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Worksheetsgeology final practice questions
Total questions: 150
Worksheet time: 1hrs 15mins
Mineral Definition: A naturally occurring inorganic element or compound having an orderly internal structure and characteristic chemical composition, crystal form, and physical properties. Based on the definition, which of the following substances is considered a mineral?
a crystal ball made of silica glass
an ice cube made in the refrigerator
a natural diamond in a jewelry store
a man-made diamond on a wedding ring
Which Hawaiian island is closest to the source of Hot Spot Volcanism?
Big Island (Hawaii)
Maui
O'ahu
Kauai
Which one of the following is the lowest grade metamorphic facies?
greenschist
zeolite
eclogite
blueschist
Which geological activities could be used to predict a volcanic eruption?
earthquakes, topography, and gas emissions
radiation, earthquakes, surface minerals
radio frequency, climate change, precipitation
radioactive decay of unstable isotopes
Which mineral exists abundantly in foliated metamorphic rocks such as greenschist?
muscovite
clay minerals
olivine
quartz
Which magma is most explosive in volcanic eruption?
basaltic magma along a mid-ocean ridge
andesitic magma in a continental crust
rhyolitic magma in a continental crust
basaltic magma in an island
Based on the Plate Tectonics Theory, the Earth's surface is covered by a dozen big plates. These plates are moving at an averaged speed of approximately _______ a year.
a few centimeters to ten centimeters
a few meters
a few kilometers
none of the answer choices because plates don't move at all
Metamorphic Grade refers to the intensity of metamorphism in the formation of metamorphic rocks. Which one of the following geological locations do you expect to find higher-grade metamorphic rocks?
mid-ocean ridges where water is abundant
continental collisions in plate boundaries where pressure and temperature are high (such as the Himalayas
the east cost of the USA where burial pressure and temperature are sufficient
oceanic crusts in the pacific and atlantic oceans
Foliated metamorphic rocks are classified by the nature of their foliation, crystal size, and segregation of minerals that are all related to the metamorphic grade. Which one of the following orders has an increased intensity of metamorphism?
slate, schist, gneiss, migmatite
slate, migmatite, schist, gneiss
migmatite, schist, gneiss, slate
migmatite, gneiss, schist, slate
We found a piece of stishovite in Meteor Crater, Arizona. Which type of metamorphism is this?
regional metamorphism due to plate convergence
contact metamorphism due to a magma intrusion
metasomatism due to exchange of composition
shoch metamorphism due to a meteorite impact
What's the metamorphic faces?
A set of plate tectonics boundary setting where a metamorphic rock faces
A set (range) of pressure-temperature conditions where certain index minerals exist
Metamorphic minerals with indicative crystal faces
Rocks change forms due to compositions of parent rocks
What type of metamorphism is caused by igneous intrusions?
burial metamorphism
regional metamorphism
contact metamorphism
shock metamorphism
Which of the following metamorphic faces represents the highest pressure typically found in subducting slabs at approximately 40 km in depth?
zeolite
amphibolite
eclogite
grenschist
What type of lavas are most likely to be erupted at the andes?
andesitic
basaltic
rhyolitic
Aa
Carbon has an atomic number of 6 and a number of isotopes (C12, C13, C14). Which statement below is INCORRECT about carbon element?
carbon isotopes have different numbers of neutrons
C12 has 6 neutrons and 6 protons in its nucleus
C14 has 6 neutrons and 14 protons
carbon isotopes have the same number of protons
What elements make up the bulk Earth?
Fe, Si, O, Mg
C, H, Si, O
K, Na, Ca, Si, O
Fe, Ni, S, Si
The structure of atoms is mainly made of the inner nucleus with protons and neutrons, and the outer orbiting electrons. An element is defined by the number of protons, but can have various numbers of neutrons. When an element loses electron(s), it becomes______?
radioactive and unstable
an isotope
a cation
an anion
Which is the type of bond between Na+ and CI- in halite (rock salt with NaCI chemical composition)?
metallic bond
covalent bond
ionic bond
van der Waals bond
The Earth's upper mantle is mainly made of_____?
solid basalt
basaltic magma
ultramafic magma
solid peridotite
Which mineral crystallizes at relatively higher temperatures in an igneous magma chamber?
pyroxene
K-feldspar
Muscovite
Quartz
The periodic table is commonly used to understand the properties of elements and their compounds in earth materials. How are the elements organized in the periodic table?
in order of increasing density
in order of increasing number of electrons
in order of increasing number of neutrons
in order of increasing number of protons
Polymorphism means "many forms". In mineralogy it means that a single chemical composition can exist with two or more different crystal structures. Note that each of the structures is only stable at a certain pressure and temperature conditions. __________ and __________ are examples of polymorphs.
