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2023 (Jan.): NY Regents - Earth Science

Last updated 3 months ago

85 questions

Note from the author:

Instructions

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From the New York State Education Department. The University of the State of New York Regents High School Examination Physical Setting Earth Science January 2023. Internet. Available from https://www.nysedregents.org/EarthScience/123/esci12023-exam.pdf; accessed 10, May, 2023.

From the New York State Education Department. The University of the State of New York Regents High School Examination Physical Setting Earth Science January 2023. Internet. Available from https://www.nysedregents.org/EarthScience/123/esci12023-exam.pdf; accessed 10, May, 2023.

The 2011 Edition Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Earth Science can be downloaded here to use as needed.

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Base your answers to questions 45 through 47 on the adjacent station model and on your knowledge of Earth science.

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Base your answers to questions 48 through 50 on the cross section below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents rock units labeled A through E that have not been overturned. A lava flow is represented between rock units A and B. Letter X represents a location in the igneous rock.

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Base your answers to questions 55 and 56 on the adjacent diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. The letters A through G on the diagram represent positions of sunrise on several dates during the year as seen by an observer at 40° N latitude.

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The apparent change in direction of swing of a Foucault pendulum, at one specific location, provides evidence that Earth

travels around the Sun

spins on its axis

has a tilted axis

has a spherical shape

The presence of cosmic background radiation is evidence that helps support the

Big Bang Theory

Plate Tectonic theory

process of global warming

process of radioactive decay

In New York State, the highest altitude of Polaris will be observed at

Utica

Kingston

Massena

Old Forge

Earth’s rate of revolution is approximately

1\degree/day

15\degree/day

23.5\degree/day

360\degree/day

As water vapor changes phase from gas to liquid, each gram of water vapor

releases 2260 joules of heat energy

releases 334 joules of heat energy

gains 2260 joules of heat energy

gains 334 joules of heat energy

At the time of an equinox, the subtropical jet streams in Earth’s troposphere generally are located closest to

0\degree and 90\degree S

30\degree N and 30\degree S

60\degree N and 60\degree S

90\degree N and 90\degree S

When the dry-bulb temperature is 16°C and the dewpoint is 7°C, what are the wet-bulb temperature and the relative humidity?

wet-bulb temperature = 9°C, and relative humidity = 7%

wet-bulb temperature = 9°C, and relative humidity = 54%

wet-bulb temperature = 11°C, and relative humidity = 7%

wet-bulb temperature = 11°C, and relative humidity = 54%

Which ocean current warms the climate along a continent’s east coast?

California Current

Brazil Current

Falkland Current

Guinea Current

Which process transfers heat energy through molecular collisions?

radiation

convection

infiltration

conduction

Two major greenhouse gases that can be found in Earth’s atmosphere are

carbon dioxide and methane

methane and nitrogen

nitrogen and oxygen

oxygen and carbon dioxide

Which event causes a temporary slowing or reversal of the surface ocean currents in the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean, which may disrupt normal weather patterns in North America?

a volcanic eruption

a tsunami

El Niño

Grenville orogeny

The map below shows the time zones of the continental United States. The dashed lines represent meridians of longitude. The locations of Cleveland, Ohio, and Portland, Oregon, are shown.

What time is it in Portland, Oregon, when it is 9 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio?

5 p.m.

6 p.m.

11 p.m.

12 midnight

The diagrams below represent the constellations that are visible above the southern horizon at midnight from the same New York State location on two different dates of the year.

Why are different constellations seen on these two dates at midnight?

Constellations rotate on an axis.

Constellations revolve around the Sun.

Earth rotates on its axis.

Earth revolves around the Sun.

Letters A, B, C, and D in the diagram below represent processes in the water cycle.

Which letter represents the process of transpiration?

A

B

C

D

The cross section below represents a lake-effect snowstorm that resulted from air moving across Lake Ontario and over Oswego, New York.

These lake-effect snowstorms commonly occur in the region around Oswego during winter because Lake Ontario

cools the air so that it is no longer saturated, which then produces frozen drops of water

warms the air so that it is no longer saturated, which then produces frozen drops of water

cools the air, which rises, contracts, and warms to the dewpoint, forming clouds and snow

warms the air, which rises, expands, and cools to the dewpoint, forming clouds and snow

Assuming that no overturning of rock layers has occurred, which geologic outcrop containing New York State index fossils represents the correct sequence of time within the same group of organisms?

Equal areas of which type of surface absorb the most insolation?

dark-colored and smooth

dark-colored and rough

light-colored and smooth

light-colored and rough

Which material requires the least amount of heat energy to raise its temperature one Celsius degree?

liquid water

ice

basalt

granite

One characteristic of a good index fossil is that the organisms that produced these fossils

left remains that can be found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks

lived over a wide geographic area

existed on Earth for a long period of geologic time

lived both on land and in the water during part of their lives

During which geologic epoch was nearly all of Earth’s landmass inferred to have been located in the Southern Hemisphere?

