1. Earth’s Structures and Processes
8th Grade PASS Review
Earth’s Structures and Processes

2. Earth's Structures and Processes
The model below summarizes the key characteristics of one of Earth’s layers. Which of the following would be the best title for this model?
Outermost layer
Thinnest layer
Least dense layer
Solid rock (basalt & granite)
C- have students identify key terms in the model that helped them select this layer (outmost, thinnest, least dense, basalt & granite). Students should be able to eliminate the other answer choices by discussing what key characteristics would be found in a model of those layers. A- inner layer, most dense, iron, nickel. B- crust and top of mantle combined. D- middle layer, density increases with depth, softened rock, iron and magnesium.
Core
Lithosphere
Crust
Mantle
8th Grade PASS Review

3. Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following describes a difference between the oceanic crust and the continental crust?
The oceanic crust is thicker than the continental crust.
The oceanic crust is more dense than the continental crust.
The oceanic crust is liquid and the continental crust is solid.
The oceanic crust is made of iron, the continental crust is made of magnesium.
B- have students eliminate other answer choices using evidence and reasoning. A- oceanic crust is thinnest, C- both are solid, D- oceanic made of basalt & continental made of granite; iron and magnesium are found in the mantle.
8th Grade PASS Review

4. Convection currents cause which layer of the Earth to flow slowly?
Inner core
Lithosphere
Oceanic crust
Asthenosphere

5. Earth's Structures and Processes
The chart below illustrates the location and some key characteristics of the Mantle. Which of the following characteristics could also be added to this chart?
Mantle
Middle layer
Iron and magnesium
Hot softened rock
Asthenosphere
Least dense layer
Most dense layer
Density increases with depth
Density decreases with depth
C- Have students eliminate other answer choices by identifying which layer (if any) that answer choice would match. A- crust, B- Core, D- does not match any layer
8th Grade PASS Review

6. Earth's Structures and Processes
Earth’s core is divided into two parts, the inner core and the outer core. Which statement below accurately compares the two parts of Earth’s core?
The inner core is thicker than the outer core.
The inner core is made of nickel the outer core is made of iron.
The inner core is solid and the outer core is slow flowing liquid.
The inner core is made of basalt and the outer core is made of granite.
C- have students eliminate other answer choices with evidence and reasoning. A- outer core is thicker, B- both inner and outer core are made of iron and nickel combined.
D- the oceanic crust is made of basalt and the continental crust is made of granite.
8th Grade PASS Review

7. Earth's Structures and Processes
The image below demonstrates the seismic wave activity (P waves and S waves) from a recent earthquake. Analyze how the P waves and S waves move through Earth’s layers. This illustration best supports which of the following?
The outer core is made of liquid.
P waves travel faster than S waves.
P waves are longitudinal and S waves are transverse.
Surface waves cause the most damage.
A- students should use evidence from the illustration to identify the correct response and eliminate other answer choices. A- the S wave does not travel through the outer core but the P wave does; S waves cannot travel through liquids. B- this is a true statement, but there is no evidence to support this idea in the illustration. C- this is a true statement, but the illustration does not demonstrate this. D- this is also true, but no evidence in the illustration depicts the surface waves or the damage.
8th Grade PASS Review

8. Earth's Structures and Processes
The model below shows two seismic waves created by an earthquake. What inference can be made about the Orange wave?
The orange wave represents an S wave.
The orange wave represents a P wave.
The orange wave represents a surface wave.
The orange wave represents a longitudinal wave.
A- Students should use evidence from the model to support their answer choice and eliminate other options. The orange wave does not travel through the outer core which is liquid. S waves cannot travel through liquid. B- P waves travel through liquid. C- surface waves occur on only the surface (crust) of Earth; they do not travel through the mantle. D- S waves are transverse waves and P waves are longitudinal.
8th Grade PASS Review

9. Earth's Structures and Processes
Forces that are great enough to cause rocks to break are called faults. A Strike-slip fault is most closely related to which of the following?
Compaction
Compression
Tension
Shearing
D- have students identify what faults the other answer choices are most closely related to. A- none, B- reverse, C- normal
8th Grade PASS Review