Quartz, sandstone
Quartz, stishovite
Diamond, man-made diamond
Silica glass, quartz
Geologists have used the principle of uniformitarianism to understand geological activities preserved in the rock records. According to the principle of uniformitarianism __________
all of the planets formed from a uniform solar nebula
geologic processes we observe today have operated in the past
sediments are deposited under the action of gravity uniformaly
present geological features can not be used to understand past geological records because of their time differences
The Mohorovicic discontinuity coincides with the ________
boundary.
lithosphere - asthenosphere
oceanic crust - continental crust
oceanic crust - upper mantle
oceanic crust - oceanic crust
The major classification of igneous rocks is dependent on textures and _______
the relative proportion of silicate minerals
the relative proportion of pyroclastic material
the relative proportion of phenocryst minerals
the relative proportion of glassy material
Which of the following minerals is common in both felsic and mafic igneous rocks?
pyroxene
quartz
mica
plagioclase
Seismic studies of the Earth have shown that the planet's interior is made of a few layers with distinct seismic signatures and chemical compositions. The major layers of the planet include (from innermost to the outermost layers) ________
inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
outer core, inner core, mantle, crust
crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
crust, outer core, inner core, mantle
Which of the following minerals is most abundant in felsic igneous rocks such as granite?
calcium-rich feldspar
olivine
pyroxene
K-feldspar
Continental and oceanic crusts cover the Earth's crustal surface. The oceanic crust is _________ than the continental crust.
lighter, thicker
denser, thinner
the same density but thinner
lighter and much thinner
Magnetic mapping of the ocean floor revealed a pattern of symmetric “stripes” with altering polarity, centered along the mid-ocean ridge. These indicate the magnetic reversals of the Earth’s magnetic field when_________
The earths magnetic north and south poles flip
The earths continental drift
The earths magnetic poles wander
The oceanic basalt layers from alternatively because of alternating eruptions
Based on the map, which boundary does the deep earthquakes occur?
Pacific and Anarctic plate boundary
South American and African plate boundary
North American and Eurasian plate boundary
Pacific and eurasian plate boundary
Which type of geological features in Plate Tectonics Theory can be found in Iceland?
large igneous provinces
divergent plate boundary and convergent plate boundary
transform plate bounday and convergent plate boundary
hot spot volcanism and divergent plate boundary
We can classify igneous rocks by their textures and compositions. For example, felsic igneous rocks contain very high amount of K-feldspar and silica. Which of the following rocks has the highest silica content and is a felsic rock?
peridotite
gabbro
basalt
granite
Silicate minerals commonly exist in igneous rocks and can be used to classify the compositions of the igneous rocks. Which of the following silicate minerals is commonly found in mafic igneous rocks?
biotite
orthoclase feldspar
pyroxene
quartz
Which of the following statements is FALSE about igneous rocks?
Melts are always more felsic than their parent rocks
Andesite is a fine-grained, intermediate, and extrusive igneous rock
Basalt is a fine-grained, intermediate, and extrusive rock
Gabbro is a coarse-grained, mafic, and intrusive rock
Melting occurs when a solid (rock) becomes a melt. There are a number of conditions that can cause a rock to melt. Which one of the following conditions does NOT cause a rock to melt in the Earth's deep interior?
addition of volatile such as water into the rock
decompression (a decrease in pressure)
an increase in temperature
an increase in pressure
Which one of the following statement about the Continental Drift proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912 is NOT TRUE?
distribution of certain fossils in both South American and African continents
similarity of rock assemblages and ages across the Atlantic ocean
"jig-saw puzzle" fit of American and African continents
magnetic stripes were recorded along mid-ocean ridges such as the Atlantic mid-ocean ridge
Which of the following mountain ranges is the product of continental-continental convergent plate boundary?
the andes
the iceland island
the himalayas
the japanese islands
What caused Morocco's earthquake? (use the map above to help with your answer)
volcanic eruption
tow oceanic plates moving away from each other
tectonic plates collided against each other
hot spot volcanism
Which statement below about sedimentary processes is NOT correct?
