Name: 
 

Atmosphere Pre Test


Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 
Which answer best describes Earth’s atmosphere?
a.
mostly oxygen with about 21% nitrogen
b.
mostly nitrogen with about 21% oxygen
c.
mostly carbon dioxide with about 21% oxygen
d.
mostly nitrogen with about 21% carbon dioxide
 

 2. 
What causes differences in air temperatures at different altitudes?
a.
mainly the way air radiates solar energy
b.
mainly the way gases radiate light
c.
mainly the way gases absorb solar energy
d.
mainly the way moisture moves through the atmosphere
 

 3. 
What are the two highest layers of the atmosphere?
a.
troposphere, mesosphere
c.
stratosphere, thermosphere
b.
thermosphere, mesosphere
d.
troposphere, stratosphere
 

 4. 
Auroras are caused by electrically charged particles in the
a.
mesosphere.
c.
hemisphere.
b.
troposphere.
d.
ionosphere.
 

 5. 
How much energy radiated by the sun reaches Earth?
a.
about 80%
c.
about two-billionths
b.
about 50%
d.
about one one-hundredth
 

 6. 
Energy transferred as electromagnetic waves is called
a.
thermal conduction.
c.
convection.
b.
radiation.
d.
convection current.
 

 7. 
Energy transferred as heat through a material is called
a.
thermal conduction.
c.
convection.
b.
radiation.
d.
convection current.
 

 8. 
Thermal energy transferred by circulation of a liquid or gas is called
a.
thermal conduction.
c.
convection.
b.
radiation.
d.
convection current.
 

 9. 
The process by which gases in the atmosphere absorb thermal energy and radiate it back to earth is called
a.
the thermal effect.
c.
global warming.
b.
the greenhouse effect.
d.
radiation balance.
 

 10. 
When the amount of energy received from the sun and the amount of energy returned to space are about equal, it is called
a.
seasonal equality.
c.
solar reradiation.
b.
radiation balance.
d.
global warming.
 

 11. 
One reason for global warming may be
a.
decreasing global gases.
c.
increasing greenhouse gases.
b.
increasing global gases.
d.
decreasing greenhouse gases.
 

 12. 
What causes wind?
a.
differences in air pressure
c.
differences in oxygen
b.
differences in gravity
d.
differences in the thermosphere
 

 13. 
What causes differences in air pressure around the Earth?
a.
Warm air rises at the equator, and cold air sinks at the poles.
b.
Warm air sinks at the equator, and cold air rises at the poles.
c.
Warm air rises at the equator, and cold air rises at the poles.
d.
Cold air rises at the equator, and warm air sinks at the poles.
 

 14. 
Air moves in large, circular patterns called
a.
pressure belts.
c.
convection cells.
b.
convection currents.
d.
trade winds.
 

 15. 
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds traveling north appear to curve to the east because of the
a.
trade winds.
c.
Coriolis effect.
b.
convection currents.
d.
polar easterlies.
 

 16. 
Global winds that blow from west to east are called
a.
polar easterlies.
c.
mountain breezes.
b.
westerlies.
d.
trade winds.
 

 17. 
Global winds that blow northeast from 30° north latitude and southeast from 30° south latitude are called
a.
northerlies.
c.
polar easterlies.
b.
trade winds.
d.
global easterlies.
 

 18. 
Narrow belts of winds that can reach 400 km/h are called
a.
jet currents.
c.
convection currents.
b.
jet streams.
d.
convection streams.
 

 19. 
Local winds are produced by
a.
global winds.
c.
local farms and ranches.
b.
global geographic features.
d.
local geographic features.
 

 20. 
Mountain and valley breezes are caused by
a.
differences in temperature and elevation.
b.
similarities in temperature and elevation.
c.
the same temperature at all elevations.
d.
high temperatures at all elevations.
 

 21. 
When the atmosphere is contaminated by pollutants from human and natural sources it is called
a.
primary pollution.
c.
air pollution.
b.
secondary pollution.
d.
killer fog.
 

 22. 
Carbon monoxide, dust, and smoke from forest fires that are put directly into the air are called
a.
smog.
c.
secondary pollutants.
b.
primary pollutants.
d.
killer fog.
 

 23. 
Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?
a.
carbon monoxide
c.
ozone
b.
chemicals from paint
d.
vehicle exhaust
 

 24. 
What is the major source of human-caused air pollution?
a.
animal waste
c.
vehicle exhaust
b.
industrial chemicals
d.
dry-cleaning businesses
 

 25. 
When sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide are released into the air, they can cause
a.
sulfurous precipitation.
c.
nitrogen precipitation.
b.
acid precipitation.
d.
acidic air.
 

