First Quarterly Assessment 8th Grade Science

Question 1 Which unit of measurement do astronomers use when measuring the distance between two stars found in the Milky Way? A. meter B. light-year C. kilometer D. astronomical unit

Question 2 Two galaxies are interacting with each other.   What is the force that draws these two galaxies toward each other? A. friction B. gravity C. electricity D. magnetism

Question 3 What causes the streak of light observed when a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere? A. sunlight reflected from the meteoroid surface B. energy released from radioactive materials in the meteoroid C. lightning produced between the meteoroid and the upper atmosphere D. visible light produced from the interaction between the meteoroid and the upper atmosphere

Question 4 Which explains the relationship between hours of sunlight and seasons A. the rotation of Earth on its axis B. the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the sun C. the location of Earth’s orbit in the solar system D. the motion of the moon as it travels around Earth

Question 5 Why do satellites and spacecraft launched from Earth need to reach a specific speed to escape Earth’s surface? A. to overcome Earth’s gravitational force B. to protect equipment from radiation C. to break through the sound barrier D. to avoid Earth’s magnetic field

Question 6 This photograph of Galaxy M-82 was taken by students at the Kitt Peak observatory in Arizona. Which type of equipment did the students use to collect the light to make this photograph? A. satellite B. binoculars C. microscope D. optical telescope

Question 7 What change would occur if Earth’s rate of rotation significantly increased? A. The year would be shorter. B. The year would be longer. C. The day would be shorter. D. The day would be longer.

Question 8 Which phenomena occur as a result of the gravitational attraction between the moon and Earth? A. eclipses B. ocean tides C. seasonal changes D. phases of the moon

Question 9 The sun is a mid-sized, main sequence star Question 9 The sun is a mid-sized, main sequence star. What stage is next in the life cycle of the sun? A. red giant B. black hole C. white dwarf D. neutron star

Question 10 Which diagram shows the relative positions of Earth (E), the sun (S), and the moon (M) during a full moon?  [Note: Diagrams are not drawn to scale.]. A. B. C. D.

The map below shows some of the major tectonic plates on Earth.

Question 11 What process is forming high non-volcanic mountains at location 1 on the map? A. One tectonic plate is splitting apart into two plates. B. Two tectonic plates are colliding and pushing together. C. One tectonic plate is sliding past another tectonic plate. D. Two tectonic plates are colliding and one is sliding under the other.

Question 12 A line of volcanoes occurs along the western coast of South America, near location 4.   Based on the information about plate movement on the map, which process explains the formation of these volcanoes? subducting of one plate under the other causing melting of the lower plate sliding of one plate sideways past another resulting in friction and melting melting of crust because of plate movement over a “hot spot” D. rifting of a plate with lava filling in the resulting valley

Use the information below to answer questions #13, 14 .   Extinction A paleontologist was studying the evidence of extinction of organisms in the fossil record. Data were collected at several work sites. The paleontologist developed the drawing below of eight layers at one work site. Other data used included the graph below that shows changes in sea level from 490 million years ago to 60 million years ago. Asterisks on the graph indicate times of mass extinction of marine organisms.

Question 13 Based on observations, the paleontologist concluded that the layers had been undisturbed by geological activity. Which layer should have the oldest fossils? A. layer 8 B. layer 6 C. layer 4 D. layer 2

Question 14 The paleontologist collected samples from a site that has the same rock layers as the original site but is located 5 kilometers away. Comparing the original site with the site shown above, what geologic process accounts for the difference in the arrangement of the rock layers at the two sites? A. erosion B. faulting C. folding D. weathering

Question 15 Coal is usually found underground, compressed in a layer between other types of rock. Coal is produced by what rock-forming process? A. crystallization from melted rock B. formation of sediment from weathering C. deposition and burial of dead plant matter D. eruption of volcanic ash followed by settling in a layer

Question 16 What is the major process of surface rock formation on volcanoes? A. Rock cools quickly from melted rock. B. Rock is recrystallized by extreme pressure. C. Rock solidifies slowly deep underground. D. Rock is formed from deposited sediment.

Rock Layers – Use these figures for questions 17 and 18. The two figures below show rock layers that have been affected by Earth processes. The thin arrows on the block in Figure 1 show direction of movement. The thicker arrows on both Figures 1 and 2 show the direction of forces that acted on the original flat layers.

A. continental rift valley where one plate is splitting apart Question 17 Which plate boundary feature is associated with the compressive forces shown in Figure 2? A. continental rift valley where one plate is splitting apart B. mid-ocean ridge where two plates are moving away from each other C. high folded mountains where two plates are pushing toward each other D. strike-slip faulting where two plates are sliding sideways past each other

Question 18 Which process produced the pattern of layers shown in Figure 1? A. folding B. faulting C. spreading D. weathering

Question 19 Which kind of rock is produced by deposition and cementation? A. marble, a metamorphic rock B. sandstone, a sedimentary rock C. granite, an intrusive igneous rock D. pumice, an extrusive igneous rock

The moon orbits the Earth about every A. 28 days B. 31 days C. 24 days Question 20 The moon orbits the Earth about every A. 28 days B. 31 days C. 24 days D. 60 days

Question 21

Question 22 The diagram models Earth and the moon in two positions of its orbit. The arrows indicate the direction of light from the sun. Identify what phase of the moon will be seen from Earth when the moon is in position X Describe or draw what that phase looks like from Earth. Indicate in your description or drawing what portion of the moon is lit or is not lit. Then, identify what phase of the moon will be seen from Earth when the moon is in position Z. Describe or draw what that phase looks like from Earth. Indicate in your description or drawing what portion of the moon is lit or is not lit.