7th Grade First Quarterly Assessment

Question 1 What causes the streak of light observed when a

meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere?A. sunlight reflected from the meteoroid surfaceB. energy released from radioactive materials in

the meteoroidC. lightning produced between the meteoroid and

the upper atmosphereD. visible light produced from the interaction

between the meteoroid and the upper atmosphere

Question 2 Which explains the relationship between hours of

sunlight and seasons

A. the rotation of Earth on its axisB. the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the sunC. the location of Earth’s orbit in the solar systemD. the motion of the moon as it travels around

Earth

Question 3 What change would occur if Earth’s rate of rotation

significantly increased?

A. The year would be shorter. B. The year would be longer.C. The day would be shorter.D. The day would be longer.

Question 4 Which phenomena occur as a result of the

gravitational attraction between the moon and Earth?

A. eclipsesB. ocean tidesC. seasonal changesD. phases of the moon

Question 5 Which diagram shows the relative positions of Earth

(E), the sun (S), and the moon (M) during a full moon?

[Note: Diagrams are not drawn to scale.]. A. B.

C. D.

Question 6

The moon orbits the Earth about everyA. 28 daysB. 31 daysC. 24 daysD. 60 days

Question 7

A student observing the sky notices that the cirrostratus clouds she saw in the morning have been replaced by cumulonimbus clouds in the afternoon.

What weather conditions can she expect for the afternoon and evening?

A. low clouds and fog with little temperature changeB. fair skies continuing with scattered puffy cloudsC. light rain, then an increase in temperature and clearing skiesD. heavy wind and rain followed by a drop in temperature and clearing skies

A meteorologist collects data on the weather conditions at an airport. The diagram shows a weather station model of the data that he collected.

Question 8

At the time these data were collected, flights at the airport were delayed. According to this information, which weather condition caused the delay?

A. thick fogB. heavy snowC. freezing rainD. strong winds

Use the water cycle diagram to answer questions 9-12

Question 9What evidence suggests that water goes through a physical change when it evaporates in the water cycle?

A. The density of the water remains the same.B. The volume of the water remains the same.C. The physical properties of the water remain the same.D. The chemical properties of the water remain the same.

Question 10The diagram includes an ocean in the water cycle. How does salt water from the ocean end up as fresh water in precipitation?

A. Runoff leaves salt in the soil.B. Precipitation leaves salt in the clouds.C. Evaporation leaves salt in the ocean. D. Condensation leaves salt in the water vapor.

Question 11

What is the primary energy source that drives Earth’s water cycle between the atmosphere, oceans and land?

A. windB. sunlightC. ocean currentsD. rotation of Earth

Question 12

Water gains energy during evaporation. During what process in the water cycle is this energy released?

A. percolation through soilB. transpiration from plantsC. runoff into the lake and oceanD. condensation that forms clouds

Question 13

Question 14

In which environment is white fur color an advantage for survival?A. desertB. grasslandC. arctic tundraD. temperate forest

Question 15The diagram models Earth and the moon in two positions of its orbit. The arrows indicate the direction of light from the sun.

Identify what phase of the moon will be seen from Earth when the moon is in position X Describe or draw what that phase looks like from Earth. Indicate in your description or drawing what portion of the moon is lit or is not lit. Then, identify what phase of the moon will be seen from Earth when the moon is in position Z. Describe or draw what that phase looks like from Earth. Indicate in your description or drawing what portion of the moon is lit or is not lit.

Question 16

Students observe that the length of the shadow of a flagpole varies throughout the year. They measure and diagram the flagpole’s shadow in spring, summer and fall at mid-afternoon. The students’ diagrams are shown.

In your answer, describe or draw what the flagpole’s shadow will look like at mid-afternoon in the winter, December 21.Then, explain why the flagpole’s shadow length changes throughout the year.(2 points)