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Example Questions
Example Question #24 : How To Find Research Summary In Earth And Space Sciences
Above is the deer population of Routt County National Forest between 1905 and 2005. The First White-tail deer were introduced to the forest for hunting in 1905. They are not native to the area, though they thrived in the environment.
White tailed deer eat the seeds of coniferous trees, berries, and an assortment of other plants. They tend to roam in small family herds and stick to areas where water is abundant and is unlikely to freeze completely in the winter.
In 1995, an environmental scientist watched a small herd of deer for ten days, recording their movements and taking note of herd size and stopping place. Below is a chart of his results.
|
Day |
Travel distance (mi) |
Herd size |
Stopping place |
|
1 |
21 |
13 |
Bear Creek |
|
2 |
15 |
13 |
Yampa Valley |
|
5 |
19 |
13 |
Bear Creek |
|
8 |
11 |
10 |
Gilpin Lake |
|
10 |
22 |
10 |
Yampa Valley |
What could be concluded about the larger population of white-tailed deer in Routt National Forest, given the data collected on a single herd?
There are no white-tailed deer in the North.
White-tailed deer can be found almost everywhere in the forest.
White-tailed deer reproduce quickly.
Hunters prefer elk to white-tailed deer.
White-tailed deer can be found almost everywhere in the forest.
The population of deer in the forest is very large- several hundred thousand now populate the area. Also note that the movement of a single herd of deer is great; a few deer can travel more than twenty miles in a day, if they chose to. Given the travel distance of one herd and the size of the population, one could therefore conclude they have spread out throughout much of the forest. If the movement of one herd of about a dozen is so great, the movement of a population of several hundred thousand must be very great.
Example Question #1071 : Act Science
The cause of the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago is currently debated. Some attribute the extinction to volcanic activity while others attribute it to asteroid or comet impact. Two scientists offer conflicting viewpoints on the most probable cause of the mass extinction.
Scientist A
The extinction of dinosaurs was most likely caused by the impact of an asteroid or large comet. Unusually high levels of the rare metal iridium (found in extraterrestrial material) have been discovered in a layer of clay deposited at just the time of the extinction. In addition, this layer of clay contained quartz grains with a crystal structure that has been distorted by exceedingly high pressures (almost certainly caused by an impact). This colossal impact brought about a period of severe cooling that affected dinosaur eggs rather than adult dinosaurs. Small reptiles could survive by protecting their minute eggs in a variety of ways. However, there was no way for dinosaurs to protect their large eggs against a quickly-changing climate.
Scientist B
The extinction of dinosaurs was most likely caused by a volcanic outburst. In general, volcanic eruptions can have potent effects on climate. In 1815 the volcano Tambora in Indonesia erupted, spreading a pall of dust around the globe that resulted in killing frosts around Europe. The much larger eruption that formed the Deccan basalts about 65 million years ago would have caused a deeper and more prolonged cooling that directly affected adult dinosaurs. The rare metal iridium has been found both in active volcanoes and in a layer of clay deposited around the time of the dinosaur extinction. Therefore the dinosaurs were most likely affected by a massive volcanic eruption.
Which of the following best explains why Scientist B mentions iridium?
Iridium was directly responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs
Iridium has been discovered in volcanoes and in a relevant layer of clay
Iridium is found in asteroids and comets
High levels of iridium led to a prolonged cooling
Iridium has been discovered in volcanoes and in a relevant layer of clay
Scientist B mentions iridium because the metal is found both in volcanoes and in the layer of clay, which supports the theory that a volcanic eruption resulted in the mass extinction. Only Scientist A discusses asteroids and comets. There is no evidence in the passage that iridium caused climate change or that iridium was directly responsible for the extinction.
Example Question #1071 : Act Science
The cause of the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago is currently debated. Some attribute the extinction to volcanic activity while others attribute it to asteroid or comet impact. Two scientists offer conflicting viewpoints on the most probable cause of the mass extinction.
Scientist A
The extinction of dinosaurs was most likely caused by the impact of an asteroid or large comet. Unusually high levels of the rare metal iridium (found in extraterrestrial material) have been discovered in a layer of clay deposited at just the time of the extinction. In addition, this layer of clay contained quartz grains with a crystal structure that has been distorted by exceedingly high pressures (almost certainly caused by an impact). This colossal impact brought about a period of severe cooling that affected dinosaur eggs rather than adult dinosaurs. Small reptiles could survive by protecting their minute eggs in a variety of ways. However, there was no way for dinosaurs to protect their large eggs against a quickly-changing climate.
