unit 1

Question 1

process by which certain bacteria convert organic nitrogen into ammonia and ammonium salts during decomposition

Answer 1

ammonification

Question 2

process by which plants or animals convert nutrients into usable organic compounds, such as proteins

Answer 2

assimilation

Question 3

the layer immediately surrounding the lower mantle; composed of molten rock

Answer 3

asthenosphere

Question 4

the study of the universe beyond the earth

Answer 4

astronomy

Question 5

the gaseous layer of a planet, usually retained by its gravity

Answer 5

atmosphere

Question 6

the living organisms of Earth

Answer 6

biosphere

Question 7

the part of Earth’s crust that forms landmasses

Answer 7

continental crust

Question 8

theory proposed by Alfred Wegener that the continents once formed a single supercontinent that broke up and drifted apart

Answer 8

continental drift

Question 9

process of heat transfer by the circulation or movement of a gas, liquid, or plastic material

Answer 9

convection

Question 10

area where tectonic plates meet and push against each other

Answer 10

convergent boundary

Question 11

innermost layer of the earth; divided into an inner and outer core

Answer 11

core

Question 12

the outermost layer that forms the surface of the earth; upper part of the lithosphere

Answer 12

crust

Question 13

the frozen water or ice system of a planet

Answer 13

cryosphere

Question 14

bacteria and fungi that break down dead matter

Answer 14

decomposer

Question 15

process by which certain bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas

Answer 15

denitrification

Question 16

process by which sediment flows into a reservoir

Answer 16

deposition

Question 17

a process creating different layered compositions of a planet

Answer 17

differentiation

Question 18

area where tectonic plates are moving away from each other

Answer 18

divergent boundary

Question 19

two opposing forces in balance or when two opposite processes occur at equal rates

Answer 19

equilibriumq

Question 20

area along plate boundaries and ridges where the crust of the lithosphere is fractured

Answer 20

fault line

Question 21

line of plants and animals that shows the order in which organisms are eaten

Answer 21

food chain

Question 22

a diagram that shows the connections among food chains in an ecosystem

Answer 22

food web

Question 23

a scientist who studies topics related to the structure and composition of Earth

Answer 23

geologist

Question 24

the study of the structure of Earth, and the physical forces that continuously impact the structure of Earth itself

Answer 24

geology

Question 25

all of the layers of Earth's interior and crust

Answer 25

geosphere

Question 26

ancient, extinct plant species found on the continents of South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica

Answer 26

Glossopteris

Question 27

a natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles and distributes Earth's water; often called the water cycle

Answer 27

hydrologic cycle

Question 28

the water system of Earth; solid, liquid, and gas phases

Answer 28

hydrosphere

Question 29

innermost region of Earth; composed of solid iron

Answer 29

inner core

Question 30

related to or possessing motion

Answer 30

kinetic

Question 31

the cool, rigid shell that includes the crust and uppermost mantle; composed of plates that move around on the underlying, plastic asthenosphere

Answer 31

lithosphere

Question 32

innermost layer of the two mantle layers; composed of rock and cooler than the core

Answer 32

lower mantle

Question 33

middle layer of Earth; composed of an upper and lower mantle

Answer 33

mantle

Question 34

small, extinct land reptile whose fossil remains have been found in western Africa and eastern South America

Answer 34

Mesosaurus

Question 35

process of intense heat and pressure which changes igneous or sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock

Answer 35

metamorphism

Question 36

a scientist who studies the changes in atmospheric conditions that produce different weather and climate patterns

Answer 36

meteorologist

Question 37

the study of Earth's atmosphere and the processes that produce weather and climate conditions

Answer 37

meteorology

Question 38

process by which certain bacteria convert ammonium into nitrates

Answer 38

nitrification

Question 39

process by which certain bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen gas into ammonia and ammonium

Answer 39

nitrogen fixation

Question 40

the part of Earth's crust located beneath the oceans and seas

Answer 40

oceanic crust

Question 41

a scientist who studies the oceans of Earth using the scientific disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics, and geology

Answer 41

oceanographer

Question 42

the study of the earth's oceans

Answer 42

oceanography

Question 43

layer immediately outside the inner core; composed of liquid iron and sulfur

Answer 43

outer core

Question 44

meaning "all lands"; name of the supercontinent that is theorized to have contained all of the current continents in a single landmass

Answer 44

Pangaea

Question 45

meaning "all seas"; name of the single, large ocean that surrounded Pangaea

Answer 45

Panthalassa

Question 46

process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the Sun into sugars

Answer 46

photosynthesis

Question 47

ability of a solid to flow

Answer 47

plasticity

Question 48

the theory that the lithosphere is broken into pieces that float on the asthenosphere

Answer 48

plate tectonics

Question 49

something possible; ability to go into action or perform work

Answer 49

potential

Question 50

organisms that eat producers

Answer 50

primary consumer

Question 51

process by which living cells produce usable energy from food

Answer 51

respiration

Question 52

natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles Earth's minerals

Answer 52

rock cycle

Question 53

process by which the earth's lithospheric plates pull apart from each other, creating gaps that are filled with magma from the asthenosphere

Answer 53

seafloor spreading

Question 54

organisms that eat primary consumers

Answer 54

secondary consumer

Question 55

area where an oceanic plate sinks into the asthenosphere under another plate

Answer 55

subduction zone

Question 56

natural and continuous cycle of Earth that recycles Earth's lithospheric plates

Answer 56

tectonic cycle

Question 57

predator that eats secondary consumers

Answer 57

tertiary consumer

Question 58

the study of energy and its transformations

Answer 58

thermodynamics

Question 59

area where tectonic plates slide sideways past each other

Answer 59

transform boundary

Question 60

the process by which plants give off water vapor

Answer 60

transpiration

Question 61

outermost layer of the two mantle layers; includes the asthenosphere and lower lithosphere; composed of solid rock, most of which flows due to convection currents within the mantle

Answer 61

upper mantle

Question 62

process that breaks down rock through physical and chemical changes

Answer 62

weathering