Multiple
Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the
question.
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1.
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The model in which Earth is at
the center of the system of planets is called the a. | solar system. | b. | heliocentric system. | c. | geocentric
system. | d. | Copernican system. | | |
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2.
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Copernicus explained
that a. | the sun is at the center of the system of planets. | b. | the sun and the planets revolve around Earth. | c. | the geocentric system is correct. | d. | there are only six planets. | | |
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3.
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The heliocentric system gained
support when Galileo observed that a. | one side of the moon always faces
Earth. | b. | most of the smaller planets are closer to the
sun. | c. | Venus goes through phases similar to those of Earth's
moon. | d. | the orbit of each planet is an ellipse. | | |
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4.
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The two factors that combine to
keep the planets in orbit are a. | gravity and orbital
speed. | b. | orbital speed and mass. | c. | mass and inertia. | d. | gravity and
inertia. | | |
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5.
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The tendency of a moving object
to continue moving in a straight line or a stationary object to remain in place is
called a. | orbital speed. | b. | mass. | c. | inertia. | d. | gravity. | | |
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6.
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What do all of the inner
planets have in common? a. | They have the same period of
revolution. | b. | They have the same period of rotation. | c. | They have the same diameter. | d. | They are small and have rocky surfaces. | | |
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7.
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Earth is unique among the
planets because of a. | its rocky
surface. | b. | its oceans. | c. | its large size. | d. | the direction in which it rotates. | | |
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8.
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The atmospheres of the gas
giant planets cannot escape into space because a. | the gases are too
heavy. | b. | the gases solidify at higher elevations. | c. | the planets have very strong gravity. | d. | although they are big, the planets have little mass. | | |
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9.
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What do the first four outer
planets have in common? a. | They are much larger than Earth and do not
have solid surfaces. | b. | They are about the same size as Earth and
do not have solid surfaces. | c. | They are much larger than Earth and are
solid. | d. | They are about the same size as Earth and are
solid. | | |
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10.
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Saturn's rings are made up
mostly of a. | nitrogen and helium. | b. | ice and water vapor. | c. | volcanic dust
particles. | d. | chunks of ice and rock. | | |
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11.
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Uranus is different from most
other planets because it a. | is the farthest from the
sun. | b. | is mostly nitrogen and helium. | c. | rotates on its side. | d. | has the most
moons. | | |
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12.
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Pluto is different from the
other outer planets because it a. | is almost entirely made of
gases. | b. | is much larger than the others. | c. | has the most moons. | d. | is small and has a solid
surface. | | |
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13.
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What shape are the orbits of
most comets? a. | long, narrow ellipses | b. | circles | c. | nearly circular
ellipses | d. | spherical | | |
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14.
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The asteroid belt is
located a. | between Earth and Mars. | b. | between Mars and Jupiter. | c. | between Jupiter and
Saturn. | d. | between Saturn and Uranus. | | |
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15.
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Meteoroids usually come
from a. | debris from other planets. | b. | solar winds. | c. | beyond the solar system. | d. | comets or
asteroids. | | |
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16.
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When a meteoroid enters Earth's
atmosphere, it produces a streak of light called a a. | meteor. | b. | asteroid. | c. | meteorite. | d. | comet. | | |
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17.
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Conditions required for life on
Earth include a. | alternating day and night cycles. | b. | extreme differences in elevation. | c. | polar ice caps. | d. | liquid water. | | |
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18.
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The hypothesis that Mars may
once have had the conditions needed to support life is based on a. | its similar size to Earth. | b. | its reddish
surface. | c. | surface patterns that look like dried
streambeds. | d. | the system of canals seen by Schiaparelli. | | |
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Completion
Complete each sentence or statement.
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19.
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The force that pulls the moon
toward Earth is called ____________________.
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20.
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The planets that are closer to
the sun than Earth are Venus and ____________________.
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21.
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The only outer planet with a
solid surface is ____________________.
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22.
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The atmospheres of the gas
giants are composed mainly of the element ____________________.
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23.
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Few comets pass near Earth
because their ____________________ are so elliptical.
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Short
Answer
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24.
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Write the name of the planet
that is labeled with each number.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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25.
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What objects are found at 5?
Why are they not considered to be planets?
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