Grade 8 Science Astronomy Benchmark
DO NOT WRITE ON THIS TEST
ALL YOUR ANSWERS GO ON THE SCAN SHEET!
1. The ______is made up of mostly empty space.
1. Galaxy
2. Jovian
3. Universe
4. Nebula
2. ______are natural satellites of planets.
1. Moons
2 Galaxies
3 Craters
4. Nebulas
3. Our soiar system formed from a ______
1. Planet
2. Universe
3. Nebula
4. Galaxy
4. The Milky Way is an example of a
1. Planet
2. Universe
3. Nebula
4. Galaxy
5 The earth ______on its axis as it _____ around the sun,
1, Revolves, rotates
2. Revolves, revolves
3. Rotates, revolves
4. Rotates, rotates
6. The seasons on earth are due to earth’s ______on its axis.
1. Rotation
2. Tilt
3. Revolution
7. Day and night on earth are caused by earth’s ______
1. Rotation
2. Tilt
3. Revolution
8. The ______theory states that the sun is the center of the universe.
1. Jovian
2. Geocentric
3. Heliocentric
4. Concentric
9. The ______theory states that the earth is at the center of the universe.
1. Jovian
2. Geocentric
3. Heliocentric
4. Concentric
10. A ______moon occurs when the entire face of the moon is illuminated.
1. Full
2. New
3. Half
4. Crescent
11. A ______moon occurs when the entire face of the moon is not visible.
1. Full
2. New
3. Half
4. Crescent
12. A ______is a space rock that travels through earth’s atmosphere.
1. Meteor
2. Meteorite
3. Crater
4. Comet
13. A ______Is a space rock thai hits the earth’s surface.
1. Meteor
2. Meteorite
3. Crater
4. Comet
14. Space rocks that hit the surface of the earth may leave behind a hole called a ______
1. Meteor
2. Meteorite
3. Crater
4. Comet
15. Jupiter is a ______planet, while Mars is a planet.
1. Outer, inner
2. Inner, outer
3. Small, large
4. Solar, lunar
16. The area between stars is mainly
1. Hydrogen gas
2. Empty space
3. Dust particles
4. Planets and their moons
17. Compared to distances between planets in our solar system, the distance between stars is
1. Much less
2, Much greater
3. About the same
18. The Sun’s position in space is best described as the approximate center of
1. A constellation
2. The universe
3. The Milky Way Galaxy
4. Our solar system
19. Which group is outside the solar system?
1. Planets
2. Asteroids
3. Moons
4. Andromeda galaxy
20. Which force keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun?
1 Prvinnn
2. Electrical
3. Magnetism
4. Gravity
21. Which motion causes the apparent rising and setting of the Sun each day?
1. Earth revolving around the Sun
2. Earth rotating on an axis
3. Moon rotating on an axis
4. Moon revolving around Earth
22, The phases of the Moon are caused by the
1. Earth’s revolution around the Sun
2. Moon’s revolution around Earth
3. Moon’s rotation on its axis
4. Earth’s rotation on its axis
23. Which object would orbit a planet?
1. An asteroid
2. A comet
3. A star
4. A moon
24. The length of an Earth day is equal to one
1. Earth rotation
2. Earth revolution
3. Moon rotation
4. Moon revolution
25. The Moon’s gravitational force has a greater effect on the ocean tides of Earth than the Sun’s gravitational force. What is the reason for this?
1. The Moon has a greater mass than the Sun.
2. The Moon is closer to Earth than the Sun.
3. The Moon’s mass is less than the Sun.
4. The Moon is a solid.
26. Summer days are hotter than winter days because in the summer
1. Earth is closer to the Sun
2. The number of sunspots increases
3. The Sun’s rays are more direct
4. The Sun gives off more energy
27. Which is true of winter in New York?
1. The Sun is higher in the sky, daylight is shorter
2. The Sun is higher in the Sky, daylight is longer
3. The Sun is lower in sky, daylight is longer
4. The Sun is lower in the sky, daylight is shorter
28. In what general direction does an observer look to see the sunset each day?
1. North
2. South
3. Cast
4. West
29.The diagram below shows Earth’s orbit and the orbit of a comet around the Sun
A comet is similar to earth in they both
1. Have liquid water
2. Are the same size
3. Orbit the Sun
4. Are frozen
30. A planet viewed from Earth for several hours. The diagrams show the planet at four different times.
The best explanation for these
observations is that the planet is
1. Tilted on its axis
2. Changing seasons
3. Revolving
4. Rotating
31. How would the stars appear through the night if Earth did NOT rotate?
32. Which diagram best represents the motions of objects in the solar system?
The diagram below shows the Moon in different positions as it revolves around Earth. Use this diagram to answer questions 33-36.
33. At which position would a solar eclipse occur2
1. 1
2. 3
3. 5
4. 7
34. At which position would the Moon appear to be full from Earth?
1. 1
2. 3
3. 5
4. 7
35. At which Earth location is it daylight?
1. A
2. B
36. The approximate time for the Moon to move from position 1 back to position
1 is a
1. Day
2. Week
3. Month
4. Year
The diagram below shows four positions of Earth as it revolves around the Sun, Use this diagram to answer questions 37-40.
37. Which position represents the date December 21?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
38. In which direction is the Earth revolving around the sun?
1. From 1→2→3→4
2. From 4→ 3→ 2→1
39. Which position represents summer for the Southern Hemisphere?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
40. What is the approximate length of time it takes Earth to move from position 1 to position 4?
1. 9 days
2. 9 week
3. 9 months
4. 9 years
The graph below shows the temperature and brightness of some types of stars. Use the graph to answer questions 41-44.
41. What is the name of the horizontal axis?
1. Absolute Magnitude
2. Temperature
3 Hottest
4. Dimmest
42. What stars are the coolest?
1. Blue Giants
2. Red Giants
3. White Dwarfs
4. Red Dwarfs
43. What stars are the dimmest?
1. Blue Giants
2. Red Giants
3. White Dwarfs
4. Red Dwarfs
44. A Blue Giant is
1. Hot and bright
2. Hot and dim
3. Cool and bright
4, Cool and dim
Refer to the chart below, which compares the members of the solar system. Name the planets described by the following statements.
45. What planet has the most similar length of day to Earths?
1. Uranus
2. Saturn
3. Jupiter
4. Mars
46. What planet has the longest year?
1. Venus
2. Pluto
3. Mars
4. Earth
47. What planet has 1 moon?
1. Uranus
2. Mars
3. Earth
4. Neptune
48. What planet can float in a super giant bowl of water?
1. Mars
2. Earth
3. Pluto
4. Saturn
49. What planet is almost the same size as the Earth?
1. Mars
2. Venus
3. Pluto
4. Saturn
50. What planet is the most dense?
1. Mars
2. Earth
3. Pluto
4. Saturn
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