Earth Science Department
Richmond Hill High School
Common Formative Assessments
Fall 2012
Name______
Science Department
Earth Science
Formative Assessment #1
Time Zones (January 08)
In 1883, Earth was divided into 24 time zones. The United States (excluding Alaska
and Hawaii) has four time zones, which are indicated by different shadings on the map.
Each zone is roughly centered on lines of longitude that are 15° apart. These lines are
shown as dashed lines on the map. Most locations within a time zone have the same time.
This time is called standard time. As you move to the west, the time in each zone is one
hour earlier than the previous time zone.
1 When it is 1 a.m. in New York City, what time is it in Denver? [1]
2 Explain, in terms of Earth’s rotation, why the time zones are 15° of longitude apart. [1]
Name______
Science Department
Earth Science
Formative Assessment #2
(June 09)
Base your answers to questions 1 through 4 on the topographic map below, which shows a small island in an ocean. Points A, B, C, and D represent surface locations on the island. The symbol 134 represents an elevation on the hilltop. Elevations are measured in feet and distances are measured in miles.
1 On the grid in your answer booklet, construct a profile along line AB by plotting an X
for the elevation of each contour line that crosses line AB. Connect the Xs with a
smooth, curved line to complete the profile. [1]
2 Calculate the gradient of Mud Creek between points C and D and label your answer
with the correct units. [1]
3 State the compass direction toward which Mud Creek flows. [1]
4 Explain how the contour lines on the map indicate that the north side of the island
has the steepest slope. [1]
Name______
Science Department
Earth Science
Formative Assessment #3
(January 09)
Base your answers to questions 1 and 2 on the diagram below of a mineral classification scheme that shows the properties of certain minerals. Letters A through G represent mineral property zones. Zone E represents the presence of all three properties. For example, a mineral that is harder than glass, has a metallic luster, but does not have cleavage, would be placed in zone B. Assume that glass has a hardness of 5.5.
1. In which zone would the mineral potassium feldspar be placed? [1]
2. State the name of one mineral listed on the Properties of Common Minerals Table that
could not be placed in any of the zones. [1]
Name______
Science Department
Earth Science
Formative Assessment #4
(June 06)
Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the flowchart below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The flowchart shows the formation of some igneous rocks. The circled letters A, B, C, and D indicate parts of the flowchart that have not been labeled.
1. Contrast the rate of cooling at A that forms intrusive igneous rock with the rate of
cooling at B that forms extrusive igneous rock. [1]
2. Give the numerical grain-size range that should be placed in the flowchart at C .
Units must be included in your answer. [1]
.3 State one igneous rock that could be placed in the flowchart at D . [1]
Name______
Science Department
Earth Science
Formative Assessment #5
(June 10)
Base your answers to questions 1 through 4 on the cross section below, which shows the bedrock
structure of a portion of the lithosphere. Letters A through D represent locations in the lithosphere.
1. Identify one of the most abundant minerals in the metamorphic rock at location A. [1]
2. Explain why the type of rock changes between locations B and C. [1]
3. Identify the grain size of the metamorphic rock at location D. [1]
4. Explain why the oceanic crust subducts beneath the continental crust when the two
plates collide. [1]
Name______
Science Department
Earth Science
Formative Assessment #6
(June 09)
Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the map below, which is an enlargement of a portion of the Tectonic Plates map from the Earth Science Reference Tables. Points A and B are locations on different boundaries of the Arabian Plate.
1. Identify the type of tectonic plate boundary located at point A. [1]
2. On the map shown, a valley is located south of point B and a mountain range north of point B. State the tectonic process that is creating these two land features. [1]
3. The block diagram in your answer booklet represents Earth’s surface and interior along the East African Rift. Draw two arrows, one through point X and one through point Y, to indicate the relative motion of each of these sections of the continental crust. [1]
Name______
Science Department
Earth Science
(January 09)
Formative Assessment #7
Base your answers to questions 1 through 5 on the passage below and on the map in your answer booklet. The passage describes the New Madrid fault system. The numbers on the map show the predicted relative damage at various locations if a large earthquake occurs along the New Madrid fault system. The higher the number, the greater the relative damage.
The New Madrid Fault System
The greatest earthquake risk area east of the Rocky Mountains is along the New Madrid fault system. The New Madrid fault system consists of a series of faults along a weak zone in the continental crust in the midwestern United States. Earthquakes occur in the Midwest less often than in California, but when they do happen, the damage is spread over a wider area due to the underlying bedrock.
In 1811 and 1812, the New Madrid fault system experienced three major earthquakes. Large land areas sank, new lakes formed, the course of the Mississippi River changed, and 150,000 acres of forests were destroyed.