Early Cretaceous

Early Mississippian

Middle Triaassic

Middle Ordovician

The Alleghenian orogeny occurred as a result of the

intrusion of the Palisades sill

breakup of Pangaea, which formed the Atlantic Ocean

collision of the North American Plate with the African Plate

metamorphism of the bedrock in the Adirondack Mountains

Which concept states that most sediments are deposited in layers that are flat and parallel to Earth’s surface?

principle of superposition

cross-cutting relationship

dynamic equilibrium

original horizontality

Which layer of Earth’s interior is inferred to be composed mostly of iron and nickel, and has an interior temperature that is greater than its melting point?

plastic mantle

stiffer mantle

outer core

inner core

A seismic station that is 4000 kilometers from the epicenter of an earthquake records the arrival time of the first P-wave at 10:00:00 (hours: minutes: seconds). At what time did the first S-wave arrive at this station?

9:54:20

10:05:40

10:07:05

10:12:40

What is the approximate latitude and longitude of the Bouvet Hot Spot?

54° N 3° W

54° S 3° E

3° N 54° E

3° S 54° W

As the distance from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge increases, the age of the ocean floor surface bedrock

decreases, only

increases, only

decreases, then increases

increases, then decreases

The graph below shows the decay of a 50-gram sample of a radioactive isotope over 30 days.

The half-life of this radioactive isotope is approximately

7.5 days

12.5 days

15.0 days

25.0 days

Based on fossil evidence, which pie graph best shows the percentage of time that humans have existed on Earth since the time of Earth’s origin?

1

2

3

4

The photograph below shows a cone-shaped volcano.

Which stream drainage pattern most likely will be found on this volcano?

The topographic map below shows the surface features of a coastal location. Line XY is a reference line on the map.
Which profile best shows the landscape elevations along line XY?

The block diagram below represents a meandering river. Points A, B, C, and D represent locations near the edge of the river.

The greatest amount of erosion is most likely occurring at locations

A and B

B and C

C and D

D and A

The map below shows the locations of numerous drumlins south of Lake Ontario.

Which agent of erosion formed these drumlins?

wind

streams

moving ice

wave action

The landscape diagram below represents a fanshaped feature that is composed of sediments that were transported and deposited by a stream entering a lake.

This fan-shaped feature is best identified as a

watershed

moraine

delta

tributary

The tendency of a mineral to split along flat surfaces indicates the mineral property called

cleavage

fracture

composition

hardness

The data table below shows a student’s observations of a mineral sample.

Based on the student’s observations, the mineral can best be identified as

magnetite

hematite

sulfur

pyrite

Base your answers to questions 36 through 40 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the Moon at different positions in its orbit around Earth. The phases of the Moon as seen by an observer in New York State have been labeled.

Question 36

36.

Question 37

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Question 38

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Question 39

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Question 40

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Base your answers to questions 41 through 44 on the passage and cross section below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents the area of Scoby Hill where fi ll was added to construct a roadway. 

Scoby Hill Landslides 

Scoby Hill is approximately 40 miles south of Buffalo, New York. The silt layer of Scoby Hill may have been unstable ever since it formed from glacial outwash approximately 12,000 years ago. Construction of a road required the addition of fi ll, which consisted of clay, silt, sand, and pebbles. The resulting landslides that occurred were a surprise because the gradient of Scoby Hill was thought to be too low for landslides. Geologists discovered that landslides easily started because of the weight of the fi ll. In order to decrease pressure on the silt layer, engineers decided to remove the fi ll and some of the silt layer to create a level surface for the road. In addition, drain pipes were installed to lower the water table and reduce the chance of future landslides.

Question 41

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Question 42

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Question 43

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Question 44

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Question 45

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Question 46

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Question 47

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Question 48

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Question 49

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Question 50

50.

Base your answers to questions 51 through 54 on the passage below and on your knowledge of Earth science.

Salt — A Valuable Commodity 

In New York State, salt is a valuable natural resource. Approximately 8500 square miles of New York State has bedrock that contains rock salt. The layers of rock salt formed after parts of New York State were covered by a shallow inland sea, which eventually evaporated. Groundwater dissolved some of the deeper rock salt layers and carried salty water up to the surface in central New York. Commercial salt production began in the Syracuse area in the late 1700s. Early production of salt involved heating the salty water by burning wood from the surrounding area. The heat vaporized the water, leaving salt behind. When lumber supplies dwindled, solar methods were used to evaporate the water. Although the salt industry had an overall positive effect on Syracuse, the industry in Syracuse closed down in the 1920s, leaving negative environmental effects. There are currently salt mines operating south of Syracuse and in the Finger Lakes region of New York State

Question 51

51.

