Ibn Roshd International School – Al Khobar
Academic Year 2024 - 2025
Subject: Science
2nd Semester
Practice Sheets
Name: ___________________________________
Grade: 8
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Section A: Multiple Choice Questions
1. What factor most directly affects the amount of solar energy a region receives?
a) Altitude b) Latitude c) Distance from the sea d) Wind direction
2. Coastal regions tend to have:
a) Hot summers and cold winters b) Cool summers and mild winters
c) Extreme temperature ranges d) Constant temperatures all year
3. Which type of wind is consistent and predictable in a specific direction?
a) Trade winds b) Storm winds c) Prevailing winds d) Monsoon winds
4. Mountains cause rain on the windward side due to:
a) Frontal rainfall b) Cyclonic effect c) Orographic effect d) Convection
5. Which of the following is not a natural cause of climate change?
a) Volcanic eruptions b) Sunspot activity c) Industrial emissions d) Earth’s orbit changes
6. The phenomenon that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere is:
a) Tectonic effect b) Radiation reflection c) Greenhouse effect d) Oceanic drift
7. What causes the seasons on Earth?
a) Shape of Earth's orbit b) Earth's axis tilt
c) Sun’s distance from Earth d) Earth's magnetic field
8. The coldest and driest part of a mountain is:
a) Windward slope b) Base c) Leeward side d) Snowline
9. Which gas is not a greenhouse gas?
a) Oxygen b) Methane c) Water vapour d) Carbon dioxide
10. An ice age is a time when:
a) The planet warms rapidly b) Glaciers cover large parts of the Earth
c) Volcanoes erupt frequently d) Solar radiation increases
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11. What causes meteors to light up in the sky?
a) Reflection of sunlight b) Earth’s shadow
c) Friction with atmosphere d) Electric discharge
12. Which celestial object has a glowing tail when near the Sun?
a) Asteroid b) Comet c) Planet d) Satellite
13. What keeps the Earth in orbit around the Sun?
a) Friction b) Wind force c) Gravity d) Earth’s tilt
14. How long does Earth take to complete one rotation?
a) 30 days b) 24 hours c) 365 days d) 12 hours
15. Which model places the Earth at the center of the universe?
a) Heliocentric b) Geocentric c) Solar d) Elliptical
16. Who proposed the heliocentric model?
a) Ptolemy b) Copernicus c) Newton d) Galileo
17. The term "constellation" refers to:
a) A single star b) A group of planets c) A pattern of stars d) A comet’s tail
18. Why do stars appear to move?
a) Because of the moon’s motion b) Due to Earth’s rotation
c) Due to solar wind d) Due to meteor movement
19. During which season is the Sun highest in the sky?
a) Winter b) Spring c) Autumn d) Summer
20. What causes day and night on Earth?
a) Moon’s orbit b) Sun’s rotation c) Earth’s rotation d) Clouds
21. The modern solar system model includes:
a) Circular orbits only b) Earth at the center
c) Elliptical orbits d) The moon as the largest object
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22. Earth’s orbit around the Sun is:
a) Circular b) Random c) Elliptical d) Parabolic
23. Which object remains fixed in the night sky?
a) Venus b) Mars c) Polaris (North Star) d) Jupiter
24. A year on Earth is approximately:
a) 30 days b) 365.25 days c) 100 days d) 360 days
25. What is the cause of Halley ’s Comet appearing periodically?
a) Solar wind b) Predictable orbit c) Moon phases d) Gravity shifts
26. What does inertia help Earth do?
a) Stay still b) Fall toward the Sun c) Move in orbit d) Stop spinning
27. What causes different constellations to appear each season?
a) Cloud cover b) Earth's orbit c) Moon phases d) Comet interference
28. Which best describes gravity?
a) A pushing force b) A magnetic force c) An attractive force d) A wind current
29. The Sun rises in:
a) West b) North c) East d) South
30. The longest day in the Northern Hemisphere occurs:
a) December 21 b) March 21 c) June 21 d) September 21
31. What is seen when a meteoroid burns up?
a) Asteroid belt b) Satellite c) Meteor d) Comet
32. What is a leap year caused by?
a) Axis tilt b) Extra 0.25 days per year c) Lunar eclipses d) Ocean tides
33. A satellite is:
a) A star cluster b) A body that orbits a planet c) A falling comet d) A meteor shower
34. Which of the following is classified as a dwarf planet?
a) Mars b) Pluto c) Venus d) Europa
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35. Which of the following affects ocean currents?
a) Constellations b) Climate change c) Earthquakes d) Stars
36. What term means equal day and night?
a) Solstice b) Equinox c) Eclipse d) Orbit
37. The Gulf Stream current makes:
a) Africa hotter b) Europe warmer c) Antarctica melt d) Australia rainier
38. What happens during El Niño?
a) Oceans freeze b) Ocean currents weaken and cause warming
c) Planets align d) Glaciers grow
39. Which is true during a winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
a) Longest day b) Shortest day c) Equal day and night d) No sunlight
40. Which planet is the hottest in our solar system due to its thick atmosphere?
a) Mercury b) Venus c) Earth d) Mars
Section B: Short Answer Questions
1. Describe the main characteristics that distinguish the inner planets from the outer planets.
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2. Describe how Earth’s tilt causes seasons.
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3. List three differences between the geocentric, heliocentric models and modern model of solar
system?
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4. What is the greenhouse effect, and why is it important for life on Earth?
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5. How do prevailing winds influence climate in a region?
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6. Describe the role of gravity in keeping planets in orbit.
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7. How does volcanic activity influence global climate?
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8. What is Halley’s Comet, and why is it significant?
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9. Why do stars appear to move across the sky each night?
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10. What is the difference between a meteor and a comet?
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11. How do gravity and inertia work together to keep Earth in orbit?
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12. Define an ice age and mention two of its causes.
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13. How does Earth’s revolution lead to changing visibility of constellations?
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14. Why do planets appear to “wander” across the night sky?
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15. How do humans contribute to climate change?
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16. Explain how prevailing winds and distance from the sea influence climate with examples.
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