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Earth Systems Practice Tests

These Grade 7 Science practice tests build understanding of Earth's layers, spheres, minerals, rocks, rock cycles, plate tectonics, weathering, erosion, deposition, geologic time, and natural resources.

Skills covered

  • Describing Earth's layers and interactions among the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere
  • Identifying minerals, rock types, the rock cycle, and mineral properties
  • Explaining divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries
  • Distinguishing weathering, erosion, and deposition in surface processes
  • Using fossils, layers, resources, and multiple lines of evidence to interpret Earth history

How to use these practice tests

For each question, identify the Earth layer, material, or process involved. Then connect the evidence to the movement of matter and energy over the time scale described.

For more Grade 7 Science practice, return to the Grade 7 Science category.

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Grade 7 Earth Systems Practice Tests

Practice Grade 7 Science Earth Systems questions about Earth layers, minerals, rocks, plate tectonics, surface processes, geologic time, and resources.

Choose the best answer for each question. Review the explanation after submitting your answers.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

What is weathering?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The breakdown of rock at Earth's surface.

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: Weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces or changes its minerals through physical or chemical processes.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

Weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces or changes its minerals through physical or chemical processes.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

What is erosion?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is The movement of weathered material from one place to another.

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: Water, wind, ice, and gravity can transport sediment during erosion.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

Water, wind, ice, and gravity can transport sediment during erosion.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

What is deposition?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is The dropping or settling of sediment in a new location.

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: Deposition occurs when a transporting agent loses enough energy to drop sediment.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

Deposition occurs when a transporting agent loses enough energy to drop sediment.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

How can plant roots cause physical weathering?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Roots grow into cracks and widen them as the plant grows..

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: Growing roots can exert force on rock and enlarge existing cracks without changing the rock chemically.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

Growing roots can exert force on rock and enlarge existing cracks without changing the rock chemically.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

How can acid rain cause chemical weathering?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Acidic water reacts with and changes some minerals in rock..

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: Chemical weathering changes the minerals or chemical composition of rock through reactions.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

Chemical weathering changes the minerals or chemical composition of rock through reactions.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

Why does flowing water often erode a steep stream channel strongly?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Moving water has energy that can carry and abrade sediment..

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: Faster or more energetic water can transport larger particles and wear away channel material.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

Faster or more energetic water can transport larger particles and wear away channel material.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

How does a glacier change a landscape?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Moving ice can scrape bedrock and carry large amounts of sediment..

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: Glaciers erode through abrasion and plucking and deposit sediment as they melt.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

Glaciers erode through abrasion and plucking and deposit sediment as they melt.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Why does wind deposit sand when it slows down?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is The wind has less energy to keep the sand particles moving..

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: When transporting energy decreases, particles settle and form deposits such as dunes.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

When transporting energy decreases, particles settle and form deposits such as dunes.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

What can sediment layers reveal?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Information about changing environments and the relative order of events.

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: Layer characteristics and fossils can provide evidence about past environments and relative geologic timing.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

Layer characteristics and fossils can provide evidence about past environments and relative geologic timing.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

How can erosion affect soil used for farming?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is It can remove nutrient-rich topsoil and reduce soil quality..

  1. Identify the Earth-system process: Determine whether the question involves Earth layers, rocks, minerals, plate movement, surface processes, resources, or geologic time.
  2. Connect the evidence: Erosion can carry away fertile topsoil faster than it forms, affecting agriculture and habitats.
  3. Check the system interaction: Earth materials and processes interact over time, so connect the observation to the layer, cycle, force, or surface change involved.

Erosion can carry away fertile topsoil faster than it forms, affecting agriculture and habitats.

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