1. science

The Washington Professional
Educator Standards Board
Sample Test Questions
Earth and Space Science
WA-SG-FLD024-02
Washington Educator Skills Tests—Endorsements (WEST–E)
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
The sample test questions in this document are designed to give you an introduction to the nature
of the questions included in the Washington Educator Skills Tests—Endorsements (WEST–E).
They represent the various types of questions you may expect to see on an actual test in this test
field; however, they are not designed to provide diagnostic information to help you identify specific
areas of individual strength or weakness or to predict your performance on the test as a whole.
Work through the sample questions carefully before referring to the answer key that follows. The
answer key provides the correct response for each question and lists the objective within the test
framework to which each question is linked. When you are finished with the sample questions, you
may wish to review the test objectives and descriptive statements provided in the test framework for
this test field.
In addition to reading and answering the sample questions, you should also utilize the following
preparation materials available on the WEST Web site:

Read WEST–E Test-Taking Strategies to understand how test questions are designed to
measure specific test objectives and to learn important test-taking strategies for the day of the
test.

Review the Test Summary and Framework for your test field to familiarize yourself with the
structure and content of the test. This document contains general testing information as well as
the percentage of the total test score derived from each content domain described in the test
framework.
A scientific calculator may be used for this test as needed in responding to the sample test
questions, and one will be provided at the test administration. Please refer to the current WEST
registration information regarding the use of calculators at the test administration.
Readers should be advised that this document, including many of the excerpts used herein,
is protected by federal copyright law.
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Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
Pearson and its logo are trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries of Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s).
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SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Earth and Space Science
SAMPLE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
Use the information below to answer the three questions that follow.
Magma
Types
Ultramafic
Bowen's Reaction Series
calcium-rich
plagioclase
olivine
Temperature
of Cooling
Magma
High
pyroxene
Basaltic
amphibole
Andesitic
Granitic
biotite
mica
sodium-rich
plagioclase
potassium feldspar
muscovite mica
quartz
Low
Bowen's reaction series describes the order in which minerals form in a cooling magma, as shown above.
The plagioclase series on the right side of the diagram represents a continuous series of reactions that
occur as plagioclase minerals with different chemical compositions form within a cooling magma. The
left side of the diagram represents the discontinuous series of different minerals that form as the magma
cools. Olivine, the first mineral to form, reacts with the cooling magma to form a different mineral,
pyroxene. At each stage in this discontinuous series, the new mineral that forms as the magma cools can
replace the previous mineral.
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Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
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SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Earth and Space Science
1.
According to Bowen's reaction series, the
minerals in the discontinuous series react
with the magma to become different
minerals as the magma cools. Although
this was demonstrated experimentally in
the laboratory, some of the minerals that
form at higher temperatures have been
shown to survive as the magma cools.
Which of the following describes a
mechanism that allows some of these
minerals to be preserved as the magma
continues to cool?
A.
The magma becomes extremely
viscous, preventing chemical
alteration of existing minerals.
B.
The magma becomes so depleted of
mineral-forming elements that no
new minerals can form.
C.
The crystals that form first settle out
of the magma, becoming physically
separated from the magma.
D.
The crystals form in layers, allowing
their interiors to remain chemically
isolated from the magma.
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Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
2.
3.
Gold would likely crystalize under the
same conditions as which of the following
minerals of the Bowen's reaction series?
A.
olivine
B.
calcium-rich plagioclase
C.
amphibole
D.
quartz
Based on the information provided in
Bowen's reaction series, a magma with
which of the following compositions
would have the highest silica content?
A.
granitic
B.
andesitic
C.
basaltic
D.
ultramafic
—3—
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Earth and Space Science
4.
The Basin and Range region of the
western United States contains fault-block
mountains associated with normal faults.
The normal faults typically parallel the
base of the north–south trending mountain
ranges that make up the region. These
characteristics indicate that the mountains
in the Basin and Range region most likely
formed as a result of:
A.
compressional forces that have
pushed sections of the crust upward.
B.
the isostatic uplift of sections of
the crust that are less dense than
surrounding materials.
C.
D.
5.
tensional stresses that have pulled
the crust in the region apart.
Radioactive isotopes can be used to
estimate the age of geologic materials.