Sedimentary rocks provide a record of ancient tectonic events, fossil record and evolution of life, the history of the past climate changes, among others.
Sedimentary rocks are the most common rock type on Earth's surface
Weaker currents of water can carry both muds and gravels into the deep ocean basin
Sandstone is a siliciclastic sedimentary rock formed from compaction and lithification of sediments
What is the basic building block to all major rock-forming silicates?
(Mg,Fe)O and SiO2 solid solution
SiO2 silica
Si04 tetrahedron
Fe-Mg-Si-O metals
The chemical formula of olivine is typically written as (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. Which statement about olivine is incorrect?
Olivine is a mafic mineral becuase it contains more Mg and Fe and less silica
Olivine is an island silicate
Mg and Fe cations form solid solution series in olivine
Olivine is the most abundant mineral in mafic rocks such as basalt
You find an igneous rock containing large, interlocking crystals of quartz, feldspar, and muscovite. The rock you have found is most likely a granite. Which one of the following statement about granite is FALSE?
granite is a felsic intrusive rock
granite is very abundant in the oceanic crust because it contains lots of quartz and feldspar
granite is more felsic than basalt and peridotite
granite can be found in the Enchanted rock state park in texas
Mantle upwelling in response to the plate pulling-apart at spreading (divergent) ridges results in decompression melting of the upper mantle peridotite. Partial melting of an ultramafic rock at high temperatures results in melting of mafic minerals with a basaltic composition. In which tectonic setting are you most likely to find abundant basaltic volcanism as a result of the mantle upwelling?
Transform boundary (e.g., San Andreas fault)
Subduction zone (e.g., South America/Pacific boundary)
Spreading center (e.g., Mid-Atlantic ridge)
Continent-continent collision (.g., Himalayan mountains)
The volcanism at spreading centers occurs as a result of _______ melting
fluid-induced
decompression
convection
conduction
What pair of igneous rocks has the same chemical composition
granite - andesite
basalt -gabbro
peridotite - andesite
rhyolite - pumice
Volcanic rocks derived from the Yellowstone hot spot get progressively older to the southwest. Based on this information, in which direction is the North American plate moving if we assume the hot spot source is anchored steadily deep in the mantle?
northeast
northwest
southeast
southwest
Burial of sediments results in _______
decreasing pressure and decreasing temperature
decreasing pressure and increasing temperature
increasing pressure and decreasing temperature
increasing pressure and increasing temperature
Which of the following sedimentary rock groups are most abundant?
cherts, and gypsum
sandstones and conglomerates
limestones and marble
siltstones, mudstones, and shales
The Principle of Original Horizontality was proposed by the Danish geological pioneer Nicholas Steno (1638-1686). The Principle is commonly used in studying sedimentary rocks. Which one of the following statements about the Principle is FALSE?
gravity is the main driving force in this principle
based on the principle, young rocks are buried under old rocks
the principle is important to the analysis of folded and tilted strata
this principle states that layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally under the action of gravity
Based on the following figure for San Andreas fault, which type of fault is it?
Deep-slip transform fault
Left-lateral transform fault
Right-lateral transform fault
Strike-slip thrust fault
Which type of faults does the following picture describe? Which type of plate tectonics boundaries do you expect it to occur?
Thrust fault, convergent plate boundaries
Reverse faults, divergent plate boundaries
Transform fault, sliding plate boundaries
Normal fault, divergent plate boundaries
A sample of marble has deformed brittlely during a laboratory experiment. If we wish our next sample of marble to deform plastically rather than brittlely, we should conduct the next experiment at a
Lower temperature, lister confining pressure, add more water
Lower temperature, higher confining pressure, and more water
Higher temperature, higher confining pressure, and less water
Higher temperature, higher confining pressure, and more water
Which one of the following deformation textures/materials commonly forms along a fault deep in the Earth's crust (at approximately more than 20 km depth) such as that along the San Andrea's fault?
Cataclastic textures
Fault breccias
Moraines
Mylonites
What two measurements describe the orientation of a fault plane at a given location?
