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Practice Test 10 - Middle School Earth and Space Science

20 questions. Answer them in any order, then submit to see your score and every explanation.

  1. A school district tracks electricity generated from coal and the amount of coal left in a nearby coal field that supplies the power plant. Table: Coal Use vs. Coal Remaining - 2014: Coal burned 0.6 million tons; Coal remaining 18 million tons - 2018: Coal burned 0.9 million tons; Coal remaining 14 million tons - 2022: Coal burned 1.2 million tons; Coal remaining 9 million tons - 2026: Coal burned 1.4 million tons; Coal remaining 4 million tons Which claim is unsupported by the evidence (not supported by the data)?
  2. Model: A diagram of a galaxy cluster shows three large galaxies close together near the center and many smaller galaxies farther out. The central region is labeled "highest mass concentration." Arrows show many galaxies moving in curved paths around the cluster's center. Which claim is incorrect based on the model and the idea that gravity shapes structure over long times?
  3. Human activity: A city expanded road traffic from 2005 to 2020. Claim: Increased vehicle emissions are linked to higher average temperatures in the city. Evidence: - City average temperature trend: increased by about 0.8°C from 2005 to 2020 - Vehicle miles traveled (VMT): increased by about 35% from 2005 to 2020 - Nearby rural station (30 km away) temperature trend: increased by about 0.7°C from 2005 to 2020 Which statement overstates what the evidence shows?​
  4. In the model, a moon moves along a curved path around a planet. The arrow labeled gravity points toward the planet, and the arrow labeled motion points forward along the moon's movement. The model states that an orbit results from gravity plus motion, not a single cause. Which explanation best fits the model for why the moon stays in orbit instead of falling straight in or flying away?
  5. A model shows an asteroid moving past a star. The asteroid's motion arrow points up. A gravity-force arrow points toward the star (to the right). The asteroid's path is shown curving to the right as it continues upward. Which statement about force and motion is supported by the model?
  6. The map shows two regions at similar latitudes. Region M is next to a warm ocean current and has prevailing winds blowing from ocean to land. Region N is next to a cold ocean current and has prevailing winds blowing from land to ocean. Over many decades, Region M averages warmer, wetter conditions than Region N. Which claim is best supported by the map evidence?
  7. A simplified global-wind map (showing average wind belts) includes arrows for three latitude bands. Using the arrows, compare the equatorial band (0°–30°N) and the mid-latitudes (30°–60°N). Which statement is supported by the model?
  8. A city is investigating ground sinking (subsidence) near a well field. - Model A: A close-up map (2 km by 2 km) compares ground height in 2024 vs 2025 and shows a 1–2 cm drop near several wells. - Model B: A regional map (120 km by 120 km) compares ground height in 2000 vs 2025 and shows a broad bowl-shaped sinking area centered on the well field. Which claim ignores scale differences and is therefore not well supported?
  9. A model compares two situations: (1) a satellite orbiting Earth (local) and (2) the Sun moving through the Milky Way (galaxy). The model states that both motions are curved paths caused by gravity. Which claim is incorrect?
  10. In a column of undisturbed rock layers, fossils were deposited when each layer formed. A square fossil is in the top layer. A student says, "The square fossil is the oldest because it is at the top and got exposed first." Which statement best identifies the error in the student's reasoning?
  11. A simplified rock sequence is shown (top is youngest; bottom is oldest). It shows relative order, not how long each event took. Top - Layer D: Thick sandstone (no fossils) - Layer C: Thin ash layer labeled A (volcanic) - Layer B: Shale with fossil symbol ✧ - Layer A: Limestone (no fossils) Bottom Which statement is not supported by the evidence?
  12. A student says, "My town had a very cold winter last year, so the planet can't be warming." A separate long-term dataset shows global average temperature anomalies increasing from 1900 to 2020. Which statement is supported by the global data (and stays focused on evidence, not causes)?
  13. A student writes four claims after looking at a local model (a dropped ball falls to Earth) and a galaxy model (the Sun orbits the Milky Way's center). Which claim is incorrect?
  14. A school reviews two hazard timelines to plan safety actions. Hazard A (Tsunami from a distant earthquake): At 10:02 a.m., a strong offshore earthquake is detected. At 10:08 a.m., a tsunami advisory is issued. Waves are expected around 11:00 a.m. Hazard B (Local earthquake): A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs at 10:02 a.m. with no warning beforehand. Which hazard is more predictable in advance of the damaging effects at the school, based on the evidence (prediction does not mean certainty)?
  15. A class investigates a coral reef using two time scales: - Record A: A diver's notes from two days show water was unusually warm on Day 2 and some corals looked pale. - Record B: A monitoring program's graph summary (described in words) for 20 years shows several bleaching events, with recovery in some years and more frequent bleaching in the most recent years. Which statement is supported at the long-term scale but not necessarily supported by the two-day scale?
  16. A student looks at a long-term record of global average temperature anomaly (°C) and summarizes it with these points: 1900: −0.30, 1950: −0.05, 1980: +0.20, 2000: +0.55, 2020: +0.95. Which statement about temperature change is supported by the data? (This evidence describes observed change; it does not, by itself, identify the cause.)
  17. A student reads this simplified sequence (older below, younger above). It shows relative order only. Bottom → Top: - Layer 1: Mudstone with fossil symbol ● - Layer 2: Volcanic ash labeled V - Layer 3: Sandstone (no fossils) The student claims: "The volcanic ash (V) is the youngest event because it is a thin layer." Which claim best identifies the error using the sequence?
  18. Two hazards are being monitored near a mountain town. Volcano monitoring log: - Day 1–7: small earthquakes increase from 2/day to 25/day - Day 5–7: ground swelling is measured on the volcano's slopes - Day 7: officials raise the alert level and close nearby trails Landslide situation (same week): - Day 7, 3:40 p.m.: after a short, intense rain burst, a hillside collapses within minutes; there was no earlier sign reported by residents. Which statement about warning signs is supported by the evidence?
  19. Use the world map model of surface ocean currents. Red arrows show warm currents that transfer heat; blue arrows show cold currents that transfer heat. The arrows show direction of heat transport, but the ocean does not warm or cool everywhere at once. Which statement is supported by the model?
  20. A forested area was cleared for a new neighborhood. The town planted young trees afterward. Evidence collected: - Tree canopy cover: 70% (before clearing), 15% (right after), 25% (2 years later) - Summer stream temperature: 18°C (before), 22°C (right after), 21°C (2 years later) - A student claims: "Since new trees were planted, the stream temperature should return to normal immediately." Which claim is unsupported by the evidence? (Impacts can be positive or negative depending on context.)

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