Earth Science SOL Practice 1

Plant material that accumulates and hardens on the floor of a swamp is known as peat. If a layer of sediments accumulates on top of the peat, its weight, after thousands of years, can compress the peat to form coal. Which of the following types of coal probably formed from the greatest pressure?

• Anthracite (the hardest coal)
• Bituminous coal (softer than anthracite)
• Subbituminous coal (softer than bituminous)
• Lignite (the softest coal)

Scientists use drill core samples to study the underlying rock structure. These two core samples were obtained from the ocean floor from locations separated by 10 km. Which layer in core sample one does not have a matching layer in core sample two?

• Basalt
• Clay
• Limestone
• Sandstone

Geologists think that parts of the Appalachian Mountains formed originally from sediments accumulating in shallow swamps. The weight of the sediments caused the area beneath them to sink, allowing more sediments to accumulate. The process continued until many layers had formed. Then tectonic processes folded the layered sediments into a range of mountains. What evidence for this theory can be found in the current structure of these mountains?

• Some rocks making up these mountains show
  signs of volcanism.
• The form of these mountains is very eroded.
• The mountains exhibit folded layers of rocks
  containing fossils from shallow water.
• The mountain range consists of parallel ridges
  of different ages.

During droughts, lack of rain can lead to wells drying up. This is because the drought has lowered the -

• water table
• water trough
• zone of aeration
• zone of porosity

Which layer of the sun is the most dense?

• Chromosphere
• Photosphere
• Core
• Corona

When the Earth is at its greatest distance from the sun, its Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, as shown in the drawing. What season takes place in the Southern Hemisphere at this time?

• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

Periodically, there are spectacular meteor showers on Earth. These showers usually occur because the Earth's orbit passes through the remains of -

• a star
• a comet
• the rings of Saturn
• a solar flare

Which planet rotates the fastest?

• Mercury
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn

During which portion of the Earth's revolution around the sun is the Northern Hemisphere tilted toward the sun?

• Vernal Equinox
• Summer Solstice
• Autumnal Equinox
• Winter Solstice

The canyon shown in the picture was most likely formed by -

• a volcano
• high winds
• earthquakes
• running water