Axis and plane
Dip and strike
Lateral and thrust
Plunge and trend
In an anticline shown in the following picture ,
The oldest rocks occur in the center and the limbs dip towards the center
The oldest rocks occur in the center and the limbs dip away from the center
The youngest rocks occur in the center and the limbs dip towards the center
The youngest rocks occur in the center and the limbs dip away from the center
Which one of the following is the best statement of the principle of original horizontality?
Sedimentary layers are originally superimposed on top of each other with older rocks at the top
Sedimentary rocks contain original fossils that are horizontally linked to each other.
Sediments are originally deposited as horizontal layers (or as horizontal as possible).
Sedimentary rocks are originally deposited with horizontally-known geological ages.
The principle of superposition states that
A fault is always older than the rocks it cuts
Sediments are deposited as essentially horizontal layers
The present is the key to the past
Undisturbed sedimentary layers get progressively younger from the bottom to top
Which type of geological gaps does the following sedimentary layers display
Angular unconformity
Disconformity
Nonconformity
Anticlinal gap
A rock formed with 1000 atoms of a radioactive parent isotope element and no daughter isotope, but contains only 125 radioactive parent isotope atoms and 875 daughter isotope atoms today. If the half-life for the radioactive element is one million years, how old is the rock?
4 million years old
875,000 years old
3 million years old
2 million years old
Which one of the following radioactive isotopes has the shortest half-life and is good for the radioactive isotope dating of shorter absolute ages in fossils and carbonates?
Carbon-14
Potassium-40
Uranium-235
Uranium-238
The half-life of a radioactive isotope is
half the time it takes all the radioactive isotopes to decay to daughter isotopes
the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms to decay to daughter isotopes.
halftime for the radioactive isotope to stay in rocks over the geological time
The average half-life of a stable isotope
Using the following figure with geological features depicted, what's the sequence of the geological events from youngest to oldest? The darker area at the bottom right represents a magma intrusion event
Deformation (folding), faulting, and magma intrusion
Magma intrusion, deformation (folding), and faulting
Faulting, magma intrusion, and deformation (folding)
Faulting, deformation (folding), and magma intrusion
What does the elastic rebound theory describe the occurrence of an earthquake?
the buildup and release of stress (energy) causing an earthquake
the elastic fluctuations in groundwater rebound prior to an earthquake
the elastic formation of mountain ranges by successive earthquakes
the uplift of the crust in response to elastic rebound
Which one of the following types of seismic waves arrive at a seismic station (about 100 km from the epicenter)first?
P waves
S waves
Surface waves
Surface waves reflected off the interface between air and dust
If an earthquake were to occur in Anchorage, Alaska, how long would it take for the first seismic waves to arrive at a seismograph station in Austin, Texas, approximately 5000 kilometers away?
Approximately 8 seconds
Approximately 8 minutes
Approximately 8 hours
Approximately 8 days
Which of the following correctly lists the three rock types in order of decreasing P-wave velocity (from the rock with a higher velocity to the rock with a lower velocity)?
peridotite, gabbro, granite
gabbro, granite, peridotite
granite, peridotite, gabbro
granite, gabbro, peridotite
Earthquakes that originate at depths greater than 100 km are most likely associated with_______ plate boundaries.
Oceanic-oceanic convergent (such as the subduction zone)
Continental-continental convergent (such as the India-Eurasia collision)
Oceanic-oceanic divergent (such as the Atlantic mid-ocean ridge)
Transform (such as the San Andreas fault)
Which one of the following statements about tsunamis is false?
An early warning system for tsunamis has been developed for the Pacific region such as Japan.
Tsunamis travel faster than P and S waves.
Tsunamis can reach heights in excess of 20 meters when they reach the shore.
Tsunamis can be triggered by megathrust earthquakes and seafloor slumps.
As the distance to an earthquake increases,
the elapsed time before the P waves arrive decreases.
the time between the arrival of the P and S waves increases.
the amount of ground shaking increases.
the time between the arrival of the P and S waves decreases.
Which layer in the earth does not transmit S waves?
The crust
The inner core
The mantle
The outer core
The oceanic crust consists mostly of
Felsic rocks
Mafic rocks
Sedimentary rocks
Ultramafic rocks
Seismic wave speeds increase with
Decreasing density and temperature
Decreasing density and increasing temperature
Increasing density and decreasing temperature
Increasing density and temperature
How does the earth’s magnetic field originate?
Charged particles entering the climate system
Convection in the mantle
Convection in the outer core
Gravitational interaction between the Earth and sun
Which one of the following about magnetic reversals over the geological time is NOT correct?