Identify one process that formed rock salt from the shallow inland sea that covered parts of New York State.

Question 52

52.

Identify the geologic time period during which the rock salt in the surface bedrock at Syracuse was formed.

_______ Period

Question 53

53.

Identify the name of the mineral that makes up rock salt and describe one use of this mineral.

Mineral name: _______ 
Mineral use: _______ 

Question 54

54.

Describe one negative environmental effect that resulted from the mining of salt in Syracuse.

Question 55

55.

Identify the date of the sunrise position when the insolation from the noontime Sun will be most intense.

Date: _______ 

Question 56

56.

A stick is placed vertically into the ground at the observer’s location, and its shadow is observed from sunrise to sunset on January 21 (1/21). Identify the time of day when the shortest shadow is cast by the stick.

Base your answers to questions 57 through 61 on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents relative orbital positions for the planets and the asteroid belt in our solar system.

Question 57

57.

State the general relationship between a planet’s distance from the Sun and the planet’s period of revolution.

Question 58

58.

Identify one terrestrial planet and one Jovian planet represented in the diagram.

Terrestrial planet: _______ 
Jovian planet: _______ 

Question 59

59.

Explain why this diagram represents a heliocentric model of the solar system.

Question 60

60.

State one possible distance from the Sun, in million kilometers, at which an asteroid in the asteroid belt can be found.

_______  million km

Question 61

61.

Calculate how many times greater Mercury’s average density is than Neptune’s average density.

_______ times greater

Base your answers to questions 62 through 65 on the map below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The map shows some of Earth’s tectonic plates and the boundaries between them. Letters A through D represent locations on Earth’s surface.

Question 62

62.

Identify one geologic feature found along the subducting plate boundary at location A.

Question 63

63.

Identify the names of the subducting plate and overriding plate at location B.

Subducting plate: _______ 
Overriding plate: _______ 

Question 64

64.

State the name of the mid-ocean ridge found at location C.

Question 65

65.

Identify the type of tectonic plate boundary represented at location D.

Base your answers to questions 66 through 68 on the adjacent diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents a laboratory setup that is used to analyze the different sizes of sand in a 100-gram sample of beach sand. The laboratory setup consists of a column containing a series of screens. The size of each screen opening and the size of sand stopped by each screen are labeled. The beach sand was poured into the top of the column, which was then shaken from side to side to sort the sand. The total mass, in grams, of each size of sand stopped by the screen at that level is indicated above each screen.

Question 66

66.

On the graph in the Show Your Work space, construct a bar graph that shows the mass of each size of sand listed inside the column.

Question 67

67.

The various sand samples separated by the screens were tested to determine capillarity. On the graph in the Show Your Work space, draw a line to show the general relationship between the size of sand and capillarity.

Question 68

68.

Identify the minimum stream velocity, in centimeters per second, needed to maintain movement of a sand particle with a diameter of 0.1 centimeter.

_______  cm/s

Base your answers to questions 69 through 72 on the passage below, the cross section in the Show Your Work space, and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents a portion of the Grand Canyon, indicating the location of the Great Unconformity. Letter A identifies an igneous rock unit. Line BC represents another unconformity. 

The Great Unconformity

One of the world’s most famous unconformities is located in North America. This dramatic gap in the geologic record (The Great Unconformity) stretches from Arizona in the United States to Alberta in Canada. Perhaps the best place to see this unconformity is in Grand Canyon National Park, where, over the last 5 to 6 million years, the Colorado River has cut down through the overlying sedimentary rock layers to reveal the 2-billionyear-old Vishnu schist. In the Grand Canyon, the Great Unconformity exists at the bottom of the Tapeats sandstone. At certain locations, where the Vishnu schist is in contact with the Tapeats sandstone, it is possible to touch two rock units that are over 1.5 billion years apart in age with the span of your hand.

Question 69

69.

On the cross section in the Show Your Work space, place an X on the Great Unconformity at the point where the greatest difference in age between the bedrock above and below the unconformity exists.

Question 70

70.

Identify two geologic processes necessary for the formation of any unconformity.

Process 1: _______ 
Process 2: _______ 

Question 71

71.

Describe one piece of evidence shown in the cross section that supports the inference that rock unit A is younger than unconformity BC.

Question 72

72.

Identify one process that produced the Vishnu schist from a previously existing rock.

Base your answers to questions 73 through 77 on the weather map below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The weather map shows a low-pressure center (L) with associated fronts. A high-pressure center (H) is also shown. The isobars represent air pressure in millibars (mb). Point X represents a surface location.

Question 73

73.

Identify the weather instrument that is used to measure air pressure.

