NEW
Font size
S
M
L
XL
WorksheetsMidterm Review
Total questions: 75
Worksheet time: 51mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which statement best supports the theory of continental drift?
a)
Basaltic rock is found to be progressively younger at increasing distances from the mid-ocean ridge.
b)
Marine fossils are often found in deep-well drill cores.
c)
The present continents appear to fit together as pieces of a larger landmass.
d)
Areas of shallow-water seas tend to accumulate sediment, which gradual sinks.
2.
The edges of most lithospheric plates are characterized by
a)
reversed magnetic orientation
b)
unusually rapid radioactive decay
c)
frequent volcanic activity
d)
low P-wave and high S-wave velocity
3.
Which statement correctly compares seismic P-waves with seismic S-waves?
a)
P-waves travel faster than S-waves and pass through Earth’s liquid zones.
b)
P-waves travel faster than S-waves and do not pass through Earth’s liquid zones.
c)
P-waves travel slower than S-waves and pass through Earth’s liquid zones.
d)
P-waves travel slower than S-waves and do not pass through Earth’s liquid zones.
4.
The movement of tectonic plates is inferred by many scientists to be driven by
a)
tidal motions in the hydrosphere
b)
density differences in the troposphere
c)
convection currents in the asthenosphere
d)
solidification in the lithosphere
5.
A seismic P-wave is recorded at 2:25 p.m. at a seismic station located 7600 kilometers from the epicenter of an earthquake. At what time did the earthquake occur?
a)
2:05 p.m.
b)
2:11 p.m.
c)
2:14 p.m.
d)
2:36 p.m.
6.
How long after receiving the first P-wave from an earthquake centered 4000 kilometers away does a seismic station receive its first S-wave from the same earthquake?
a)
1 minute
b)
5 minutes 35 seconds
c)
7 minutes
d)
12 minutes 40 seconds
7.
Which evidence supports the theory of seafloor spreading?
a)
The rocks of the ocean floor and the continents have similar origins.
b)
In the ocean floor, rocks near the mid-ocean ridge are cooler than rocks near the continents.
c)
The pattern of magnetic orientation of rocks is similar on both sides of the mid-ocean ridge.
d)
The density of oceanic crust is greater than the density of continental crust.
8.
According to the graph of P-wave and S-wave Travel Times in the reference information, which generalization about earthquake S-waves and P-waves is correct?
a)
When the P-waves and S-waves are near the epicenter, they both travel at the same speed.
b)
The velocity of P-waves and S-waves is constant, regardless of the distance traveled.
c)
P-waves always travel faster than S-waves, regardless of the distance traveled.
d)
S-waves always travel about twice as fast a P-waves.
9.
In Earth’s interior, which zone has a temperature higher than its melting point?
a)
crust
b)
stiffer mantle
c)
inner core
d)
outer core
10.
Hot springs on the ocean floor near the mid-ocean ridges provide evidence that
a)
convection currents exist in the asthenosphere
b)
meteor craters are found beneath the oceans
c)
climate change has melted huge glaciers
d)
marine fossils have been uplifted to high elevations
11.
Beneath which surface location is Earth’s crust the thinnest?
a)
East Pacific Ridge
b)
the center of South America
c)
Old Forge, New York
d)
San Andreas Fault
12.
According to the reference map of Tectonic Plates, the border between the South American plate and the African plate is best described as
a)
converging and located at an oceanic ridge
b)
converging and located at an oceanic trench
c)
diverging and located at an oceanic ridge
d)
diverging and located at an oceanic trench
13.
In 8 minutes, an earthquake P-wave travels a total distance of
a)
2,100 km
b)
4,700 km
c)
6,600 km
d)
11,300 km
14.
According to the graph of Earthquake P-wave and S-wave Travel Time in the reference information, what is the approximate total distance traveled by an earthquake’s P-wave in its first 9 minutes?
a)
2,600 km
b)
5,600 km
c)
7,600 km
d)
12,100 km
15.
A seismograph records the arrival of a P-wave at 11:13 a.m. If the earthquake occurred 4,000 kilometers from the recording station, when did the earthquake occur?
a)
11:06a.m.
b)
11:11 a.m.
c)
11:13 a.m.
d)
11:20 a.m.
16.
Crustal formation, which may cause the widening of an ocean, is most likely occurring at the boundary between the
a)
African Plate and the Eurasian Plate
b)
Pacific Plate and the Philippine Plate
c)
Indian-Australian Plate and the Antarctic Plate
d)
South American Plate and the North American Plate
17.
