ICAS Earth and Environmental Science 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which factor most directly determines whether a tropical storm becomes a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean?
- Wind speeds reaching at least 74 mph (119 km/h) (Correct answer)
- The storm forming over land
- Rainfall exceeding 10 inches per day
- The storm lasting more than 48 hours
Correct answer: Wind speeds reaching at least 74 mph (119 km/h)
A tropical cyclone is classified as a hurricane when sustained wind speeds reach 74 mph (119 km/h) or greater.
Question 2: What is the main difference between weather and climate?
- Weather involves temperature; climate involves precipitation
- Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions; climate describes long-term patterns (Correct answer)
- Weather occurs in summer; climate occurs year-round
- Weather affects cities; climate affects rural areas
Correct answer: Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions; climate describes long-term patterns
Weather refers to day-to-day atmospheric conditions, while climate describes the average patterns of weather in a region over decades.
Question 3: Which process forms metamorphic rocks?
- Cooling of lava at Earth's surface
- Deposition of sediment layers under water
- Heat and pressure transforming existing rocks (Correct answer)
- Volcanic ash compacting over time
Correct answer: Heat and pressure transforming existing rocks
Metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are subjected to intense heat and pressure deep within the crust, changing their mineral structure.
Question 4: What is an aquifer?
- A river that flows underground
- A layer of permeable rock that holds and transmits groundwater (Correct answer)
- A type of cloud that holds large amounts of water vapor
- A tidal pool found along coastlines
Correct answer: A layer of permeable rock that holds and transmits groundwater
An aquifer is a permeable underground rock formation that stores and allows water to flow through it, serving as a major freshwater source.
Question 5: Which of the following best explains why deforestation contributes to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
- Trees release stored carbon when burned or decomposed, and fewer trees remain to absorb CO₂ (Correct answer)
- Forest fires produce water vapor that traps more heat
- Deforested land absorbs more solar radiation
- Tree roots release methane into the soil when removed
Correct answer: Trees release stored carbon when burned or decomposed, and fewer trees remain to absorb CO₂
Deforestation releases carbon stored in trees through burning/decay and reduces the forest's capacity to absorb atmospheric CO₂ through photosynthesis.
Question 6: What do geologists use to determine the absolute age of rocks and fossils?
- Fossil index comparison
- Radioactive isotope dating (radiometric dating) (Correct answer)
- Stratigraphy layer analysis
- Rock hardness (Mohs scale)
Correct answer: Radioactive isotope dating (radiometric dating)
Radiometric dating uses the known decay rates of radioactive isotopes (like carbon-14 or uranium-238) to calculate the actual age of rocks and fossils.
Question 7: Which type of biome is characterized by the highest biodiversity on Earth?
- Temperate deciduous forest
- Arctic tundra
- Tropical rainforest (Correct answer)
- Grassland savanna
Correct answer: Tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforests contain more species per unit area than any other biome, supported by warm temperatures and abundant rainfall year-round.
ICAS Earth and Environmental Science 4
Which factor most directly determines whether a tropical storm becomes a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean?