Table of Contents......Page 4
SKILL 1.2 Apply concepts and theories from mathematics, biology,chemistry, and physics to an Earth Science system......Page 16
SKILL 1.3 Analyze the use of Earth science, mathematics, and othersciences in the design of a technological solution to a givenproblem......Page 18
SKILL 1.4 Use a variety of software (e.g., spreadsheets, graphingutilities, statistical packages, simulations) and informationtechnologies to model and analyze problems in mathematics,science, and technology......Page 19
SKILL 2.1 Analyze the significance of key events in the history of theEarth sciences (e.g., the development of solar system models,the discovery of a galactic universe, the development of theplate tectonics model)......Page 20
SKILL 2.2 Recognize the impact of society on the study of theEarth sciences (e.g., increasing commercial demand for moreaccurate meteorological analyses; growing populations inearthquake-prone regions; expanding markets for oil, gas, andother nonrenewable resources)......Page 21
SKILL 2.3 Assess the implications for society of Earth sciencephenomena in a variety of regions (e.g., volcanoes,earthquakes, erosion, rising sea levels)......Page 22
SKILL 2.4 Analyze Earth's hazards (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes,hurricanes, tornadoes, drought) and their effects uponhumans to develop plans for emergency preparedness......Page 24
SKILL 2.5 Recognize the applications of Earth science relatedtechnology to everyday life (e.g., GPS, weather satellites,cellular communication)......Page 28
SKILL 3.1 Analyze processes by which scientific knowledge develops......Page 30
SKILL 3.2 Assess the appropriateness of a specified experimental designto test a given hypothesis......Page 31
SKILL 3.3 Assess the role of communication among scientists inpromoting scientific progress......Page 32
SKILL 4.3 Apply procedures and criteria for reporting investigativeprocedures and data......Page 33
SKILL 4.4 Analyze relationships between factors (e.g., cyclic, inverse,direct, linear) as indicated by data......Page 34
SKILL 5.2 Recognize methods of locating and obtaining natural resources......Page 37
SKILL 5.3 Assess the positive and negative effects of human activities(e.g., mining, waste disposal) on Earth's environment......Page 38
SKILL 5.4 Evaluate strategies for dealing with environmental concerns(e.g., buying and selling carbon credits)......Page 41
SKILL 6.1 Evaluate the appropriateness of alternative models forconveying given information from Earth science......Page 42
SKILL 6.2 Demonstrate an understanding of the methods by which givenphysical and graphic models are created......Page 43
SKILL 6.3 Classify different types of maps (e.g., topographic, star charts,weather) used in Earth science and analyzing the informationconveyed by each type of map......Page 44
SKILL 6.4 Interpret diagrams relating to Earth science (e.g., crosssections,seismic wave graphs)......Page 52
SKILL 7.1 Identify the principles upon which given instruments(e.g., telescope, spectroscope, compass) are based......Page 55
SKILL 7.2 Demonstrate knowledge and applications of basic safetyprocedures in laboratory and field situations......Page 56
SKILL 8.2 Identify characteristics of the Sun (e.g., nucleogenesis)......Page 58
SKILL 8.3 Relate surface features of Earth's moon (e.g., maria, craters,mountains) to events in the history of the Moon......Page 59
SKILL 8.4 Recognize the importance of density in the formation of theinternal structure of Earth, the Moon, and the Sun......Page 60
SKILL 9.2 Relate Earth's coordinate system (e.g., latitude and longitude)to astronomical observations......Page 61
SKILL 9.3 Analyze the consequences of the relative positions andmotions of Earth, the Moon, and the Sun (e.g., phases of theMoon, tides, eclipses)......Page 63
SKILL 9.5 Analyze the Sun's activity (e.g., sunspots, solar flares) and itspossible effects on Earth......Page 65
SKILL 10.1 Analyze characteristics of the planets (e.g., size, density,inferred interior structure, surface temperature)......Page 66
SKILL 10.2 Analyze the apparent motion of celestial objects toinfer solar system models (i.e., geocentric and heliocentric)......Page 70