Earth’s magnetic field has reversed itself several times during the past. This pattern of magnetic reversal is best preserved in
a)
metamorphic bedrock in mountain ranges
b)
bedrock with fossils containing radioactive carbon-14
c)
layers of sedimentary bedrock of the Grand Canyon
d)
igneous bedrock of the oceanic crust
18.
The boundary between which two plates is similar to the boundary located between the Eurasian and Indian-Australian Plates?
a)
Indian-Australian and the Antarctic plates
b)
Pacific and Antarctic plates
c)
North American and Eurasian plates
d)
Pacific and Indian-Australian plates
19.
The closest hot spot to the equator is the:
a)
Galapagos hot spot
b)
St. Helena hot spot
c)
Hawaii hot spot
d)
Iceland hot spot
20.
Which coastal area is most likely to experience a severe earthquake?
a)
east coast of North America
b)
east coast of Australia
c)
west coast of Africa
d)
west coast of South America
21.
Which two Earth layers are separated by the Moho boundary?
a)
rigid mantle and plastic mantle
b)
outer core and stiffer mantle
c)
stiffer mantle and asthenosphere
d)
crust and rigid mantle
22.
What caused the interior of Earth to separate into layers?
a)
a decrease in the rate of rotation of Earth
b)
the gravitational pull on materials of varying densities
c)
variations in heating by the Sun due to Earth’s tilt
d)
collisions with meteors and comets
23.
When two tectonic plates collide, oceanic crust usually subducts beneath continental crust because oceanic crust is primarily composed of igneous rock that has
a)
low density and is mafic
b)
low density and is felsic
c)
high density and is mafic
d)
high density and is felsic
24.
Theories about the composition of Earth’s core are supported by meteorites that are composed primarily of
a)
oxygen and silicon
b)
aluminum and iron
c)
aluminum and oxygen
d)
iron and nickel
25.
What is the approximate density of a mineral with a mass of 262.2 grams that displaces 46 cubic centimeters of water?
a)
1.8 g/cm3
b)
5.7 g/cm3
c)
6.1 g/cm3
d)
12.2 g/cm3
26.
Under the same conditions of temperature and pressure, three different samples of the same uniform substance will have the same
a)
shape
b)
density
c)
mass
d)
volume
27.
Which two elements make up the greatest percentages by mass in Earth’s crust?
a)
oxygen and potassium
b)
oxygen and silicon
c)
aluminum and potassium
d)
aluminum and silicon
28.
Which event is inferred to have contributed to the significant global climate change that may have caused the mass extinctions of organisms at the end of the Late Cretaceous Epoch?
a)
the Big Bang
b)
an asteroid impact
c)
formation of Pangaea
d)
shifting of Earth’s magnetic poles
29.
A fossil formed 11,400 years ago. Which percentage of the original amount of carbon-14 remains in the fossil?
a)
100%
b)
50%
c)
25%
d)
12.5%
30.
Which geologic event occurred in New York State at approximately the same time as the extinction of dinosaurs and ammonoids?
a)
formation of the Queenston Delta
b)
deposition of the sands and clays underlying Long Island
c)
initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean
d)
advance and retreat of the last continental ice sheet
31.
Fossils of which type of animal would most likely be found in the surface bedrock of the Catskills?
a)
reptiles
b)
brachiopods
c)
mammals
d)
birds
32.
The accumulation of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen in Earth’s early atmosphere approximately 4 billion years ago resulted mainly from
a)
outgassing from Earth's interior
b)
photosynthesis by the earliest land plants
c)
convection currents in Earth’s outer core
d)
radioactive decay
33.
The major source of oxygen in Earth’s Early Proterozoic atmosphere is inferred to have been produced by
a)
oceanic cyanobacteria
b)
outgassing from volcanic eruptions
c)
radioactive decay in Earth’s inner core
d)
evaporation of ocean water
34.
Valcouroceras is a New York State index fossil. Which mountain-building event occurred in New York State during the time when Valcouroceras was living in oceans covering parts of New York State?
a)
Alleghenian orogeny
b)
Acadian orogeny
c)
Taconian orogeny
d)
Grenville orogeny
35.
Due to radioactive decay, an igneous rock sample now contains one-fourth of the amount of potassium-40 that it originally contained. The age, in years, of this rock sample is approximately
a)
0.7 × 109 y
b)
1.3 × 109 y
c)
2.6 × 109 y
d)
5.2 × 109 y
36.
Organisms that later became good index fossils lived over a
a)
wide geographic area and existed for a long geologic time
b)
wide geographic area and existed for a short geologic time
c)
limited geographic area and existed for a long geologic time
d)
limited geographic area and existed for a short geologic time
37.
