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ps/earth science the university of the state of new york regents high school examination physical setting earth science friday june 17 2011 1:15 to 4:15 p.m only use your knowledge of earth science to answer all questions in this examination before you begin this examination you must be provided with the 2010 edition reference tables for physical setting/earth science you will need these reference tables to answer some of the questions you are to answer all questions in all parts of this examination you may use scrap paper to work out the answers to the questions a separate answer sheet for part a and part b­1 has been provided to you follow the instructions from the proctor for completing the student information on your answer sheet record your answers to the part a and part b­1 multiple-choice questions on this separate answer sheet record your answers for the questions in part b­2 and part c in your separate answer booklet be sure to fill in the heading on the front of your answer booklet all answers in your answer booklet should be written in pen except for graphs and drawings which should be done in pencil when you have completed the examination you must sign the declaration printed on your separate answer sheet indicating that you had no unlawful knowledge of the questions or answers prior to the examination and that you have neither given nor received assistance in answering any of the questions during the examination your answer sheet and answer booklet cannot be accepted if you fail to sign this declaration notice a four-function or scientific calculator and a copy of the 2010 edition reference tables for physical setting/earth science must be available for you to use while taking this examination the use of any communications device is strictly prohibited when taking this examination if you use any communications device no matter how briefly your examination will be invalidated and no score will be calculated for you do not open this examination booklet until the signal is given ps/earth science

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part a answer all questions in this part directions 1­35 for each statement or question choose the word or expression that of those given best completes the statement or answers the question some questions may require the use of the 2010 edition reference tables for physical setting/earth science record your answers on your separate answer sheet 1 why do the planets in our solar system have a layered internal structure 1 all planets cooled rapidly after they formed 2 the sun exerts a gravitational force on the planets 3 each planet is composed of materials of different densities 4 cosmic dust settled in layers on the planets surfaces 2 the diagram below shows a large pendulum in motion over an 8-hour period 4 cosmic background radiation provides direct evidence for the origin of 1 the universe 2 our solar system 3 earth s ozone layer 4 earth s earliest atmosphere 5 planetary winds and ocean currents are deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere due to 1 seasonal changes 3 the doppler effect 2 plate tectonics 4 the coriolis effect 6 what is the approximate altitude of polaris at syracuse new york 1 43° 3 76° 2 47° 4 90° swing apparent change in pendulum 0 2 direction 4 6 8 hours 7 most rocks that form from fragmental rock particles are classified as 1 extrusive igneous 2 intrusive igneous 3 clastic sedimentary 4 chemical sedimentary 8 which group of organisms has the shortest record of life on earth 1 eurypterids 3 birds 2 graptolites 4 placoderm fish 9 what is inferred to be the main source of the free oxygen that first entered earth s atmosphere 1 meteorite impacts releasing oxygen 2 oxygen-producing organisms 3 melting of glacial ice into hydrogen and oxygen 4 radioactive decay of rocks containing oxygen floor what is the main reason the pendulum appears to change its direction of swing over time 1 tilt of earth on its axis 2 rotation of earth on its axis 3 revolution of earth in its orbit 4 speed of earth in its orbit 3 on which day of the year does the sun reach the greatest altitude at solar noon in new york city 1 june 21 3 august 21 2 july 21 4 september 21 p.s e sci.­june 11 [2]

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10 the drill-core samples below were taken from two locations 1000 kilometers apart rock layers 1 through 8 have been labeled some index fossils are shown in the layers 12 near which two latitudes are most of earth s major deserts located 1 0° and 90° n 3 30° n and 30° s 2 30° s and 60° s 4 60° s and 60° n 13 how much of an 800-gram sample of potassium-40 will remain after 3.9 × 109 years of radioactive decay 1 50 grams 3 200 grams 2 100 grams 4 400 grams 14 thin layers of volcanic ash act as excellent time markers in the correlation of bedrock because volcanic ash 1 is easily eroded and lasts only a short time on earth s surface 2 stays in the atmosphere for millions of years 3 is deposited over millions of years 4 falls to earth over a large area in a short period of time 15 evidence indicates that 251 million years ago a mass extinction of many life-forms occurred on earth which form of life became extinct at this time 1 trilobites 3 mammoths 2 dinosaurs 4 eurypterids 16 what is the dewpoint when the air temperature is 26°c and the relative humidity is 77 1 3°c 3 22°c 2 20°c 4 23°c drill core 1 drill core 2 1 2 3 5 6 7 4 8 which numbered layers most likely formed at the same time 1 1 and 6 3 3 and 5 2 2 and 8 4 4 and 7 11 a tree in new york state casts a shadow as shown in the diagram below horizon south sun west what time of day and season are represented by the diagram 1 early morning in winter 2 early morning in summer 3 late afternoon in winter 4 late afternoon in summer p.s e sci.­june 11 [3 [over]

