Question

chapter 19 standardized test prep
understanding concepts
directions (1 - 4): for each question, write on a separate sheet of paper the letter of the correct answer.

1. which of the following processes is the source of the oxygen gas found in earths atmosphere?

a. oxidation
b. combustion
c. respiration
d. photosynthesis

1. which of the following statements best describes the relationship of atmospheric pressure to altitude?

f. the atmospheric pressure increases as the altitude increases.
g. the atmospheric pressure increases as the altitude decreases.
h. the atmospheric pressure varies unpredictably at different altitudes.
i. the atmospheric pressure is constant at all altitudes.

1. approximately how much of the solar energy that reaches earth is absorbed by the atmosphere, land surfaces, and ocean?

a. 30%
b. 50%
c. 70%
d. 100%

1. in the northern hemisphere, how does the coriolis effect cause winds moving toward the north pole to be deflected?

f. winds are deflected to the right.
g. winds are deflected to the left.
h. winds are deflected in unpredictable patterns.
i. winds are not deflected by the coriolis effect.
directions (5 - 6): for each question, write a short response.

1. what is the most abundant gas in earths atmosphere?
2. in which atmospheric layer do interactions between gas molecules and solar radiation produce the aurora borealis?

reading skills
directions (7 - 9): read the passage below. then, answer the questions.
the snow eater
the chinook, or \snow eater,\ is a dry wind that blows down the eastern side of the rocky mountains from new mexico to canada. chinooks have the ability to melt large amounts of snow very quickly. chinooks form when moist air is forced over a mountain range. the air cools as it rises. as the air cools, it releases moisture in the form of rain or snow, which nourishes the local flora. as the dry air flows over the mountaintop, it descends, compressing and heating the air below. the warm, dry wind that results can melt half of a meter of snow in just a few hours.
the temperature change caused when a chinook rushes down a mountainside can be dramatic. on january 22, 1943, in spearfish, south dakota, the temperature at 7:30 a.m. was - 4°f. but only two minutes later, a chinook caused the temperature to soar to 45°f.

1. why are the chinook winds of the rocky mountains called \snow eaters\?

a. chinook winds pick up snow and carry it to new locations.
b. chinook winds drop all their snow on the western side of the mountains.
c. chinook winds cause the temperature to decrease, which causes snow to accumulate.
d. chinook winds cause the temperature to increase rapidly, which causes snow to melt.

1. which of the following statements can be inferred from the information in the passage?

f. chinook winds are a relatively new phenomenon related to global warming.
g. chinook winds occur during the winter.
h. the only type of wind that blows down from mountaintops are chinook winds.
i. when they blow up the western side of the rocky mountains, chinook winds are very hot.

1. how do chinook winds affect weather on the eastern side of the rocky mountains?

Explanation:

For question 7:

• Analyze each option based on the passage.
• The passage states that Chinooks have the ability to melt large amounts of snow very quickly.
• Option D aligns with this as it mentions the temperature increase causing snow to melt.

For question 8:

• Option G can be inferred. The passage gives an example in January (winter) of a chinook event.
• There's no support for F (no indication it's new related to global warming), H (other winds could blow down from mountaintops not stated), and I (the passage focuses on them blowing down the eastern side, not up the western side and being hot when blowing up).

For question 9:

• The passage says Chinooks cause the temperature to increase rapidly (e.g., the Spearfish example) and melt snow.

Answer:

1. D. Chinook winds cause the temperature to increase rapidly, which causes snow to melt.
2. G. Chinook winds occur during the winter.
3. Chinook winds cause the temperature to increase rapidly and melt large amounts of snow on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.