Earth Science June 2016

Earth Science June 2016 Questions Answers Keys.

The University of the State of New York
Regents high school examination
Physical setting
Earth science
Friday, June 17, 2016 — 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., only

Directions : For each statement or question, choose the word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question. Some questions may require the use of the 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science. Record your answers on your separate answer sheet.

1. Earth’s approximate rate of revolution is

(1) 1° per day
(2) 15° per day
(3) 180° per day
(4) 360° per day

Answer: (1) 1° per day

2. Planetary winds in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to the right due to the

(1) Doppler effect
(2) Coriolis effect
(3) tilt of Earth’s axis
(4) polar front jet stream

Answer: (2) Coriolis effect

3. Which star is hotter, but less luminous, than Polaris?

(1) Deneb
(2) Aldebaran
(3) Sirius
(4) Pollux

Answer: (3) Sirius

4. Which statement best explains why Earth and the other planets of our solar system became layered as they were being formed?

(1) Gravity caused less-dense material to move toward the center of each planet.
(2) Gravity caused more-dense material to move toward the center of each planet.
(3) Materials that cooled quickly stayed at the surface of each planet.
(4) Materials that cooled slowly stayed at the surface of each planet.

Answer: (2) Gravity caused more-dense material to move toward the center of each planet.

5. Which conditions on Earth’s surface will allow for the greatest amount of water to seep into the ground?

(1) gentle slope and permeable
(2) gentle slope and impermeable
(3) steep slope and permeable
(4) steep slope and impermeable

Answer: (1) Gentle slope and permeable

6. The photograph below shows a Foucault pendulum at a museum. The pendulum knocks over pins in a regular pattern as it swings back and forth.

This pendulum movement, and the pattern of knocked-over pins, is evidence of Earth’s

(1) nearly spherical shape
(2) gravitational attraction to the Sun
(3) rotation on its axis
(4) nearly circular orbit around the Sun

Answer: (3) Rotation on its axis

7. Earth’s early atmosphere contained carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, water vapor, methane, and ammonia. These gases were present in the atmosphere primarily because

(1) radioactive decay products produced in Earth’s core were released from Earth’s surface
(2) evolving Earth life-forms produced these gases through their activity
(3) Earth’s growing gravitational field attracted these gases from space
(4) volcanic eruptions on Earth’s surface released these gases from the interior

Answer: (4) Volcanic eruptions on Earth’s surface released these gases from the interior

8. The diagram below represents the apparent positions of the Big Dipper, with respect to Polaris, as seen by an observer in New York State at midnight on the first day of summer and on the first day of winter.

The change in the apparent position of the Big Dipper between the first day of summer and the first day of winter is best explained by Earth

(1) rotating for 12 hours
(2) rotating for 1 day
(3) revolving for 6 months
(4) revolving for 1 year

Answer: (3) Revolving for 6 months

9. The weather station model shown below indicates that winds are coming from the

(1) southeast at 10 knots
(2) northwest at 10 knots
(3) southeast at 20 knots
(4) northwest at 20 knots

Answer: (3) Southeast at 20 knots

10. Which type of air mass most likely has high humidity and high temperature?

(1) cP
(2) cT
(3) mT
(4) mP

Answer: (3) mT

11. What is the relative humidity if the dry-bulb temperature is 16°C and the wet-bulb temperature is 10°C?

(1) 45%
(2) 33%
(3) 14%
(4) 4%

Answer: (1) 45%

12. The table below shows the air temperature and dewpoint at each of four locations, A, B, C, and D.

Based on these measurements, which location has the greatest chance of precipitation?

(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D

Answer: (4) D

13. Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?

(1) ultraviolet
(2) gamma rays
(3) radio waves
(4) visible light

Answer: (2) gamma rays

14. Which gas is considered a major greenhouse gas?

(1) methane
(2) hydrogen
(3) oxygen
(4) nitrogen

Answer: (1) Methane

15. The diagram below represents Earth and the Sun’s incoming rays. Letters A, B, C, and D represent locations on Earth’s surface.

Which two locations are receiving the same intensity of insolation?

(1) A and B
(2) B and C
(3) C and D
(4) D and B

Answer: (4) D and B

16. Most of the sand that makes up the sandstone found in New York State was originally deposited in which type of layers?

