Multiple Choice
Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
|
|
|
1.
|
Which planet is closest to the Sun?
a. | Jupiter | c. | Venus | b. | Mars | d. | Mercury |
|
|
|
2.
|
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. |
|
|
|
3.
|
A hurricane-type cloud known as the Great Red Spot
can be found on which planet?
a. | Saturn | c. | Uranus | b. | Mars | d. | Jupiter |
|
|
|
4.
|
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. |
|
|
|
5.
|
Which planet do scientists think once had surface
water or flowing rivers?
a. | Mercury | c. | Mars | b. | Venus | d. | Jupiter |
|
|
|
6.
|
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. |
|
|
|
7.
|
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. |
|
|
|
8.
|
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. |
|
|
|
9.
|
Which statement is true about Venus?
a. | It has polar ice caps and a rust-colored
surface. | b. | It has clouds that create a greenhouse
effect. | c. | It is the third planet from the
Sun. | d. | It rotates on its side and has rings of methane
ice. |
|
|
|
10.
|
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. |
|
|
|
11.
|
When the Moon goes through Earth's shadow, we
see a
a. | solar eclipse. | c. | total
eclipse. | b. | lunar eclipse. | d. | planetary
eclipse. |
|
|
|
12.
|
A comet is largely made up of
a. | iron and nickel. | c. | petroleum. | b. | rock. | d. | water and ice. |
|
|
|
13.
|
Which is the largest planet?
a. | Mars | c. | Jupiter | b. | Uranus | d. | Saturn |
|
|
|
14.
|
Astronomers usually measure the distance from Earth
to the Moon in
a. | meters. | c. | light-years. | b. | kilometers. | d. | fathoms. |
|
|
|
15.
|
The only reusable spacecraft designed to
transport astronauts to and from space is a
a. | space probe. | c. | rocket. | b. | satellite. | d. | space shuttle. |
|
|
|
16.
|
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 |
|
|
|
17.
|
Each year, Earth moves once around
a. | Mars. | c. | the
Sun. | b. | Venus. | d. | the
Moon. |
|
|
|
18.
|
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. |
|
|
|
19.
|
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 |
|
|
|
20.
|
An object in the solar system has many wide, flat
craters. What must be true about the object?
a. | It is an asteroid. | b. | It was originally formed with craters. | c. | It has been hit by other objects from space. | d. | It is a planet. |
|
|
|
21.
|
| | Use the table below to answer
this question.
 | | |
This table shows data for major characteristics of the nine planets in
the solar system. (One revolution is the length of time required for a planet to make one complete
trip around the Sun; one rotation is the length of time required for a planet to make one complete
turn on its axis.)
| | Which of the following planets has a day almost the same as a
day on Earth? | | |
a. | Pluto | c. | Jupiter | b. | Earth | d. | Mars |
|
|
|
22.
|
Earth stays in orbit around the Sun because of
inertia and
a. | friction. | c. | magnetism. | b. | gravity. | d. | momentum. |
|
|
|
23.
|
Which is the largest object in the solar
system?
a. | Earth | c. | the
Sun | b. | Jupiter | d. | the
Moon |
|
|
|
24.
|
| | Use the chart below to answer
this question.
 | | |
The chart shows the average distance of each planet from the Sun and
the speed each planet travels in its orbit. Which conclusion should be drawn from this
chart?a. | The planets closer to the Sun travel around the Sun
faster. | b. | The planets closer to the Sun absorb the Sun's
energy and therefore move faster. | c. | The outer planets
move slower because they are larger. | d. | The outer planets
move slower because they have many moons. |
|
|
|
25.
|
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. |
|