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Universe and global climate — Short response
Conceptual Understanding
Explain core models, definitions and relationships before using them in context.
In two or three sentences, distinguish weather from climate. Include the kind of timescale or evidence scientists use for each idea.
2 marks
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Explain why greenhouse gases can affect Earth's temperature even though they make up only a small fraction of the atmosphere.
2 marks
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Describe the difference between evidence from one observation and converging evidence from several independent observations in science.
2 marks
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In two or three sentences, explain what albedo means and why bright ice and dark ocean surfaces affect Earth's energy balance differently.
2 marks
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In 2–3 sentences, explain what astronomers mean by redshift in light from distant galaxies and what that pattern supports about the large-scale universe.
2 marks
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In 2 sentences, describe what the cosmic microwave background is and one main idea about the early universe that it supports.
2 marks
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Applied Reasoning
Use the same ideas to reason through scenarios, evidence, claims or investigations.
The phrase “Big Bang” sounds like a huge explosion into empty space from one spot. In 2–3 sentences, explain why that picture is a weak match for the usual scientific model of cosmic expansion.
2 marks
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Why is the Big Bang model on stronger ground when redshift, the cosmic microwave background, and light-element abundances all fit the same broad story, rather than when only one of those is considered? Answer in 2–3 sentences.
2 marks
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Name two of Earth’s four climate-related spheres: geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere. Describe one energy transfer between those two and state one climate-relevant effect of that transfer.
2 marks
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Earth’s surface receives incoming solar radiation and eventually sends energy back to space, mainly as infrared. In 2–3 sentences, explain how adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere can change global temperature even though they are only a small fraction of the air by molecule count.
3 marks
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A commentator says, “It snowed heavily last winter where I live, so global warming can’t be happening.” In 2–4 sentences, explain the flaw in that argument using the ideas of weather versus climate and what scientists rely on for long-term change.
3 marks
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Explain the ice–albedo positive feedback in three clear steps: start with bright ice, then what happens if ice area decreases, then how that affects warming.
2 marks
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