Scientist B
The extinction of dinosaurs was most likely caused by a volcanic outburst. In general, volcanic eruptions can have potent effects on climate. In 1815 the volcano Tambora in Indonesia erupted, spreading a pall of dust around the globe that resulted in killing frosts around Europe. The much larger eruption that formed the Deccan basalts about 65 million years ago would have caused a deeper and more prolonged cooling that directly affected adult dinosaurs. The rare metal iridium has been found both in active volcanoes and in a layer of clay deposited around the time of the dinosaur extinction. Therefore the dinosaurs were most likely affected by a massive volcanic eruption.
With which of the following statements are both scientists most likely to agree?
Massive climate change primarily affected adult dinosaurs
Massive climate change played a key role in the extinction
Massive climate change primarily affected dinosaur eggs
An extraterrestrial object brought about climate change 65 million years ago
Massive climate change played a key role in the extinction
Scientist A believes that an extraterrestrial object was responsible for the massive climate change, whereas Scientist B attributes the change to a volcanic eruption. Both scientists agree, however, that climate change led to the mass extinction. Scientist A believes that climate change affected dinosaur eggs while Scientist B believes climate change affected adult dinosaurs.
Example Question #131 : Earth And Space Sciences
The cause of the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago is currently debated. Some attribute the extinction to volcanic activity while others attribute it to asteroid or comet impact. Two scientists offer conflicting viewpoints on the most probable cause of the mass extinction.
Scientist A
The extinction of dinosaurs was most likely caused by the impact of an asteroid or large comet. Unusually high levels of the rare metal iridium (found in extraterrestrial material) have been discovered in a layer of clay deposited at just the time of the extinction. In addition, this layer of clay contained quartz grains with a crystal structure that has been distorted by exceedingly high pressures (almost certainly caused by an impact). This colossal impact brought about a period of severe cooling that affected dinosaur eggs rather than adult dinosaurs. Small reptiles could survive by protecting their minute eggs in a variety of ways. However, there was no way for dinosaurs to protect their large eggs against a quickly-changing climate.
Scientist B
The extinction of dinosaurs was most likely caused by a volcanic outburst. In general, volcanic eruptions can have potent effects on climate. In 1815 the volcano Tambora in Indonesia erupted, spreading a pall of dust around the globe that resulted in killing frosts around Europe. The much larger eruption that formed the Deccan basalts about 65 million years ago would have caused a deeper and more prolonged cooling that directly affected adult dinosaurs. The rare metal iridium has been found both in active volcanoes and in a layer of clay deposited around the time of the dinosaur extinction. Therefore the dinosaurs were most likely affected by a massive volcanic eruption.
According to Scientist A, which of the following animals was most likely able to survive the climate change 65 million years ago?
Owl
Salmon
Tyrannosaurus rex
Lizard
Lizard
Scientist A states that certain reptiles were able to survive due to the small size of their eggs. The only small reptile listed here is a lizard.
Example Question #1071 : Act Science
The cause of the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago is currently debated. Some attribute the extinction to volcanic activity while others attribute it to asteroid or comet impact. Two scientists offer conflicting viewpoints on the most probable cause of the mass extinction.
Scientist A
The extinction of dinosaurs was most likely caused by the impact of an asteroid or large comet. Unusually high levels of the rare metal iridium (found in extraterrestrial material) have been discovered in a layer of clay deposited at just the time of the extinction. In addition, this layer of clay contained quartz grains with a crystal structure that has been distorted by exceedingly high pressures (almost certainly caused by an impact). This colossal impact brought about a period of severe cooling that affected dinosaur eggs rather than adult dinosaurs. Small reptiles could survive by protecting their minute eggs in a variety of ways. However, there was no way for dinosaurs to protect their large eggs against a quickly-changing climate.
Scientist B
The extinction of dinosaurs was most likely caused by a volcanic outburst. In general, volcanic eruptions can have potent effects on climate. In 1815 the volcano Tambora in Indonesia erupted, spreading a pall of dust around the globe that resulted in killing frosts around Europe. The much larger eruption that formed the Deccan basalts about 65 million years ago would have caused a deeper and more prolonged cooling that directly affected adult dinosaurs. The rare metal iridium has been found both in active volcanoes and in a layer of clay deposited around the time of the dinosaur extinction. Therefore the dinosaurs were most likely affected by a massive volcanic eruption.
