Earth Science I SOL Practice Test — Set 2 of 6
Set 2 of 6 — 50 more free Earth Science I SOL practice questions from official VDOE released tests.
1. A volcanic eruption can affect the atmosphere by —
Show answer
Answer: B — adding large quantities of several gases, such as sulfur dioxide, to the atmosphere
2. High tides occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned in a straight line. Which alignment causes the greatest high tides?
Show answer
Answer: F — Sun–Moon–Earth aligned
3. Each dot on a diagram marks the origin of an earthquake. The area with the highest concentration of earthquake origins marks —
Show answer
Answer: H — the path of a subducting tectonic plate
4. Which of these is the best indication of the relative age of a rock layer?
Show answer
Answer: C — The position of the layer compared to other layers
5. Which mineral is easily identified by smell?
Show answer
Answer: J — Sulfur
6. A solid sphere is placed in 100 mL of water, raising the water level to 150 mL. The mass of the dry sphere is 70.0 g. Which value is closest to the density of the sphere?
Show answer
Answer: H — 1.4 g/mL
7. Scientists use the rock cycle to describe the processes by which —
Show answer
Answer: B — one type of rock can be changed into another type of rock
8. According to Mohs Hardness Scale, fluorite has a hardness of 4. Which group of minerals can scratch fluorite?
Show answer
Answer: H — Apatite, orthoclase, and corundum
9. The Earth’s mantle is made of very hot material that rises, cools, sinks, reheats, and rises again. This cycle causes movement of Earth’s crust and is known as —
Show answer
Answer: A — convection currents
10. Which layer of the Sun is seen during a total solar eclipse?
Show answer
Answer: J — Corona
11. Barrier islands protect inland shores from surf but are not permanent because —
Show answer
Answer: C — wind and waves constantly redistribute sand
12. A groundwater diagram shows zones of aeration and saturation above an impermeable layer. A well that reaches deeply into the zone of saturation provides the most consistent water supply. Which well is most consistent?
Show answer
Answer: H — Well 3
13. A diagram shows rock layers displaced along a fracture where movement has occurred. This diagram illustrates —
Show answer
Answer: A — faulting
14. In which type of rock are fossils most likely to be found?
Show answer
Answer: H — Sedimentary
15. A soil profile has four layers. Layer 1 is the topsoil, rich in organic material; layer 2 is subsoil; layer 3 is weathered rock; layer 4 is bedrock. Which layer has the most humus?
Show answer
Answer: A — 1
16. The Pacific Ocean has an area of about 165 million square kilometers and an average depth of 4.3 km. The Atlantic Ocean has an area of about 82 million square kilometers and an average depth of 3.9 km. Approximately how many times greater is the volume of water in the Pacific Ocean than in the Atlantic Ocean?
Show answer
Answer: F — 2 times
17. A diagram shows an ice shelf extending from a grounded ice sheet into the ocean. Why is the ice shelf floating?
Show answer
Answer: B — The ice is less dense than ocean water
18. Which planet has the shortest day (rotation period)?
Show answer
Answer: H — Jupiter
19. A simplified map of Virginia is divided into four numbered regions. Region 3 represents the Piedmont. Which region is classified as the Piedmont?
Show answer
Answer: C — 3
20. Which of the following natural resources makes the largest contribution to Virginia’s economy?
Show answer
Answer: H — Coal
21. A student visits an area near a volcano that recently erupted. The student is most likely to find samples of —
Show answer
Answer: D — extrusive igneous rock
22. An infrared satellite image of Earth shows dark shaded areas. These dark areas represent —
Show answer
Answer: H — nighttime
23. Gas and dust in interstellar nebulae can form —
Show answer
Answer: F — stars
24. Which of the following best describes Earth’s orbital position in our solar system?
Show answer
Answer: D — An inner planet
25. A map shows exposed bedrock ages across Virginia. Harrisonburg and Bristol are located on bedrock of the same age. Which city matches Bristol’s bedrock age?
Show answer
Answer: G — Harrisonburg
26. A mountain composed of deformed sedimentary layers is near a tectonic plate boundary and still increasing in elevation. This is caused by —
Show answer
Answer: A — colliding tectonic plates
27. Release of CFCs is a possible cause of —
Show answer
Answer: F — destruction of ozone in the upper atmosphere
28. Early observations showed galaxy velocity increasing with distance. What approximate ratio of velocity to distance was calculated?