SKILL 10.3 Recognizing physical and mathematical models(e.g., Newton's and Kepler's laws) that describe objects in thesolar system and their real and apparent motions......Page 71
SKILL 11.1 Compare and contrast types of telescopes (e.g., optical, radio,infrared, ultraviolet) and the ways in which they are used toacquire information on star characteristics......Page 72
SKILL 11.2 Compare and contrast types of stars (e.g., pulsars, Cepheidvariables) and their characteristics......Page 75
SKILL 11.3 Use the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram to analyze the lifecycle of stars......Page 76
SKILL 11.4 Analyze stellar life cycles to understand the formation andinitial development of the solar system......Page 77
SKILL 12.1 Analyze evidence for the location of the solar system withinthe Milky Way Galaxy......Page 79
SKILL 12.2 Analyze historical methods of inferring the size, structure, andmotions of the galaxy and the solar system (e.g., starobservations and counts)......Page 80
SKILL 12.3 Analyze the evidence for current theories of the origin andevolution of Earth, the solar system, and the universe (e.g., BigBang, inflation)......Page 82
SKILL 12.4 Analyze types of evidence used to infer scales of the solarsystem, the Milky Way galaxy, and the universe (e.g., inrelation to relative size and distance)......Page 83
SKILL 12.5 Recognize the historical, present, and future role oftechnology and exploration in obtaining knowledge about theuniverse......Page 84
SKILL 13.1 Compare and contrast properties of the atmosphere (e.g.,density, composition, temperature) from Earth's surfacethrough the thermosphere and understand the significance ofchanges in these properties......Page 86
SKILL 13.2 Analyze how various wavelengths of solar radiation(e.g., ultraviolet, visible light, infrared) are affected as theradiation enters and passes through the atmosphere and isabsorbed and re-radiated from Earth's surface......Page 89
SKILL 13.4 Analyze global wind patterns in terms of latitudinal andaltitudinal variations in insolation and the Coriolis effect......Page 91
SKILL 14.1 Relate the physical properties of water (e.g., high specific heat,surface tension) to the chemical structure and properties ofwater molecules......Page 95
SKILL 14.2 Analyze energy changes involved in the transition betweenphases of water (e.g., latent heat)......Page 96
SKILL 14.3 Analyze atmospheric conditions under which fog andclouds with various characteristics form (e.g., adiabatictemperature changes, dew point, atmospheric stability)......Page 97
SKILL 14.4 Understand conditions under which precipitation forms andpredicting the type of precipitation that will fall to Earth'ssurface under given conditions......Page 101
SKILL 15.1 Interpret symbols used on weather maps and analyzing themethods used to generate weather maps (e.g., computermodels)......Page 103
SKILL 15.2 Analyze types and characteristics of air masses, theirmovements, and the kinds of fronts that form between airmasses......Page 111
SKILL 15.4 Analyze the horizontal and vertical movements of surface airin high-pressure and low-pressure systems......Page 112
SKILL 15.6 Demonstrate an understanding of the use of weatherinstruments (e.g., thermometer, barometer, psychrometer) forcollecting given types of weather data......Page 113
SKILL 16.1 Analyze the use of weather models in forecasting......Page 115
SKILL 16.2 Predict weather in a given location based on one or moreweather maps......Page 116
SKILL 16.3 Evaluate the role of computers, satellites, and radars inweather forecasting......Page 117
SKILL 16.4 Analyze types and effects of hazardous weather todetermine appropriate precautions and demonstrate anunderstanding of the role of weather services in issuingweather alerts......Page 118
SKILL 16.5 Analyze the impact of weather on humans in different climaticregions......Page 125
SKILL 17.1 Infer the climatic zone in which a given area is locatedbased on temperature and precipitation data......Page 128
SKILL 17.2 Analyze factors that affect the climate in a given region (e.g.,insolation, water vapor, wind patterns, topography)......Page 130
