Earth Science Worksheet Questions

You have picked up a rock on a hike. It is made of several other small, rough rocks that are stuck together so well that they cannot be separated with your hands. How do you classify this rock?

• a breccia

• a foliate

• an andesite

• a conglomerate

You drop a mineral and it shatters on the floor. You notice that there are no patterns or smooth places in any of the pieces. Could you say this mineral has cleavage?

• yes

• no

The greatest volcanic activity on Earth occurs under water.

• true

• false

Which type of wave moves the fastest?

• primary wave

• secondary wave

• surface wave

• none of these; all move at about the same speed

Lava with high amounts of granite usually forms which of the following?

• an explosive, gaseous volcano

• a shield volcano

• a nonexplosive, quiet lava flow

• magma high in basalt

An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale is ______ times more energetic than one measuring 5.5.

• 10

• 20

• 30

• 40

What is the focus of an earthquake?

• the point directly above the epicenter

• the point that seismic waves begin

• the shape of the seismic waves

• the direction the waves are going after an earthquake

Volcanoes are caused by what?

• diverging plates

• converging plates

• hot spots

• all of these

What is true of a strike-slip fault?

• transforms one piece of land to become another piece of land

• caused by the earth rifting or pulling apart

• occurs when there is little upward or downward motion; mostly side-to-side motion

• results in one piece of land being pushed over another piece of land

What process changes pieces of rocks into sedimentary rock?

• compacting and cementing

• pressure and heat

• melting