HOLT Earth Science Directed Reading Name Class Date Skills Worksheet Directed Reading Section: What Is Earth Science? 1. For thousands of years, people have looked at the world and wondered what shaped it. 2. How did cultures throughout history attempt to explain events such as vol- cano eruptions, earthquakes, and eclipses? 3. How does modern science attempt to understand Earth and its changing landscape? THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF EARTH ______ 4. Scientists in China began keeping records of earthquakes as early as a. 200 BCE. b. 480 BCE. c. 780 BCE. d. 1780 BCE. ______ 5. What kind of catalog did the ancient Greeks compile? a. a catalog of rocks and minerals b. a catalog of stars in the universe c. a catalog of gods and goddesses d. a catalog of fashion ______ 6. What did the Maya track in ancient times? a. the tides b. the movement of people and animals c. changes in rocks and minerals d. the movements of the sun, moon, and planets ______ 7. Based on their observations, the Maya created a. jewelry. b. calendars. c. books. d. pyramids. Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Holt Earth Science 7 Introduction to Earth Science Name Class Date Directed Reading continued ______ 8. For a long time, scientific discoveries were limited to a. observations of phenomena that could be made with the help of scientific instruments. b. observations of phenomena that could not be seen, only imagined. c. myths and legends surrounding phenomena. d. observations of phenomena that could be seen with the unaided eye. ______ 9. What inventions in the 17th century made seeing previously hidden worlds possible? a. the astrolabe and the compass b. the microscope and the telescope c. the microscope and the corrective lens d. binoculars and magnifiers ______ 10. Earth science is the scientific study of a. astrology. b. supernatural phenomena. c. cosmetology. d. Earth and the universe around it. ______ 11. It is assumed in Earth science that causes of natural events, or phenomena, a. can be understood through careful observation and experimentation. b. can be understood through methods other than careful observation and experimentation. c. will not be understood until the next century. d. can never be fully understood. BRANCHES OF EARTH SCIENCE ______ 12. What improves when technology, such as new processes or equipment, is developed? a. the ability to change human nature b. the ability to make observations c. the ability to prevent wars d. the ability to prevent natural disasters ______ 13. The four major areas of study in Earth science are a. volcanology, astronomy, geology, and meteorology. b. the solid Earth, the oceans, the atmosphere, and the universe beyond Earth. c. the Earth around us, the Earth we can see, the Earth we cannot see, and the universe. d. geography, agriculture, astronomy, and astrology. Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Holt Earth Science 8 Introduction to Earth Science Name Class Date Directed Reading continued ______ 14. Geology is the scientific study of a. rocks, maps, processes, and technology of Earth. b. legends, observations, technology, and structure of the solid Earth. c. the origin and history of Mayan culture. d. the origin, history, structure of Earth, and the processes that shape Earth. ______ 15. Areas of study for geologists might include a. the atmosphere, climate, and weather patterns. b. Earth’s crust, forces within Earth, and fossils. c. chemistry, physics, and math. d. diet, nutrition, and exercise. 16. What is the scientific study of the oceans called? 17. Name four features of the ocean that oceanographers study. 18. A branch of science called is the scientific study of Earth’s atmosphere, especially in relation to weather and climate. 19. Name two technologies that meteorologists use to study the atmospheric con- ditions that produce weather. 20. Name three weather factors that meteorologists measure. 21. Define climate. Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Holt Earth Science 9 Introduction to Earth Science Name Class Date Directed Reading continued 22. The scientific study of the universe, called , is one of the oldest branches of Earth science. 23. How long ago were the ancient Babylonians charting positions of the planets and stars? 24. Modern astronomers use Earth- and space-based to study the sun, the moon, the planets, and the universe. 25. What two technologies have provided astronomers with new information about the universe? 26. A new field of Earth science called studies the ways in which humans interact with their environment. 