Question

section: the atmosphere
read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

solar energy reaches the earth as electromagnetic radiation, which includes visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation. the sun releases a vast amount of radiation, but our planet only receives about two - billionths of this energy. this seemingly small amount of radiation contains a tremendous amount of energy, however. about half of the solar energy that enters the atmosphere passes through the atmosphere and reaches the earth’s surface. the rest of the energy is absorbed or reflected in the atmosphere. by cloudy days, and dust, or it is reflected by the earth’s surface. on a sunny day, rocks may become too hot to touch. if the earth’s surface continually absorbed energy, the earth would get hotter and hotter. the earth does not continue to get warmer, because the oceans and the land radiate the energy they have absorbed back into the atmosphere.

identifying main ideas
one reading skill is the ability to identify the main idea. frequently, a main idea is accompanied by supporting information that offers detailed facts about main ideas.
in the space provided, write the letter of the term or phrase that best completes each statement or best answers each question.

1. when solar energy reaches earth, it is in the form of

a. visible light.
b. infrared radiation.
c. ultraviolet light.
d. all of the above

1. how much of the sun’s radiation does earth receive?

a. one - millionth
b. two - billionths
c. half
d. two - billionths

1. approximately what percentage of solar energy that passes through the atmosphere reaches earth?

a. 5 percent
b. 30 percent
c. 22 percent
d. 60 percent

1. visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet light are all forms of

a. ions.
b. electromagnetic radiation.
c. ultraviolet light.
d. aerosols.

recognizing similarities and differences
one reading skill is the ability to recognize similarities and differences between two phrases, ideas, or things. this is sometimes known as comparing and contrasting.

read each question and write the answer in the space provided.

1. a park bench may become very hot on a sunny day. why is the bench like the rock mentioned in the passage above?

1. what happens to the solar energy that is not absorbed by earth’s surface?

recognizing cause and effect
one reading skill is the ability to recognize cause and effect.

in the space provided, write the letter of the term or phrase that best completes each statement or best answers the question.

1. all of the solar energy that enters earth’s atmosphere does not reach earth’s surface because it is either absorbed or

a. scattered.
b. reflected.
c. refracted.
d. both (a) and (c)

1. explain why earth’s surface does not get hotter and hotter.

holt environmental science
the dynamic earth

Explanation:

Question 1

The passage says solar energy reaches Earth as electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet light. So the form is all of these.

The passage states "our planet only receives about two - billionths of this energy". So Earth receives two - billionths of the sun's radiation.

From the passage: "About half of the solar energy that enters the atmosphere passes through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface." So approximately 50 percent passes through the atmosphere to reach Earth.

Answer:

d. All of the above

Question 2