1. What happens to a plant soon after it dies? Answer Choices A It becomes soft and forms clay. B It turns black and becomes coal. C It becomes hard and forms a rock. D It breaks down and becomes part of the soil.

2. A layer of solid brittle rock comprises the outer 100 kilometers of Earth.  This layer, which contains BOTH the crust and the upper mantle, is called theAnswer Choices A Core B Sediment C LithosphereD Hemisphere

3. Which of the following statements BEST explains why the tilt of the Earth on its axis causes summer to be warmer than winter in the Northern Hemisphere?Answer Choices A The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the Sun in the summer. B The greenhouse effect increases in the Northern Hemisphere in the summer. C The rays of the Sun strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly in the summer.D The warm ocean currents flow from the tropics to the Northern Hemisphere in the summer.

4. The diagram below shows some of the layers of rocks found in the Grand Canyon. Scientists find these layers of rock useful for studying fossils.What type of rock is shown labeled in these layers?Answer Choices A Igneous B Extrusive C Metamorphic D Sedimentary

5. The planets in our solar system were formed mainly by one force.  That same force affects the motion of the planets in our solar system.  Which of the choices below are two other effects of this force in our solar system.Answer Choices A The inner planets are warm and the the outer planets are cold. B All planets have seasons and are made of the same elements. C Pluto is no longer a planet and there are 365 days in an earth year. D Some natural satellites orbit planets and planets have atmospheres.

6. The pie chart shows the composition of Neptune’s atmosphere.What portion of Neptune’s atmosphere is composed of helium?Answer Choices A 0.015 B 0.15 C 0.185D 1.85

7. Many gallons of freshwater pour into the oceans each day. However, the salinity balance is maintained because _____.Answer ChoicesA sea organisms consume the freshwater B the water becomes salty as it enters the ocean C water continuously evaporates back out of the oceanD salty, glacial water is also evaporating from the ice caps

8. When astronauts view the Earth from space, which of Earth's features is the most clearly visible?Answer ChoicesA OceansB Deserts C Mountains D Rainforests

9. Look at the diagram below.By how much has the length of the delta increased from 1982 to 1996?Answer Choices A 2 km B 4 kmC 6 km D 8 km

10. Which weather condition is most likely to produce a tornado?Answer Choices A Two cold air masses colliding B Two warm air masses colliding C Cold air mass meeting with a warm air massD Warm air mass moving over an ocean or lake

11. Earthquakes are most likely to occur whereAnswer Choices A Heat causes the mantle to expand B Bubbles of magma rise to the surface C One crustal plate moves under anotherD The pressure cracks thin areas of Earth's crust

12. Ocean water differs from freshwater in that it hasAnswer Choices A A lower temperature B A higher temperature C A higher concentration of silicon dioxide  D A higher concentration of sodium chloride

13. The theory of plate tectonics attempts to explain theAnswer Choices A Gravitational forces of Earth  B Layering of sedimentary rock C Movement of Earth's upper layersD Composition of Earth's inner regions

14. A teacher drew a picture of a solar eclipse.What information can students gain from this model?Answer Choices A The amount of time it takes for a solar eclipse to occur. B The cities that are experiencing the effects of a solar eclipse.C The temperature of the Earth's surface during a solar eclipse. D The position of the sun, moon, and Earth during a solar eclipse.

15. A teacher asks students to use different objects to create a model of the solar system. Jasper is using fruits to create his model. If he uses an orange to represent Earth, which of the following would be best represented by a cherry?Answer Choices A Saturn B Jupiter C The sun D The moon

16. Which of the following would be the best model to show the interactions between water and the Sun's heat energy in cycles of precipitation?Answer ChoicesA A light shines on an aquarium B A light shines on a closed cardboard covered with glass, and water box containing a plant droplets form on the inside of the glass. C A light shines on a man’s face. D A light shines on a glass of iced tea.  Droplets of sweat form on his Water droplets form on the outside face as he exercises. of the glass.

17. Layers of soil are shown in the figure below.Which of the following is correct?Answer Choices A Layer 1 is older than layer 4. B Layer 2 is older than layer 3. C Layer 1 is younger than layer 5.D Layer 5 is younger than layer 3.

18. Scientists studying repairs needed on various roads have noticed a large increase in the number of large cracks in the roads. The scientists concluded that acid rain has been falling in the area which is damaging the roads. What is another likely explanation?Answer Choices A Traffic on the roads has increased.B Traffic on the roads has decreased. C Temperatures in the area have increased. D Thunderstorms in the area have decreased.

19. The Big Bang theory proposes that the universe evolved from a hot, dense gas and it is constantly expanding.  Which of the following BEST supports this theory? Answer Choices A Ptolemy’s belief that the planets and sun revolve around the Earth B The discovery that atoms needed for life were formed long after the Big Bang. C Recent evidence that the universe might contain a type of matter besides atoms. D Hubble's observation that other galaxies are moving farther away at a predictable rate

20. Which phrase below describes the best evidence that many different geologic periods are represented in Georgia?Answer Choices A The length of its rivers B The location of the Piedmont C The amount of chemical weathering D The presence of fossils of different ages

21. For 50 years, scientists recorded information about thunderstorms that occurred in a town. The data is shown below. What is the best conclusion based on this set of data?Answer Choices A Thunderstorms have produced more rainfall each decade. B The number of thunderstorms has increased each decade.C Thunderstorms have become more powerful each decade. D The number of thunderstorms has decreased each decade.

22. When the sea floor spreads apart, volcanoes and ridges are formed because __________________.Answer Choices A underwater earthquakes lift the sea floor into long ridges B sediments are deposited where the floor spreads, building ridges C as the plates pull apart, magma moves to the surface, building ridgesD ocean water pushes down on the surrounding sea floor, pushing up ridges

23. This figure shows the position of the sun and the Earth when it is noon at city P.What will the position of the sun and Earth be when it is night at city P?Answer Choices ABC D

24. Which of the following is NOT directly caused by the force of gravity?Answer Choices A The position of Earth's moon B The formation of tides on  Earth C The occurrence of volcanoes on EarthD The revolution of Earth around the sun