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2. Question 1
Constellations appear to move across the sky at night because the
Earth orbits the Sun.
Moon orbits the Earth.
stars are in constant motion.
Sun orbits the Earth.
Earth spins on its axis.
Answer: e
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3. Question 1
Constellations appear to move across the sky at night because the
Earth orbits the Sun.
Moon orbits the Earth.
stars are in constant motion.
Sun orbits the Earth.
Earth spins on its axis.
Explanation: The Sun, Moon, planets, and stars all rise and set because our planet rotates once each day.
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4. Question 2 What causes Earth’s seasons?
Wobble of Earth’s rotation axis
The greenhouse effect
23.5º tilt of Earth’s rotational axis
Movement of Earth closer to or farther from the Sun
Global warming and cooling
Answer: c
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5. Question 2 What causes Earth’s seasons?
Wobble of Earth’s rotation axis
The greenhouse effect
23.5º tilt of Earth’s rotational axis
Movement of Earth closer to or farther from the Sun
Global warming and cooling
Explanation: Our planet’s tilt, and not its changing distance from the Sun, creates seasons.
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6. Question 3
What is the path that the Sun, Moon, and planets follow through the constellations?
The celestial equator
The north celestial pole
The Milky Way
The zodiac
The ecliptic
Answer: e
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7. Question 3
What is the path that the Sun, Moon, and planets follow through the constellations?
The celestial equator
The north celestial pole
The Milky Way
The zodiac
The ecliptic
Explanation: The ecliptic also marks the plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
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8. Question 4
How long does it take the Sun to complete one circuit of the ecliptic?
1 hour
1 day
1 month
1 year
1 decade
Answer: d
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9. Question 4
How long does it take the Sun to complete one circuit of the ecliptic?
1 hour
1 day
1 month
1 year
1 decade
Explanation: The Sun moves around the ecliptic once as the Earth orbits in 1 year.
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10. Question 5 How long does it take the Moon to go around the ecliptic?
1 day
1 hour
1 week
1 month
1 year
Answer: d
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11. Question 5 How long does it take the Moon to go around the ecliptic?
1 day
1 hour
1 week
1 month
1 year
Explanation: The Moon orbits Earth in 1 month, and passes in front of the constellations of the zodiac, which are arranged around the ecliptic.
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12. Question 6 Stars in a constellation are
physically close to each other.
usually equal in brightness.
about the same age.
about the same distance away.
in the same part of the sky.
Answer: e
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13. Question 6 Stars in a constellation are
physically close to each other.
usually equal in brightness.
about the same age.
about the same distance away.
in the same part of the sky.
Explanation: Stars within a constellation might be very different distances, ages, types, and brightnesses.
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14. Question 7 A total lunar eclipse occurs during the new Moon phase.
when the Sun blocks the Moon.
during the full Moon phase.
always around the summer solstice.
Answer: c
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15. Question 7 A total lunar eclipse occurs during the new Moon phase.
when the Sun blocks the Moon.
during the full Moon phase.
always around the summer solstice.
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16. Question 8 The vernal equinox marks the beginning of summer. fall.
winter.
spring.
Answer: d
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17. Question 8 The vernal equinox marks the beginning of summer. fall.
winter.
spring.
Explanation: The vernal equinox occurs around March 21–22.
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18. Question 9 Conditions are favorable for a solar eclipse
every month at new Moon.
every week at the quarter phases.
every month at full Moon.
about every 6 months at new Moon.
every year at new Moon.
Answer: d
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19. Question 9 Conditions are favorable for a solar eclipse
every month at new Moon.
every week at the quarter phases.
every month at full Moon.
about every 6 months at new Moon.
every year at new Moon.
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20. Question 10 The angle of parallax increases as
distances to stars increase.
the baseline gets larger.
the baseline gets smaller.
Earth moves faster in its orbit.
Answer: b
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21. Question 10 The angle of parallax increases as
distances to stars increase.
the baseline gets larger.
the baseline gets smaller.
Earth moves faster in its orbit.
Explanation: The greater the distance between two observation points (the baseline), the larger the angle of parallax.
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22. Question 11 Precession is caused by the
rotation of Earth’s molten core.
gravitational pull of the Sun.
gravitational pull of the Moon.
weight of the ice at the poles.
gravitational attractions from comets.
Answer: c
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23. Question 11 Precession is caused by the
rotation of Earth’s molten core.
gravitational pull of the Sun.
gravitational pull of the Moon.
weight of the ice at the poles.
gravitational attractions from comets.
Explanation: The Moon’s tug creates a slow “wobble” that takes 26,000 years for one rotation.
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24. Question 12 Considering the Moon’s phases, everyone on Earth sees
the same phase in 24 hours.
different phases in 24 hours.
a lunar eclipse once a month.
different sides of the Moon.
Answer: a
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25. Question 12 Considering the Moon’s phases, everyone on Earth sees
the same phase in 24 hours.
different phases in 24 hours.
a lunar eclipse once a month.
different sides of the Moon.
Explanation: The Moon goes through its cycle of phases in about 30 days; Earth rotates once in only 24 hours.
Thus, everyone has a chance to see the same phase!
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