Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers
the question.
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1.
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Which planet is closest to the Sun?
a. | Jupiter | c. | Venus | b. | Mars | d. | Mercury |
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2.
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A characteristic of gaseous planets is that they
have
a. | no density. | c. | a
density the same as Earth's. | b. | a density greater
than Earth's. | d. | a density less than
Earth's. |
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3.
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John Glenn was the first American to
a. | ride into space. | c. | land
on the Moon. | b. | orbit
Earth. | d. | pilot a space shuttle. |
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4.
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When a child is getting up to go to school in
Georgia, a child on the opposite side of the Northern Hemisphere, in China, is getting ready to go to
bed. What is the reason for this?
a. | Earth turns on its axis. | b. | Earth moves around the Sun. | c. | The Sun turns on its axis. | d. | The Moon blocks the light of the Sun on the other side of
Earth. |
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5.
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A hurricane-type cloud known as the Great Red Spot
can be found on which planet?
a. | Saturn | c. | Uranus | b. | Mars | d. | Jupiter |
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6.
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Which statement best explains why there is
no atmosphere on the Moon?
a. | The temperature of the Moon varies too much to develop
an atmosphere. | b. | The Moon does not
have enough gravity to hold an atmosphere. | c. | The Moon revolves
too quickly to keep an atmosphere. | d. | The density of the
Moon is too great to allow an atmosphere. |
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7.
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The length of a year on Earth is determined by
Earth's
a. | gravitational pull. | c. | rotation. | b. | revolution. | d. | axis tilt. |
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8.
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Which planet do scientists think once had surface
water or flowing rivers?
a. | Mercury | c. | Mars | b. | Venus | d. | Jupiter |
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9.
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Venus has the highest surface temperature of all
the planets in our solar system. Which is the best explanation for this?
a. | Venus rotates on its axis very
slowly. | b. | Venus is very close to the
Sun. | c. | Venus revolves around the Sun relatively
quickly. | d. | Venus's atmosphere has thick clouds and carbon
dioxide. |
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10.
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The Moon appears to change shape
because
a. | the Moon rotates. | c. | Earth
revolves around the Sun. | b. | Earth
rotates. | d. | the Moon revolves around Earth. |
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11.
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Use the information below to answer this
question.
Mary constructed an
accurate scale model of the solar system. In her model, Earth was 35 m from the Sun, Jupiter was 170
m from the Sun, and Neptune was 1000 m from the Sun.
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In this model, Mars would be about how
far from the Sun?a. | 25 m | c. | 150
m | b. | 50 m | d. | 200
m |
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12.
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Which explains why day and night occur on different
parts of Earth?
a. | Earth rotates on its axis. | c. | The Sun rotates on its axis. | b. | Earth revolves around the Sun. | d. | The Sun revolves
around the galaxy. |
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13.
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There are about 24 hours in a day. What would
happen to the length of a day if the rotation of Earth sped up?
a. | The length of a day would be
shorter. | b. | The length of a day would be
longer. | c. | The length of a day would remain the
same. | d. | The length of a day would be
unpredictable. |
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14.
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Scientists have concluded that the universe is
expanding, by observing a red shift in the light coming from other galaxies. Which instruments allow
scientists to observe the red shift?
a. | space probes | c. | telescopes | b. | Geiger
counters | d. | spectroscopes |
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15.
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It is about 29 days from one full moon to the next.
This is because 29 days is about the time it takes for one
a. | revolution of the Moon around
Earth. | c. | rotation of the Sun. | b. | revolution of Earth around the Sun. | d. | rotation of
Earth. |
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16.
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When the Moon goes through Earth's shadow, we
see a
a. | solar eclipse. | c. | total
eclipse. | b. | lunar eclipse. | d. | planetary
eclipse. |
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17.
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Which is made primarily of pieces of rock or iron
that enter Earth's atmosphere?
a. | asteroids | c. | solar
flares | b. | comets | d. | meteorites |
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18.
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A comet is largely made up of
a. | iron and nickel. | c. | petroleum. | b. | rock. | d. | water and ice. |
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19.
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Which is the largest planet?
a. | Mars | c. | Jupiter | b. | Uranus | d. | Saturn |
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20.
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Asteroids have formed from
a. | the coalescence of hydrogen gas. | c. | an interstellar dust cloud. | b. | leftover rocks and fragments. | d. | the big
bang. |
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21.
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Astronomers usually measure the distance from Earth
to the Moon in
a. | meters. | c. | light-years. | b. | kilometers. | d. | fathoms. |
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22.
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The only reusable spacecraft designed to
transport astronauts to and from space is a
a. | space probe. | c. | rocket. | b. | satellite. | d. | space shuttle. |
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23.
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Which diagram shows the Earth-Moon-Sun system
arranged to cause a total solar eclipse?
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24.