The natural sandblasting (abrasion) of surface bedrock in a desert region is the result of
a)
wind erosion
b)
wave erosion
c)
mass movement
d)
chemical precipitation
38.
A river’s velocity slows from 100 to 50 centimeters per second at a point in its channel. Which statement best describes the transport and deposition of particles at this point?
a)
Clay, silt, sand, pebbles, and smaller cobbles stay in transport; some cobbles are deposited.
b)
Clay, silt, sand, and smaller pebbles stay in transport; some pebbles are deposited.
c)
Clay, silt, and smaller sand stay in transport; some sand is deposited
d)
Clay and smaller silt stay in transport; some silt is deposited.
39.
A group hiking in the Catskill region of New York State finds several large boulders composed of metamorphic rock. These boulders most likely resulted from the weathering of bedrock formed in the
a)
Catskills, and were transported to their present location by mass movement
b)
Catskills, and were transported to their present location by glaciers
c)
Adirondack Mountains, and were transported to their present location by mass movement
d)
Adirondack Mountains, and were transported to their present location by glaciers
40.
Which rock weathers most rapidly when exposed to acid rain?
a)
quartzite
b)
granite
c)
basalt
d)
limestone
41.
On Earth, the predominate agent of erosion is
a)
wave action
b)
moving ice
c)
running water
d)
moving air
42.
The formation of soil is primarily the result of
a)
stream erosion and mass movement
b)
stream deposition and runoff
c)
precipitation and wind erosion
d)
weathering and biological activity
43.
What occurs when a rock is crushed into a pile of fragments?
a)
The total surface area decreases and chemical composition changes.
b)
The total surface area decreases and chemical composition remains the same.
c)
The total surface area increases and chemical composition changes.
d)
The total surface area increases and chemical composition remains the same.
44.
Which change in the climate of a location would most likely cause the greatest increase in chemical weathering of local bedrock?
a)
lower temperature in winter
b)
lower humidity in winter
c)
higher atmospheric pressure in summer
d)
greater precipitation in summer
45.
Which geologic feature resulted from the collision of North America and Africa, as parts of Pangaea joined together in the Pennsylvanian Period?
a)
Allegheny Plateau
b)
Acadian Mountains
c)
Taconic Mountains
d)
Grenville Mountains
46.
Which rock would be the best source of the mineral garnet?
a)
basalt
b)
limestone
c)
schist
d)
slate
47.
Which rock was subjected to intense heat and pressure but did not solidify from magma?
a)
sandstone
b)
schist
c)
gabbro
d)
rhyolite
48.
Most of the sand that makes up the sandstone found in New York State was originally deposited in which type of layers?
a)
tilted
b)
horizontal
c)
folded
d)
faulted
49.
One difference between a breccia rock and a conglomerate rock is that the particles in a breccia rock are
a)
more aligned
b)
more angular
c)
harder
d)
land derived
50.
The minerals talc, muscovite mica, quartz, and olivine are similar because they
a)
have the same hardness
b)
are the same color
c)
contain silicon and oxygen
d)
break along cleavage planes
51.
Which types of surface bedrock are most likely found near Jamestown, New York?
a)
slate and marble
b)
quartzite and granite
c)
shale and sandstone
d)
schist and gneiss
52.
Which mineral is commonly mined as a source of the element lead (Pb)?
a)
galena
b)
quartz
c)
magnetite
d)
gypsum
53.
Which minerals contain the two most abundant elements by mass in Earth’s crust?
a)
fluorite and calcite
b)
magnetite and pyrite
c)
amphibole and quartz
d)
galena and sulfur
54.
Earth has sedimentary bedrock of marine origin that is four billion years old. Which inference can be made from this information?
a)
Earth had oceans four billion years ago.
b)
Sedimentary rocks formed from magma when Earth cooled four billion years ago.
c)
Most sedimentary rocks are at least four billion years old.
d)
Life existed on Earth four billion years ago.
55.
Obsidian’s glassy texture indicates that it formed
a)
slowly, deep below Earth’s surface
b)
slowly, on Earth’s surface
c)
quickly, deep below Earth’s surface
d)
quickly, on Earth’s surface
56.
A nonvesicular rock is made entirely of green 2-millimeter-diameter crystals that have a hardness of 6.5 and show fracture, but not cleavage. The rock is most likely
a)
shale
b)
phyllite
c)
dunite
d)
schist
57.
The presence of coal in Antarctica indicates that
a)
forests can grow on continental glaciers
b)
coal can form in cold climates
c)
Antarctica’s climate was once warmer
d)
Antarctica currently has areas of tropical climate
58.
