Earth's Systems: Water and Weather — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, flooding the city when levees broke. Which sphere change directly caused the flooding?
A) Hydrosphere water overwhelmed the geosphere barriers
B) Biosphere plants stopped absorbing rainfall
C) Atmosphere lost all its oxygen
D) Sun stopped warming the ocean water
Levees are geosphere structures designed to hold back hydrosphere water; when hydrosphere overwhelmed them, water flooded the city.
2. California's drought from 2012 to 2016 reduced reservoir levels statewide. What likely happened to crops during this drought?
A) Crops grew faster from the heat
B) Crops failed due to insufficient water
C) Crops needed less sunlight
D) Crops became more nutritious automatically
Drought removes water plants need for photosynthesis and growth, so crops failed across California, raising food prices significantly nationwide.
3. Bangladesh floods displace millions when monsoon rains overwhelm rivers each year. Which factor makes Bangladesh especially vulnerable?
A) Mountainous terrain blocks drainage
B) Cold temperatures freeze the rivers
C) Low elevation near the Bay of Bengal
D) Lack of any rainfall in the region
Bangladesh sits at low elevation near the Bay of Bengal, so monsoon rains and storm surges easily flood across flat, populated delta lands.
4. Antarctic ice sheets are melting faster as global temperatures rise. What is the most likely long-term result?
A) Oceans will become smaller everywhere
B) Polar bears will move to deserts
C) The sun will cool down significantly
D) Sea levels will rise, flooding coasts
Melting ice adds liquid water to oceans, raising global sea levels and threatening coastal cities, islands, and ecosystems with severe flooding.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. If global temperatures rise 2 degrees Fahrenheit, glaciers will likely melt faster.
Warmer air and ocean temperatures accelerate glacier melting, releasing stored freshwater into oceans and contributing to global sea level rise yearly.
2. Hurricane Katrina caused massive flooding because the levees broke under water pressure.
Levees protecting New Orleans failed during Katrina, allowing hydrosphere water to invade geosphere land and inundate populated neighborhoods completely.
3. When monsoon rains exceed normal amounts, low-lying countries experience severe flooding.
Flooding occurs when precipitation exceeds soil and river capacity, especially in flat regions where water cannot drain quickly to oceans.
4. Drought in California reduced water for crops, making food prices rise across the country.
Reduced agricultural output during drought lowered food supply, while demand stayed constant, causing prices to climb across grocery markets nationwide.
5. Rising sea levels from melting Antarctic ice threaten low-lying coastal communities first.
Coastal communities sit near current sea levels, so even small rises flood streets, damage infrastructure, and displace residents from homes permanently.