Earth & Space Science Pre-Test

Dr. Pamela Gore
Georgia Perimeter College

Instructions

The purpose of this pre-test is to assess your level of knowledge and understanding of concepts covered in Earth & Space Science, coming into the course. Your pre-test results will be compared with your end-of-course test results to assess student learning as a result of this course. Your results will also be used to look for any common misconceptions that you may have upon entering the course, so that they may be addressed within the course content.

It is expected that you may leave certain answers blank and get certain answers wrong. That is just fine. Don't worry about mistakes. Your score on this test does not figure into your course grade.

You may print out this pre-test and write the answers by hand, so that you can include sketches if you would like. Or you may copy and paste the questions into Word and type them on your computer, adding sketches later. Or you may write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Please submit this pre-test to Dr. Ed Albin at Edward.Albin@gpc.edu or Science Dept., Georgia Perimeter College, 555 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021.

Please complete the Pre-Test on or before June 15, 2009, or as soon as you start the course.

Earth & Space Science Pre-Test

1. Explain the cause of the seasons of the year. Include a sketch if you wish.
   
   
   

2. Explain the cause of the phases of the moon. Include a sketch if you wish.
   
   
   

3. Explain your understanding of the origin and formation of the solar system.
   
   
   

4. Explain the alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon during eclipses. Include a sketch if you wish.
   
   
   

5. Tell what you know about the planets, such as size relative to Earth, surface and atmospheric features, and ability to support life. As part of your answer, list the planets in order from the Sun, outward.
   
   
   

6. Draw and label a sketch to explain the structure of the interior of the Earth.
   
   
   

7. Tell what you know about plate tectonics.
   
   
   

8. Tell what you know about the water cycle. Include a sketch if you wish.
   
   
   

9. What causes wind?
   
   
   

10. What causes tides?
    
    
    

11. What is the difference between a tornado and a hurricane?
    
    
    

12. Draw and label a sketch to illustrate the rock cycle. Be sure to include the three major types of rocks somewhere in your answer.
    
    
    

13. What are some processes that change rocks and the surface of the Earth?
    
    
    

14. What causes earthquakes?
    
    
    

15. What can fossils tell us about the history of the Earth?
    
    
    

16. How does human activity affect erosion?
    
    
    

17. List some renewable resources and some non-renewable resources.
    
    
    

18. What is soil?
    
    
    

19. What is the seafloor like beneath the world's oceans?
    
    
    

20. What makes objects in the solar system move?
    
    
    

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Page created by Pamela J.W. Gore
Georgia Perimeter College,,
CClarkston, GA

Page created May 11, 2005
Updated May 20, 2007
Updated May 16, 2008
Updated June 10, 2009