Download Earth Science Practice Test

GRADE 6
Earth
Science
Practice
Test
FCAT2.0
FCAT2.0
Answer each question on a separate sheet of
paper. Write the letter of your choice on your
paper. When you reach the stop sign, you have
finished this test. You may go back and check
your answer in this section of the test only.
SESSION 1: QUESTIONS 140
SESSION 2: QUESTIONS 4180
DO NOT WRITE ON THIS TEST
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FCAT Practice Test 1
Choose the letter of the best answer.
1
Nasir is a meteorologist. He is using an anemometer. What is Nasir studying?
A. humidity
B. wind speed
C. temperature
D. air pressure
2
In convection, hot gases rise through cooler gases as they travel to the top of the convective zone. Once
they reach the top of the convective zone, they cool. What happens to these gases next?
A. They create sunspots.
B. They sink back down.
C. They give off energy in solar flares.
D. They begin the process of nuclear fusion.
3
The Florida Current was first reported by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513 when he
discovered Florida. As seen in the following map, the Florida Current flows around the southern tip of
Florida and up the East Coast.
How does the Florida Current most likely affect the climate of cities along the coast of southern
Florida, such as Miami?
A. It brings more wind, which makes the air less humid.
B. It brings dry air, which contributes to hotter temperatures.
C. It brings warm water, which makes the air temperature warmer.
D. It brings cool water, which makes the air temperature cooler.
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4
Scientists were studying the trout in a lake. They recorded the weight and sex of each trout and then
released the trout. The graph below shows the results of the study.
Which question could the graph be used to answer?
A. What was the weight of the heaviest trout?
B. How does weight change as a trout grows?
C. What was the most common weight range?
D. How many trout weighed exactly 5 lb?
5
In 2005, Hurricane Wilma caused an estimated $17 billion in damage in southern Florida. A hurricane
is a powerful, energetic storm. Where does a hurricane get its energy?
A. from thunder
B. from electricity
C. from the clouds
D. from the evaporation and condensation of water
6
When trees die, they often fall on the ground and decompose. Which part of the Earth system includes
dead and decomposed trees?
A. biosphere
B. geosphere
C. atmosphere
D. hydrosphere
7
Amy’s teacher has asked her to classify several different materials as minerals or nonminerals. Which is
a characteristic of a mineral?
A. burns very easily
B. has a crystalline structure
C. produced by living things
D. found only in laboratories
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8
The table below shows the data collected in an experiment comparing the growth of plants in full sun
and part shade.
Plant Growth
Conditions
Initial height
(cm)
Height after 10 Height after 20 Height after 30
days (cm)
days (cm)
days (cm)
Full sun
20
24
27
31
Part shade
20
22
23
25
Marcus decides to create a line graph to show the growth of the plant grown in full sun. What would be
the correct labels for the axes of the line graph?
A. Full sun and Number of days
B. Height (cm) and Conditions
C. Conditions and Number of days
D. Number of days and Height (cm)
9
A geologist used the model shown below of the rock cycle to illustrate a concept. The rock cycle shows
how rocks on Earth are always changing from one type to another.
Which answer best describes why geologists might use a model such as the one above?
A. to illustrate a process that is too small to study easily
B. to illustrate a process that takes place too quickly to study easily
C. to illustrate a process that cannot be seen physically
D. to illustrate a process that takes place over a long period of time
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10
Wavelength, frequency, and energy are related. What happens to a wave as its wavelength gets shorter?
A. Its frequency and energy increase.
B. Its frequency and energy decrease.
C. Its frequency increases, while its energy increases.
D. Its frequency decreases, while its energy decreases.
11
The universe consists of space and all the matter and energy in it. What do we call the parts of the
universe that are located between galaxies?
A. stars
B. voids
C. moons
D. planets
12
The figure below shows an example of a geologic change that supports the principle of uniformitarianism.
What geologic change is shown in the figure?
A. abrasion
B. deposition
C. erosion
D. volcanism
13
Aisha is preparing a research report on isotopes. She knows that all atoms have isotopes, but only some
isotopes are commonly used to date objects. Which of the following isotopes is commonly used to date
objects?
