crit think wksht

Copyright by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.

Holt Earth Science 3 Weather

Name Class Date

Skills Worksheet

Critical Thinking

ANALOGIES

In the space provided, write the letter of the pair of terms or phrases that best complete the analogy shown. An analogy is a relationship between two pairs of words or phrases written as a:b::c:d. The symbol : is read is to, and the symbol :: is read as.

______ 1. continental polar air mass : continental tropical air mass :: a. warm : cool b. north : south c. North Atlantic : North

Pacific d. cool : warm

______ 2. thermometer : barometer :: a. temperature : air pressure b. weight : scale c. radar : radiosonde d. upper atmosphere : lower

atmosphere

______ 3. midlatitude cyclone : anticyclone :: a. hurricane : thunderstorm b. counterclockwise :

clockwise c. clockwise :

counterclockwise d. high : low

______ 4. tornado : hurricane :: a. violent : mild b. thunder : lightning c. land : water d. downpour : drizzle

______ 5. lightning : thunder :: a. red : blue b. light : sound c. quiet : loud d. light : dark

______ 6. cloud seeding : rain :: a. freezing nuclei :

hurricanes b. planting : crops c. dry : wet d. storm : thunder

______ 7. dew point : humidity :: a. anemometer : wind

direction b. mph : wind direction c. temperature : moisture

of air d. ruler : inch

______ 8. maritime polar air mass : continental polar air mass :: a. cold : frigid b. land : ocean c. warm front : occluded

front d. Northern Hemisphere :

Southern Hemisphere

______ 9. cold front : warm front :: a. high pressure : cloudy b. short-lived storms :

wide-spread rain c. all : some d. radar : sound waves

______ 10. warm air : cold air:: a. high pressure : low

pressure b. wet : dry c. windy : calm d. low pressure : high

pressure



Name Class Date

Critical Thinking continued

INTERPRETING OBSERVATIONS

Read the following passage, and answer the questions below.

Lightning is fascinating. It can be awe-inspiring. It can also be deadly. Lightning is a spear of electricity blazing from cloud to ground at speeds up to 160,900 kilometers per second. Its tem-perature can peak at at 30,538 C. Although the peak temperature lasts only a few millionths of a second, the intensity is enough to start a fire, scorch the ground, or kill a person.

On average, bolts of lightning strike somewhere on Earth as often as one hundred times per second. Of course, weather conditions play a role in where the majority of lightning activ-ity takes place. For example, Florida, with its high humidity and sun-warmed ground, is a prime target for lightning. In 1991, some parts of the state reported at least 13 cloud-to-ground strikes per square kilometer.

As might be expected, lightning is often associated with violent storms. Thunderstorms with lightning are a common occurrence in most of the Midwest. Lightning activity also appears to increase or decrease just before another violent type of weathera tornado.

11. What makes lightning so potentially dangerous?

12. What types of weather conditions promote lightning strikes?

13. What, do you think, might be the connection between lightning and tornadoes? Explain your reasoning.



Name Class Date


AGREE OR DISAGREE

Agree or disagree with the following statements, and support your answers.

14. Weather control is beyond the capabilities of present-day science and technology.

15. Severe weather conditions are the result of warm summer or tropical climates.

16. Global weather monitoring can foster cooperation between countries that might not otherwise communicate.

17. The accuracy of weather forecasting increases as the amount of measurable weather data increases.



Name Class Date


REFINING CONCEPTS

The statements below challenge you to refine your understanding of concepts cov-ered in the chapter. Think carefully, and answer the questions that follow.

18. If the weather in your area is warm and dry, what type of air mass might be responsible? Where might it have originated?

19. You hear a weather report that an anticyclone is forming over your area. Is this news a cause for concern or not? Explain your answer.

20. When one of many hurricanes of 2004 hits the coast of Florida, the residents are prepared. Suddenly, the fierce winds and driving rains stop. Is it safe for people to leave shelter and begin the cleanup process? Explain.



ANSWER KEY

Answer Key

Concept Review

1. E 11. B 2. A 12. B 3. I 13. C 4. G 14. A 5. H 15. D 6. F 16. A 7. B 17. B 8. D 18. C 9. C 19. A 10. J 20. D

Critical Thinking

1. D 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. B 6. B 7. C 8. A 9. B 10. D 11. The heat and speed of lightning and

its ability to start fires and kill make it dangerous.

12. Humid air and warm ground support a high level of lightning activity.

13. Answers may vary.Sample answer: Tornadoes are formed by thunder-storms, which also produce lightning. Thus it seems logical for them to be connected.

14. Answers may vary. Sample answer: Disagree. Although we are unable to control many weather events, cloud seeding to promote rain and to change hail to rain have been successful.

15. Answers may vary. Sample answer: Disagree. Although severe weather is common is warm weather, it also appears in cold climates in the form of snowstorms and blizzards.

16. Answers may vary. Sample answer: Agree. Weather monitoring offers a neutral base for discussion and an

opportunity for countries to offer infor-mation and assistance to each other.

17. Answers may vary. Sample answer: Disagree. The data is only part of weather forecasting. A meteorologist must be able to interpret and compare data in order to prepare an accurate forecast.

18. Answers may vary. Sample answer: The air mass is likely a Continental tropical air mass originating from the southern continental United States or Mexico.

19. Answers may vary. Sample answer: In the short term, the anticyclone would not be a cause for concern, because it brings dry weather, rather than storms. This is because its sinking air does not cause clouds to form. In the longer term, if it stagnates over the region, the anticyclone might have bad effects such as air pollution or even droughts.

20. Answers may vary. Sample answer: No. When the atmosphere suddenly turns calm during a violent hurricane, it is likely the eye of the hurricane is pass-ing over. As the hurricane continues on its course, the eye will move away with it, and there may be a second wave of violent weather.

Directed ReadingSECTION: AIR MASSES 1. air pressure 2. equator 3. low pressure 4. high pressure 5. wind patterns 6. C 7. A 8. When air pressure differences are

small, air remains relatively stationary. It then takes on the characteristic tem-perature and humidity of the region.

9. An air mass is a large body of air throughout which temperature and moisture content are similar.

10. They are very cold and dry. 11. They are moist and warm. 12. B 13. A

crit think wksht

Documents