Geology Quiz

The study of the makeup of the earth and the processes that change and shape it is called _______________.

Which statement best explains the theory of plate tectonics?

• Earth’s tectonic plates have been slowly moving and interacting for billions of years.

• Earth’s tectonic plates are far apart and are fixed in place.

• Earth’s tectonic plates are far apart but are slowly moving closer to one another.

• Earth’s tectonic plates fit tightly together and are fixed in place.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about myths?

• Myths are told to teach important life lessons.

• Myths help explain unpredictable natural events.

• Myths are told to make children laugh.

• Myths are historically accurate accounts of past events.

Volcano myths often explain volcanic activity by ________________.

• describing how gods and goddesses cause volcano-related occurrences
• describing how plate tectonics work

• describing how humans cause volcano-related occurrences

active, dormant, or extinct?

__________________ a volcano that has not erupted for at least 10,000 years and is not likely to erupt again

active, dormant, or extinct?

__________________ a volcano that has erupted in the past 10,000 years and is likely to erupt again

active, dormant, or extinct?

__________________ a volcano that hasn’t erupted for a long time but could erupt again

Which of the statements best explains the relationship between earthquakes and faults?

• Earthquakes cause faults to form along plate boundaries.

• Faults are cracks in Earth’s crust that form when earthquakes occur.

• Faults and earthquakes are two words to describe the same geological process.

• Earthquakes begin with huge blocks of rock moving along faults.

Which of the following word pairs completes the statements? Seafloor spreading is the process of oceanic plates moving apart very slowly. When the seafloor dips down as one tectonic plate slides under another, a narrow, extremely deep valley called a(n) ________________ is created. When oceanic plates move away from one another and form cracks in Earth’s crust, an underwater mountain called a(n) ________________ is created.

• A. geyser; hotspot

• B. hotspot; geyser

• C. ocean trench; mid-ocean ridge

• D. mid-ocean ridge; ocean trench

Moving apart, colliding, and sliding sideways past one another are three ways in which __________ move.

• continents

• tectonic plates

• faults

• mid-ocean ridges