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Which planet is characterized by polar ice caps, a
pink sky, a rust-colored surface, large volcanoes, and surface channels?
a. | Uranus | c. | Mars | b. | Pluto | d. | Saturn |
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25.
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Each year, Earth moves once around
a. | Mars. | c. | the
Sun. | b. | Venus. | d. | the
Moon. |
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26.
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Which accounts for the fact that a compass can be
used to find north on Earth?
a. | Earth has a magnetic field. | c. | Most of Earth is covered by water. | b. | Earth has only one moon. | d. | Earth's
temperature is not constant. |
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27.
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Suppose you view the constellation Orion in the
northern sky on January 1 at 7:00 P.M. On February 1, at the same time of night, Orion looks like it
has shifted its position slightly. Which statement best explains your observation?
a. | The universe is expanding. | b. | Orion has moved within the Milky Way. | c. | Earth has moved in its orbit around the Sun. | d. | Orion has moved behind a dust cloud. |
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28.
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Marty learned that a planet's orbital velocity
is related to its distance from the Sun. He noted that orbital velocities range from 4.7 km/sec
(Pluto) to 47.8 km/sec (Mercury). Which planet is likely to have an orbital velocity of 5.4
km/sec?
a. | Venus | c. | Mars | b. | Earth | d. | Neptune |
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29.
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| | Use the diagram below to answer
this question.
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When Earth, the Moon, and the Sun are in line as shown above, which
could occur?a. | An eclipse of the Sun could
occur. | b. | An eclipse of the Moon could
occur. | c. | The Moon could be pulled closer to the
Sun. | d. | The speed of Earth's rotation could be
increased. |
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30.
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| | Use the diagram below to answer
this question.
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When the Sun, the Moon, and Earth are in the same line as shown, which
of the following could occur?a. | an eclipse of the Sun | b. | an eclipse of the Moon | c. | The Moon could be
pulled closer to Earth. | d. | The spin of Earth
could be increased. |
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31.
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Astronomers determine the chemical composition of
stars by using a
a. | telescope. | c. | kaleidoscope. | b. | spectroscope. | d. | stethoscope. |
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32.
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The asteroid belt is located between
a. | the Sun and Earth. | c. | Neptune and Pluto. | b. | Mars and
Jupiter. | d. | Saturn and Uranus. |
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33.
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We can be sure that the Milky Way galaxy we live in
is a spiral galaxy rather than an elliptical galaxy because
a. | it has curved arms. | c. | its stars are all about the same age. | b. | it does not show any rotation. | d. | new stars are no
longer forming. |
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34.
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Earth stays in orbit around the Sun because of
inertia and
a. | friction. | c. | magnetism. | b. | gravity. | d. | momentum. |
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35.
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Which is the largest object in the solar
system?
a. | Earth | c. | the
Sun | b. | Jupiter | d. | the
Moon |
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36.
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If you were to watch the stars all night, they
would seem to
a. | stay in exactly the same place in the
sky. | b. | move across the sky at night, as the Sun does during the
day. | c. | go in circles around the point straight up from where
you are. | d. | move across the sky at night, in the opposite direction
that the Sun moves during the day. |
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37.
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Which planet is closer to the Sun than Earth is to
the Sun?
a. | Jupiter | c. | Saturn | b. | Venus | d. | Mars |
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38.
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According to the big bang theory, the universe
originated as a
a. | point where all matter and energy was
concentrated. | b. | complex system of
galaxies that has since been expanding. | c. | complete,
limitless void without any matter or energy. | d. | massive sphere of
matter and energy with near-infinite diameter. |
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39.
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How does the gravity on the Moon compare to the
gravity on Earth?
a. | gravity is the same wherever you
are | c. | there is more gravity on the
Moon | b. | there is less gravity on the
Moon | d. | gravity depends on the person |
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40.
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Astronomers usually measure the distance from the
Earth to the Moon in
a. | meters | c. | light-years | b. | kilometers | d. | astronomical
units |
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41.
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Which object in the sky emits its own
light?
a. | an asteroid | c. | a
planet | b. | a star | d. | a
moon |
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42.
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Why does the Moon orbit Earth instead of the
Sun?
a. | gravity depends on distance and the Moon is closer to
the Earth | c. | the Moon used to be part of Earth so it must orbit
Earth | b. | only large objects orbit around the Sun and the Moon is
too small | d. | the Moon is too fast and cannot change its
orbit |
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43.
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Objects in an orbiting space shuttle float
because
a. | the space shuttle slows down when it reaches
orbit | c. | the mass of the object is less in
space | b. | Earth’s gravity has less effect on objects as they
get farther away from Earth | d. | the space shuttle’s engines cause too much
vibration for objects to remain still |
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44.
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The reason that a student does not feel the
gravitational pull of the Sun is because
a. | the Sun has no gravitational pull | c. | the Sun is very far away | b. | the mass of the
Sun is very small | d. | Earth is so much smaller than the
Sun |
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