Earth Science I SOL Practice Test — Set 1 of 6
306 free Earth Science I Virginia SOL practice questions drawn from official Virginia Department of Education released tests. Pick an answer to check it instantly, or open “Show answer” to review. No signup required.
1. Which of these can determine the size of grains in igneous rocks?
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Answer: D — Cooling rate of molten rock
2. Which of these can be used to measure atmospheric pressure?
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Answer: B — A barometer
3. Which element in Earth’s atmosphere is essential for human life and is extremely rare or nonexistent in the atmospheres of other planets in our solar system?
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Answer: D — Oxygen
4. When Earth is at its greatest distance from the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun. What season takes place in the Southern Hemisphere at this time?
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Answer: D — Winter
5. Which of the following is part of a valid process for supporting a hypothesis?
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Answer: C — Experimentation
6. The numerous rocks orbiting the Sun between Jupiter and Mars are —
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Answer: B — asteroids
7. What property is shared by many gemstones, such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and topaz?
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Answer: A — Extreme hardness
8. A hydrometer floats higher in denser liquids and lower in less dense liquids. When the same hydrometer is placed in several liquids, it floats highest in liquid H. Which liquid is denser than water?
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Answer: C — Liquid H
9. Charts show the mineral composition of chondrite and achondrite meteorites. Compared to chondrites, achondrites contain a higher percentage of feldspar. Based on this information, which conclusion is valid?
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Answer: C — Achondrites contain more feldspar.
10. A map of the eastern United States shows mean annual temperature zones labeled in 5°F intervals. Most of eastern Virginia lies within the 55°F to 60°F zone. According to this map, the mean annual temperature for most of the eastern half of Virginia is between —
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Answer: C — 55°F and 60°F
11. The density of a mineral is determined by its mass and —
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Answer: C — volume
12. What causes currents in the atmosphere?
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Answer: D — Warm air rising and cold air sinking
13. Four stages of soil development are described: I. Thick vegetation supported; organic material abundant II. Bedrock begins to disintegrate III. Soil horizons form; disintegration speeds up IV. Organic materials accumulate above parent material Which order correctly represents soil development from earliest to most developed?
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Answer: C — II, IV, III, I
14. The first manned mission to land on the Moon was commanded by Neil Armstrong and was called —
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Answer: A — Apollo 11
15. The Marianas Trench in the Pacific Ocean is 36,160 feet below sea level. This deep oceanic trench is caused by —
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Answer: D — two tectonic plates colliding with one plunging beneath the other
16. The Sun emits energy by converting hydrogen into helium. What is this process called?
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Answer: A — Fusion
17. In California, the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other horizontally. This type of plate movement creates a —
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Answer: C — strike-slip fault
18. A topographic map has a contour interval of 20 feet. Point III lies on the contour line labeled 1260 feet. What is the elevation of point III?
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Answer: A — 1260 feet
19. Which of the following is not a fossil fuel?
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Answer: B — Wood
20. Periodic meteor showers occur because Earth’s orbit passes through the remains of —
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Answer: B — a comet
21. Which of these is important in the formation of clouds?
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Answer: D — The cooling of air as it rises
22. What is usually responsible for an earthquake?
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Answer: B — Slippage along faults within Earth’s crust
23. When Venus passes between Earth and the Sun, it appears as a small black dot on the Sun. Why is Mars never seen this way?
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Answer: B — Mars’s orbit lies outside Earth’s orbit
24. Wetlands are most prevalent in which physiographic province of Virginia?
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Answer: A — Coastal Plain
25. If the polar ice caps were to melt, all of the following would occur except —
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Answer: D — decreased tidal action
26. Caves are common in Virginia’s Valley and Ridge province because the area is underlain by —
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Answer: D — limestone
27. What is one major indication that Earth’s climate has varied over time?
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Answer: A — Landforms carved by glaciers in temperate areas
28. Why does water move more slowly through clay than through humus?
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Answer: B — Clay has very small pore spaces
29. A diagram shows four numbered stages in the evolution of a massive star, ending in either a neutron star or black hole. Which numbered stage represents a supernova?
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Answer: D — 4
30. Which mineral, when in the form of sand, is used to manufacture glass?
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Answer: D — Quartz
31. The two most common ions in ocean water are —
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Answer: A — chloride and sodium
32. If there were a slight increase in the amount of solar energy reaching Earth, there would be an immediate increase in —
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Answer: B — evaporation
33. Scientists use volcano and earthquake activity to establish —
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Answer: A — plate boundaries
34. Slate is commonly used for roofing shingles because —
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Answer: A — it can be split into thin, flat layers
35. Which property refers to the colored powder produced when a mineral is rubbed on a harder surface?
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Answer: D — Streak
36. Metamorphic rocks whose minerals are arranged in layers or bands are called —
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Answer: D — foliated
37. A bedrock map of Virginia identifies several locations. Which location has the oldest exposed bedrock?
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Answer: C — Jack Mountain
38. Based on planetary rotation data showing that Jupiter completes one rotation in about 10 hours, which planet rotates the fastest?
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Answer: C — Jupiter
39. What processes can transform igneous rock into sedimentary rock?
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Answer: C — Erosion and sedimentation
40. A mineral identification table lists topaz as having hardness 8.0 and occurring in various colors, including blue. Which mineral is blue and will scratch garnet?
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Answer: D — Topaz
41. A graph shows that air pressure decreases with altitude. At approximately 22 kilometers above sea level, air pressure is closest to —
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Answer: A — 40 millibars
42. Which factor is most important in determining how a rock was formed?
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Answer: C — Composition and texture
43. Which part of a saber-toothed cat is most likely to become fossilized?
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Answer: D — Jaws
44. Sulfate emissions have decreased, but sulfate levels in some lakes remain high. Why?
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Answer: C — Earlier sulfate stored in soil continues to wash into lakes
45. Limestone is a valuable resource in Virginia because it can be processed to make —
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Answer: C — concrete
46. Lightweight and strong, the metal most successfully recycled is —
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Answer: C — aluminum
47. Sand dunes on Mars that shift over time indicate the presence of —
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Answer: B — winds
48. Which planet has an orbit so eccentric that it crosses another planet’s orbit?
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Answer: D — Pluto
49. A geologic time sequence for Virginia shows that Chesapeake Bay formed about 0.011 million years ago, more recently than all other listed features. The most recent formation is the —
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Answer: B — Chesapeake Bay
50. A major problem with depending on fossil fuels as primary energy sources is that they are —
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Answer: C — nonrenewable
Earth Science I SOL practice test — FAQ
Are these Earth Science I SOL practice questions free?
Yes — this Earth Science I SOL practice test is completely free with no signup. Answer each question to check it instantly, or open "Show answer" to review.
How many Earth Science I SOL practice questions are there?
Across all sets, there are 306 Earth Science I practice questions drawn from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests. This set has 50.
Are these real Virginia SOL questions?
The questions are adapted from official VDOE released SOL tests for Earth Science I. SOL Prep is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.
Practice items adapted from Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests. Practice items are provided for study purposes and are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.