 26. 
A rapid change in a body of water’s acidity is called
a.
acid precipitation.
c.
acid shock.
b.
acid flow.
d.
aquatic shock.
 

 27. 
What is the atmosphere?
a.
oxygen
c.
a mixture of gases
b.
carbon dioxide
d.
water vapor
 

 28. 
The air we breathe is mostly
a.
oxygen.
c.
ozone.
b.
carbon dioxide.
d.
nitrogen.
 

 29. 
About how much of Earth’s atmosphere is oxygen?
a.
21%
c.
35%
b.
78%
d.
50%
 

 30. 
Why is air pressure greatest at the Earth’s surface?
a.
because of the pressure of oxygen
b.
because gravity pulls gas molecules toward the surface
c.
because of the weight of ice crystals
d.
because of pollution
 

 31. 
Air temperature changes as altitude increases because of
a.
gases that absorb solar energy.
c.
air pollution.
b.
gravity’s pull on oxygen.
d.
air pressure.
 

 32. 
The protective ozone layer is found in the
a.
thermosphere.
c.
troposphere.
b.
mesosphere.
d.
stratosphere.
 

 33. 
Most solar energy that reaches Earth’s atmosphere is
a.
absorbed by Earth’s surface.
c.
scattered by clouds.
b.
reflected by Earth’s surface.
d.
absorbed by clouds, ozone, and gases.
 

 34. 
Radiation is the transfer of energy
a.
as electromagnetic waves.
c.
from atmospheric gases.
b.
by circulation of gases.
d.
as heat through a material.
 

 35. 
Thermal conduction is the transfer of energy
a.
by the circulation of gases or liquids.
c.
as heat through a material.
b.
as electromagnetic waves.
d.
to the atmosphere.
 

 36. 
Convection is the transfer of energy
a.
by the circulation of gases or liquids.
c.
as heat through a material.
b.
as electromagnetic waves.
d.
to the atmosphere.
 

 37. 
Global warming may be caused by
a.
a decrease in greenhouse gases.
c.
the escape of thermal energy.
b.
an increase in greenhouse gases.
d.
the escape of radiation.
 

 38. 
Wind occurs because of differences in
a.
latitude.
c.
nitrogen levels.
b.
air pressure.
d.
humidity.
 

 39. 
The winds that blow from 30° latitude in both hemispheres toward the equator are called
a.
westerlies.
c.
trade winds.
b.
polar easterlies.
d.
the doldrums.
 

 40. 
The winds that blow from 30° to 60° latitude in both hemispheres are called
a.
westerlies.
c.
trade winds.
b.
polar easterlies.
d.
the doldrums.
 

 41. 
The winds that blow from the poles to 60° latitude in both hemispheres are called
a.
westerlies.
c.
trade winds.
b.
polar easterlies.
d.
the doldrums.
 

 42. 
What causes local winds?
a.
global winds
c.
easterlies
b.
trade winds
d.
temperature differences
 

 43. 
Which is an example of a primary pollutant?
a.
ozone
c.
acid rain
b.
sea salt
d.
smog
 

 44. 
What is the largest source of human-caused air pollution in the United States?
a.
chemical waste
c.
vehicle exhaust
b.
smoke from power plants
d.
ozone
 

 45. 
What is the greatest problem created by the ozone hole?
a.
It allows more UV rays to reach Earth’s atmosphere.
b.
It allows more UV rays to reach the Earth’s surface.
c.
It allows more UV rays to escape Earth’s atmosphere.
d.
It does not allow enough UV rays to reach Earth’s surface.
 

 46. 
A vehicle that runs on both electricity and gasoline is called a
a.
catalytic converter.
c.
hydrogen car.
b.
hybrid car.
d.
low-emission car.
 

 47. 
Wind occurs because air tends to move from regions of higher to lower
a.
latitude.
c.
nitrogen levels.
b.
pressure.
d.
humidity.
 

 48. 
The protective ozone layer is found in the
a.
thermosphere.
c.
troposphere.
b.
mesosphere.
d.
stratosphere.
 

 49. 
Air pressure decreases as what increases?
a.
altitude
c.
water vapor
b.
radiation
d.
pollution
 

 50. 
What is the atmosphere that surrounds Earth made of?
a.
water vapor
c.
a mixture of gases
b.
carbon dioxide
d.
oxygen
 

 51. 
What is most of the air we breathe made of?
a.
oxygen
c.
ozone
b.
carbon dioxide
d.
nitrogen
 

 52. 
What pulls gas molecules in the air toward the Earth?
a.
air pressure
c.
water
b.
gravity
d.
solar energy
 

 53. 
What is part of the thermosphere called?
a.
the hemisphere
c.
the troposphere
b.
the ionosphere
d.
the aurora sphere
 

 54. 
Where does most of the human-caused air pollution come from?
a.
pets and other animals
c.
car exhaust
b.
smoke from forest fires
d.
carbon dioxide
 

 55. 
What is rain, sleet, or snow that has lots of acids in it called?
a.
acid shock
c.
scattered precipitation
b.
acid precipitation
d.
acid wash
 

 56. 
What is the main problem caused by the ozone hole?
a.
Too much radiation escapes Earth.
c.
Too little radiation reaches Earth.
b.
Too much radiation reaches Earth.
d.
Too little radiation escapes Earth.
 

