1. Seasons, Moons phases/ Eclipses/ Rising Tides/ Tidal Ranges
Orbit of the Moon
Phases of the Moon
Eclipses
Rising Tides
Tidal Ranges
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2. 100
A region on Earth’s surface always has the highest temperatures in June and the lowest temperatures in December. Which of these statements explains why the temperatures are LOWEST in December?
A. This region is tilted the most toward the sun in December.
B. This region is tilted the farthest away from the sun in December.
C. This region is the farthest distance from the sun in December.
D. This region is the nearest distance from the sun in December.
Answer: B

3. 200
At which point would the United States receive the fewest hours of daylight?
 A. position A
B. position B
C. position C
D. position D
Answer B

4. 300 Answer: D Which two positions represent an equinox?
A. position A and position B
B. position C and position D
C. position B and position D
D. position A and position C
Answer: D

5. 400
In the Northern Hemisphere, one day each year has the longest period of daylight and the shortest night. What is this day?
A. winter solstice
B. vernal equinox
C. summer solstice
D. autumnal equinox
Answer: C

6. 500 Answer: C What two factors impact the length of a season?
A. Earth’s rotational speed and Earth’s position in its orbit around the sun
B. Earth’s tilt relative to the moon and Earth’s rotational speed
C. Earth’s tilt relative to the sun and Earth’s position in its orbit around the sun
D. Earth’s tilt relative to the sun only
Answer: C

7. 100
Just as Earth moves around the sun, the moon revolves around Earth. About how many Earth days does it take for the moon to travel around Earth?
A. about 7 days
B. about 28 days
C. about 180 days
D. about 365 days .
Answer: B

8. 200
Earth and the other planets of our solar system orbit the sun. Which of the following keeps planets in our solar system in orbit around the sun?
A. electromagnetism
B. friction
C. gravity
D. vacuum
Answer: C

9. 300
Sometimes the moon looks like a crescent. At other times, the moon looks like a half circle. What makes it possible for you to see the surface of the moon from Earth?
A. The moon gives off its own light.
B. Light from the sun is reflected by the moon’s surface.
C. Light from Earth is reflected by the moon’s surface.
D. The moon absorbs sunlight during the day and glows at night.
Answer: B

10. 400
Augustin observes the moon every 3 days for 15 days. He notices that over this 15-day period, the moon looks different. What accounts for the differences in the appearance of the moon over this time period?
A. the speed of the moon’s orbit
B. the position of Augustin on Earth
C. the distance between Earth and the moon
D. the position of the moon in its orbit around Earth
Answer: D

11. 500
Space bodies, such as Earth and its moon, are not stationary. Rather, they are moving at a rapid speed. The diagrams below show the relative movements of the sun (S), Earth (E), and the moon (M). Which diagram best represents the motion of Earth and the moon, relative to the sun?
Answer:C

12. 100
Oksana observed the appearance of the moon every week for a month. She sketches her observations. Which of these diagrams BEST shows how the moon’s appearance could have changed during the month Oksana performed her investigation?
Answer: C

13. 200 Which of the moons in the figure are in a gibbous phase?
A. 2 and 4
B. 2 and 8
C. 4 and 6
D. 6 and 8 .
Answer: C

14. 300
Which of the moons in the figure are in a crescent phase?
A. 2 and 4
B. 2 and 8
C. 4 and 6
D. 6 and 8
Answer: B

15. 400
The phases of the moon are the regular changes in how the moon looks from Earth. In which phase is the moon not visible from Earth?
A. new moon
B. waxing gibbous
C. waxing crescent
D. waning crescent
Answer: A

16. 500
Which position would appear as a first quarter moon when viewed from Earth?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer:C

17. 100
The phases of the moon are the changing appearances of the moon, as seen from Earth. Which solar system event can happen only during a full moon?
A. a new moon
B. a solar eclipse
C. a lunar eclipse
D. a waning gibbous
Answer: C