Earth's magnetic field has changed its polarity thousands of times in the geological time
Based on the record of magnetic strength, we are in the magnetic reversal period
Magnetic reversals typically lasted for approximately 1000 years
Magnetic reversals occurred with a frequency of approximately 100 years
As seismic waves travel through the Earth, they generally
curve upward because seismic wave velocities typically increase with increasing depth
travel in straight lines because seismic waves have constant speeds in the Earth's interior.
curve downward because materials become heavier.
travel along irregular paths because seismic waves bounce off rocks.
The Milankovitch cycles are influenced by Earth's
mass, momentum, and tidal waves on the equatorial plane.
albedo, solar radiation, and ocean temperature in the climate system
surface temperature of the Sun and Earth's distance to the Sun.
orbital eccentricity, precession, and angle of tilt on the rotation axis.
Scientists have studied ice core samples from Antarctica. Which statement below is correct from these studies?
absolute temperatures in the atmosphere can be directly measured from the ice core samples.
CO2 concentration in the past (as far back as 400,000 years) is about 420 ppm
There have been many glacial cycles in the past. The cycles occurred with a period of ~1000 years.
relative CO2 and CH4 concentrations are correlated with temperature change in the climate system.
Compared with the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, ultraviolet radiation has
Longer wavelengths and higher energies.
shorter wavelengths and higher energies.
longer wavelengths and lower energies.
shorter wavelengths and lower energies.
The greenhouse effect is mainly caused by
carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and release of methane that trap heat radiating from the Earth's surface.
heating of homes and businesses, which releases excess heat into the atmosphere.
oceans that trap heat radiating from the Earth's seafloors.
too many plants in the main-made greenhouses.
Which of the following is an example for the positive feedback in the climate system?
An increase in the surface temperature leads to ice cap melting so the surface temperature eventually decreases.
An increase in the atmospheric CO2 leads to plants growing faster so the CO2 concentration drops.
An increase in the atmospheric CO2 leads to surface temperature increase and the global warming.
Incoming and outgoing solar radiation energy reaches a radiative balance.
Chemical analysis of ice cores from Antarctica demonstrates that as temperature increases, concentrations of atmospheric
carbon dioxide and methane both decrease.
carbon dioxide decreases, while methane increases.
carbon dioxide increases, while methane decreases.
carbon dioxide and methane both increase.
Which energy source below can be considered as a renewable energy source?
Fossil fuels
Solar energy
Nuclear energy
Methane hydrate
Petroleum and natural gas are considered _______ energy resources
Non renewable
Renewable
Reusable
Alternative
Which one of the following is the main energy source powering the climate system?
Solar radiation
Heat from earths interior
High-energy charged particles
Volcanic eruptions
What geological setting below is NOT considered as a conventional fossil-fuel reservoir?
An anticline trap with a shale layer on top and a sandstone layer at bottom
A stratigraphic trap with an impermeable shale layer on top and permeable reservoir layers at bottom
Horizontal shale layers with low permeability that require fracking to extract gas
An anticline with a shale layer on top and a salt dome trap located at the core of the anticline
Which of the following statements regarding porosity and permeability in sedimentary rocks is TRUE?
High porosity rocks generally have low permeability.
High porosity rocks generally have high permeability.
Low porosity rocks generally have high permeability.
Porosity and permeability are not correlated physical properties.
Porosity and permeability are not correlated physical properties.
the release of carbon dioxide into the climate system.
the release of sulfur that contributes to acid rain.
toxic coal ash with metal impurities.
all of the above.
The point at which global oil production stops rising and starts to decline is called
the nonconventional oil age.
the reservoir peak.
the Hubbert's peak.
the economic peak.
The Montreal Protocol is responsible for
phasing out CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) production.
creating a policy to reduce energy consumption.
reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars.
mandating the use of natural gas.
Which one of the following has dramatically changed the carbon cycle over the past 150 years?
burial of organic carbon
deposition of carbon-rich sediments
burning of fossil fuels
The Keeling Curve
shows the record of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for the last 80,000 years.
shows the record of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1950.
shows global warming data for the last 80,000 years.
shows that global warming started in 1950.
Molina and Rowland proposed in 1975 that the ozone hole in the stratosphere is caused by?