Show answer
Answer: A — 150 km/s per million light-years
29. Venus appears brighter at point Q than at point R because —
Show answer
Answer: G — more of the illuminated side is visible at Q
30. Wind power is not typically used to supply all electricity for large cities because —
Show answer
Answer: A — the energy source is inconsistent
31. A diagram shows weathering, erosion, and deposition transporting sediments to the ocean. Which kind of rock forms from these processes?
Show answer
Answer: G — Sedimentary
32. In cloud seeding, silver iodide particles act as —
Show answer
Answer: D — condensation nuclei
33. A forest fire travels at 1 km per hour. The ranger station is 0.5 km away along the fire’s path. About how long will it be before the fire reaches the station?
Show answer
Answer: F — 30 minutes
34. Which situation is most likely to result in fossil formation?
Show answer
Answer: D — A clam buried by a mudslide
35. A chart shows energy sources: oil 35%, coal 27%, gas 17%, solar/wind/hydroelectric 18%, nuclear 3%. Which conclusion can be made?
Show answer
Answer: H — Fossil fuels make up over three-quarters of energy consumption
36. What is the greatest environmental cost of hydroelectric power?
Show answer
Answer: D — Destruction of free-running rivers and ecosystems
37. Which mineral property cannot be used to identify a mineral?
Show answer
Answer: H — Mass
38. A river valley develops through stages: narrow V-shaped valley → widening valley → broad floodplain. Which stage is the first?
Show answer
Answer: A — Narrow, steep-sided valley
39. A simplified map of Virginia river basins shows the James River basin covering the largest area. The largest river basin is drained by the —
Show answer
Answer: H — James River
40. Ozone molecules protect Earth by —
Show answer
Answer: D — absorbing ultraviolet radiation
41. Our galaxy is best described as —
Show answer
Answer: F — a spiral galaxy
42. A student found an irregularly shaped rock and weighed it to determine its mass. What steps should the student take to find its density?
Show answer
Answer: A — Determine its volume by how much water it displaces, then divide mass by volume.
43. The placement of Jupiter’s four largest moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) was recorded for February 1–9, 1996. On February 7, when viewed through a telescope, the moons appeared in the following order from left to right: Ganymede, Io, Europa, Callisto, with Jupiter centered below them. Which diagram best represents this alignment as seen from Earth?
Show answer
Answer: G — Ganymede – Europa – Io – Callisto, with Jupiter below
44. The most common elements in Earth’s crust by percentage by weight are: Oxygen: 46.6% Silicon: 27.7% Aluminum: 8.1% Iron: 5.0% Calcium: 3.6% Sodium: 2.8% Potassium: 2.6% Magnesium: 2.1% All others: 1.5% Which statement is true?
Show answer
Answer: C — The two most common elements comprise nearly 75% of the crust.
45. A graph shows radioactive decay where the vertical axis is “Percent of Parent Element Remaining” and the horizontal axis is “Number of Half-lives Elapsed.” What percent of the parent element remains after three half-lives have elapsed?
Show answer
Answer: C — 12.5%
46. The Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale describes earthquake intensity. Which intensity level describes severe shaking with considerable damage, including cracked ground and partially collapsed buildings?
Show answer
Answer: H — IX
47. Students want to compare the relative ability of four materials to absorb heat: light-colored sand, black sand, clear water, and black-dyed water. They heat the substances and measure temperature every 10 minutes. Which experimental design would best suit their purpose?
Show answer
Answer: B — Keep all variables the same except the type of material.
48. A star chart shows the Sun located in the constellation Gemini in mid-June. Which constellation would not be visible at that time because it is too close to the Sun in the sky?
Show answer
Answer: B — Orion
49. A topographic map has contour lines at 50-meter intervals. Area C has the contour lines closest together compared to areas A, B, and D. Which area has the steepest slope?
Show answer
Answer: H — C
50. Each mineral has a unique crystal shape because of the —
Show answer
Answer: A — arrangement of its atoms
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.