Test: ACT Earth Sciences Data Representation Questions - ACT MCQ

Examining the curve of the graph between 20 and 60 degrees, we see that, even though there is slight variation, rainfall hovers around 30 inches.  Therefore, we can conclude that these latitudes experiences equal approximate rainfall.  

To find out the difference in amount of rainfall between these two latitudes, locate −23.5 degrees on the x-axis and find the corresponding amount of rainfall on the y-axis (25 inches).  Next, find the latitude of the North Pole (90 degrees) and its corresponding amount of rainfall (10 inches).  Finally, subtract the two to find how much more rain the Tropic of Capricorn receives:  25−10 = 15 in

It is not stated what causes moons to affect the tides on the planet's oceans. The mass of the moon, radius of the moon and distance from Planet H to each moon could impact the affect on the oceans due to the moons. However, it is not stated how each parameter will affect each moon's impact on the tides on Planet H. For example, the mass of the moon could be the largest determining factor or the distance from planet H to each moon could be the largest determining factor on the impact of each moon's affect on the tides. Therefore, the answer cannot be determined from the given information.

Comet A has the largest diameter at 11.3km and the longest orbit time at 82.3 years. This suggests a direct relationship. Comet B has the shortest diameter of 5.2km and the shortest orbit time at 47.8 years. This also suggests a direct relationship and this trend can be seen in the other two comets. The correct answer is the larger the diameter, the longer the orbit time.

It can be seen in the data that the smaller the diameter, the shorter the orbit time of each comet. The smallest comet previously observed was Comet B that had a diameter of 5.2km and an orbit time of 47.8 years. Since the new found comet has a smaller diameter than Comet B, it should be estimated that the new comet has a shorter orbit time than Comet B. In other words, the new comet's orbit time should be less than 47.8 years. The correct answer is 41.3 years.

Region A has the highest average temperature at 102.4 Fahrenheit, while Region C has the lowest average temperature at 0.4 Fahrenheit. Both of these regions have zero fresh water reservoirs. Since Region A has the highest temperature with zero reservoirs and Region C has the lowest temperature with zero reservoirs there is no clear relationship between the temperature and number of fresh water reservoirs in given data. 

There is a trend in the data between the number of fresh water reservoirs and annual rainfall. As the amount of annual rainfall increases, so does the number of fresh water reservoirs. In Region B the annual rainfall was 51.3 inches and has the most reservoirs with 16. Since we are looking at region with 20 reservoirs and there is a direct relationship, the possible amount of annual rainfall must be larger than 51.3 inches. The correct answer is 64.3 inches. Note that Region C has more rainfall than Region A, but both have zero fresh water reservoirs. This can be do to that fact that there may be a minimum value of annual rainfall to maintain a fresh water reservoir.

It is true that the rainfall recorded increases each year. However there is nothing that indicates what is causing this increase. Furthermore it is not noted when the factories were built so it is not possible to determine how the factories affected the rainfall. The answer cannot be determined from the given information. 

Looking at the month with the most rainfall, one will notice in year 1 that July has the most rainfall with 3.8", in year 2 it is also July with 4.1" and so on. Therefore in any year of the given data the month with the most rain is always July. In year 1 the total rainfall for the months was 11.8", in year 2 it was 13.8", in year 3 it was 15.4" and in year 4 it was 18.5" indicating that the rainfall increases each year. 

It can be seen in the data table that in the years 0, 100 and 200 the temperature is well below zero and the precipitation is much less than that recorded in the years 50, 150 and 250. Since the poles flip direction every 100 years it is reasonable to assume that the flipping of the poles causes a decrease in temperature and a reduction in the precipitation.