Seasonal climate change
Burning of coal
The greenhouse effect
reaction with chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
What is carbon sequestration?
CO2 capture from the atmosphere and CO2 injection into the underground reservoir.
Removal of CO2 from the atmosphere and CO2 conversion to O3 to replenish the ozone layer.
Sequence of CO2 production processes to generate electricity.
Addition of CO2 into the ocean to make acidic water.
How thick are the Greenland and Antarctic ice caps?
approximately 100 meters thick
approximately 300 meters thick
approximately 6 kilometers thick
approximately 3 kilometers thick
Which one describes an accumulation of poorly sorted deposits at the end of a glacier?
Icebergs
Sandstone
Loess
Till
Approximately 25% of Earth's land surface is permanently frozen and covered by permafrost. If the permafrost is to be melted due to the global climate change, what could be the major consequence?
Release of oxygen from frozen permafrost
Release of acidic rain
Release of permanent CO2 gas
Release of methane from methane hydrate dissociation
The snow line is
the lowest altitude at which snow will fall in the summer.
the lowest altitude at which snow will fall in the winter.
the altitude above which snow does not completely melt in the summer.
the altitude above which snow does not completely melt in the winter.
Movement of past glaciers can be determined by looking at the a rock flour.
Rock flour
Striations
methane and CO2 trapped in glaciers.
glacial basal slips.
The Earth’s magnetic field shields the surface of the Earth from _______
Solar winds with charged particles
Collision of asteroids with magnetic materials
Volcanic eruptions that release acidic volatiles
Seismic waves with charged particles traveling into the air
You got an A in Physical Geology this semester and decided to travel to Crater of Diamonds, Arkansas to exercise your knowledge and try your luck to find natural diamonds. In your Geology class, you learned that diamond is a high pressure-temperature structure of carbon atoms and that diamonds in the area were brought up to the surface through ancient volcanic eruptions. Which physical phenomenon below best explains the existence of diamonds in Crater of Diamonds?
diamond is metastable at ambient because of its large kinetic energy to transform back to graphite
the hot spring water containing carbonic water in the area protects diamond to be oxidized
the small sizes of diamonds in the area reduce the possibility of chemical weathering processes
diamond in coevistence with surface minerals under the scorching sun becomes more stable
Which one of the following statements about weathering is false?
Rocks of different compositions weather at different rates.
Heat and heavy rainfall increase the rate of chemical weathering.
The presence of moist soil with bacteria slows down weathering of the underlying bedrock.
The longer a rock is exposed at the surface, the more weathered it becomes.
As a rock breaks into smaller pieces, the ratio of surface area to volume weathering process
decreases; increases
increases; increases
remains the same; increases
don't change; don't change
What causes the deep red or brownish color of rock surface commonly found in Arizona, New Mexico, and other regions with limited amount of rain?
clay minerals (such as kaolinite)
feldspar (such as K-feldspar)
iron oxides (goethite and hematite)
red sandstone (such as quartz)
Which one of the following processes describes the general downhill movement of rock, soil, or unconsolidated materials under the influence of gravity?
Debris sliding
Mass wasting
Surface tension
Weathering and erosion
Where do most mass wasting hazards likely occur?
Hilly mountains with loose soil and heavy rainfalls
Large flat-topped landforms with little precipitation
Deltas with meandering rivers and seasonal storms
Hilly mountains with granite bedrocks and little precipitation
Which one of the following slopes of unconsolidated material will be the least stable?
a slope with limited moisture less than the angle of repose
a slope with dry sand grains equal to the angle of repose
a slope with water saturation greater than the angle of repose
a slope with large gravels less than the angle of repose
Relief represents the difference between the highest and lowest elevation in a particular area. A hilly region, like the Colorado Rockies, would have
A high relief
A low relief
Minimal hillslope relief
A high angle of repose
Groundwater represents how much of the world's fresh water?
approximately 1 percent
approximately 4 percent
approximately 29 percent
approximately 75 percent
Which one of the following has the highest permeability in the groundwater reservoir?
Gravel
Sandstone
Shale
Silt
If the amount of discharge in a groundwater aquifer exceeds the amount of recharge, the groundwater table
Will rise
Will drop
Will remain the same
may rise or drop depending on the amount of rainfall in the area.
Karst topography forms in regions underlain by
Basalt
Limestone
Sandstone
Shale
Which one of the following statements about groundwater is true?
