NATURAL SCIENCE OFFICIAL CLEP
STUDY GUIDE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS.
A theory fails to meet the criteria of scientific methodology if
(A) it is unpopular
(B) it contradicts other theories
(C) it has not been conclusively proved
(D) it has not been stated in mathematical terms
(E) no experiments can be designed to test it - ANSWER-(E) no experiments can be
designed to test it
Dark lines in the Sun's spectrum are explained as resulting from
(A) emission of radiation of certain frequencies from the Sun's atmosphere
(B) absorption of energy by atoms in the outer layers of the Sun
(C) radiation of ultraviolet light from sunspots
(D) continuous radiation from the corona
(E) x-rays emanating from the Sun's atmosphere - ANSWER-(B) absorption of energy
by atoms in the outer
layers of the Sun
Scientists estimate the age of the Sun to be about
(A) 100 billion years
(B) 25 billion years
(C) 14 billion years
(D) 4.6 billion years
(E) 3.8 billion years - ANSWER-(D) 4.6 billion years
Sunspots on the surface of the Sun are correlated with which of the following?
(A) Relatively low temperatures compared with the surrounding surface
(B) Relatively high temperatures compared with the surrounding surface
(C) Periods of low solar activity
(D) Fusion of helium nuclei rather than hydrogen nuclei
(E) The warming of ocean surface waters in the eastern Pacific (El Niño) - ANSWER-(A)
Relatively low temperatures compared with the surrounding surface
Which of the following best describes the principal way in which Earth's atmosphere is
heated?
,(A) Heat flows from the center of Earth and is conducted through the ground to the air.
(B) The atmosphere absorbs short-wave radiation from the Sun as the Sun's rays pass
through it.
(C) Earth absorbs short-wave radiation from the Sun and reradiates long-wave
radiation, which is absorbed by the atmosphere.
(D) The air absorbs short-wave radiation from the Sun after the radiation has been
reflected by the clouds.
(E) Warm air rises and cold air sinks and, as it sinks, is warmed by compression. -
ANSWER-(C) Earth absorbs short-wave radiation from the Sun and reradiates long-
wave radiation, which is absorbed by the atmosphere.
Most of Earth's water exists in
(A) the oceans
(B) the atmosphere
(C) groundwater
(D) lakes and rivers
(E) polar ice caps - ANSWER-(A) the oceans
If the present electric power needs of the United States are to be provided by solar
power only, all the sunlight incident on which of the following areas must be collected?
(Assume 100 percent efficiency.)
(A) A small percent of the area in the United States
(B) All of the area in the United States
(C) All of the area in theWestern Hemisphere
(D) All of the area of Earth
(E) All of the area of Earth plus some in outer space - ANSWER-(A) A small percent of
the area in the United States
Which of the following natural resources is NOT a fossil fuel?
(A) Uranium
(B) Natural gas
(C) Petroleum
(D) Anthracite coal
(E) Bituminous coal - ANSWER-(A) Uranium
All of the following geologic time intervals are characterized correctly EXCEPT
(A) Cambrian period . . . age of birds
(B) Carboniferous period . . . age of amphibians
(C) Devonian period . . . age of fishes
(D) Cenozoic era . . . age of mammals
(E) Mesozoic era . . . age of dinosaurs - ANSWER-(A) Cambrian period . . . age of birds
, Carboniferous period is the... - ANSWER-age of amphibians
Devonian period is the... - ANSWER-age of fishes
Cenozoic period is the... - ANSWER-age of mammals
Mesozoic period is the... - ANSWER-age of dinosaurs
Which of the following is the farthest, on average, from Earth?
(A) Andromeda galaxy
(B) Halley's comet
(C) Jupiter
(D) Sirius
(E) Uranus - ANSWER-(A) Andromeda galaxy
CaO + CO2 → CaCO3
What mass of CaO is needed to absorb 22 grams of CO2 according to the balanced
chemical equation above? (Molar masses: CaO = 56 g/mol, CO2 = 44 g/mol)
(A) 112 g
(B) 100 g
(C) 56 g
(D) 28 g
(E) 22 g - ANSWER-(D) 28 g
The half-life of 14^C6 is 5,600 years. Which of the following statements about a 10-
gram sample of 14^C6 is correct?
(A) The radioactive decay of the sample will be complete after 5,600 years.
(B) The 14^C6 sample will start radioactive decay
after 5,600 years.
(C) A time of 5,600 years has been required to produce this sample of 14^C6 in nature.
(D) After 5,600 years the sample will contain only 5 grams of 14^C6.
(E) After 11,200 years the sample will not contain any
14^C6. - ANSWER-(D) After 5,600 years the sample will contain only 5 grams of 14^C6.
Impact craters dominate the Moon's surface, yet are rare on Earth's surface. Reasons
for this difference include which of the following?
I. The Moon has no atmosphere.
II. The Moon is geologically inactive.
III. The Moon is much older.
(A) I only
STUDY GUIDE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS.