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17 on the map below dark-gray areas represent regions of lake-effect snow on a december day 20 the topographic map below shows a stream crossing several contour lines and passing through points x and y elevations are measured in feet which new york state location appears to be experiencing a lake-effect snowstorm 1 new york city 3 plattsburgh 2 utica 4 watertown 18 the cross section below shows the general bedrock structure of an area containing three different landscape regions a b and c what is the approximate gradient between point x and point y 1 10 ft/mi 3 40 ft/mi 2 20 ft/mi 4 80 ft/mi 21 the map below shows an overhead view of sediments that have accumulated at the bottom of a lake points a through d represent locations on the shoreline of the lake a clay c a 2 km b not drawn to scale silt sand b pebbles c d which list correctly identifies the type of landscapes represented by letters a b and c 1 a plain b plateau c mountain 2 a mountain b plateau c plain 3 a mountain b plain c plateau 4 a plateau b plain c mountain 19 in new york state the surface bedrock of the catskills consists mainly of 1 weakly consolidated gravels and sands 2 quartzites dolostones marbles and schists 3 conglomerates red sandstones basalt and diabase 4 limestones shales sandstones and conglomerates p.s e sci.­june 11 a river most likely flows into the lake nearest to location 1 a 3 c 2 b 4 d 22 an increase in which gas in earth s atmosphere will most significantly increase global temperatures 1 methane 3 nitrogen 2 oxygen 4 hydrogen [4]

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23 the topographic map below shows two hills located in upstate new york 25 the diagram below shows air movement over a mountain windward side 650 leeward side compared to the climate on the windward side of the mountain the climate on the leeward side of the mountain is 1 drier and warmer 2 drier and cooler 3 more humid and warmer 4 more humid and cooler 26 which factor has the greatest influence on the number of daylight hours that a particular earth surface location receives 1 longitude 2 latitude 3 diameter of earth 4 distance from the sun 27 energy is transferred from barnard s star to earth mainly by 1 red shifts 2 density currents 3 conduction 4 electromagnetic waves 28 a stream s velocity decreases from 100 cm/s to 5 cm/s which size sediment particles will still be transported by the stream 1 pebbles sand silt and clay 2 sand silt and clay only 3 silt and clay only 4 clay only 600 600 n miles 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 which agent of erosion is most responsible for the shape of these hills 1 wind 3 waves 2 gravity 4 glaciers 24 during an el niño event surface water temperatures increase along the west coast of south america which weather changes are likely to occur in this region 1 decreased air temperature and decreased precipitation 2 decreased air temperature and increased precipitation 3 increased air temperature and increased precipitation 4 increased air temperature and decreased precipitation p.s e sci.­june 11 [5 [over]

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29 which diagram most accurately represents the relative diameters of earth and mercury earth mercury earth mercury 1 3 earth mercury earth mercury 2 4 30 which diagram represents the tilt of earth s axis relative to the sun s rays on december 15 n pole n pole n pole sun s rays sun s rays sun s rays sun s rays s pole s pole s pole 1 2 3 4 31 the cross section below shows four rock units a b c and d key contact metamorphism igneous rock which rock unit is youngest in age 1 a 2 b 3 c 4 d p.s e sci.­ june 11 [6]

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32 the incomplete flowchart below shows some of the changes that occur in warm air as it rises to form a cloud the air expands due to lower pressure warm air rises condensation occurs and a cloud forms which statement should be placed in the empty box to accurately complete the flowchart 1 the air warms as it expands 2 the air cools until it reaches the dewpoint 3 the air s relative humidity decreases to zero 4 the air enters the thermosphere 33 the highest surface wind speeds occur when there is a 1 4-millibar air-pressure difference between two nearby locations 2 4-millibar air-pressure difference between two distant locations 3 20-millibar air-pressure difference between two nearby locations 4 20-millibar air-pressure difference between two distant locations 34 the block diagram below shows a portion of earth s crust which stream drainage pattern is most likely present on this crustal surface 1 2 3 4 p.s e sci.­ june 11 [7 [over]

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35 the contour map below shows elevations recorded in meters line ab is a reference line on the map a 500 b ocean n contour interval 100 m which graph best represents the profile from point a to point b elevation m 500 elevation m distance 1 500 0 0 a b a distance 3 b elevation m 500 elevation m distance 2 500 0 0 a b a distance 4 b p.s e sci.­ june 11 [8]

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part b­1 answer all questions in this part directions 36­50 for each statement or question choose the word or expression that of those given best completes the statement or answers the question some questions may require the use of the 2010 edition reference tables for physical setting/earth science record your answers on your separate answer sheet base your answers to questions 36 through 40 on the diagram below which represents zones of earth s interior identified by letters a through e the scale shows depths below earth s surface measured in kilometers abcde 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 km 36 the moho is a boundary located in zone 1 a 2 b 3 e 4 d 37 what is the approximate thickness of zone c 1 650 km 3 2250 km 2 1600 km 4 2900 km 38 which zone is characterized by partially melted rock and large-scale convection currents 1 zone a 3 zone c 2 zone b 4 zone e 39 which zone of earth s interior has a density closest to the densities of the other terrestrial planets 1 zone a 3 zone c 2 zone e 4 zone d 40 s-waves produced by an earthquake are transmitted through zones 1 a and b but not zones c d and e 3 c d and e but not zones a and b 2 a b and c but not zones d and e 4 d and e but not zones a b and c p.s e sci.­june 11 [9 [over]