A. carbon-14
B. hydrogen-3
C. nitrogen-15
D. oxygen-18
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14
Joseph made a poster for his Earth science project. He included the following diagram to show how
Earth’s surface receives solar energy.
Which process is involved when solar energy warms the surface of Earth?
A. conduction
B. convection
C. radiation
D. reflection
15
What are two common ways that lakes are fed with water?
A. rivers and streams
B. rivers and sediment
C. streams and sediment
D. streams and deltas
16
This picture shows the Kuiper Belt.
Approximately how wide is the Kuiper Belt?
A. 12 AU
B. 25 AU
C. 55 AU
D. 110 AU
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17
If the pressure of molten material inside Earth becomes high enough, a crack can open in Earth’s
surface, and the molten material can flow out of the crack. What is this crack in Earth’s surface called?
18
A. caldera
C. fissure
B. crater
D. lava plateau
Phillip wants to model the formation of a planet. What would his model for a planetesimal look like?
A. a rotating cloud of gas and dust from which the sun and planets formed
B. an elliptical path that a body follows as it travels around another body in space
C. a disk of material surrounding a young star or protostar that may eventually form planets
D. a small body from which a planet originated during the early development of the solar system
19
Aurora records the following observations: It rained on Monday. It was sunny on Tuesday. It rained
again on Wednesday. What is Aurora recording?
A. observations of the weather
B. observations of the climate
C. observations of both weather and climate
D. observations of neither weather or climate
20
The graph below shows the population of Brevard County from 1950 to 1990.
Over the last 50 years, NASA has encountered challenges such as decreased government funding for
space programs. Based on the data in the graph, during which decade did NASA most likely face
funding challenges?
A. 1950 to 1960
C. 1970 to 1980
B. 1960 to 1970
D. 1980 to 1990
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21
A scientist is comparing sea cliffs at four different locations. She recorded information on the energy of
the waves and the hardness of the rock at each location. The scientist summarized her results in the
following table.
Sea cliff
Wave energy
Rock hardness
A
medium
soft
B
high
soft
C
high
hard
D
medium
hard
Which sea cliff would be expected to erode the fastest?
A. sea cliff A
B. sea cliff B
C. sea cliff C
D. sea cliff D
22
Earth is divided into compositional layers based on chemical composition. Which compositional layer is
a hot, convecting layer of rock?
23
A. core
C. mantle
B. crust
D. plate
Forests are generally considered renewable resources because new trees can be grown to replace trees
that are cut down. When would a forest be considered a nonrenewable resource?
A. when the newly planted trees are still small
B. when the new forest is planted in a different location
C. when more different types of trees are planted than were removed
D. when more trees are cut down than are replanted to replace them
24
A science class created the model below to demonstrate how Earth rotates on its axis.
How long does it take Earth to rotate once on its axis?
A. 30 days
B. 12 hours
C. 24 hours
D. 365 days
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25
Ashley conducts an investigation on the effects of water amounts for seed sprouting. She knows that
replication and replicable results are important for the quality of the investigation. How can Ashley
determine if her results are replicable?
A. Ashley can carefully record her observations.
B. Ashley can perform the experiment multiple times.
C. Ashley can ask other students to perform the experiment.
D. Ashley can conduct her experiment with large sample sizes.
26
A warm rock is in direct contact with the cooler ground. Which of the following will happen?
A. Energy in the form of heat will flow from the rock to the ground, and the temperature of the rock
will increase.
B. Energy in the form of heat will flow from the ground to the rock, and the temperature of the rock
will increase.
C. Energy in the form of heat will flow from the rock to the ground, and the temperature of the rock
will decrease.
D. Energy in the form of heat will flow from the ground to the rock, and the temperature of the rock
will decrease.
27
The figure below shows how the view of an atom changed over time.
Why did this scientific knowledge change over time?
A. Thomson, Rutherford, and current scientists have different opinions of atoms.
B. New empirical evidence leads scientists to modify existing models.
C. Older models were based on opinions, whereas current models are based on facts.
D. Thomson and Rutherford’s ideas were completely incorrect.
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28
Ceres, Pluto, and Eris are all dwarf planets. In what order would you put them in a list from fastest to
slowest?
