Earth and Space Science
Each subtopic includes About section, revision page link, 10 preview questions, and practice CTAs.
The Rock Cycle and Earth's Layers
SubtopicThe Rock Cycle and Earth's Layers under Earth and Space Science for Grade 8 IB.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
A rock that has been changed into a new form by heat and pressure without melting is called:
A.Sedimentary
B.Igneous
C.Metamorphic
D.Volcanic
- 2.
What is the name for the thin, solid, outermost layer of the Earth?
A.Mantle
B.Lithosphere
C.Crust
D.Core
- 3.
Which layer of the Earth is composed of solid rock that can flow very slowly over time?
A.Inner Core
B.Asthenosphere
C.Outer Core
D.Oceanic Crust
- 4.
Which of these describe the 'Rock Cycle'?
A.Rocks only change from igneous to sedimentary
B.Rocks are constantly being created, changed, and destroyed
C.Rocks never change their form
D.Rocks only change because of human activity
- 5.
Which of the following sequences correctly shows the metamorphism of shale as pressure and temperature increase?
A.Shale -> Slate -> Schist -> Gneiss
B.Shale -> Granite -> Basalt -> Magma
C.Shale -> Limestone -> Marble -> Quartzite
D.Shale -> Sandstone -> Conglomerate -> Breccia
- 6.
The process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by the physical action of plant roots or burrowing animals is called:
A.Chemical weathering
B.Biological weathering
C.Oxidation
D.Subduction
- 7.
Which of these rocks is famous for its 'glassy' texture and lack of crystals because it cooled almost instantaneously?
A.Granite
B.Sandstone
C.Obsidian
D.Schist
- 8.
Why is 'granite' the dominant rock type of the continental crust, while 'basalt' dominates the oceanic crust?
A.Granite is denser and sinks to form continents
B.Basalt is formed from rapid cooling of magma at mid-ocean ridges; granite forms from slow cooling of silica-rich magma
C.Granite is only formed by wind erosion
D.Basalt is a metamorphic rock, while granite is sedimentary
- 9.
What does the presence of 'Stishovite' (a high-pressure form of quartz) usually indicate in a geological survey?
A.Slow cooling of a granite batholith
B.A meteorite impact event or extreme shock metamorphism
C.Deposition in a calm lake environment
D.Chemical weathering by acid rain
- 10.
Which mineral is the most stable at the Earth's surface and therefore very common in detrital sedimentary rocks?
A.Olivine
B.Pyroxene
C.Quartz
D.Calcium-rich Feldspar
Download the worksheet for Earth and Space Science - The Rock Cycle and Earth's Layers to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Plate Tectonics and Natural Hazards
SubtopicPlate Tectonics and Natural Hazards under Earth and Space Science for Grade 8 IB.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
What is the name for a volcano that has not erupted for a long time but might erupt again?
A.Active
B.Dormant
C.Extinct
D.Sleeping
- 2.
Which layer of the Earth is the thinnest?
A.Inner Core
B.Outer Core
C.Mantle
D.Crust
- 3.
What is the term for the large, circular patterns of heating and cooling in the mantle?
A.Convection cells
B.Ocean currents
C.Wind patterns
D.Solar flares
- 4.
A volcano that is currently erupting or shows signs of erupting in the near future is called:
A.Dormant
B.Extinct
C.Active
D.Static
- 5.
The diagram below illustrates the movement of convection currents in the asthenosphere. At 'Point X', the currents are diverging (moving in opposite directions away from each other). Which type of tectonic stress is being exerted on the lithosphere directly above 'Point X', and what is the most likely geological result?
A.Shear stress, resulting in the formation of a transform fault line
B.Tension stress, resulting in the formation of a rift valley or mid-ocean ridge
C.Compression stress, resulting in the formation of a deep-ocean trench
D.Compression stress, resulting in the formation of a folded mountain range
- 6.
How do scientists use GPS technology to study plate tectonics?
A.To measure the exact temperature of the mantle
B.To track the precise movement of plates over several years
C.To photograph the inside of a volcano
D.To predict exactly when the next earthquake will happen
- 7.
What does a 'seismic gap' refer to in earthquake prediction?
A.The time between a P-wave and an S-wave
B.A section of an active fault that has not had a significant earthquake for a long time
C.The area where no seismic waves can be detected
D.A hole in the Earth's crust caused by a fault
- 8.
Why is the age of the oldest oceanic crust only about to million years, while continental crust can be over billion years old?
A.The ocean floor was only created million years ago.
B.Oceanic crust is constantly being recycled into the mantle at subduction zones, while continental crust is too buoyant to subduct.