In addition to the half-life of the parent
isotope, which of the following is required
for estimating the age of a sample?
A.
the rate of beta emissions from the
parent isotope in a measured mass
of the sample
B.
the ratio of the parent isotope to its
stable daughter product present in
the sample
C.
the number of alpha particles
emitted by the parent isotope over
a unit of time
D.
the ratio of the total mass of the
sample to the mass of radioactive
isotopes it contains
the erosion of softer materials of the
crust that exposed the underlying
resistant bedrock.
6.
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Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
Which of the following is primarily
responsible for the increase in the density
of water as it changes phase from a solid
at 0°C to a liquid at 1°C?
A.
the breaking of the covalent bonds
within water molecules
B.
the collapse of the supporting
crystal structure of ice
C.
the formation of hydrogen bonds
between water molecules
D.
the increase in kinetic energy as ice
turns to liquid
—4—
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Earth and Space Science
7.
Deep-ocean circulation is driven primarily
by which of the following factors?
A.
B.
C.
D.
8.
B.
C.
D.
A braided river pattern typically develops under which of the following
circumstances?
the differences in the salinity and
the temperature of distinct water
masses in the oceans
A.
The gradient of a mature river
system is increased as a result of
regional uplift.
the variation in the concentration of
dissolved gases at different locations
and depths in the oceans
B.
The volume of water flowing in
a river increases for an extended
period of time.
the variable strength of surface
winds blowing over different
regions of the oceans
C.
The width of the channel widens
as a river flows from mountainous
terrain across a coastal plain.
the contrast in atmospheric pressure
over high- and low-latitude regions
of the major oceans
D.
The volume of sediment supplied to
a river is greater than what the river
can carry.
Water samples taken from a large
unconfined aquifer reveal a high
concentration of nitrates in the aquifer.
Which of the following is most likely
the primary source of the nitrates found
in the samples?
A.
9.
10.
Which of the following would provide the
best source region for the development of
a major air mass?
A.
the Cascade Mountains of the
western United States during the
late fall
B.
the coastal plain of the Gulf of
Mexico during the spring
the storm drains that collect the
street runoff from a town situated
along the periphery of the aquifer
C.
the Appalachian Mountains of the
eastern United States during the
early summer
a farm that has several agricultural
fields overlying the aquifer in
production
D.
the arctic plains of northern Canada
during the winter
a leaking underground storage
tank for oil located in sediments
overlying the aquifer
several new homes located on a
hillside within the watershed that
includes the aquifer
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Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
—5—
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Earth and Space Science
11.
The western side of the Cascade Range
receives large amounts of precipitation,
while areas just east of the Cascade Range
are very dry. This difference primarily
results from:
A.
B.
C.
D.
12.
the northward flow of winds from
the Southwest and the resulting
decrease in relative humidity on
the eastern side of the mountains.
the condensation of cool moist air
from central Canada as it flows
down the mountains' western face.
the adiabatic cooling and
consequent saturation of moist
Pacific air as it is forced up the
western side of the mountains.
Which of the following weather phenomena indicates that the atmosphere is highly
stable?
A.
Fog that develops in the early
morning in a major river valley
lingers into the early afternoon.
B.
Cumulus clouds form on a warm
summer morning in the foothills
of a mountain range.
C.
Cool breezes develop off the
ocean during the afternoon as
the temperature inland rises.
D.
Thunderstorms develop on a humid
day along the coast of the Gulf of
Mexico.
the evapotranspiration of moisture
from thickly forested areas that exist
to the west of the mountains.
13.
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Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
Which of the following types of evidence
would provide the strongest indication of
a long-term change in the climate of a
region?
A.
a shift in the geographic range of
several tree species
B.
the fluctuation of the temperature of
ocean surface waters
C.
a substantial increase in the number
of hurricanes in a particular year
D.
the rapid spread of an exotic species
in a new habitat
—6—
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Earth and Space Science
14.
Use the diagram below to answer the question that follows.
North
observation
platform
A prehistoric culture created a stone circle bisected by two lines, as shown in the diagram above. In the
center of the circle is a platform from which a person could observe the location of sunrise and sunset
during the summer and winter solstices. If the stone circle is located in the midlatitudes of the Northern
Hemisphere, which of the following diagrams most closely approximates the locations of sunrise and
sunset during the summer and winter solstices?