A. Eris, Pluto, Ceres
B. Pluto, Ceres, Eris
C. Ceres, Eris, Pluto
D. Ceres, Pluto, Eris
29
Galileo used a telescope to see objects in the universe that had not been previously seen. The drawing
below shows what he might have concluded from his observations of Jupiter.
What did Galileo’s observations show?
A. Planets had elliptical orbits.
B. All celestial bodies orbited Earth.
C. All celestial bodies orbited the sun.
D. Planets other than Earth had bodies moving around them.
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30
Images of Earth provide information about changes in land use over time. The graph shown below was
based on images taken by satellites.
What can you conclude from this graph?
A. The percentage of land developed is expected to reach 50% in 2010.
B. The percentage of land developed increased about 20% between 1990 and 2000.
C. Between 2010 and 2020, the percentage of land that is expected to be developed will increase by
10%.
D. Between 1990 and 2010, the percentage of land that is expected to be developed will have increased
by 30%.
31. The interaction between the cryosphere and hydrosphere can have an impact on Earth’s oceans. Which of
the following is an example of an interaction between the cryosphere and hydrosphere?
A. evaporation of water from oceans at the equator
B. release of fresh water into ocean water as icebergs melt
C. decomposition of organic matter at the bottom of oceans
D. release of large amounts of salt from icebergs into the ocean
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Ice forms in the cracks of a basalt rock formation and breaks some rock into smaller pieces. The
32.
diagram below shows part of the rock cycle.
At which point in the cycle shown above would the process of breaking down rocks occur?
A. J
B. K
C. L
D. M
33. A scientist performs an experiment and asks other scientists around the world to replicate it.
Why would other scientists most likely try to perform the same experiment?
A. to find out if weather of various regions of the world would affect the results
B. to see if the experiment would be less expensive in another part of the world
C. to confirm the results of the experiment conducted by the scientist
D. to verify that the hypothesis of the experiment is a scientific law
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34. Several factors can cause weather patterns in the atmosphere. The diagram below shows how
air movement near the equator can form thunderstorms.
Which process is the main source of this movement?
A. movement of ocean currents
B. decrease in relative humidity
C. heating by energy from the Sun
D. warming in the upper atmosphere
35. The following weather map shows current conditions in the area. Ten hours later, the operator inputs new
weather data into the computer. These data differ from the earlier data, which produced this map.
As a result of the new weather data, what will happen to the map?
A. The map will remain unchanged.
B. The map will change to reflect the new data.
C. The map will show new weather patterns in Europe.
D. The map will predict all characteristics of a weather pattern.
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36. In Earth science, the law of superposition states that the rock layer below another layer is older. The
following diagram shows some layers of rock.
According to the law, which numbered layer is the youngest?
A. layer 1
C. layer 3
B. layer 2
D. layer 4
37. A scientist watched a desert lizard stand in the rain. It spread its legs stretching its body wide, and held its
head and tail down. It opened and closed its mouth in a rhythmic way. The scientist dropped colored water on
the lizard's back and watched it move through channels toward the lizard's head. The scientist thought the
lizard might be using its body to catch rain water to drink. To test his idea, he captured several lizards. He
then dripped rainwater on the lizards and observed that the lizards always repeated the behavior. What was
the scientist's hypothesis after observing the lizard in the desert?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Lizards like water.
Lizards can survive in the desert.
Desert lizards use their bodies to catch rainwater to drink.
Water can run along a lizard's back.
38. Caleb’s class is studying the Earth/Sun/Moon system. He studies the diagram of Earth and the sun shown
below.
39. Which season is the northern hemisphere experiencing when Earth and sun are in these positions?
A. spring
B. summer
C. fall
D. Winter
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40. Scientists find a fossil of a fish on top of a mountain. What kind of evidence does the fossil provide
scientists about the way this area might have changed over time?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It shows that fish were once able to live without water.
It shows that oceans can change quickly and become land.
It shows that the animals found on the mountain today evolved from fish.
It shows that the mountain may have once been under water and raised up by natural processes.
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FCAT Practice Test 2
Choose the letter of the best answer.
41
Pyroclastic flows are the most dangerous type of volcanic eruption.