At the coast, salty groundwater lies on top of fresh groundwater.
Groundwater moves from areas where the water table is low to areas where the water table is high.
The higher the permeability of an aquifer, the faster the groundwater will flow.
Groundwater moves from low pressure area to high pressure area.
Excessive pumping of a well during a drought will lead to a deepening of the cone of depression. This in turn can cause _______ (select one correct answer)
your well to be efficiently recharged
permeability to increase
Land surface subsidence
groundwater table to rise up
Which one of the following statements about streams is false?
Faster currents can carry larger particles than slower currents.
Braided streams with multiple channels are most common in flat plains.
Smaller particles settle more slowly than larger particles.
Faster current can carry a larger load of suspended sediments.
at a bed in a river, ____ occurs on the outside of the bend and ____ occurs on the inside of the bend
Deposition, deposition
Erosion, deposition
Deposition, erosion
Erosion, erosion
Oxbow lakes are associated with which one of the following types of rivers?
Braided rivers
Dendritic rivers
Meandering rivers
Straight rivers
A student at UT Austin had the chance to attend the Red River Showdown Football Game at Dallas. She decided to go visit the nearby Red River. She knew that the Red River was declared as the state boundary line between Texas and Oklahoma. She soon realized she had to cross into Oklahoma in this particular area just to see the south bank of the Red River. What could be the reason for this?
The Red River is a dendritic river system many branches.
The Red River is a meandering system which changed course after the state line was drawn.
The Red River is a branded stream system with many branches.
The state boundary was redrawn using the latest census survey by the US Census Bureau.
Deltas form at the mouths of big rivers such as the Mississippi River because the river's decreases when they enter large bodies of water, like the Gulf of Mexico.
Viscosity
Capacity
Discharge
Channel
Waller Creek is a stream system running through UT campus. The stream's discharge during a heavy rainfall would ________(Select one that is correct)
increase with decreasing depth of the stream channel
increase with increasing the velocity and depth of the stream
decrease with the increasing width of the stream channel
remain the same because of the river banks
What causes the ocean tides?
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
Gravity attractions between the Earth and the Sun/Moon
Wind-blown ocean currents
Coriolis effect and solar radiation in the climate system
As waves approach a beach, the rows of waves gradually bend to a direction more parallel to the shore. This change in direction is due to ______
The movement of water particles changes direction as the waves approach the shore
The shape of the waves is naturally curved when the waves are generated by wind blowing.
The amplitude of the waves increases as the waves approach the shore.
The speed of the waves slows down as the waves approach the shore.
The spiral pattern of a hurricane such as Hurricane Katrina spins in a Hemisphere. Most rainfall would occur on the of the hurricane.
Clockwise; East
Counterclockwise; West
Counterclockwise; East
Clockwise; West
What happens to ocean waves as they approach seashore?
Both wave velocity and wave period remain the same
Both wave velocity and wave height decrease
Both wave velocity and wavelength decrease
Both wave velocity and wave height increase
The collapse of the New Orleans levee system during the 2005 Katrina hurricane was caused by the
longshore waves and decreased sediment load
storm surge and heavy rainfall
high tides and sneaker waves
High winds and sediment loads
West Texas is relatively dry and barren. The area receives much less precipitation annually than East Texas. Which statement below best explains this?
The continental divide in West Texas area diverts most surface runoff water to the west.
West Texas is located at ~30° N latitude where air coming down is dry. Weather system coming in from the Pacific is also relatively dry because of the rain shadow effect.
The bedrock in West Texas is mainly made of shale layers. Shale is very impermeable to water infiltration.
West Texas is located at ~30° N latitude where air coming down is dry. Rocky Mountains block most of the moisture from the Gulf of Mexico
The Saffir-Simpson intensity scale for hurricanes is based on
the areal extent of the hurricane
the size of the "eye" of the hurricane
the maximum sustained wind speed.
the expected damage and storm surge from the storm.
Hurricanes typically form only during the months of August to October in the Atlantic Ocean of the Northern Hemisphere due to _____
High tides and drift currents combined with high evaporation.
Warm dry air and warm ocean water temperature.
Warm ocean temperature and high humidity in the air
Strong interaction between the North American continent and the Atlantic Ocean.
