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Moon Phases Quiz
Test Questions and Answers
1. What moon phase would be seen from Earth when the moon is at position 1?
- new moon
- first quarter
- third quarter
- full moon
2. What moon phase is this?
- waxing crescent
- waxing gibbous
- waning crescent
- waning gibbous
3. What moon phase would be seen from Earth when the moon is at position 5?
- new moon
- first quarter
- full moon
- third quarter
4. What moon phase is this?
- waxing crescent
- waxing gibbous
- waning crescent
- waning gibbous
5. What phase of the moon would be visible from Earth when the moon is at position 1?
- new moon
- first quarter
- full moon
- third quarter
6. What phase of the moon would be visible when the moon is at position 3?
- new moon
- first quarter
- full moon
- third quarter
7. What moon phase is this?
- new moon
- full moon
- waxing crescent
- waning crescent
8. What moon phase would be visible from Earth when the moon is at position 5?
- first quarter
- third quarter
- new moon
- full moon
9. What moon phase is this?
- first quarter
- third quarter
- waxing crescent
- waning crescent
10. What moon phase is this?
- new moon
- full moon
- waxing crescent
- waning crescent
11. What does “waxing” mean?
- growing
- shrinking
- lighted
- dark
12. What does “waning” mean?
- growing
- shrinking
- lighted
- dark
13. What side of the moon is the light on when the moon is waning?
- left
- right
- front
- back
14. What side of the moon is the light on when the moon is waxing?
- left
- right
- front
- back
15. How much of the moon is always lit?
- can’t tell
- always changes
- half
- 3/4
16. Name the moon phase that would come AFTER this moon.
- waning crescent
- waxing crescent
- waning gibbous
- waxing gibbous
17. What moon phase came right BEFORE this one?
- First Quarter
- Last Quarter
- New Moon
- Full Moon
18. About how long does it take the moon to make one complete cycle around the earth?
- 65 days
- 8 days
- 365 days
- 28 days
19. TRUE or FALSE
We can see the moon during the day.
- True
- False
20. The moon seems to change shape from day to day in a cycle that lasts about a month as it goes through ____.
- revolutions
- phases
- rotations
- eclipses
21. How many moon phases are there?
- 8
- 7
- 4
- 1
22. As the moon’s shape appears to get smaller, we say that the moon is _.
- swelling
- waxing
- waning
- disappearing
23. Phases of the moon in which the moon appears to be getting larger are referred to as ____.
- eclipse
- waning
- new
- waxing
24. Which of the following words describe the phases of the moon?
- quarters, full
- new, crescent, quarter, gibbous, full
- dark, light, half, quarter, blue
- first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter
25. The type of tide that occurs during the full or new moon is called _____. It shows the greatest difference in the low and high tide.
- spring tide
- summer tide
- neap tide
- fall tide
26. High tide and low tide are caused by…
- Only the sun’s gravitational pull
- The Earth’s tilt on its axis
- The gravitation pull of the moon
- The movement of ocean waves
27. If the sun, moon, and Earth are lined up, what does this diagram represent?
- full moon
- new moon
- lunar eclipse
- solar eclipse
28. What happens when there is a spring tide
- no tides
- really high tides
- really low tides
- all the above
29. The Moon ________ around the Earth.
- moves parallel
- rotates
- moves perpendicular
- revolves
30. What moon phase is at position 6?
- waxing crescent
- waxing gibbous
- waning gibbous
- waning crescent
31. What moon phase is at position 4?
- waxing crescent
- waxing gibbous
- waning gibbous
- waning crescent
32. What causes the moon to be illuminated?
- The Sun
- Drake
- The Ocean
33. When we cannot see the moon from Earth, what kind of moon is it?
- Waning Crescent
- Last Quarter
- New Moon
- Old Moon
34. When we can see the whole moon from the Earth what kind of moon is it?
- Full Moon
- Sad moon
- New Moon
- Gibbous
35. When the lighted part of the moon is getting smaller what kind of moon is it?
- Waxing
- Waning
36. How long does it take for the Earth to spin on its axis?
- It doesn’t spin
- 24 hours
- 365 days
- 3651/4 days
37. What phase is this?
- Full Moon
- First Quarter Moon
- Last Quarter Moon
- New Moon
38. What phase is this?
- Full Moon
- New Moon
- Waxing Gibbous Moon
39. How many days does it take to go from New Moon to New Moon?
- 28 days
- 29.5 days
- 27 days
- 365 days
40. The phases of the moon are caused by
- the Earth’s shadow on the moon
- the moon’s shadow on the Earth
- how much of the sunlit side of the moon faces Earth
- lunar and solar eclipses
Moon Phases Questions
























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