 57. 
What is smog made of?
a.
ozone and vehicle exhaust
c.
smoke and vehicle exhaust
b.
ozone and killer fog
d.
smoke and ozone
 

 58. 
The warmth you feel when standing beneath a heat lamp is an example of what?
a.
radiation
c.
convection
b.
thermal conduction
d.
greenhouse effect
 

 59. 
A cold frame keeps plants alive in the winter. The sun heats the inside of the frame, but its covering prevents the heat from escaping. The way a cold frame works is similar to what?
a.
radiation
c.
convection
b.
thermal conduction
d.
greenhouse effect
 

 60. 
Some ovens have a fan to circulate the hot air inside the oven cavity and to make food cook more quickly. What is this an example of?
a.
radiation
c.
convection
b.
thermal conduction
d.
greenhouse effect
 

 61. 
What explains the fact that a pan on a stove gets hot when it is above a flame?
a.
radiation
c.
convection
b.
thermal conduction
d.
greenhouse effect
 

 62. 
Which of the following shows the composition of Earth’s atmosphere?
a.
nitrogen: 68%; oxygen: 21%; other gases: 11%
b.
nitrogen: 78%; oxygen: 11%; other gases: 11%
c.
nitrogen: 78%; oxygen: 21%; other gases: 1%
d.
nitrogen: 98%; oxygen: 1%; other gases: 1%
 

 63. 
The difference between incoming solar energy and energy released from Earth into space is called
a.
global warming.
c.
radiation imbalance.
b.
the greenhouse effect.
d.
radiation balance.
 

 64. 
Which is an example of a local wind?
a.
polar easterlies
c.
jet streams
b.
trade winds
d.
sea breezes
 

 65. 
How much of the sun’s energy is scattered and reflected by clouds and air?
a.
5%
c.
25%
b.
20%
d.
50%
 

 66. 
Which of the following is a primary pollutant?
a.
carbon monoxide
c.
smog
b.
ozone
d.
water vapor
 

 67. 
What generally causes differences in air pressure on Earth?
a.
wind patterns
c.
the shape of the planet
b.
unequal heating of the planet
d.
denser air near the equator
 

 68. 
Which of the following is a consequence of acid precipitation?
a.
global warming
c.
acidification of lakes
b.
breathing problems
d.
smog
 

Completion
Complete each statement.
 
 
Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below.

westerliessecondary
trade windsgreenhouse effect
Coriolis effectthermal conduction
polar easterliesprimary
 

 69. 
When you pick up a hot cup, heat is transferred from the cup to your hand by ____________________.
 

 

 70. 
Ozone and smog are examples of ____________________ pollutants.
 

 

 71. 
Winds that flow toward the poles in the opposite direction of the trade winds are called ____________________.
 

 

 72. 
The ____________________ is caused by gases in the atmosphere that absorb radiation and transfer heat.
 

 

 73. 
Winds in the Northern Hemisphere traveling north curve to the east, and winds traveling south curve to the west due to the ____________________.
 

 
 
Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below.

radiationthermal conduction
global warmingconvection current
 

 74. 
Energy that moves as electromagnetic waves is called ____________________.
 

 

 75. 
When heat moves through something it is called ____________________.
 

 

 76. 
When the global temperature rises bit by bit it is called ____________________.
 

 

 77. 
Warm air rising and cool air sinking is called a(n) ____________________.
 

 
 
Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below.

jet streamspolar easterlies
trade windsCoriolis effect
 

 78. 
The ____________________ got their name from sailors who traveled from Europe to the Americas.
 

 

 79. 
If the location of ____________________ are known, it helps meteorologists forecast weather.
 

 
 
Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below.

stratospheremesosphere
tropospherethermosphere
 

 80. 
If the layers of the atmosphere were a cake, the icing would be the ____________________.
 

 

 81. 
The coldest layer of the atmosphere is the ____________________.
 

 
 
Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below.

local windpolar easterly
trade windjet stream
 

 82. 
A wind that forms and blows toward a burning forest fire is an example of a ____________________.
 

 

 83. 
A ____________________ may be moving at 400 km/h.
 

 



 
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