C.Oceanic crust dissolves in salt water after million years.
D.Continental crust is protected from the sun's radiation, which destroys oceanic crust.
- 9.
Which statement correctly describes the relationship between 'fault creep' and major earthquakes?
A.Fault creep is the main cause of the world's largest magnitude earthquakes.
B.Fault creep is the slow, continuous movement along a fault that prevents the build-up of elastic strain, reducing the likelihood of a massive earthquake.
C.Fault creep is the sound that rocks make just seconds before they rupture.
D.Fault creep only occurs in the mantle and has no effect on the crust.
- 10.
When an oceanic plate subducts, it undergoes 'metamorphism.' Which specific metamorphic rock is often considered a 'fingerprint' of subduction zones due to its high-pressure, low-temperature formation?
A.Marble
B.Blueschist
C.Quartzite
D.Slate
Download the worksheet for Earth and Space Science - Plate Tectonics and Natural Hazards to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
The Solar System and Lunar Phases
SubtopicThe Solar System and Lunar Phases under Earth and Space Science for Grade 8 IB.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
What is a 'Crescent' Moon?
A.A moon that is more than half lit
B.A moon that is fully dark
C.A moon that is a thin sliver, less than half lit
D.A moon that is only seen during the day
- 2.
What do we call a star and all the objects that orbit around it?
A.A Galaxy
B.A Constellation
C.A Solar System
D.An Universe
- 3.
Which planet is located furthest from the Sun?
A.Uranus
B.Neptune
C.Saturn
D.Pluto
- 4.
Which of these describes a 'Light Year'?
A.The time it takes for Earth to rotate
B.The distance light travels in one year
C.The weight of a beam of light
D.The speed of a comet
- 5.
If you observe the Moon and it appears to be a 'Half Moon' with the right side lit (in the Northern Hemisphere), which phase is this?
A.New Moon
B.Full Moon
C.First Quarter
D.Third Quarter
- 6.
What is the correct order of the Moon's phases, starting from a New Moon?
A.New, Full, First Quarter, Third Quarter
B.New, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full
C.New, Waning Crescent, Third Quarter, Waning Gibbous, Full
D.New, First Quarter, Full, Waxing Gibbous
- 7.
Which of these best explains why the Moon has so many more visible craters than the Earth?
A.The Moon is much older than the Earth
B.The Moon is closer to the asteroid belt
C.The Moon lacks an atmosphere and active geology (like erosion or plate tectonics) to erase them
D.The Moon's gravity attracts more space debris than Earth's gravity
- 8.
The 'Chandrasekhar Limit' is often discussed in stellar evolution, but in our solar system, the Sun will never reach it. What will be the final stage of our Sun's life?
A.Black Hole
B.Neutron Star
C.White Dwarf
D.Supernova
- 9.
What is the correct term for the point in the Moon's orbit where it is furthest from the Earth?
A.Perihelion
B.Aphelion
C.Perigee
D.Apogee
- 10.
If a Moon phase is 'Waxing Gibbous' today, what will it be in approximately one week?
A.Full Moon
B.Waning Gibbous
C.Waning Crescent
D.Third Quarter
Download the worksheet for Earth and Space Science - The Solar System and Lunar Phases to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Climate Change and Global Warming
SubtopicClimate Change and Global Warming under Earth and Space Science for Grade 8 IB.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
What is the term for a long period with significantly less rainfall than normal?
A.Flood
B.Drought
C.Hurricane
D.Tsunami
- 2.
Which of these would most likely decrease the albedo of a region?
A.Building more white roofs
B.A heavy snowfall
C.Melting of ice to reveal dark soil
D.Planting a field of white flowers
- 3.
What describes the 'greenhouse effect' most simply?
A.Plants growing in a glass building
B.The trapping of heat by gases in the atmosphere
C.The reflection of all light by the moon
D.The cooling of the Earth by the wind
- 4.
Which instrument is used to measure current air temperature?
A.Barometer
B.Anemometer
C.Thermometer
D.Hygrometer
- 5.
Which of the following statements about the Greenhouse Effect is true?
A.It is a completely man-made phenomenon
B.Without it, Earth's average temperature would be about
C.It is caused by the hole in the ozone layer
D.It only affects the temperature during the daytime
- 6.
How does the melting of mountain glaciers affect human populations living downstream?
A.It provides a permanent, unchanging source of water for irrigation
B.It can cause initial flooding followed by long-term water shortages
C.It causes the mountains to become taller and more difficult to cross
D.It increases the temperature of the river water, making it better for swimming
- 7.