18. 200
Occasionally, one space object travels through the shadow of another space object. When the moon moves between the sun and Earth casting a shadow on Earth, which solar system event is taking place?
A. a full moon
B. a crescent moon
C. a solar eclipse
D. a lunar eclipse
Answer: C

19. 300
Which position of the moon could result in a solar eclipse?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer:B

20. 400
Eclipses are predictable, solar system events. The answer choices below list relative positions of Earth, the sun, and the moon. Which list represents the position of Earth, the sun, and the moon during a lunar eclipse?
A. sun, Earth, moon
B. Earth, sun, moon
C. sun, moon, Earth
D. moon, sun, Earth
Answer: A

21. 500 Answer: B Which solar system event does the diagram show?
A. a solar eclipse
B. a lunar eclipse
C. a first quarter moon
D. a third quarter moon
Answer: B

22. 100
Which of the following best explains why HIGH TIDES are happening at locations 1 and 3?
A. radiation from the sun
B. Earth's tilt and orbit around the sun
C. the sun's gravitational pull on Earth
D. the moon's gravitational pull on Earth
Answer: D .

23. 200 Answer: B What is happening in figure 1? A. low tide B. high tide
C. tidal range
D. tidal bulge
Answer: B

24. 300
Sara is recording water levels in the ocean near her home once an hour for one day. She observes the water level slowly rising and falling twice that day. What is Sara observing?
A. currents
B. gravity
C. tides
D. waves
Answer:C

25. 400
Zach is visiting Hilo, Hawaii. He wants to collect seashells, and the local people tell him that the best time to collect shells is at low tide. According to the diagram below, at what time should Zach collect shells?
A. 9:00 a.m.
B. noon
C. 3:00 p.m.
D. 7:00 p.m.
Answer: D

26. 500
How frequently do high tides take place in this location?
A. once a day
B. twice a day
C. once a month
D. twice a month
Answer: B

27. 100 Answer: C What is tidal range?
A. the periodic rise and fall of the water level in the oceans due to the gravity of the moon and sun
B. a tide of minimum range that takes place two times a month
C. the difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and at low tide
D. a rise in ocean water levels that takes place on the side of Earth nearest the moon
Answer: C

28. 200 Answer: B What was the tidal range on June 7? A. 1.75 m B. 4.04 m
C m
D m
Date
High tide time
High tide height (m)
Low tide time
Low tide height (m)
June 3
6:04 a.m.
6.11
12:01 a.m.
1.76
June 4
6:58 a.m.
5.92
12:54 a.m.
1.87
June 5
7:51 a.m.
5.80
1:47 a.m.
1.90
June 6
8:42 a.m.
5.75
2:38 a.m.
June 7
9:30 a.m.
5.79
3:27 a.m.
1.75
June 8
10:16 a.m.
5.90
4:13 a.m.
1.56
June 9
11:01 a.m.
6.08
4:59 a.m.
1.32
June 10
11:46 a.m.
6.28
5:44 a.m.
1.05
June 11
12:32 p.m.
6:47
6:30 a.m.
0.78
Answer: B

29. 300 Answer: B Which statement best describes a neap tide?
A. the periodic rise and fall of the water level in the oceans
B. a tide of minimum range that takes place two times a month
C. the difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and at low tide
D. a rise in ocean water levels that takes place on the side of Earth nearest the moon
Answer: B

30. 400 Answer: B Which statement best describes a spring tide?
A. the periodic rise and fall of the water level in the oceans
B. a tide of maximum range that takes place two times a month
C. the difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and at low tid
D. a rise in ocean water levels that takes place on the side of Earth nearest the moon
Answer: B

31. 500 Answer: C What is tidal range?
A. the periodic rise and fall of the water level in the oceans due to the gravity of the moon and sun
B. a tide of minimum range that takes place two times a month
C. the difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and at low tide
D. a rise in ocean water levels that takes place on the side of Earth nearest the moon
Answer: C