do not easily mix is called a(n) jet stream. 20. Tornadoes form in the same kind of cloud as thunderstorms. 21. The low air pressure of anticyclones is often associated with storms and precipitation. 22. At a warm front, warm air meets and moves over cold air. 23. Rain or snow usually is associated with falling air pressure. 3
Using Science Skills Use the diagram to answer each question. 24. Which air masses shown are likely to bring dry weather to the United States? 25. Is a tornado more likely to occur at location Y or Z? Explain your answer. 26. Classify each of the air masses shown as continental or maritime and as polar or tropical. Essay Write an answer for each of the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. 27. Explain why weather forecasts are not always accurate. 28. You and a friend are hiking in the wilderness when you become caught in a thunderstorm. Your friend wants to seek shelter under the nearest tree. Is this a good idea? If not, what should you do? 4
Using Science Skills Use the diagram to answer each question. 29. What is F called? What does it connect? 30. What does A represent? In what direction is it moving? 31. What does D represent? In what direction is it moving? Essay Write an answer for each of the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. 32. Define relative humidity and explain how it is measured. 33. Define hurricane and explain how a hurricane forms. 5