Rock Cycle and Erosion Worksheet

Which process in the rock cycle contributes to the formation of soil?

• when lava solidifies

• when bedrock is eroded

• when rocks are subjected to heat

• when sediments compact

Which of the following scenarios illustrates the process of erosion on Earth's surface?

• an active volcano starting to erupt

• a waterfall breaking the rocks below it

• a rock turning a red color from oxygen

• the wind picking up dust and carrying it

How has the release of automobile exhaust gases into the atmosphere primarily affected the process of landscape alteration?

• altering the movement of tectonic plates

• modifying global wind circulation patterns

• accelerating the process of chemical weathering

• increasing the concentration of ozone in groundwater

Coastal areas often face erosion due to natural forces. Which of these structures can help protect coastal communities from the impact of strong waves during a storm?

• coral reefs

• sand dunes

• barrier islands

• sea cliffs

______________ occurs when rocks are broken down into smaller parts. ______________ occurs when broken-down rock materials are carried from one place to another by wind, water, or ice.

• Weathering; erosion

• Weathering; deposition

• Deposition; erosion

• Oxidation; weathering

What process is described when earthworms help in breaking down soil and rocks as they move through the ground?

• Erosion

• Deposition

• Chemical weathering

• Mechanical weathering

What evidence from fossils did Wegener use to support his theory of continental drift?

• Fossils of the same species were found on continents now separated by oceans.

• Fossils of marine animals were found on mountain tops.

• Fossils of tropical plants were found in polar regions.

• Fossils of large mammals were found in desert areas.

Lee's curiosity about plate tectonics led him to explore the formation of new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges. Which of the following statements accurately describe the process of sea-floor spreading? Select the four correct statements.

• New oceanic crust is generated as tectonic plates diverge.

• Magma rises to fill the gaps created by diverging plates and solidifies.

• Mid-ocean ridges contribute to the creation of continental crust.

• The origin of sea-floor spreading is located at mid-ocean ridges.

• As distance from the mid-ocean ridges increases, the age of the oceanic crust increases.

Geologists have found numerous Cenozoic fossiliferous rocks in Virginia’s Coastal Plain. These rocks contain a variety of marine fossils such as clams, snails, sand dollars, whale bones, and shark teeth. What does this suggest about the region's geological history?

• Significant fluctuations in sea levels over time.

• A high concentration of calcium carbonate in the ocean.

• Large deposits of organic material in the ocean.

• The area was once a subduction zone that sank.

Roberto's fascination with tectonic plates led him to explore how they interact at their boundaries. What factors influence the interaction between tectonic plates at these boundaries?

• the age of the plates

• the speed at which the plates are moving

• the type of boundary and the movement direction of the plates

• the size of the plates