Question 74

74.

Identify the type of front that extends eastward through New York State from the center of the low.

_______  front

Question 75

75.

The air mass over location X originated in the Gulf of Mexico. Write the two-letter air mass symbol that represents this air mass.

Question 76

76.

This low-pressure center is following a normal storm track. Identify the compass direction toward which this low-pressure center will move in the next 24 hours.

Question 77

77.

Describe the pattern of surface wind circulation around the high-pressure system.

Base your answers to questions 78 through 81 on the adjacent map (and in the Show Your Work space) and on your knowledge of Earth science. The map shows the average yearly rainfall received, in centimeters, at various locations on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Rainfall isolines have been drawn on the northwestern part of the island. Points A, B, and C represent surface locations.

Question 78

78.

On the eastern section of the Average Yearly Rainfall Map for Maui in the Show Your Work space, draw the 100-centimeter rainfall isoline. Extend the isoline to the edge of the island.

Question 79

79.

State a possible average yearly rainfall amount, in centimeters, for location A.

_______ cm

Question 80

80.

Calculate the average yearly rainfall gradient between locations B and C, in centimeters per kilometer.

_______ cm/km

Question 81

81.

The topographic map below shows contour lines on the island of Maui. Points X and Y represent two locations on the island. Mt. Haleakala is a volcano on this island. The arrow represents the direction of the prevailing winds.

State one reason why location X receives more yearly rainfall than location Y.

Base your answers to questions 82 through 85 on the adjacent diagram and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents Earth in its orbit. Letters A through D represent Earth’s location on the first day of each of the four seasons.

Question 82

82.

Calculate the number of days (d) that it takes Earth to travel in its orbit from position A to position D.

_______  d

Question 83

83.

Identify the latitude where the Sun is directly overhead when Earth is at position B. Include units and compass direction in your answer.

_______ 

Question 84

84.

Identify the primary force that causes Earth’s orbital velocity to change from position B to position D.

Question 85

85.

Over 42,000 years, Earth’s axis tilt has varied between 22.1° and 24.5°. Describe the effect on New York State’s relative summer and winter temperatures when the tilt of Earth’s axis increased from 22.1° to 24.5°.

Relative summer temperature: _______ 
Relative winter temperature: _______ 

Which diagram best represents the new gibbous phase of the Moon as seen by an observer in New York State?

How many days (d) are required for the Moon to complete a cycle of phases from one full Moon phase to the next full Moon phase?

15.0 d

27.3 d

29.5 d

365.3 d

At which two Moon phases will the difference in height between high tide and low tide most likely be the greatest?

new Moon and full Moon

new gibbous and old crescent

new crescent and old gibbous

first quarter and last quarter

Eclipses do not occur each time that the Moon revolves around Earth because the Moon’s

orbit is less eccentric than Earth’s orbit

orbit is inclined to Earth’s orbit

diameter is greater than Earth’s diameter

diameter is less than Earth’s diameter

The same side of the Moon always faces Earth because the period of revolution of the Moon is

shorter than the period of rotation of Earth

shorter than the period of rotation of the Moon

equal to the period of rotation of Earth

equal to the period of rotation of the Moon

The outwash sediment that formed Scoby Hill is best described as

sorted and layered

sorted and nonlayered

unsorted and layered

unsorted and nonlayered

The maximum diameter of the particles in the fill was

0.006 cm

0.2 cm

6.4 cm

25.6 cm

The drain pipes that were installed lowered the water table by

decreasing the porosity of the clay

decreasing the permeability of the silt

removing infiltrated water from the ground

removing clay and silt from the groundwater

In which New York State landscape region is Scoby Hill located?

Allegheny Plateau

Tug Hill Plateau

Adirondack Mountains

Atlantic Coastal Plain

The number 2\frac{1}{2} on the station model indicates that

2.5 inches of precipitation has fallen in the past 6 hours

the farthest object that can be seen is located 2.5 miles away

an advancing cold front is 2.5 miles away

the air pressure has risen 2.5 millibars in the past 3 hours

Which present-weather symbol represents the form of precipitation that is most likely occurring at this location?

What are the wind direction and the wind speed at this location?

wind from the southeast at 15 knots

wind from the northwest at 15 knots

wind from the southeast at 25 knots

wind from the northwest at 25 knots

Rock unit A was formed most likely by

chemical weathering

regional metamorphism

the eruption of a volcano

the compaction of sediments

Which two minerals would most likely be found in the igneous rock if the rock is highly mafic?

quartz and potassium feldspar

quartz and pyroxene

olivine and potassium feldspar

olivine and pyroxene

Which metamorphic rock most likely formed at the interface between rock unit B and the igneous rock?

quartzite

metaconglomerate

phyllite

marble