10. Earth's Structures and Processes
The model below shows the triangulation of a recent earthquake. Which point below represents the epicenter of this earthquake?
Point 1
Point 2
Point 3
Point 4 1 4
A; The point where all three circles overlap is the epicenter. Have students discuss reasoning for eliminating other options. Points 2 & 4 only have two of the three circles overlapping. Point 3 has no lines overlapping. 2 3
8th Grade PASS Review

11. Earth's Structures and Processes
The graph below shows data from a recent seismic event. Analyze the speed and movement of the P waves and S waves. This data best supports which of the following conclusions?
The mantle is the densest layer.
The inner core is solid.
S waves travel faster than P waves.
P waves travel fastest in the Lithosphere.
A- students should use evidence from the graph to support and refute answer choices. A- the velocity of both P waves and S waves is highest in the mantle. The denser a material is the faster a wave will travel through it. B- While the wave does travel faster in the inner core than the outer core, this is not enough evidence independently to support this idea. C- the chart shows that the highest velocity of S waves is 6-7 km/s but P waves have a velocity of 12 km/s. D- P waves have a velocity of 8 km/s in the Lithosphere, but a velocity of 12 km/s in the mantle.
8th Grade PASS Review

12. Earth's Structures and Processes
The model below depicts data collect from a recent earthquake. This model represents which of the following?
Seismogram
Compression
Triangulation
Secondary waves
C; is the process scientists use to determine the epicenter of an earthquake. Have students provide evidence and reasoning for eliminating other answer choices. A- is the recording of the vibrations caused by seismic waves (it would look like jagged lines on a piece of paper). B- compression is the force that pushes or squeezes rocks together. D- secondary waves (or S waves) are the second vibrations released from an earthquake.
8th Grade PASS Review

13. Earth's Structures and Processes
The diagram below models the steps scientists use for conducting the triangulation of an earthquake. Which of the following explains the importance of Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio in the process of triangulation?
Surface waves from the earthquake caused the most damage at each of these locations.
Fault lines at these locations where the cause of the earthquake that occurred in Austin.
Seismographs at each of these locations are used to create a seismogram of the earthquake.
These cities represent the location of three major earthquakes that occurred at the same time.
C- Have students discuss how each step is related to the process of triangulation, and what occurs at each location. Students can also eliminate other answer choses using logical reasoning. A- surface waves only occur at the epicenter. B- Faults that create earthquakes are the epicenter of the earthquake.
8th Grade PASS Review

14. Which of the following would be the best title for the model below?
Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following would be the best title for the model below?
Fault-block mountain
Strike-slip mountain
Folded mountain
Subduction zone
A; students can eliminate other options with reasoning. They can also describe what a model of folded mountains and subduction zone might look like.
8th Grade PASS Review

15. Which term below would be the best title for the model below?
Earth's Structures and Processes
Which term below would be the best title for the model below?
Triangulation
The Rock Cycle
Mountain Building Forces
Geologic Plate Boundaries
B- have students eliminate other answer choices with logical reasoning. A- triangulation is related to earthquakes. C- Some of the processes included might result in mountains. However that is not the focus of the entire model. D- Geologic plate boundaries occur inside Earth’s crust at the lithosphere, not on the surface.
8th Grade PASS Review

16. Earth's Structures and Processes
Use the terms below to label the model below. Some terms may be used more than once, and some labels may use multiple terms.
Igneous
Intrusive
Extrusive
Sediments
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Label 4
Label 5
1- sedimentary
2-metamorphic
3-intrusive igneous
4-extrusive igneous
5-sediments
Label 3
Label 1
Label 2
8th Grade PASS Review

17. Earth's Structures and Processes
What is the difference between the focus and the epicenter of an Earthquake?
The focus is the amount of energy released, and the epicenter is the location where the most damage occurs.
The focus is the location where the most damage occurs, and the epicenter is the amount of energy released.
The focus is the location inside Earth’s crust where the earthquake begins, and the epicenter is the point on Earth’s surface directly above the focus.
The epicenter is the location inside Earth’s crust where the earthquake begins, and the focus is the point on Earth’s surface directly above the epicenter.
C- have students use logical reasoning to eliminate answer choices.
8th Grade PASS Review