What is the main source of 'Anthropogenic' carbon dioxide?
A.Photosynthesis in the ocean
B.Respiration from wild animals
C.The burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas
D.Decomposition of organic matter in swamps
- 8.
Which of the following is the most accurate description of the 'Greenhouse Window'?
A.The hole in the ozone layer that allows heat to escape.
B.The specific range of wavelengths in the infrared spectrum where the atmosphere is relatively transparent, but which is now being 'closed' by gases like and CFCs.
C.The glass used in greenhouses that allows sunlight to pass through but traps heat.
D.The time of day when the greenhouse effect is weakest, usually around dawn.
- 9.
Why is 'Carbon Capture and Storage' (CCS) often criticized by some environmental scientists despite its potential to reduce emissions?
A.It is physically impossible to compress into a liquid form.
B.It may encourage the continued use of fossil fuels and carries risks of leakage from underground storage sites.
C.The captured is used to create even more dangerous greenhouse gases like CFCs.
D.It requires more energy to capture the carbon than the original power plant produced.
- 10.
How does 'Desertification' potentially create a feedback loop that affects the regional climate?
A.Loss of vegetation reduces transpiration, leading to less rainfall and higher surface temperatures, which further inhibits plant growth.
B.Desert sand is very dark and absorbs more sunlight than a forest, causing the region to cool down.
C.Deserts produce so much oxygen that they cause the atmosphere to ignite.
D.The movement of sand dunes into the ocean causes the sea level to drop globally.
Download the worksheet for Earth and Space Science - Climate Change and Global Warming to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Sustainable Resource Management
SubtopicSustainable Resource Management under Earth and Space Science for Grade 8 IB.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
What is a 'landfill' primarily used for?
A.Growing organic vegetables
B.Disposing of waste that cannot be recycled or composted
C.Filtering water for the city
D.Generating solar power
- 2.
Which form of energy is produced by capturing the heat from hot springs or volcanoes?
A.Solar energy
B.Wind energy
C.Geothermal energy
D.Hydroelectric energy
- 3.
Which of these is a consequence of 'deforestation'?
A.Increase in wildlife population
B.Decrease in soil erosion
C.Loss of biodiversity
D.Improvement in air quality
- 4.
What does the term 'carbon neutral' mean?
A.A process that releases no carbon dioxide at all
B.A process where the amount of carbon released is balanced by the amount removed
C.A material made entirely of carbon
D.A car that does not have a carbon filter
- 5.
In the study of sustainable ecosystems, what is 'Carrying Capacity'?
A.The total weight of all the animals in a specific forest.
B.The maximum population of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.
C.The amount of minerals a truck can carry out of a mine.
D.The speed at which a river can move sediment downstream.
- 6.
Which of the following is a characteristic of 'Sustainable Development' as defined by the UN?
A.Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
B.Prioritizing industrial growth over all environmental and social concerns.
C.Using up all available non-renewable resources as quickly as possible to boost the current economy.
D.Banning the use of all technology and returning to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
- 7.
Why is 'Helium-3', found on the Moon, considered a significant potential resource for the future?
A.It can be used as a non-polluting fuel for nuclear fusion.
B.It is the main ingredient needed to create a new atmosphere on Mars.
C.It is a liquid that can replace all the water in Earth's oceans.
D.It is a type of food that can sustain astronauts for years.
- 8.
Why is the use of 'Peat' as a fuel or garden soil conditioner considered unsustainable in the context of climate change?
A.Peat burns too slowly and does not provide enough heat.
B.Peatlands are massive carbon sinks; harvesting them releases stored carbon and destroys unique ecosystems that take thousands of years to form.
C.Peat is a form of plastic that pollutes the air when burned.
D.Peat grows so fast that it takes over agricultural land if not harvested.
- 9.
In 'Permaculture', the principle of 'Zoning' is used to manage resources. What does 'Zone 0' typically represent?
A.The wilderness area where no humans are allowed to go.
B.The house or center of activity where energy use is most concentrated.
C.The outermost edge of the farm where only timber is grown.
D.The local market where the produce is sold.
- 10.
The 'Linear Economy' model of 'Take-Make-Dispose' is being replaced by the 'Circular Economy'. What is the most critical change required for this transition?
A.Increasing the speed of manufacturing to produce more goods.
B.Designing products for durability, repairability, and easy disassembly at the end of their life.
C.Lowering the price of raw materials to encourage more buying.
D.Building more landfills so that waste is buried more deeply.
Download the worksheet for Earth and Space Science - Sustainable Resource Management to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.