Earth Science Midterm Review

What is the theory that explains how the Earth's lithosphere is divided into large, rigid plates that move relative to each other?

• Rock Cycle

• Seafloor Spreading

• Plate Tectonics

• Continental Drift

What are the three main types of rocks involved in the rock cycle?

• Molten, fossilized, and altered rocks

• Granite, limestone, and slate rocks

• Volcanic, sedimentary, and crystalline rocks

• Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks

What is the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by physical or chemical means?

• Dissolution

• Weathering

• Fragmentation

• Erosion

What is the process by which sediments are transported and deposited in new locations?

• Erosion

• Sedimentation

• Deposition

• Weathering

What is the term for the long-term change in the Earth's climate, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and sea level?

• weather shift

• atmospheric alteration

• environmental fluctuation

• climate change

Which sphere of the Earth includes all living organisms and their interactions with the environment?

• hydrosphere

• lithosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

What are the three main types of energy resources commonly used today?

• geothermal energy

• tidal energy

• fossil fuels, renewable energy, nuclear energy

• wind energy

Which sphere of the Earth includes all the water on or near the surface of the planet?

• Biosphere

• Atmosphere

• Lithosphere

• Hydrosphere

Which layer of the Earth's atmosphere is closest to the surface and where weather occurs?

• Stratosphere

• Exosphere

• Troposphere

• Mesosphere

What is the rigid outer layer of the Earth called, consisting of the crust and upper mantle?

• Mantlecore

• Earthshell

• Crustosphere

• Lithosphere