Extremely hot gases and fragments of rock travel at speeds over 100 km
per hour. Which type of volcano is least likely to have a pyroclastic flow?
A. lava
B. cinder cone
C. composite
D. shield
42
Sand Key is a barrier island located along the coast of Florida. Which process most likely caused Sand
Key to form?
A. sudden erosion of a sandbar
B. deposition of sand over time
C. wearing down of rocky cliffs
D. transfer of sand along a beach
43
Lee performed calculations that showed that the square of a planet’s orbital period is proportional to the
cube of the planet’s mean distance from the sun. What did Lee’s calculations demonstrate?
A. Newton’s law of universal gravitation
B. Kepler’s first law of planetary motion
C. Kepler’s second law of planetary motion
D. Kepler’s third law of planetary motion
44
How does distance from the epicenter of an earthquake change its effects?
A. The strongest effects are at the epicenter.
B. The strongest effects are felt in a line extending north and south from the epicenter.
C. The strongest effects are felt furthest from the epicenter.
D. The strongest effects are in a ring surrounding the epicenter with a radius of several miles.
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45
Chang drew the diagram below to show that Earth’s axis of rotation is not perpendicular, but tilted.
Which of the following does the tilt of the axis of rotation best explain?
A. why Earth has tides
B. how long an Earth day is
C. how long an Earth year is
D. why Earth has seasons
46
Terence wants to observe the sea-surface temperature of an area of ocean for 6 months. What
technology would Terence most likely use?
A. artificial satellite
B. natural satellite
C. space probe
D. space station
47
Earth is 1 AU away from the sun. This distance stays nearly the same as Earth revolves around the sun.
This is because Earth’s orbit is almost circular. Mercury’s orbit is elliptical. What does this mean in
regard to Mercury’s distance from the sun?
A. Mercury follows an irregular path around the sun.
B. Mercury’s distance from the sun is always the same.
C. Mercury travels farther from the sun than Earth does.
D. Mercury’s distance from the sun varies in predictable ways.
48
Which of the following is a way to gather empirical evidence?
A. conduct research on the Internet and in textbooks
B. gather opinions from classmates, teachers, and scientists
C. make first-person observations during an experiment
D. read reports from other experiments that have some of the same variables as your experiments
49
Water is often considered a renewable resource. How is the water in streams and lakes renewed as it is
used?
A. by rainfall from the atmosphere
B. by evaporation from Earth’s surface
C. by dams that release water from rivers
D. by bubbling up from underground
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50
Rhianna has a stream flowing through her farm. The sediment flowing in the stream is usually fine sand.
After a storm, the sediment is a mixture of fine sand, coarse sand, and pebbles. What would Rhianna
most likely observe?
A. no erosion after a storm
B. no erosion before a storm
C. a lower rate of erosion after a storm
D. a higher rate of erosion after a storm
51
The circle graph below shows the different industries involved in aerospace in Florida.
The space shuttle program will end in 2010 and be replaced by a new space vehicle program that could
be ready as early as 2013 or delayed past 2015. How would you expect the guided missiles and space
vehicles industry to change during this time?
A. It will grow.
B. It will shrink.
C. It will double.
D. It will not change.
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52
Early astronomers made valid discoveries by observing the night sky with simple telescopes. Which
statement applies to these early discoveries?
A. Not all scientific knowledge about the night sky comes from experiments.
B. Data from modern telescopes has disproved early observations of the night sky.
C. Observations of the night sky with simple telescopes are not enough to make valid discoveries.
D. Discoveries about the night sky were not made until astronomers used complicated scientific
equipment.
53
Whether you live in a tropical climate, a temperate climate, or a polar climate, you share something with
the rest of the world—your climate is influenced by the latitude where you live. Which best describes
why latitudes closer to the equator have warmer climates?
A. Latitudes closer to the equator are at lower elevations than latitudes away from the equator.
B. Latitudes closer to the equator receive more solar energy than latitudes away from the equator.
C. Latitudes closer to the equator are nearer to ocean currents than latitudes away from the equator.
D. Latitudes closer to the equator get more wind carrying energy in the form of heat than latitudes away
from the equator.