(1) tilted
(2) horizontal
(3) faulted
(4) folded

Answer: (2) Horizontal

17. The map below shows the current location of New York State in North America.

Approximately how many million years ago (mya) was this New York State region located at the equator?

(1) 59 mya
(2) 119 mya
(3) 359 mya
(4) 458 mya

Answer: (3) 359 mya

18. Many scientists infer that one cause of the mass extinction of dinosaurs and ammonoids that occurred approximately 65.5 million years ago was

(1) tectonic plate subduction of most of the continents
(2) an asteroid impact that resulted in climate change
(3) a disease spreading among many groups of organisms
(4) severe damage produced by worldwide earthquakes

Answer: (1) An asteroid impact that resulted in climate change

19. During which geologic epoch do scientists infer that the earliest grasses first appeared on Earth?

(1) Holocene
(2) Pleistocene
(3) Oligocene
(4) Eocene

Answer: (3) Oligocene

20. What are the inferred pressure and temperature at the boundary of Earth’s stiffer mantle and outer core?

(1) 1.5 million atmospheres pressure and an interior temperature of 4950°C
(2) 1.5 million atmospheres pressure and an interior temperature of 6200°C
(3) 3.1 million atmospheres pressure and an interior temperature of 4950°C
(4) 3.1 million atmospheres pressure and an interior temperature of 6200°C

Answer: (1) 1.5 million atmospheres pressure and an interior temperature of 4950°C

21. A seismic P-wave is recorded at 2:25 p.m. at a seismic station located 7600 kilometers from the epicenter of an earthquake. At what time did the earthquake occur?

(1) 2:05 p.m.
(2) 2:11 p.m.
(3) 2:14 p.m.
(4) 2:36 p.m.

Answer: (3) 2:14 p.m.

22. A seismic station recorded the P-waves, but no S-waves, from an earthquake because S-waves were

(1) absorbed by Earth’s outer core
(2) transmitted only through liquids
(3) weak and detected only at nearby locations
(4) not produced by this earthquake

Answer: (1) Absorbed by Earth’s outer core

23. The Catskills of New York State are best described as a plateau, while the Adirondacks are best described as mountains. Which factor is most responsible for the difference in landscape classification of these two regions?

(1) climate variations
(2) bedrock structure
(3) vegetation type
(4) bedrock age

Answer: (2) Bedrock structure

24. An elongated hill that is composed of unsorted sediments deposited by a glacier is called

(1) a delta
(2) a drumlin
(3) a sand dune
(4) an outwash plain

Answer: (2) A drumlin

25. Which rock was subjected to intense heat and pressure but did not solidify from magma?

(1) sandstone
(2) schist
(3) gabbro
(4) rhyolite

Answer: (2) Schist

26. The map below shows a stream drainage pattern where the streams radiate outward from the center.

Which landscape feature would produce this stream drainage pattern?

(1) steep cliff
(2) glacial kettle lake
(3) volcanic mountain
(4) flat plain

Answer: (3) Volcanic mountain

27. The map below shows the area that, at one time, was covered by ancient Lake Bonneville. Evidence of ancient shorelines indicates that, near the end of the last ice age, Lake Bonneville existed in western Utah and eastern Nevada. The Great Salt Lake in Utah is a remnant of the former Lake Bonneville.

Which material that was formerly on the bottom of Lake Bonneville is most likely exposed on the land surface today?

(1) folded metamorphic bedrock
(2) flat-lying evaporite deposits
(3) coarse-grained coal beds
(4) fine-grained layers of volcanic lava

Answer: (2) Flat-lying evaporite deposits

28. The cross section below represents a portion of a meandering stream. Points X and Y represent two positions on opposite sides of the stream.

Based on the cross section, which map of a meandering stream best shows the positions of points X and Y?

Answer: (4)

29. When wind and running water gradually decrease in velocity, the transported sediments are deposited

(1) all at once, and are unsorted
(2) all at once, and are sorted by size and density
(3) over a period of time, and are unsorted
(4) over a period of time, and are sorted by size and density

Answer: (4) Over a period of time, and are sorted by size and density

30. The graph below shows ocean water levels for a shoreline location on Long Island, New York. The graph also indicates the dates and times of high and low tides.