A theory fails to meet the criteria of scientific methodology if
(A) it is unpopular
(B) it contradicts other theories
(C) it has not been conclusively proved
(D) it has not been stated in mathematical terms
(E) no experiments can be designed to test it - ANSWER-(E) no experiments can be
designed to test it
Dark lines in the Sun's spectrum are explained as resulting from
(A) emission of radiation of certain frequencies from the Sun's atmosphere
(B) absorption of energy by atoms in the outer layers of the Sun
(C) radiation of ultraviolet light from sunspots
(D) continuous radiation from the corona
(E) x-rays emanating from the Sun's atmosphere - ANSWER-(B) absorption of energy
by atoms in the outer
layers of the Sun
Scientists estimate the age of the Sun to be about
(A) 100 billion years
(B) 25 billion years
(C) 14 billion years
(D) 4.6 billion years
(E) 3.8 billion years - ANSWER-(D) 4.6 billion years
Sunspots on the surface of the Sun are correlated with which of the following?
(A) Relatively low temperatures compared with the surrounding surface
(B) Relatively high temperatures compared with the surrounding surface
(C) Periods of low solar activity
(D) Fusion of helium nuclei rather than hydrogen nuclei
(E) The warming of ocean surface waters in the eastern Pacific (El Niño) - ANSWER-(A)
Relatively low temperatures compared with the surrounding surface
Which of the following best describes the principal way in which Earth's atmosphere is
heated?
,(A) Heat flows from the center of Earth and is conducted through the ground to the air.
(B) The atmosphere absorbs short-wave radiation from the Sun as the Sun's rays pass
through it.
(C) Earth absorbs short-wave radiation from the Sun and reradiates long-wave
radiation, which is absorbed by the atmosphere.
(D) The air absorbs short-wave radiation from the Sun after the radiation has been
reflected by the clouds.
(E) Warm air rises and cold air sinks and, as it sinks, is warmed by compression. -
ANSWER-(C) Earth absorbs short-wave radiation from the Sun and reradiates long-
wave radiation, which is absorbed by the atmosphere.
Most of Earth's water exists in
(A) the oceans
(B) the atmosphere
(C) groundwater
(D) lakes and rivers
(E) polar ice caps - ANSWER-(A) the oceans
If the present electric power needs of the United States are to be provided by solar
power only, all the sunlight incident on which of the following areas must be collected?
(Assume 100 percent efficiency.)
(A) A small percent of the area in the United States
(B) All of the area in the United States
(C) All of the area in theWestern Hemisphere
(D) All of the area of Earth
(E) All of the area of Earth plus some in outer space - ANSWER-(A) A small percent of
the area in the United States
Which of the following natural resources is NOT a fossil fuel?
(A) Uranium
(B) Natural gas
(C) Petroleum
(D) Anthracite coal
(E) Bituminous coal - ANSWER-(A) Uranium
All of the following geologic time intervals are characterized correctly EXCEPT
(A) Cambrian period . . . age of birds
(B) Carboniferous period . . . age of amphibians
(C) Devonian period . . . age of fishes
(D) Cenozoic era . . . age of mammals
(E) Mesozoic era . . . age of dinosaurs - ANSWER-(A) Cambrian period . . . age of birds
, Carboniferous period is the... - ANSWER-age of amphibians
Devonian period is the... - ANSWER-age of fishes
Cenozoic period is the... - ANSWER-age of mammals
Mesozoic period is the... - ANSWER-age of dinosaurs
Which of the following is the farthest, on average, from Earth?
(A) Andromeda galaxy
(B) Halley's comet
(C) Jupiter
(D) Sirius
(E) Uranus - ANSWER-(A) Andromeda galaxy
CaO + CO2 → CaCO3
What mass of CaO is needed to absorb 22 grams of CO2 according to the balanced
chemical equation above? (Molar masses: CaO = 56 g/mol, CO2 = 44 g/mol)
(A) 112 g
(B) 100 g
(C) 56 g
(D) 28 g
(E) 22 g - ANSWER-(D) 28 g
The half-life of 14^C6 is 5,600 years. Which of the following statements about a 10-
gram sample of 14^C6 is correct?
(A) The radioactive decay of the sample will be complete after 5,600 years.
(B) The 14^C6 sample will start radioactive decay
after 5,600 years.
(C) A time of 5,600 years has been required to produce this sample of 14^C6 in nature.
(D) After 5,600 years the sample will contain only 5 grams of 14^C6.
(E) After 11,200 years the sample will not contain any
14^C6. - ANSWER-(D) After 5,600 years the sample will contain only 5 grams of 14^C6.
Impact craters dominate the Moon's surface, yet are rare on Earth's surface. Reasons
for this difference include which of the following?
I. The Moon has no atmosphere.
II. The Moon is geologically inactive.
III. The Moon is much older.
(A) I only