27. Name four issues that environmental scientists study. THE IMPORTANCE OF EARTH SCIENCE ______ 28. Natural forces that shape Earth a. have little or no effect on life on Earth. b. affect life on Earth. c. have not been studied. d. are hard to quantify so they cannot be measured. ______ 29. What natural event could bury a town under ash? a. lunar eclipse b. earthquake c. volcano d. flood ______ 30. What natural event could produce waves that destroy shorelines? a. earthquake b. forest fire c. volcano d. lunar eclipse Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Holt Earth Science 10 Introduction to Earth Science Name Class Date Directed Reading continued ______ 31. By understanding how natural forces shape our environment, Earth scientists can a. design devices to prevent natural disasters. b. figure out how to increase workforce productivity. c. teach people how to lead healthier lives. d. predict potential disasters more accurately and help save lives and property. ______ 32. The work of Earth scientists can help us understand our place in a. the universe. b. the atmosphere. c. the food chain. d. our society. ______ 33. Which category of Earth scientists has come up with new ideas about the origins of our universe? a. meteorologists b. cosmetologists c. astronomers d. astrologists ______ 34. The resources that make life as we know it possible come from a. Earth. b. other galaxies. c. hard work. d. the government. ______ 35. Earth scientists strive to help people learn how to a. improve their diets. b. invest their money. c. read and write. d. use Earth’s resources wisely. Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Holt Earth Science 11 Introduction to Earth Science Name Class Date Skills Worksheet Directed Reading Section: Science as a Process 1. How does science differ from other kinds of human endeavors such as art, architecture, and philosophy? 2. What is the goal of science? 3. What do scientists do? BEHAVIOR OF NATURAL SYSTEMS ______ 4. Scientists begin with the assumption that nature a. is undeniable. b. is understandable. c. is nearly impossible to understand. d. cannot be understood. ______ 5. What do scientists expect? a. Different forces in different situations will cause similar results. b. Different forces in similar situations will cause similar results. c. Similar forces in different situations will cause similar results. d. Similar forces in similar situations will cause similar results. ______ 6. Scientists also expect that nature is a. predictable. b. practical. c. impractical. d. unpredictable. 7. What does studying ice cores in Antarctica help scientists understand? Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Holt Earth Science 12 Introduction to Earth Science Name Class Date Directed Reading continued 8. How do scientists increase their understanding of complex natural systems? SCIENTIFIC METHODS ______ 9. What are the organized and logical approaches to scientific research called? a. scientific community b. scientific development c. scientific understanding d. scientific methods ______ 10. Which of the following is true of scientific methods? a. They are guidelines to scientific problem solving. b. They are a set of sequential steps that must always be followed. c. They are not used for scientific problem solving. d. They are of little use to scientists. ______ 11. Scientific methods often begin with a. theories. b. conclusions. c. observations. d. experiments. ______ 12. In scientific methods, observation is the process of obtaining information by a. using one’s imagination. b. using the senses. c. watching television. d. using insight. ______ 13. Observations can often lead to a. answers. b. misconceptions. c. problems. d. questions. ______ 14. What is a hypothesis? a. an idea or explanation that can never be proven b. an idea or explanation that cannot be tested c. an idea or explanation that is based on observations and can be tested d. an idea or explanation that is always proven to be correct Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Holt Earth Science 13 Introduction to Earth Science Name Class Date Directed Reading continued 15. How can hypotheses be developed, and on what are most hypotheses based? 16. After a hypothesis is proposed, how is it tested? 17. What is an experiment? 18. A factor in an experiment that can be changed is called a(n) . 19. The factor in an experiment that is deliberately manipulated is called a(n) . 20. The factor in an experiment that changes as a result of manipulation of the independent variable(s) is called a(n) . 21. What is the purpose of a control group? 22. Most scientific experiments are experiments. 23. At what point are scientists able to reach conclusions about a hypothesis? 24. Under what condition might a hypothesis be accepted as true? 25. Under what condition might a hypothesis be changed or discarded? Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved. Holt Earth Science 14 Introduction to Earth Science Name Class Date Directed Reading continued 26. What do expected and unexpected results lead to? 27. What else might the results of scientific inquiry lead to? SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYSIS ______ 28. An important method of gathering information is a.