Which group of organisms survived mass
extinctions that marked the ends of both the
Paleozoic Era and the Mesozoic Era?
extinctions that marked the ends of both the
Paleozoic Era and the Mesozoic Era?
a)
ammonoids
b)
graptolites
c)
eurypterids
d)
gastropods
59.
Examination of the fossil record shows a general
tendency of organisms to become increasingly
more complex through geologic time. This finding
supports the theory that living things have
undergone
tendency of organisms to become increasingly
more complex through geologic time. This finding
supports the theory that living things have
undergone
a)
metamorphism
b)
evolution
c)
radioactive decay
d)
mass extinctions
60.
The fossil shown below was found int he surface bedrock in New York State. In which landscape region was this fossil most likely found?
a)
Adirondack Mountains
b)
Hudson Highlands
c)
Erie-Ontario Lowlands
d)
Newark Lowlands
61.
The index fossils shown below are the remains of organisms that lived during which geologic era?
a)
Precambrian
b)
Cenozoic
c)
Paleozoic
d)
Mesozoic
62.
According to the Earth Science Reference Tables, studies of the rock record suggest that...
a)
the period during which humans have existed is very brief compared to geologic time
b)
evidence of the existence of humans is present over much of the geologic past
c)
humans first appeared at the time of the intrusion of the Palisades sill
d)
the earliest humans lived at the same time as the dinosaurs
63.
In which way are index fossils and volcanic ash deposits similar?
a)
Both can usually be dated with radiocarbon
b)
Both normally occur in nonsedimentary rocks
c)
Both strongly resist chemical weathering
d)
Both often serve as geologic time markers
64.
Geologists have subdivided geologic time into periods that are based on...
a)
carbon dating
b)
rock types
c)
fossil evidence
d)
landscape regions
65.
Trilobite fossils were recently discovered in Himalayan Mountain bedrock. During which geologic period could these organisms have lived?
a)
Tertiary
b)
Triassic
c)
Cretaceous
d)
Cambrian
66.
A well was drilled in Syracuse, New York. The first bedrock layer reached by the drill formed during which period?
a)
Silurian
b)
Devonian
c)
Cambrian
d)
Ordovician
67.
Which sequence of geologic events is in the correct order, from oldest to most recent?
a)
oceanic oxygen begins to enter the atmosphere → earliest stromatolites → initial opening of the Iapetus Ocean → dome-like uplift of the Adirondack region begins
b)
dome-like uplift of the Adirondack region begins → initial opening of the Iapetus Ocean → oceanic oxygen begins to enter the atmosphere → earliest stromatolites
c)
initial opening of the Iapetus Ocean → earliest stromatolites → oceanic oxygen begins to enter the atmosphere → dome-like uplift of the Adirondack region begins
d)
earliest stromatolites → oceanic oxygen begins to enter the atmosphere → initial opening of the Iapetus Ocean → dome-like uplift of the Adirondack region begins
68.
During which geologic epoch do scientists infer that the earliest grasses first appeared on Earth?
a)
Holocene
b)
Pleistocene
c)
Oligocene
d)
Eocene
69.
When wind and running water gradually decrease in velocity, the transported sediments are deposited
a)
all at once, and are unsorted
b)
all at once, and are sorted by size and density
c)
over a period of time, and are unsorted
d)
over a period of time, and are sorted by size and density
70.
Trees growing on the edge of a river’s meander are most likely to fall into the river due to
a)
deposition on the inside of the meander
b)
deposition on the outside of the meander
c)
erosion on the inside of the meander
d)
erosion on the outside of the meander
71.
The large waterfall at Niagara Falls, New York, was originally located at the Niagara Escarpment. Which term best describes an escarpment?
a)
U-shaped valley
b)
V-shaped valley
c)
cliff
d)
drumlin
72.
The narrow, sandy, barrier islands in the ocean along the south coast of Long Island were deposited by
a)
wind
b)
streams
c)
glacial ice
d)
wave action
73.
A river’s current carries sediments into the ocean. Which sediment size will most likely be deposited in deeper water farthest from the shore?
a)
pebble
b)
sand
c)
silt
d)
clay
74.
Which agent of erosion most likely formed the drumlins and finger lakes in New York State?
a)
running water
b)
moving ice
c)
wave action
d)
mass movement
75.
A river’s velocity slows from 100 to 50 centimeters per second at a point in its channel. Which statement best describes the transport and deposition of particles at this point?
a)
Clay, silt, sand, pebbles, and smaller cobbles stay in transport; some cobbles are deposited.
b)
Clay, silt, sand, and smaller pebbles stay in transport; some pebbles are deposited.
c)
Clay, silt, and smaller sand stay in transport; some sand is deposited
d)
Clay and smaller silt stay in transport; some silt is deposited.
Reset