1. On the map in your answer booklet, draw the 4, 6, and 8 isolines indicating relative
damage. [1]
2. Using the predicted damage numbers, place an X on the map to indicate where the
New Madrid fault system most likely exists. [1]
3. The distance between the New Madrid fault system and Albany, New York, is
1800 kilometers. What was the time difference between the arrival of the first
P-wave and the arrival of the first S-wave at Albany when the 1812 earthquake
occurred? [1]
4. State one reason why earthquakes occur more frequently on the western coast of the
United States than in the New Madrid region. [1]
5. An emergency management specialist near the New Madrid region is developing a
plan that would help save lives and prevent property damage in the event of anearthquake. Describe two actions that should be included in the plan. [1]
Name______
Science Department
Earth Science
(June 10)
Formative Assessment #8
Base your answers to questions 1 through 5 on the map and the modified Mercalli intensity scale below. The map shows modified Mercalli intensity scale damage zones resulting from a large earthquake that occurred in 1964. The earthquake’s epicenter was near Anchorage, Alaska. The cities Kodiak and Anchorage are shown on the map. The Mercalli scale describes earthquake damage at Earth’s surface.
1. Describe one type of damage that occurred in Anchorage but not in Kodiak. [1]
2. Write the names of the two converging tectonic plates that caused this earthquake. [1]
3. Explain why S-waves from this earthquake were not directly received on the opposite
side of Earth. [1]
4. This earthquake produced a large ocean-floor displacement. Identify one dangerous
geologic event affecting Pacific Ocean shorelines as a result of this ocean-floor
displacement. [1]
5. Determine the latitude and longitude of this epicenter. Include the units and compass
directions in your answer. [1]
Name______
Science Department
Earth Science
(June 06)
Formative Assessment #9
Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the map below, which shows the different lobes (sections) of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, the last continental ice sheet that covered most of New York State. The arrows show the direction that the ice lobes flowed. The terminal moraine shows the maximum advance of this ice sheet.
1. Describe the arrangement of rock material in the sediments that were directly
deposited by the glacier. [1]
2. According to the map, toward which compass direction did the ice lobe flow over the
Catskills? [1]
3. What evidence might be found on surface bedrock of the Catskills that would
indicate the direction of ice flow in this region? [1]
Name______
Earth Science
(January 09)
Formative Assessment #10
Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the topographic map below, which shows three glaciers found in Alaska. Dashed lines show the inferred location of the front edge of each glacier in 1948, 1964, and 1980. Solid lines show the location of the front edge of each glacier in 1998. Points A and B show the location of the front edge of the Taku Glacier in 1948 and 1998. Elevations are in feet.
1. Determine the rate, in miles per year, that the front edge of the Taku Glacier moved
between point A and point B. [1]
2. What is the contour interval on this map? [1]
3. If these glaciers completely melted, what two pieces of evidence would a scientist
most likely find to indicate that glaciers had existed in this area? [1]
Mr. Schwarz
Earth Science
Name______
(June 06)
Formative Assessment #11
Base your answers to questions 1 through 4 on the geologic cross section below. The rock layers have notbeen overturned. Point A is located in the zone of contact metamorphism.
1. Which metamorphic rock most likely formed at point A? [1]
2. State the evidence shown by the cross section that supports the inference that the
fault is younger than the basalt intrusion. [1]
3. In your answer booklet, list basalt, limestone, and breccia in the order in which they
were formed. [1]
4. What is the largest silt particle that could be found in the siltstone layer? [1]
Mr. Schwarz
Earth Science
Name______
(June 10)
Formative Assessment #12
Base your answers to questions 58 through 60 on the geologic cross section below. The rock layers have not been overturned.
58 The index fossil Dicellograptus was found in the shale layer. During which geologic
time period did this shale layer form? [1]
59 Describe one piece of evidence from the cross section that supports the inference
that the fault is older than the basalt intrusion. [1]
60 Explain why carbon-14 could not be used to determine the age of the Dicellograptus
fossil. [1]
Mr. Schwarz
Earth Science
Name______
(June 08)
Formative Assessment #13
Base your answers to questions 66 through 68 on the data table below, which shows the radioactive decay of carbon-14. The number of years required to complete four half-lives has been left blank.
66 On the grid in your answer booklet, construct a graph that shows the radioactive
decay of carbon-14 by plotting an X to show the percentage of original carbon-14
remaining after each half-life. Connect the Xs with a smooth, curved line. [1]
67 How long does it take for radioactive carbon-14 to complete four half-lives? [1]
68 The cross section below shows part of Earth’s crust. The objects in parentheses
indicate materials found within each rock unit or deposit.
Which object in parentheses could be accurately dated using carbon-14? Explain
your answer. [1]