Nowadays, various natural phenomena can produce clouds of dust that spread over large areas. Based on the information in the passage, Scientist B would most likely predict which of the following outcomes near these affected areas?
No significant climate change
Volcanic eruption
Warming
Cooling
Cooling
Scientist B states that an 1815 volcanic eruption in Indonesia resulted in a pall of dust, which then led to cold temperatures around Europe. One can infer that dust clouds today would produce a similar effect.
Example Question #1071 : Act Science
Scientists have recorded data in Region A, Region B, Region C and Region D. The data collected include the average daily temperature, the annual rainfall for the past year and the number of fresh water reservoirs. The scientists want to perform an experiment on wild life migration patterns.
In which region should the scientist perform their wildlife migration experiment?
Region B
Region C
Region A
Region D
Region B
Wildlife on Earth needs a water supply. If the scientists want to notice migration patterns of wildlife, the scientists will want a region with abundant life. Region B has the largest number of fresh water reservoirs, which would lead to the conclusion that the largest amount of wildlife diversity in this region. Therefore the scientists should perform their experiment in Region B.
Example Question #141 : Earth And Space Sciences
A scientist is studying the makeup of a crossection of the ground on a plot of land on the Pacific coast. The cross-section is as follows:
The line noted by the X marks earth that was on the surface approximately 20,000 years ago. The law of superposition states that, in cross-sections of the Earth's crust, layers that are closer to the center of the Earth are older than those that are farther away.
Which layer(s) are older than 20,000 years?
Layers A, B, C, D, and E
Layer E and Layer D
Layer A only
Layer D only
Layer E only
Layer E only
The correct answer is Layer E. It may be tempting to add Layer D to this answer. However, since Layer D also intersects with other layers, we cannot say with certainty that it is older than 20,000 years based on the law of superposition.
Example Question #1073 : Act Science
A scientist is studying the makeup of a crossection of the ground on a plot of land on the Pacific coast. The cross-section is as follows:
The line noted by the X marks earth that was on the surface approximately 20,000 years ago. The law of superposition states that, in cross-sections of the Earth's crust, layers that are closer to the center of the Earth are older than those that are farther away.
A sample is taken from point P and is analyzed. It is determined that the stone found at point P was at the surface of the Earth only 10,000 years ago. What conclusion can the scientist draw based on this information?
Layer D really belongs near Layer E and at some point the stone in Layer D was pushed upwards
This is an exception to the law of superposition
None of these
Layer D really belongs near layer B and at some point the stone in Layer D was pushed downward
Layer D is equivalent to Layer B
Layer D really belongs near layer B and at some point the stone in Layer D was pushed downward
The correct answer is the one that includes Layer D's apparent misplacement farther down into the Earth than it should be. Since it has been dated at around 10,000 years old, we know that its presence below line X does not indicate that it is indeed older than 20,000 years old.
Example Question #142 : Earth And Space Sciences
A scientist is studying the makeup of a crossection of the ground on a plot of land on the Pacific coast. The cross-section is as follows:
The line noted by the X marks earth that was on the surface approximately 20,000 years ago. The law of superposition states that, in cross-sections of the Earth's crust, layers that are closer to the center of the Earth are older than those that are farther away.
An archaeologist hypothesizes that early humans inhabited this coastal region around 22,000 years ago. In which layer is the archaeologist most likely to find evidence to support his hypothesis?
Layer D
Layer B
Layer C
Layer A
Layer E
Layer E
The correct answer is Layer E. Layer E is the only layer that is below the line marked at 20,000 years old. Therefore, we can infer that, if in any of these layers lies evidence to support his hypothesis, it must be in Layer E.
Example Question #143 : Earth And Space Sciences
One night there was a meteor shower and scientists in four different regions, A, B, C and D, observed and counted the number of meteors seen. The scientists noted the duration of the meteor shower and the visibility of the stars.
How does the visibility of the night sky impact the number of meteors observed?
Intermediate visibility yields the highest number of meteors seen
There is no relationship
The less clear the stars, the more meteors were seen
The more clear the stars, the less meteors were seen
The better the visibility of the stars led to a higher number of meteors seen
The better the visibility of the stars led to a higher number of meteors seen
Regions A and B saw more meteors than the other regions. These two regions also had the be visibility of the night sky. Region C had no visibility of the night sky and saw no meteors. Region C could somewhat see the night sky and saw the second lowest number of meteors. This means as the visibility increased so did the number of meteors seen.
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