SKILL 17.3 Analyze the relationship between the climate of a regionand its weather......Page 133
SKILL 17.4 Recognize seasonal changes in weather in various worldregions and analyze factors that influence these changes (e.g.,insolation, ocean current patterns)......Page 134
SKILL 18.1 Identify common air pollutants (e.g., sulfur dioxide,chlorofluorocarbons) and their sources and demonstrating anunderstanding of the effects of air pollutants and atmosphericchemical reactions involving these pollutants......Page 137
SKILL 18.2 Demonstrate an understanding of factors that affect local airpollutant concentrations (e.g., population density)......Page 138
SKILL 18.3 Analyze theories of global climate change (e.g., greenhouseeffect, glaciation)......Page 139
SKILL 19.1 Demonstrate the ability to utilize a classification scheme(e.g., based on physical properties, crystal structure, chemicalcomposition) to identify common rock-forming minerals......Page 144
SKILL 19.2 Analyze the processes by which different kinds of rocks areformed (e.g., rock cycle)......Page 148
SKILL 19.3 Classify a given rock as sedimentary, igneous, ormetamorphic......Page 155
SKILL 20.1 Demonstrate an understanding of how Earth's internalstructure can be inferred from the behavior of seismic waves......Page 156
SKILL 20.2 Relate lithospheric plate movements to circulation in themantle......Page 157
SKILL 20.3 Analyze evidence for seafloor spreading and plate tectonics(e.g., magnetic reversals)......Page 158
SKILL 20.4 Apply the theory of plate tectonics to explain ocean floortopography, landscape development, and geologicphenomena (e.g., volcanism, earthquakes) and to predict platemotions......Page 159
SKILL 21.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the processes ofmechanical/physical, chemical, and biological weathering andfactors that affect the rate at which rocks weather and soils areproduced......Page 161
SKILL 21.2 Demonstrate an understanding of the processes oferosion by various agents (e.g., wind, water, glaciers) andfactors that affect erosion rates and patterns......Page 163
SKILL 21.3 Relate depositional patterns to the properties of thetransported particles......Page 165
SKILL 21.4 Demonstrate an understanding of the processes by whichgiven landscape features are formed......Page 166
SKILL 22.1 Applying the principles of stratigraphy (e.g., principle oforiginal horizontality, principle of superposition) to interpretdiagrams of rock strata......Page 169
SKILL 22.2 Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, applications,and limits of radioactive dating......Page 170
SKILL 22.3 Compare and contrast the environmental conditions andcharacteristic fossils of the various geologic periods......Page 171
SKILL 22.4 Use stratigraphic and paleontological information to infer thegeologic history of a given area......Page 174
SKILL 22.5 Apply the fossil record as evidence for evolutionary change......Page 175
SKILL 23.1 Analyze the components of the hydrologic cycle (e.g.,evaporation, runoff, transpiration, infiltration)......Page 176
SKILL 23.2 Evaluate the effects of various factors (e.g., vegetation,gradient, rock characteristics) on components of a local waterbudget......Page 177
SKILL 23.3 Analyze the energy transformations that occur as watermoves through the hydrologic cycle......Page 179
SKILL 24.1 Analyze the role of the hydrologic cycle in shaping Earth'ssurface......Page 180
SKILL 24.2 Analyze the factors affecting the flow of water in streams (e.g.,discharge, sediment load, cross-sectional shape)......Page 182
SKILL 24.4 Analyze a cross-sectional diagram of a water table andsurrounding regolith and bedrock to predict the movement ofgroundwater and the behavior of wells......Page 184
SKILL 24.5 Analyze the interactions between groundwater and surfacewater (e.g., springs, swamps, marshes)......Page 187
SKILL 25.2 Analyze the relationship between the physical properties ofocean water (e.g., temperature, pressure, density, light) anddepth......Page 188
SKILL 25.3 Analyze forces that affect ocean currents (e.g., Coriolis effect,wind, density)......Page 189
Sample Test......Page 191
Answer Key......Page 202
Rationales for Sample Questions......Page 203
