Regents Earth Science 3 ā Questions and Answers
Question 1: Two igneous rocks form from the same magma, but one cools slowly underground and one cools quickly at the surface. How will their textures differ?
- Both will have large crystals
- The slow-cooled rock will have larger crystals (Correct answer)
- The fast-cooled rock will have larger crystals
- Both will be glassy
Correct answer: The slow-cooled rock will have larger crystals
Slow cooling underground allows more time for crystals to grow, resulting in coarse-grained (phaneritic) texture like granite.
Question 2: Which type of front forms when a cold air mass overtakes and lifts a warm air mass, often producing heavy thunderstorms?
- Stationary front
- Occluded front
- Warm front
- Cold front (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Cold front
A cold front occurs when dense, cold air pushes under and lifts warm air rapidly, creating steep pressure gradients and severe weather.
Question 3: On a topographic map, which spacing of contour lines indicates the steepest slope?
- Widely spaced contour lines
- Closely spaced contour lines (Correct answer)
- Contour lines that form a V pointing upstream
- Contour lines that form closed circles
Correct answer: Closely spaced contour lines
Closely spaced contour lines indicate a rapid change in elevation over a short horizontal distance, meaning a steep slope.
Question 4: What is the most abundant gas in Earth's current atmosphere?
- Oxygen
- Carbon dioxide
- Argon
- Nitrogen (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Nitrogen
Nitrogen (Nā) makes up approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere, making it by far the most abundant gas.
Question 5: Which evidence best supports the theory of continental drift?
- Identical rock types and fossils found on opposite sides of the Atlantic (Correct answer)
- The presence of ocean trenches along coastlines
- The differences in climate between continents
- The rotation of Earth on its axis
Correct answer: Identical rock types and fossils found on opposite sides of the Atlantic
Matching fossils and rock formations on the coasts of South America and Africa indicate these landmasses were once joined and drifted apart.
Question 6: During which moon phase does a lunar eclipse occur?
- New moon
- First quarter
- Full moon (Correct answer)
- Third quarter
Correct answer: Full moon
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the Sun and the Full Moon, casting Earth's shadow on the Moon.
Question 7: Which process directly causes metamorphic rocks to form?
- Cooling and solidification of magma
- Deposition and compaction of sediments
- Heat and pressure applied to existing rock (Correct answer)
- Weathering and erosion of bedrock
Correct answer: Heat and pressure applied to existing rock
Metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are subjected to intense heat and/or pressure, causing minerals to recrystallize without melting.
Regents Earth Science 3
Two igneous rocks form from the same magma, but one cools slowly underground and one cools quickly at the surface.
How will their textures differ?