student pretest Stewardship Project middle school (Grades 7-8)
1. True or False. Solar energy is radiant energy carried through the sun s heat and light. 2. Yes or No. Does solar energy dissipate as it travels through the solar system? 3. True or False. Earth s tilt changes as it rotates around the sun. 4. How long is one rotation of Earth on its axis? 5. What hemisphere is north of the equator? Circle one. A. Eastern Hemisphere C. Southern Hemisphere B. Western Hemisphere D. Northern Hemisphere 6. What season occurs when a hemisphere is tilted toward the sun during orbit? 7. What is the name of the imaginary line around which Earth rotates? 8. What is the latitude of the equator? 9. Seasons in Alaska are primarily caused by which factor as Earth revolves around the sun? Circle one. A. the tilt of Earth on its axis C. the effects of solar flare activity B. the rate of rotation of Earth D. the relative distance between Earth and the sun 10. How does the tilt of Earth s axis and its rotation affect the weather? Circle one. A. The tilt of Earth allows it to absorb all the sun s radiation as it rotates. B. The tilt allows certain latitudes of Earth to be heated at a greater rate while Earth rotates. C. The tilt of Earth allows it to rotate fast enough to allow surface cooling to occur at night. D. The tilt allows energy to be evenly distributed throughout the atmosphere while Earth rotates. 11. Circle one. The most direct sunlight is perpendicular / parallel to Earth s surface. 12. Circle one. In the summer, communities near the ocean are generally cooler / warmer than communities in the middle of the state. 13. On a topographic map, what do contour lines represent? 14. Circle one. Most of Earth s weather occurs in what layer of the atmosphere? A. troposphere C. stratosphere B. thermosphere D. mesosphere 15. Cumulus and stratus clouds combine to form clouds. 16. A warm front occurs when air replaces air. 17. What form of severe weather causes more deaths than any other?
18. Name three conditions that could make temperatures vary within a small area, like in a back yard or on a hillside. 19. Circle One. Under normal conditions, as altitude increases, the air temperature increases / decreases. 20. Which is true of a temperature inversion? Circle one. A. a high-pressure system leaves the sky clear and winds calm B. water vapor freezes on air pollution particles creating ice fog C. a layer of warmer air acts as a lid, holding cold air beneath it D. all of the above 21. True or False. All latitudes of Earth are heated by the sun at the same rate as Earth rotates. 22. The mixture of gases that surround Earth, held by the force of gravity, is called the. 23. Convection currents in the atmosphere are caused by: A. the sun C. the cycling of warm and cold air B. the moon D. wind 24. Convection currents can occur in: A. air C. water B. gas D. all of the above 25. True or False. Topography influences wind speed. 26. Name two professions that need to know wind speed and direction for proper job performance. 27. Why is it important to know the direction of the wind when hunting? 28. True or False. On Earth, water can exist in three phases at once. 29. Precipitation that falls near the equator is most likely to: A. fall as rain into the ocean C. fall as snow into the ocean B. fall as rain onto land D. fall as snow onto a glacier
30. As stream velocity decreases, which factor will likely increase? Circle one. A. erosion of the stream bank C. amount of material carried downstream B. deposit of material in the stream D. size of the particles carried downstream 31. Cross off the words that DO NOT describe a part of the hydrologic cycle. condensation evaporation precipitation run off infiltration cul-de-sac transpiration transportation bedrock sublimation participation water vapor 32. What does the word hydrokinetic mean? 33. The list below describes a community hydroelectric plant. Read each item listed and determine if it would be an Advantage or Disadvantage. A. Huge amounts of energy are used in building hydroelectric plants. Advantage/Disadvantage B. Energy produced is less expensive than that produced by burning oil or coal. Advantage/Disadvantage C. Reservoirs can cover important agricultural or archaeological lands. Advantage/Disadvantage D. Fish migration can be affected in a negative way. Advantage/Disadvantage E. Water is a renewable energy source. Advantage/Disadvantage F. Decreased water temperature can affect plant and animal life. Advantage/Disadvantage G. There is very little air and water pollution. Advantage/Disadvantage H. Reservoirs add recreation spaces to a community. Advantage/Disadvantage 34. Read the following statements, then write either coastal or Interior as the statement applies to Alaska communities. A. Warm air, transported over land by wind, brings precipitation and mild temperatures. B. High pressure in the atmosphere with clear skies and calm winds can make temperatures in lower valleys colder than in nearby hills, called a temperature inversion. 35. Which of the following best describes climate? Circle one. A. average summer temperatures for one season B. the amount of precipitation over the course of a year C. 30-year average of weather conditions D. the elevation of a region 36. Circle One. Latitude is: A. distance east or west on Earth s surface measured in degrees from the equator B. distance north or south on Earth s surface measured in degrees from the equator C. a broad geographic area distinguished by similar features 37. Name two differences in climate between coastal Alaska and Interior Alaska.
38. Match the word with the proper definition: aerosol a fog composed of ice particles in cold air climate a measure of the average kinetic energy; a numerical measure of hotness or coldness ice fog the 30-year average weather conditions of a certain region temperature very fine particles of liquid or solid suspended in a gas weather the state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place 39. Name three fossil fuels:,, and. 40. Place an X beside each item below that is a source of carbon dioxide: plants and trees forest fires volcanic eruptions snow machine exhaust respiration from animals wood-burning stoves toothpaste precipitation bubbles in soda soil decay earthquakes ammonia in hair dye 41. Which greenhouse gas is the most common in Earth s atmosphere? 42. True or False. One way to describe energy is usable heat or power. 43. True or False. A heating degree day refers to how much the temperature changes within a day. 44. Name three types of fuel that provide energy in your community. 45. Before Western contact and modern building materials, what did Athabascans use to construct a home? 46. Circle the correct answer. Energy transfer refers to: A. a fuel truck transporting diesel C. electromagnetic waves B. any form of energy can be transformed into another form D. to cover or surround with material