The cross beds exposed in an eolian sandstone dip to the west. During the deposition of the sand, the prevailing winds were probably from the ______
East
Northeast
Southwest
West
Which of the following best explains why the location of the Sahara desert in Africa exists?
The Sahara desert lies in the rain shadow of coastal mountains.
The Sahara desert is in North Africa and lies near 30°N latitude.
The Sahara desert is in North Africa and lies thousands of kilometers from the ocean.
The sandy soil of the Sahara desert is blown away quickly that vegetation is unable to grow.
Wind-blown dust deposits are called
Deflation
Eolian
Dust storms
Loess
Based on global atmospheric circulation patterns, which latitude should have the most arid climate with little or no rain (dry)?
60 degrees
30 degrees
Equator
Artic regions
Which statement below about the universe is NOT correct?
The universe is expanding.
The Big Bang Theory explains the way the universe began with a hot and dense point that inflated to form the ever-expanding universe.
The universe contains approximately 100 billion galaxies.
The universe was formed at approximately 4.5 billion years ago.
The four inner planets are
mostly cold with dense atmospheres (compared to the outer planets).
all similar to Earth in size, atmospheric composition, and density.
larger and less dense than the outer planets.
small, rocky, and relatively lacking in volatile elements (compared to the outer planets).
The effects of the collision of a large Mars-sized body with the Earth about 4.5 billion years ago is proposed to have caused
the origin of amino acids on Earth
the evolution of life on Earth.
the extinction of dinosaurs.
the formation of the moon.
You have a chance to travel to Greenland and find a piece of rock there. You suspect that it is one of the oldest materials found on Earth that is approximately 4 billion years old. Which method below could help you determine its age?
Radioactive isotope dating using uranium and thorium isotopes in the rock
Radioactive isotope dating using carbon-14 isotopes in the rock
Stable isotope dating using oxygen isotopes in the rock
Fossil records in the rock
The atmosphere of Venus is mainly composed of
Oxygen
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
Sulfuric acid
Oceanic crust provides a record of approximately _____ of Earth’s history
200 million years
4.5 billion years
2 billion years
2 million years
Where are the oldest rocks in North America located?
in the West Texas
in the Canadian Shield
in the Basin and Range Province
in the Rocky Mountains
Cratons are made up of
orogens and platforms.
platforms and shields.
orogens and shields.
basins and domes.
What is an orogeny?
a broad exposure of deformed metamorphic and igneous rocks
a general term for mountain-building processes
a special type of reverse fault
a theory that explains the uplift of continents after large ice sheets melt
Which one of the following is not a common rock type in the Canadian Shield?
Gneisses
Granitic rocks
Highly deformed metamorphosed volcanic rocks
Unreformed sedimentary rocks
Which statement below about Allende carbonaceous meteorite is NOT correct?
It's about 4.56 billion years old.
It belongs to the stony meteorite category
Its composition is similar the stony-iron meteorite.
Amino acid has been found in Allende meteorite.
Stanley Miller's experiments to explore life-building chemical reactions that took place on the primitive Earth were able to generate
DNA
Amino acids
Bacteria
Single-celled microbes
The initial rise of oxygen in the Earth's early atmosphere was linked to
Photoemission
Outgassing of volcanoes
Chemosynthesis
cyanobacteria (stromatolite)
The marked rise in oxygen in the early Earth's atmosphere coincides with the first appearance of ______ in the rock record.
banded iron formation
red sandstone rocks
goethite and hematite (oxidized minerals) on rock surfaces
calcite in limestone
The impact site for the giant Cretaceous-Tertiary asteroid is known as the ______ crater.
K-T
Chicxulub
Meteor (in Arizona)
Early bombardment
After each of the five major extinctions (the Big Five Mass Extinctions) in Earth's history,
the number of families of life generally decreased.
there was an ice age due to the greenhouse effect.
there were evolutionary radiations.
there was a rise of oxygen level in the atmosphere.
You just discovered a star that has an Earth-like planet. The star is twice as hot as our Sun. You conclude that the planet would be able to support life, if it is
twice as close to that star as Earth is to our Sun.
the same distance to that star as Earth is to our Sun.
further from that star than Earth is to our Sun.
CO2 and sulfuric acid rich in its atmosphere such that its surface temperature is about 400 °C.
The distance from a star where a planet can sustain liquid water at the surface is known as the
water evolving zone.
critical zone.
habitable zone.
sustainable zone.