A.
B.
sunset
on the
summer
solstice
North
sunrise
on the
summer
solstice
sunset
on the
winter
solstice
observation
platform
sunset
on the
winter
solstice
North
sunrise
on the
summer
solstice
observation
platform
sunrise
on the
winter
solstice
C.
sunset
on the
summer
solstice
sunrise
on the
winter
solstice
D.
sunset
on the
summer
solstice
North
sunrise
on the
winter
solstice
sunset
on the
winter
solstice
observation
platform
sunset
on the
winter
solstice
North
sunrise
on the
winter
solstice
observation
platform
sunrise
on the
summer
solstice
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). All rights reserved.
Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
sunset
on the
summer
solstice
sunrise
on the
summer
solstice
—7—
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Earth and Space Science
Which of the following is responsible for
the variation in the earth's orbital speed as
it travels around the sun?
A.
the moon's gravitational drag on the
earth as it orbits the sun
B.
the tilt of the earth's rotational axis
relative to the plane of its solar orbit
C.
the gravitational pull of the other
planets on the earth as it orbits
the sun
D.
the elliptical shape of the earth's
solar orbit
16.
Use the diagram below to answer the
question that follows.
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
m
ai
n
Increasing Luminosity
15.
Hot
se
qu
en
ce
st
ar
s
Temperature
Cool
The curve shown on the HertzsprungRussell diagram above represents the
relationship between luminosity and
temperature of main-sequence stars.
Which of the following changes in a star
as it ages would cause the star to be placed
in the upper right corner of the diagram
outside of the main sequence?
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Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
A.
A low-mass star collapses and heats
up under the gravitational force of
attraction.
B.
A high-mass star cools and expands
after having used up the hydrogen
fuel in its core.
C.
A low-mass star uses up its helium
and hydrogen fuel sources and
becomes a white dwarf.
D.
A high-mass star experiences a
supernova after collapsing on its
neutron core.
—8—
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Earth and Space Science
17.
18.
The theory of plate tectonics became
established as a unifying model within
the geosciences only after:
A.
a plausible mechanism for plate
motion was proposed based on
discoveries about oceanic crust that
were made using new technology.
B.
a series of research articles was
published that demonstrated flaws in
earlier theories on the evolution of
the continents and ocean basins.
C.
the original research and collected
evidence supporting the theory of
continental drift was translated from
the original German into English.
D.
the discovery of new fossils and
advances in evolutionary biology
provided support for the existence
of a single large supercontinent.
19.
20.
A geologist doing field research is certain
that a particular mineral sample is either
quartz or calcite. Which of the following
properties of the sample could the
geologist test while still in the field to
determine most effectively whether the
mineral is quartz or calcite?
A.
color
B.
hardness
C.
density
D.
malleability
Knowledge of which of the following
areas of science would be most helpful
in understanding the operating principles
of remote sensing devices such as the
seismograph and sonar?
A.
computer modeling and simulation
Determining the statistical mode of a
collected data set would be required to
answer which of the following questions?
B.
magnetic resonance imaging
C.
reflection and refraction of waves
A.
How does a particular year's rainfall
compare to the long-term average
for the region?
D.
spectroscopic analysis
B.
What is the most frequently
occurring species of fossil trilobite
in a particular sedimentary outcrop?
C.
How does the range between high
and low tide differ in two separate
harbors?
D.
What is the difference between the
average volume of water carried by
a river in the spring and in the fall?
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). All rights reserved.
Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
—9—
SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS
Earth and Space Science
ANSWER KEY
Question
Number
Correct
Response
Test
Objective
1
C
0001
2
D
0005
3
A
0001
4
C
0002
5
B
0004
6
B
0006
7
A
0007
8
C
0008
9
D
0009
10
D
0010
11
C
0011
12
A
0012
13
A
0013
14
A
0014
15
D
0015
16
B
0016
17
A
0017
18
B
0018
19
B
0019
20
C
0020
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). All rights reserved.
Evaluation Systems, Pearson, P.O. Box 226, Amherst, MA 01004
—10—