54
Magnetic energy can build up in the atmosphere of the sun. When this energy is finally released, it is 10
million times greater than the energy released when a volcano erupts. What can be observed with
specialized instruments as this magnetic energy is released?
A. a sunspot
B. a solar flare
C. a prominence
D. the solar wind
55
Earth is divided into three compositional layers and five physical layers. The lithosphere is one of the
physical layers. The lithosphere includes some or all of which two compositional layers?
A. core and crust
B. mantle and core
C. crust and mantle
D. core and mesosphere
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56
The figure below shows how the best fossils of insects are formed.
How was the fossil of this insect formed?
A. by being petrified
B. by being trapped in asphalt
C. by being trapped in hardened tree sap
D. by being buried in sediment that slowly decays
57
Earth would be as lifeless as the moon without the atmosphere—a blanket of gases that surrounds the
planet and extends about 700 km above its surface. Refer to the following circle graph.
The graph shows the relative abundance of gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Which gas corresponds to label
B in the figure?
A. argon
B. carbon dioxide
C. nitrogen
D. oxygen
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58
The table below compiles information about the distance of various stars from Earth, their apparent
magnitude, and their absolute magnitude.
Apparent Magnitude and Absolute Magnitude of Various Stars
Star
Distance from
Earth (ly)
Apparent
Magnitude
Absolute
Magnitude
8.6
–1.46
1.4
Vega
25
0.03
0.6
Arcturus
34
–0.04
–0.3
Aldebaran
60
0.85
–0.3
Rigel
1,400
0.12
–8.1
Betelgeuse
1,400
0.50
–7.2
Sirius
Which star has the greatest luminosity?
A. Sirius
B. Rigel
C. Arcturus
D. Betelgeuse
59
Florida is the most sinkhole-susceptible state in the United States. Why is Florida so susceptible to
sinkholes?
A. Limestone exists at or near the ground surface in most areas of the state of Florida.
B. Florida’s flat topography is vulnerable to the full force of winds and storm surges.
C. Much of Florida is located at or near sea level and can be easily covered by rising water.
D. In much of Florida, the lower layers of soil are made of organic material that can easily catch fire.
60
The following diagram shows water in contact with an ice cube and warmer air.
Which way will energy flow?
A. from the air to the water
B. from the water to the air
C. from the ice cube to the air
D. from the ice cube to the water
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61
Many factors are used to determine the climate of an area. Which of the following is one of two main
factors that determine climate?
A. precipitation
B. humidity
C. air pressure
D. wind conditions
62
When looking at certain stars, astronomers observe no parallax. This parallax problem can be explained
with different models. Which statement supports a geocentric model of the parallax problem?
A. Earth is not moving, so no parallax exists.
B. The stars are too close for a visible parallax.
C. The stars are too far away for a visible parallax.
D. Observation points differ, so there is no visible parallax.
63
The rock cycle is a continuous process on Earth. Rock is always changing from one form to another.
Some steps of the rock cycle are shown in the figure below.
What is a possible limitation of this model?
A. It is too complex to use for studying the rock cycle.
B. It does not show all the steps of the actual rock cycle.
C. It is the wrong type of model, the rock cycle can only be shown with physical models.
D. It cannot be used to examine the basic processes of the rock cycle.
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64
The following diagram shows the water cycle. The four different parts of the cycle are labeled A, B, C,
and D.
Which part of the water cycle represents precipitation?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
65
How does sedimentary rock usually form?
A. in large crystals
B. in vertical layers
C. in swirling bands
D. in horizontal layers
66
The planets in the solar system have a wide range of temperatures. Earth’s temperatures range from
about –89 °C to about 58 °C. How do the temperatures on Neptune compare to Earth’s temperatures?
A. much hotter
B. much colder
C. slightly cooler
D. slightly warmer
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67
The graph below shows the population of squirrels in a forest over a 20-year period.
In which year was the population of squirrels in the forest about 280?
A. 1980
B. 1985
C. 1990
D. 1995
68
Differences in the ways that rock and water absorb and release heat cause a special type of wind. This
type of wind is also affected by the physical properties of nearby landforms and bodies of water. These
winds move short distances and are variable in direction. Which type of wind is being described?