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base your answers to questions 41 through 43 on the data table below which lists some properties of four minerals that are used as ores of zinc zn mineral property composition hardness density g/cm3 color mineral smithsonite znco3 4­4.5 4.4 white gray green blue yellow white sphalerite zns 3.5­4 4.0 brown yellow red green black white to yellow to brown willemite zn2sio4 5.5 4.0 white yellow green reddish brown black white zincite zno 4 5.6 deep red to orange yellow orange yellow streak 41 a mineral with a hardness of 5 would scratch 1 all four zinc minerals in the table 2 zincite but not sphalerite smithsonite or willemite 3 zincite and sphalerite but not smithsonite or willemite 4 zincite sphalerite and smithsonite but not willemite 42 a sample of sphalerite has a mass of 176.0 grams what is the volume of the sample 1 22.7 cm3 3 40.0 cm3 3 2 31.4 cm 4 44.0 cm3 43 which mineral belongs in the same mineral group as quartz and olivine 1 zincite 3 sphalerite 2 willemite 4 smithsonite p.s e sci.­june 11 [10]

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base your answers to questions 44 through 46 on the map below which shows a portion of the continent of north america and outlines the mississippi river watershed points a b c d and e represent locations on earth s surface a ssippi ssi mi b riv er c atlantic ocean d pacific ocean e gulf of mexico key mississippi watershed boundary 44 at which location would the mississippi river s discharge most likely be the greatest 1 a 3 c 2 b 4 d 45 sediments deposited by the river at location b are best described as 1 sorted and layered 3 unsorted and layered 2 sorted and not layered 4 unsorted and not layered 46 which landform is produced at location e where the mississippi river enters the gulf of mexico 1 a delta 3 an escarpment 2 a drumlin 4 an outwash plain p.s e sci.­june 11 [11 [over]

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base your answers to questions 47 through 50 on the calendar below which shows the month of july of a recent year the dates of major moon phases as seen in new york state are shown july sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 key new moon 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 first-quarter moon 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 full moon 29 30 31 last-quarter moon 47 the diagram below represents the phase of the moon observed from new york state one night during the month of july on which date was this phase of the moon visible from new york state 1 july 4 3 july 19 2 july 11 4 july 26 48 on which date will the next first-quarter moon phase occur 1 august 6 3 august 16 2 august 10 4 august 22 49 eclipses do not occur every month because the moon s 1 rate of rotation is 15° each hour 2 orbit is inclined to earth s orbit 3 period of revolution is 27.3 days 4 period of rotation and period of revolution are the same 50 why does the moon s gravity have a greater effect on earth s ocean tides than the sun s gravity 1 the sun is composed mostly of gases 2 the sun s gravity influences more planets 3 the moon has a greater mass 4 the moon is much closer to earth p.s e sci.­june 11 [12]

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part b­2 answer all questions in this part directions 51­65 record your answers in the spaces provided in your answer booklet some questions may require the use of the 2010 edition reference tables for physical setting/earth science base your answers to questions 51 and 52 on the block diagram and information below the diagram is of the niagara falls region as viewed from the north lockport dolostone rochester shale niagar a niagara falls escarpmen t niagara river lake ontario n the niagara river began to flow over the niagara escarpment about 12,000 years ago when the last pleistocene ice sheet melted and retreated north from the niagara escarpment since that time niagara falls has eroded upriver leaving a deep steepsided valley that is 11,000 meters long the top bedrock layer of the escarpment is the lockport dolostone which lies above the rochester shale the shale is more easily weathered than the dolostone this causes the dolostone to be undercut as a result the dolostone breaks off in large blocks that tumble to the base of niagara falls 51 in which new york state landscape region is niagara falls located [1 52 toward which compass direction is the location of niagara falls likely to move in the future [1 p.s e sci.­june 11 [13 [over]

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base your answers to questions 53 through 55 on the diagram below which represents earth s water cycle the arrows represent some water cycle processes letter a indicates a surface location on earth condensation precipitation evaporation forest water table ru no a ff ocean ground water f low 53 other than evaporation which water cycle process transfers large amounts of water vapor into the atmosphere from the forest [1 54 describe one surface condition change at location a that would decrease the rate of runoff [1 55 how many joules j of heat energy are released by each gram of water vapor that condenses to form cloud droplets [1 p.s e sci.­june 11 [14]

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base your answers to questions 56 through 59 on the graphs and map below the map shows a view of earth from above the north pole points on the map indicate the positions of reykjavik iceland and yakutsk russia the graphs show average monthly air temperature line graphs and amount of precipitation bar graphs for both locations 56 write the two-letter weather map symbol for an air mass that originates over yakutsk [1 57 explain why reykjavik has cooler summers and warmer winters than yakutsk 58 describe one way the yearly precipitation in yakutsk differs from that in reykjavik 59 identify one warm and one cool ocean current that affect the climate of iceland [1 [1 [1 p.s e sci.­june 11 [15 [over]

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