Earth Science I SOL Practice Test — Set 6 of 6
Set 6 of 6 — 50 more free Earth Science I SOL practice questions from official VDOE released tests.
1. Fossils A, B, C, and D overlap in time only during which geologic period?
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Answer: B — Triassic
2. A person weighs more on Earth than on the Moon because Earth has greater —
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Answer: D — gravitational pull
3. The atomic spectrum of Star X shows spectral lines that match those of calcium. Which element does the star contain?
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Answer: B — Calcium
4. Weather data show Charlottesville is clear while Norfolk has mist. Which factor best explains this difference?
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Answer: B — Humidity
5. The mineral resources of Virginia can be conserved by all of the following except —
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Answer: C — regenerating
6. A boat floats higher in ocean water than in river water because ocean water has —
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Answer: D — a greater density
7. Because of the unique position of Earth in the solar system, life has flourished due to the presence of —
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Answer: C — liquid water
8. In the solar system, the planets are arranged outward from the Sun in the following order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. At what position would Earth be found?
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Answer: G — 2
9. What element is the main component of most stars?
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Answer: C — Hydrogen
10. The hypothesis for the cause of the dinosaurs’ extinction that has the most scientific support links their extinction to —
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Answer: J — a large object from space hitting Earth
11. Approximately 99.7% of all water on Earth is found in oceans, seas, ice, and the atmosphere. Based on this information, which statement is most accurate?
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Answer: B — Less than 0.3% of Earth’s water is drinkable.
12. A world map shows lines of longitude labeled 150° W, 120° W, 90° W, 60° W, 30° W, 0°, 30° E, and 60° E. Richmond, Virginia is marked at approximately 38° N latitude and between 75° W and 80° W longitude. The longitude of Richmond, Virginia, is approximately —
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Answer: F — 75° W
13. A map of Virginia shows Richmond near the east-central part of the state. Staunton is shown west and slightly north of Richmond. In what direction is Staunton from Richmond?
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Answer: B — Northwest
14. During which portion of Earth’s revolution around the Sun is the Northern Hemisphere tilted toward the Sun?
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Answer: G — Summer solstice
15. What is the best evidence that many different geologic periods are represented in Virginia?
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Answer: C — The presence of fossils of different ages
16. Volcanic ash has occasionally formed molds of animals. This occurs when the ash covers the animal and —
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Answer: H — hardens before the animal decays
17. A rock diagram shows four labeled rock sections. Section 4 is the lowest rock layer and all other layers are above it without disruption. Which area is most likely the oldest section of rock?
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Answer: D — 4
18. Rock layers tell a story about their past. What is the basic assumption that is made when reading this story?
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Answer: H — The processes in the rock cycle were the same in the past as they are today.
19. A rain forest is found at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, and the summit is snowcapped. Which of the following best accounts for this?
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Answer: A — Temperature differences due to changes in elevation
20. Which of the following was primarily responsible for the development of life outside the oceans?
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Answer: J — An increase in atmospheric oxygen
21. A world map diagram from 1858 shows Africa and South America with coastlines that appear to fit together and shared fossil locations marked on both continents. What data was this diagram intended to explain?
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Answer: B — The reason for similar fossils in Africa and South America
22. Why do stars appear to change position during the night?
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Answer: F — Earth rotates on its axis.
23. A trail map shows four points (W, X, Y, Z) at different elevations along a hiking trail. The contour spacing is closest together at point X, indicating the greatest change in elevation over the shortest distance. At what point will the trail be steepest?
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Answer: B — X
24. Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?
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Answer: J — Falling water
25. When the sea floor spreads apart, volcanoes and ridges are formed because —
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Answer: B — magma moves to the surface as plates pull apart
26. Which of these would most likely occur as the ice caps melt?
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Answer: G — The sea would cover more land.
27. The Mohs hardness scale ranks minerals from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond). Fluorite has a hardness of 4 and orthoclase has a hardness of 6. A mineral that can scratch fluorite but can be scratched by orthoclase is able to —
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Answer: C — scratch calcite and be scratched by quartz
28. Cyanite (Al₂SiO₅), quartz (SiO₂), and leucite (KAlSi₂O₆) may be grouped together because they all contain —
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Answer: J — silicon
29. A table of igneous rocks shows granite as intrusive and rhyolite, pumice, and obsidian as extrusive. Which rock would contain the largest crystals?
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Answer: A — Granite
30. A line graph shows outdoor temperature over a 24-hour period. At 2:00 P.M., the temperature suddenly drops. What possible occurrence happened at that time?
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Answer: J — A thunderstorm passing
31. One method of lessening the environmental impact of strip mining is to —
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Answer: D — restore landscape and vegetation after mining
32. By increasing the height of smokestacks, industries in the Midwest reduced local air pollution. However, winds carried pollution to the Northeast, where it contributed significantly to —
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Answer: J — acid rain
33. Which of the following best explains the rolling topography of the Valley and Ridge province in Virginia?
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Answer: A — Folding and differential erosion
34. A diagram titled “Growth of a Delta” shows the delta length increasing from 2 km in 1982 to 6 km in 1996. By how much did the length increase?
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Answer: G — 4 km
35. The fossil fuel found in greatest abundance in Virginia is —
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Answer: B — coal
36. Which of the following is not a result of tectonic plate movement?
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Answer: J — Karst topography
37. Which arrangement best represents the most common zones in a water table, from the surface downward?
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Answer: C — Surface → Aerated zone → Saturated zone → Bedrock
38. Students want to identify a rock found in a nearby field. Which property would be most useful?
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Answer: H — Mineral content
39. What is located beneath soil layers?
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Answer: A — Bedrock
40. Organic matter in soil is made from —
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Answer: G — decayed plants and animals
41. During which phase of the Moon will tides be highest?
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Answer: A — Full Moon
42. On clear nights in late summer and early fall in the Shenandoah Valley, why does ground fog form in low areas near the river?
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Answer: F — Cool, descending air meets moist air near the river
43. Why does erosion not occur on the Moon?
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Answer: C — There is no wind or rain
44. Which planet has a hurricane-like storm several times larger than Earth?
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Answer: J — Jupiter
45. Which property provides the best evidence of the environment in which an igneous rock formed?
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Answer: D — Texture
46. A diagram shows air moving from sea to land during the day (sea breeze) and from land to sea at night (land breeze). What explains this change?
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Answer: G — Land temperature changes faster than water
47. A rock diagram shows four layers: volcanic flow, limestone, granite intrusion cutting across layers, and shale. Which layer is an intrusion?
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Answer: C — 3
48. An ocean floor diagram shows continental shelf, continental slope, abyssal plain, and trench. At which feature is water pressure greatest?
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Answer: J — Trench
49. Students mapping a lake measure depth at many locations. What additional information is required to construct a depth map?
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Answer: B — Position of each measurement relative to shore points
50. Observations show most galaxies have red-shifted spectra. This indicates that —
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Answer: H — galaxies are moving away from each other
Earth Science I SOL practice test — FAQ
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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.
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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.