A. local winds
B. sea breezes
C. land breezes
D. mountain breezes
69
Which of these answers describes a scientific law?
A. an interesting idea based on various scientific opinions
B. a well-supported and widely accepted explanation of nature
C. a specific relationship under given conditions in the natural world
D. an explanation of how particular events happen in the natural world
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70
We use modern spacecraft to explore space. About how fast do these spacecraft travel?
A. about
1
as fast as the speed of light
10, 000
B. about
1
as fast as the speed of light
2
C. at the speed of light
D. about 2 times faster than the speed of light
71 The illustration shows the global wind belts. The westerlies, at point 3, are responsible for the general
movement of weather systems across Canada and the United States. What causes the westerlies to form in the
northern hemisphere?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Warm air in the doldrums begins to cool and sink.
Sinking colder air at 30° N latitude warms as it moves northward.
Cold air from the poles flows toward the equator along Earth’s surface.
Cold air over the Pacific Ocean warms and flows westward at 30° N latitude.
72. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is high energy and can damage cells. Earth’s ozone layer blocks a lot of
the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. In the past, some products used by people contained a chemical that destroyed
the ozone layer. These chemicals have been banned in an attempt to preserve the ozone layer. What would
happen to life on Earth if the ozone layer disappeared?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Some animals would develop skin and eye damage.
Fish would grow to increasingly larger sizes.
Many plant species would grow out of control and deplete soils of nutrients.
Lakes and rivers would experience an increase in algal growth, which would deplete oxygen in the
water.
73. Imagine a metamorphic rock that has been subjected to intense heat and pressure. Over time,
it gets pulled underground as part of a tectonic plate that is sinking beneath another plate along
a convergent boundary. The rock melts as it goes deeper; then the molten rock rises up and seeps
out of a crack in the ocean floor and hardens. What type of rock is it now?
A. clastic
B. igneous
C. metamorphic
D. sedimentary
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74. A canyon is a deep, steep-sided valley, as shown in the illustration below. Which statement describes how
the canyon most likely formed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A swift-moving river carved the soil and rock.
A volcanic event opened the space in Earth's crust.
A glacier traveled through the area and scoured the rock.
A deep lake filled the area and carved the sides of the canyon.
75. The picture below shows a river flowing through a canyon. What can you infer about how the canyon
looked a thousand years ago?
A. The canyon was just as deep but had no water.
B. The canyon was not as deep as it is today.
C. The canyon was much deeper than it is today.
D. The canyon looked exactly like it does today.
Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test Practice Test
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Earth • Assessment Guide • Florida
Name ______________________________________ Date _________
76. Kavita’s class is studying the phases of the moon. Which choice shows the correct sequence of the phases
of the moon?
77. As planets solidify after their initial formation, they give off gases. If they have a strong enough
gravitational field, they may hold onto some gases and form an atmosphere. Generally, the stronger the
gravity, the thicker the atmosphere.
MASSES OF SOME PLANETS
Which of the following planets should have the thickest atmosphere?
A. W
B. X
C. Y
D. Z
78. Lasinda examined the graph below, which shows the number of earthquakes in a 24-hour period in
California,Ohio, Florida, and Alaska.
NUMBER OF EARTHQUAKES IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD
Lasinda noticed that Ohio and Florida do not have many earthquakes compared with California and Alaska.
Why might this be?
A. Ohio and Florida must be located near tectonic plate boundaries.
B. Being located on the coast makes it much more likely that an area will experience earthquakes.
C. Florida never experiences earthquakes.
D. California and Alaska must be located near tectonic plate boundaries.
Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test Practice Test
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
27
Earth • Assessment Guide • Florida
Name ______________________________________ Date _________
79. The Everglades has many types of living and nonliving things. Which of the following would you NOT
likely find in the Everglades?
A. islands
B. plants
C. mountains
D. Channels
80. When the sun sets along the coast, the surfaces of the land and sea cool. The land cools much faster than
the seawater, so the land soon has a higher air pressure above it. The air above the sea has a lower pressure.
What results?
A. heavy fog
B. a land breeze
C. a sea breeze
D. a valley breeze
Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test Practice Test
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
28
Earth • Assessment Guide • Florida