Earth and Space Science - 4th Grade Science

To answer this question correctly, we need to understand the terms in the answer choices:

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere each day. Weather can be described by the temperature, amount of precipitation, and the humidity.

Climate is the overall weather patterns that last for long periods of time in a certain area. For example, the climate in a tropical area is generally always warm, it doesn't change day by day.

Temperature is the degree of heat in the atmosphere.

Precipitation is the amount of rain, snow, hail, or sleet that falls.

Based on the question, climate is the correct answer because climate is an overall weather patter.

The moon goes through eight phases, as outlined in the diagram provided:

Using the diagram below, we see the full moon on the right side. Following the pattern of the arrows, waning gibbous moon comes after the full moon.

All of these solutions would mitigate the effect of an earthquake on residents in areas that are prone to natural disasters. Still, only one would be beneficial to a large population. Creating building codes that require all new construction and existing buildings to be built to a high safety standard will help save lives and reduce damage. These building codes have regulations that companies must follow to ensure they are stable and safe.

Tsunamis are a deadly natural hazard and very unpredictable storms. All of the friends came up with ideas to try and reduce the impact a tsunami would have on a town, but only one is the most reasonable and would benefit the majority of residents. A siren to warn residents a tsunami may be approaching would be an excellent early detection system. If residents hear the siren wherever they may be in town, they can get to higher ground or evacuate before the storm arrives. Many people are caught by surprise and are on low grounds or even at the beach when the tsunamis approach so this would be a real life-saver.

Tsunamis are a deadly natural hazard and very unpredictable storms. All of the friends came up with ideas to try and reduce the impact a tsunami would have on a town, and not all of them would be the best, but Donald's plan would be the least helpful to residents. Donald's idea would be dangerous and put many peoples' lives at risk. A siren to warn residents a tsunami may be approaching would be an excellent early detection system. If residents hear the siren wherever they may be in town, they can get to higher ground or evacuate before the storm arrives. Warnings across the television stations would allow people to get prepared for an incoming wave. Building a ten-foot wall wouldn't do much against a 100-foot wave, but it would not put people at risk like Donald's plan.

Volcanoes are a deadly natural hazard and can be unpredictable. If a volcano erupts, having better footage of the lava, smoke, and ash will do nothing at the moment to protect residents or their property. Lava would run right through, and under a fence, so it would not protect anyone from the volcano. Understanding the aftermath of a volcanic eruption is very important, but it does not address the issues with the explosion itself. Improving the monitoring systems would give people more time to evacuate or prepare, find a safe place, and would let scientists know the signs to look for future eruptions.

Volcanoes are a deadly natural hazard and can be unpredictable. Improving the monitoring systems would give people more time to evacuate or prepare, find a safe place, and would let scientists know the signs to look for future eruptions. A warning device or siren would give advanced notice to residents so they would be aware of the eruption before or as soon as it happens rather than it being too late. Building further away from volcanoes would be a smart investment for future construction, so there is a reduced chance of damage to the new buildings. Lava would run right through, and under a fence, so it would not protect anyone from the volcano. Building a fence would be the least beneficial investment.

All of these solutions would mitigate the effect of an earthquake on residents in areas that are prone to natural disasters. But, they would NOT be beneficial to a large population. Creating building codes that require all new construction and existing buildings to be built to a high safety standard will help save lives and reduce damage. These building codes have regulations that companies must follow to ensure they are stable and safe. The safety features should not just be in new homes or homes that cost over $1 million; this eliminates those who are living in less expensive homes or homes that were built previously. Only evacuating people over 80 years of age also narrows down the group of people receiving help drastically and leaves out a large piece of the population. None of these choices would be the best option to help large groups of people.

Tsunamis are a deadly natural hazard and very unpredictable storms. All of the friends came up with ideas to try and reduce the impact a tsunami would have on a town, but one would most likely be very expensive and impractical for a city. Melissa's idea of building a ten-foot-tall wall around the entire town would be too time-consuming, expensive, and labor-intensive. It would not be a practical solution.

Hurricanes are a deadly natural hazard and can be unpredictable. If a hurricane hits Florida, the storm will move directly past the beach barriers and continue moving inland. The barriers will not stop the wind, rain, or storm surge. This idea would be the LEAST beneficial to the community and would have no reduction in the impact of the storm.

The statement in the question is false. There are many ways that we can reduce the impacts of Earth's processes on our residents and communities. Warning systems, research, emergency preparedness kits, and plans, code enforcements for storms on new construction, and evacuation plans are just a few of the methods we currently use.

Sean's idea to plant new trees and vegetation is not only the least expensive and most practical but a common practice. Tree roots hold the dirt in place and can help the banks of the river from being washed away and sliding down into the current. The other ideas are expensive and not practical.

Sasha and Steven are making observations about how different bodies of water move eroded materials. Rivers are a fast-moving flow of water, lakes and ponds are primarily standing water, and streams are slow-moving bodies of water. Based on the data, they measured and observed the river moved the materials the farthest distance. A connection can be made about the rate of running water and how materials will be eroded or carried away. The faster a body of water moves, the further and faster sediment and eroded materials will move.

Weathering and erosion are usually two terms used simultaneously and together, but each has its independent definition and usage. Weathering used in this context means the wearing away or changing the appearance and texture of something that is being worn away and broken down by the wind, water, ice, and vegetation. Water seeps into the rocks and freezes time after time, which slowly breaks the rock into pieces, plant roots grow through cliffsides and rocks, and the wind and rain batter shorelines with tiny fragments of sediments and water drops. All of these actions slowly break the rocks, shorelines, and cliff faces down.

Weathering and erosion are usually heard used together, but each has its definition and essential part of shaping our landscapes over time. Erosion is the process by which the surface of the earth is worn away and moved by the action of water, vegetation, winds, and ice. As fragments of rock or debris are broken off through the process of weathering, the materials are moved and worn away by erosion. A river will carry sediment downstream and move it to new locations as the process of weathering continues.

The type of erosion most likely to occur in the Mohave Desert would be wind erosion. The desert would not experience glacial erosion because there are no frozen blocks of ice. In the desert, there is limited water and vegetation, so neither of those would be likely to cause erosion. The desert does experience high winds and sandstorms, which would cause movement of the materials and sediment in the area.

Erosion is the movement of materials and broken down debris from the process of weathering. The correct answer choice must address the movement of materials, not just the breaking down of materials. "Wind blowing away sediment" is the right answer because it demonstrates the movement of sediment by the wind; sediment is material that settles in water or on shorelines, so this is a reasonable type of debris that would be picked up and moved.

Weathering and erosion are usually two terms used simultaneously and together, but each has its independent definition and usage. Weathering used in this context means the wearing away or changing the appearance and texture of something that is being worn away and broken down by the wind, water, ice, and vegetation. Erosion is the process by which the surface of the earth is worn away and moved by the action of water, vegetation, winds, and ice. As fragments of rock or debris are broken off through the process of weathering, the materials are moved and worn away by erosion. A river will carry sediment downstream and move it to new locations as the process of weathering continues. The question has the key phrase "moved from one place to another," which lets readers know movement is taking place, which is the process of erosion.