Chapter 15:
The Air Around You
Practice Test
1.
How thick is Earth's atmosphere?
a.
hundreds of kilometers
b.
1 million kilometers
c.
several meters
d.
several centimeters
Hint
2.
Which instrument measures changes in air pressure?
a.
seismograph
b.
thermometer
c.
barometer
d.
spectrometer
Hint
3.
What is conduction of heat?
a.
movement of cold material downward
b.
transfer of heat through a material
c.
from warm areas to cold areas reflection of heat off of a smooth material
d.
movement of hot material upward
Hint
4.
Why is air pressure greater on low areas of Earth's surface, and decreases with increasing altitude?
a.
High-pressure air masses are present near Earth's surface.
b.
Gravity forces air molecules away from Earth's surface.
c.
Hydrogen sulfide levels are highest at high altitudes.
d.
More layers of air are pushing down on Earth's surface in low regions.
Hint
5.
Why are low pressure systems created near the equator?
a.
Trade winds blow air away from the equator.
b.
Cooler air from the poles moves toward the equator.
c.
Warm air is denser and is forced downward.
d.
Warm air is less dense and is forced upward.
Hint
6.
Why is Mars a cold, lifeless planet?
a.
Mars has a delicate balance between the amount of solar radiation coming in and escaping from its atmosphere
b.
Most solar radiation escapes from Mars's atmosphere.
c.
Mars is mostly ice.
d.
Most solar radiation is trapped in Mars's atmosphere.
Hint
7.
The protective ozone layer occurs in which part of Earth's atmosphere?
a.
stratosphere
b.
thermosphere
c.
troposphere
d.
mesosphere
Hint
8.
What is Earth's atmosphere made of?
a.
oxygen gas
b.
smoke
c.
wind
d.
gases, solids, and liquids
Hint
9.
Which gas comprises more than three-fourths of Earth's atmosphere?
a.
oxygen
b.
nitrogen
c.
argon
d.
water vapor
Hint
10.
How does heat from the sun travel through space and reach Earth?
a.
conduction
b.
radiation
c.
convection
d.
absorption
Hint
11.
What happens to the temperature in the thermosphere?
a.
It increases rapidly to 500 [degree symbol]C, and then holds steady.
b.
It decreases rapidly.
c.
It increases rapidly.
d.
It remains constant.
Hint
12.
Why do athletes in big cities wake up early to train?
a.
They must avoid high smog levels.
b.
They need to breathe oxygen.
c.
They must avoid direct sunlight.
d.
They prefer cool air to breathe.
Hint
13.
What is smog?
a.
a burning sensation in your throat
b.
air pollution that appears as a smoke like haze
c.
a clear gas common on sunny days
d.
ozone from the upper atmosphere
Hint
14.
Select the layer that contains 75 percent of Earth's atmospheric gases.
a.
thermosphere
b.
troposphere
c.
stratosphere
d.
mesosphere
Hint
15.
Which gas makes it more difficult for red blood cells to absorb oxygen?
a.
water vapor
b.
nitrogen
c.
carbon monoxide
d.
argon
Hint
