This study guide provides questions to help students prepare for an upcoming Earth and environmental science midterm exam. It includes questions about topics like the layers of the Earth, plate tectonics, the rock cycle, weathering and erosion, the carbon cycle, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, and the scientific method. Students are instructed to research the answers in their notes and complete the study guide, which they can use as a reference during the exam.

1. Earth and Environmental Science
Midterm Study Guide:
You have made it to the halfway point of the class! Now it’s
time to see what you have learned.
You are to fill this study guide out and turn it in for credit.
This study guide matches the exam pretty closely. For that
reason, we will not be checking if your answers are correct.
Why? Because it is up to you to find the correct answers
through your notes, research, and previous knowledge. If you
are unsure of your answer, research it and double check it
yourself!
You are allowed to use this guide as you take the exam!
1. What was the original supercontinent called?
2. What are the layers of the Earth from inner to outer?
3. A puzzle like fit, similar fossils, and similar rock formations
between Africa and South America, are all evidence of what?
4. What is the difference between; Divergent, Convergent and
Transform boundaries?
· Divergent:
· Convergent:
· Transform:
5. Give an example of a transform boundary:
6. What are the 4 branches of Earth Science:
7. What is the jet stream?
8. What is the top layer of the soil profile?
9. Subsoil would be which layer of the soil profile?
10. Name 3 examples of physical weathering:
11. Carbonation would be an example of which type of
weathering?

2. 12. Name 3 agents of erosion:
13. What is the difference between passive and solar energy?
14. Uranium, the fuel for nuclear energy, is a non-renewable but
not a fossil fuel, why?
15. Mountain top removal, subsurface mining and strip mining
are all methods of removing________
16. Acid mine drainage comes from which type of mining?
17. Fly ash, sulfuric dioxide and nitrogen oxide are pollutants
released from?
18. What is the main ingredient of natural gas?
19. Of all the fossil fuels, which one is the cleanest burning?
20. Which fossil fuel must be cooled and compressed for
transport?
21. Which fossil fuel is found in plastics and other items?
22. Which fossil fuel contains kerogen?
23. Which fossil fuel can be used to make synthetic oil?
24. What does the term “fission” pertain to?
25. What is the main advantage of nuclear?
26. What is the main disadvantage of nuclear?
27. What are the 3 soil particles?
28. List the 3 types of rocks in the rock cycle:
29. Fossils would be found in which type of rock?
30. What is intrusive igneous?
31. Cinder cone volcanoes are made of?
32. Where does the energy for geothermal come from?
33. What theory did Wegener come up with?
34. Interfering with bird migrations is a disadvantage of what
type of renewable energy?
35. Burning which fossil fuel is a major cause of acid rain?
36. You need to review the scientific method from module one.
Make sure you understand the following terms:
· Independent variable
· Dependent variable
· Control
37. What is the scientific method?

3. 38. What is always the first step of the scientific method?
39. What makes a good hypothesis?
40. What is a control?
41. What is an independent variable?
42. What is a dependent variable?
43. What is a conclusion?
44. True or False: Experiments should measure only one
variable.
A scientist wants to test the effects of soda on the growth of
plants. The scientist keeps everything consistent in the
experiment except to plant A.
He adds 5 ml of Soda plus 5 ml of water each day to Plant A.
He adds 5 ml of water to Plant B.
Each day, the scientist measures the height of each plant and
then records his observations.
45. In the above experiment what variable is being tested?
Is this the Dependent or the Independent variable?
46. In the above experiment, what is controlled? Is this the
Dependent or Independent variable?
Below is a video demonstration on the difference between the
independent and dependent variables:
http://www.sophia.org/tutorials/independentdependent-
variables--2
Here is a video that explains a control group
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-control-
group-definition-and-use-in-research.html#lesson
5
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Three percent of the Earth's water is fresh water. Check all the
areas that fresh water can be found on Earth.
Select one or more:
a. Most lakes including the Great Lakes
b. Estuaries
c. Rivers
d. Ice Bergs and Glaciers
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Which of the following is the greatest dissolved solid in ocean
water?
Select one:
a. Magnesium Chloride
b. Plankton
c. Sodium Chloride
d. Calium
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Why is the greatest concentration of dissolved gases located in
the surface zone?
Select one:
a. Because warm water holds more gases.
b. Because surface water contains plants and algae that
photosynthesize adding to the gases.
c. Because cold water does not hold dissolved gases
d. Because ocean currents stir up the water.
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Why is it possible for ocean animals to live in deep waters?
Select one:
a. Because cold water holds more dissolved oxygen and food.
b. Because the food and oxygen rise from the ocean floor.
c. Because the animals can go long periods without food and
oxygen.
d. Because warm water holds more dissolved oxygen than warm
water.
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Which layer of the ocean has the greatest change in
temperature?
Select one:
a. Surface Layer
b. Thermocline
c. Deep Zone
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Which three things are the size of waves dependent upon?
Select one or more:
a. Temperature
b. Strength of Wind
c. Duration of the gust.
d. Fetch
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The valley between two waves is called...
Select one:
a. Wave Length
b. Crest
c. Trough
d. Wave Height
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Earthquakes in the ocean that cause waves are called....
Select one:
a. Fault Valleys
b. Tsunamis
c. Rift Valleys
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Choose the two factors that cause ocean currents
Select one or more:
a. water density
b. storm patterns
c. wind patterns
d. trade winds
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Which type of currents affect the weather?
Select one:

7. a. long shore
b. surface
c. deep currents
d. rip tides
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What type of current is the Gulf Stream?
Select one:
a. Upwelling
b. Long Distance Surface Current
c. Deep Shore Current
d. Rip Current
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Match the type of current with its characteristic.
Short Distance Currents
Answer 1
Choose...Moving paralell to the shore carrying large amounts of
sand.Caused by differences in water densities.Cuts an opening
in a sandbar and moves straight out into the ocean.Surface
currents that travel over short distances.
Long Shore Currents
Answer 2
Choose...Moving paralell to the shore carrying large amounts of
sand.Caused by differences in water densities.Cuts an opening
in a sandbar and moves straight out into the ocean.Surface
currents that travel over short distances.
Rip Current
Answer 3
Choose...Moving paralell to the shore carrying large amounts of

8. sand.Caused by differences in water densities.Cuts an opening
in a sandbar and moves straight out into the ocean.Surface
currents that travel over short distances.
Deep Current
Answer 4
Choose...Moving paralell to the shore carrying large amounts of
sand.Caused by differences in water densities.Cuts an opening
in a sandbar and moves straight out into the ocean.Surface
currents that travel over short distances.
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Choose the two factors that affect water density.
Select one or more:
a. Salinity
b. Currents
c. Temperature
d. Depth
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Cold water is more dense than warm water.
Select one:
True
False
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Upwelling is.....
Select one:

9. a. Warm water rising from ocean depth changing storm patterns.
b. Bad for fishermen because is drives away the fish.
c. Rich, nutrient rich cold water rises to the surface.
d. A long distance surface current that rises up.
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El Nino influences storm patterns around the world.
Select one:
True
False
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Match the following shoreline formations with their
characteristics.
Sea Cliffs
Answer 1
Choose...Steep faces of rock.Columns of resistant rock left
standing.Underwater ridges of sand.Hollowed out portions of
sea cliffs.
Caves
Answer 2
Choose...Steep faces of rock.Columns of resistant rock left
standing.Underwater ridges of sand.Hollowed out portions of
sea cliffs.
Sea Stacks
Answer 3
Choose...Steep faces of rock.Columns of resistant rock left
standing.Underwater ridges of sand.Hollowed out portions of
sea cliffs.
Sandbars

10. Answer 4
Choose...Steep faces of rock.Columns of resistant rock left
standing.Underwater ridges of sand.Hollowed out portions of
sea cliffs.
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Elongated bodies of sand bounded on either side by inlets are
called...
Select one:
a. Barrier Islands
b. Rift Valleys
c. Lagoons
d. Hot Spot Islands
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Choose the following examples of human activities that try to
stop beach erosion.
Select one or more:
a. Piers
b. Sea Walls
c. Dune Construction
d. Channel Dredging
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How are waves formed?
Select one:
a. The pull of the moon's gravity.

11. b. El Nino.
c. Deep ocean currents.
d. Energy from wind moving across the ocean's surface.
Directions:
Click here: Overview of upwelling
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visu
alizations/es2405/es2405page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
9.4 Upwelling Project Instructions
Upwelling is a term used to denote water that rises to the
ocean's surface from depth. It is caused by wind patterns, and is
beneficial because the cold, deep water contains nutrients and
dissolved gases, that with sunlight, create favorable conditions
in which phytoplankton can photosynthesize. Phytoplankton are
the base of oceanic food webs; therefore, areas of upwelling are
important ecologically and economically. Refer to the 9.4
Upwelling ppt for information on upwellings.
To do the project:
Watch the Powerpoint presentation in Brainshark.
Upwelling power point
OR, click here and research the answers
Next, complete the following two requirements in a word
document and attach to the assignment link.
1. Write 4 good questions on upwelling as if you were preparing
a test on this topic. Include the correct answers with the
questions you post.
2. Write a paragraph on the importance of upwelling to the
fishing industry.
NAME__________________________________
9.3 Ocean Environmental Issues- HONORS
You will research each of the following problems facing our
oceans today. You will fill in the chart and site your resources

12. in the last column.
After you complete the chart, you will write a one or two page
paper. It will be 12pt font and single spaced. Here are some
questions that need to be answered in your paper:
What common theme do you see among the problems in the
chart?
What bothers you the most?
What can you do to help solve some of these problems?
You will do your own research. Below are some good websites
to help get you started.
Submit this chart and your paper for a grade.
Problem:
Explain what the problem is.
What is the main cause of the problem?
What measures are being taken to solve the problem?
Source of your research.
Oil Spills
Over Fishing

13. Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Rising Sea Levels
Ocean Acidification
Dying Coral Reefs

14. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oilimpacts.html
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues/gulf-
oil-spill/
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-
overfishing/
http://overfishing.org/
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia
/great-pacific-garbage-patch/?ar_a=1
http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/patch.html
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-sea-
level-rise/
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sealevel.html
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/im
pacts/infographic-sea-level-rise-global-
warming.html#.VO895i7work
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean+Acidification
http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-acidification
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/oceans/corals/
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120905-save-our-dying-
coral-reefs

15. http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/coral_
reefs/coral_threats/