18. Earth's Structures and Processes
Amber found a rock when hiking in the mountains. After observing the rock, Amber’s teacher said it was an intrusive igneous rock. Which of the following best explains how this rock was formed?
Compaction and cementation pressed layers of rock pieces and mineral grains into a new rock.
Extreme heat and pressure inside Earth’s crust pressed rocks and minerals together to form a new rock.
Magma cooled rapidly forming small, fine grains inside a new rock.
Magma cooled slowly forming large, coarse grains inside a new rock.
D- have students eliminate other answer choices by identifying what type of rock would be formed with each process by identifying key terms. A- sedimentary/compaction & cementation. B- metamorphic/ heat and pressure inside Earth. C- extrusive- cooled rapidly/small, fine grains.
8th Grade PASS Review

19. What type of rock will most likely form at label 1?
Earth's Structures and Processes
What type of rock will most likely form at label 1?
Metamorphic
Sedimentary
Intrusive igneous
Extrusive igneous
D- have students explain why this location would most likely result in extrusive igneous rocks (magma from the volcano would cool rapidly). Students should also indicate what type of rock would form at the other locations. 2- intrusive igneous, 3- metamorphic.
8th Grade PASS Review

20. Earth's Structures and Processes
What type of landform will most likely develop at location 1 in the future?
Valley
Volcano
Earthquake
Transform boundary
Location 1
B- have students explain how this will occur. The oceanic crust that is sinking under the continental crust will melt due to the heat inside Earth and begin to rise forming a volcano.
8th Grade PASS Review

21. What type of boundary is represented in the model below?
Earth's Structures and Processes
What type of boundary is represented in the model below?
Oceanic-continental divergent
Continental-continental divergent
Oceanic- continental convergent
Continental-continental convergent
C- have students label each part of the model (ocean, oceanic crust, and continental crust) and describe what is happening (oceanic crust is more dense and is being subducted under the continental crust). They can also discuss what models of the other answer choices might look like.
8th Grade PASS Review

22. Earth's Structures and Processes
Rhyolite and granite are both igneous rocks made of similar minerals. Rhyolite is fine-grained, whereas granite is coarse grained. Which statement below is the most likely explanation for this difference?
Granite is formed from great heat and pressure while rhyolite is formed from the quick cooling of lava.
Granite is formed from the quick cooling of lava and rhyolite is formed from pressure of accumulated sediments.
Granite is formed from slow cooling magma and rhyolite is formed from quick cooling lava.
Granite is formed by melting into Earth’s asthenosphere while rhyolite is formed from great heat and pressure.
C- have students use logical reasoning to eliminate other answer choices.
8th Grade PASS Review

23. Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following is describes the difference between the red circled area and the green circled area?
A. Have students describe how the map shows that the red area is steeper.
The red circle is steeper than the green circle.
The red circle is flatter than the green circle.
The red circle is a river and the green circle is an ocean
The red circle is a volcano and the green circle is an earthquake.
8th Grade PASS Review

24. Which of the following would be the best title for the model below?
Continental-oceanic divergent
Continental-continental convergent
Oceanic-continental transform
Oceanic-oceanic convergent

25. Earth's Structures and Processes
The image below shows a wall of sedimentary rock. Which of the following terms are most closely related to the formation of this wall of rock? Choose 4 correct answers.
Correct answers include C, D, F, & H. Have students explain (cause and effect) how each term is related to sedimentary rocks. Also have students identify what type of rock the other terms would be most closely related to.
Heat
Intrusive
Sediments
Compaction
Magma
Deposition
Folding
Cementation
8th Grade PASS Review

26. Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following explains how a sedimentary rock might be transformed into a metamorphic rock?
Magma on the surface cools and hardens rapidly.
Magma deep inside Earth cools and hardens slowly.
Sediments that have been deposited on the surface are compacted together.
Great heat and pressure inside Earth squeeze a rock changing its form.
D. Have students explain what type of rock would be formed by the other answer choices.
8th Grade PASS Review

27. Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following statements describes the relationship between extrusive igneous rocks and sedimentary rocks?
Weathering breaks down extrusive igneous rocks which can later be deposited to form sedimentary rocks.
Heat and pressure inside Earth squeezes sedimentary rocks and forms new extrusive igneous rocks.
Extrusive igneous rocks melt and become magma which cools and hardens rapidly forming sedimentary rocks.
Weathering breaks down extrusive igneous rocks, uncovering sedimentary rocks that were deeper in Earth.
A- have students identify the key words in the question stem (extrusive igneous rock & sedimentary rock. Have students eliminate other answer choices using logical reasoning. B- heat and pressure would turn sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks. C- extrusive igneous rocks rarely melt because they are on the surface & sedimentary rocks are formed from deposited sediments. D- sedimentary rocks are located on the Earth’s surface. Rocks beneath extrusive might include intrusive or metamorphic rock.
8th Grade PASS Review

28. Which of the following would be the best title for the chart below.
Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following would be the best title for the chart below.
Title
Natural
Remains of living things
Give off energy
Limited resource
Ores
Minerals
Fossil fuels
Triangulation
C- Have students identify key terms in the chart that indicate fossil fuels (remains of living things, give off energy). Have students use logical reasoning to eliminate other options. A- minerals that are mined. B- natural building blocks of rock D- this is related to earthquakes.
8th Grade PASS Review

29. Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following describes the relationship between ores and minerals?
Minerals are mined and ores are not.
Ores can be used for energy and minerals are used for buildings.
Ores are minerals that contain useful metals and nonmetals.
Minerals are formed from the remains of living things and ores are formed from Earth’s heat and pressure.
C- have students use logical reasoning to eliminate other answer choices. A= ores are mined B- fossil fuels are used for energy D- fossil fuels are formed from remains of living things.
8th Grade PASS Review

30. Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following terms is most closely related to the movement of the lithospheric plates?
Solar energy
Convection
Conduction
Radiation
B- Have students describe how convection causes lithospheric plates to move. They can also provide reasoning for eliminating other options.
8th Grade PASS Review

31. Which of the following explains what is happening in the image below?
Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following explains what is happening in the image below?
New crust is forming at a divergent boundary.
Some crust is being destroyed at a convergent boundary.
Crust is neither being destroyed or formed at a transform boundary.
Two continental plates are converging and forming mountains.
A- Have students use logical reasoning to eliminate the other answer choices. They can describe what a model of the other answer choices might look like.
8th Grade PASS Review

32. Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following explains why the oceanic crust is being subducted?
Magma is pushing up the continental crust.
Oceanic crust is less dense than continental crust.
Oceanic crust is more dense than continental crust.
Oceanic crust is made of liquid and continental crust is made of rock.
C- have students use logical reasoning to eliminate other answer choices.
8th Grade PASS Review

33. Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following is the best prediction of what might occur at the circled area?
Volcano
Mountain
Earthquake
Subduction
C- have students use logical reasoning to eliminate other options.
8th Grade PASS Review

34. Earth's Structures and Processes
Scientists use evidence from the movement of lithospheric plates to support which of the following theories?
Pangaea
Global warming
Natural selection
Law of superposition
A- have students explain how lithospheric plate movement supports the theory of Pangaea and what other evidence they use to support this theory. Students can also use logical reasoning to eliminate other options.
8th Grade PASS Review

35. Earth's Structures and Processes
The image below shows a volcano. Which of the following is the best label for the area marked 1?
Cone
Vent
Lava
Magma 1
B- Have students discuss the difference between lava and magma and where each would be located on the model.
8th Grade PASS Review

36. Which of the following would be the best title for the model below?
Earth's Structures and Processes
Which of the following would be the best title for the model below?
A- Have students identify key aspects of the model that helped them determine the answer (forces moving toward each other, this would cause tension and compression). Have students describe what models of the other answer choices might look like.
Folded mountain formation
Earthquake formation
Fault-block mountain formation
Volcano formation
8th Grade PASS Review

37. The image below is an example of which of the following?
Earth's Structures and Processes
The image below is an example of which of the following?
Ring of Fire
Topography
Satellite imagery
Aerial photography
B- have students explain what a topographic map shows. Students can also describe what a model of satellite imagery and Aerial photography would look like.
8th Grade PASS Review