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WorksheetsGeo Final Practice Test Questions
Total questions: 154
Worksheet time: 1hrs 17mins
the study of geology encompasses
a. the study of fashion trends
b. the study of earth
c. the study of materials in space, like those found on other planets
d. the study of rocks
e. B, C, D only
of the following, which is not a topic that relates to geology
the scientific method
the moon
climate change and pollution
all of the choices relate to geology
true or false: with the right evidence, any scientifc theory or hypothesis can be disproven.
true
false
good observations are ones that
are quantitative rather than qualitative in nature
are backed up by multiple measurements or another pair of eyes
are necessarily made using a computer or other digital device
are made by a trained scientis. Observations made by amateurs arent as good
which of the following would be data as opposed to a hypothesis
dinosaurs became extinct because
b. our solar system was formed from a nebular cloud
c. global warming is only the result of human activity
d. none of the choises
which of the following is an observation rather than a hypothesis?
a. the low topography southwest of Yellowstone formed when north America moved over a hot spot
b. volcanoes in Yellowstone overlie an area of hotter than average mantle due to a rising mantle plume
c. there is an area of low topography southwest of Yellowstone national park
d. recent volcanism in Yellowstone is related to the process that caused the low topography
a scientific hypothesis
a. can be proven true
b. is just a guess, based on someones gut instincts
c. is based on data and rigorous testing
d. is only called 'scientific' because it was someone with a degree in a scientific field who came up with the idea
to be considered scientific, a hypothesis must be:
a. testable
b. based on data
c. there are no requirements for a hypothesis to be considered scientific. Any idea works as a hypothesis
d. A and B only
choose the statement that lists the step in the process of geologic inquiry in the correct order:
a. identify a mystery, ask questions, make hypothesis, test hypothesis, make observations
b. test hypotheses, make hypotheses, make observations, ask questions, identify a mystery
c. test hypotheses, ask questions, make observations, make hypotheses, identify a mystery
d. identify a mystery, ask questions, make observations, make hypotheses, test hypotheses
a scientific theory is:
a. an idea that carries no more weight than any other idea
b. and overarching explanation of the data
c. can be proven false with the correct data
d. absolute truth. they cannot be proven false
e. B and C only
which of the following is a hypothesis rather than an observation?:
a. the rock under the Mediterranean sea contains thick salt deposits
b. the Mediterranean sea probably dried up at one point in the past when the strait of Gibraltar was blocked
c. the Mediterranean sea is landlocked except at the strait of Gibraltar
d. there are now-buried canyons that surround the Mediterranean sea
which of the following is a hypothesis rather than an observation:
a. at home, you flick the switch, but the light does not turn on
b. when you look, you see that the circuit breaker has blown
c. you can also see that the filament inside the light bulb is broken
d. the light bulb burned out in a power usage
of the following, which is not a strategy for testing a hypothesis?
a. compare your study area with other similar areas
b. collect more data
c. make a physical or mathematical model
d. perform an experimen
e. all of the above are strategies for testing a hypothesis
a geologist observes a rock and describes its colors using a number code. In this code, red is number 1, blue is number 2, and so on. Are the geologists' observations qualitative or quantitative?
a. qualitative
b. quantitative
the thickness of several sedimentary rock layers when measured in meters is a ___ observation:
a. qualitative
b. quantitative
a key step in developing a new explanation is:
a. making hypotheses that can be tested
b. making observations about a place or process
c. asking questions about the observations
d. collecting new observations to test predictions
e. all of the choices
an observation:
a. can incorporate explanation
b. is either qualitative or quantitative in nature
c. is a statement as free of personal opinion as possible
d. a, b, and c
e. b and c only
of the following, which is not a way that geology could affect your daily life?
a. how I fuel my car
b. the materials used to build our houses, such as for drywall and electrical wiring
c. where floods are likely to occur in my community
d. the quality of the water that flows from the tap at home
e. all of the above are ways that geology affects my daily life
i make the observation that there is a pile of jagged loose rock at the base of a nearby steep hill and that halfway up the hill is an indention in the side of hill. I make the interpretation that the pile of loose rock was formed during a landslide. Which of the following would NOT test my interpretation?
a. examine similar local areas for landslides
b. make observations on the hill over a long period of time in order to observe a landslide occurring
c. create a model of the hill and see if I can recreate a landslide
d. drill a well in the area
e. compare the type of rock at the bottom of the hill with the type of rock found on the hill
based on the evidence that we have to date, what color is the mantle?:
a. chrome
b. dark reds and oranges
c. green and black
d. white, pink, orange
e. black and dark gray
use what you have learned about scientific inquiry to choose the correct order for the following events:
1. make the hypothesis that it is either the new pasture or clear-cutting of trees is causing the problems
2. create another test by putting a sediment catcher between the clear-cut pasture and your pond. After 4 storms you have caught a large amount of sediment and your pond is relatively clear
3. observe that your small pond keeps filling in with sediment after storms and that you have one neighbor who has been clear-cutting trees upstream and another who is creating a new pasture downstream
4. accept the hypothesis that is was the clear-cutting of trees upstream that caused the sediment to accumulate
5. do an initial test to see how much sediment is coming from the new pasture by putting up sediment catchers between your pond and the new pasture. After 3 storms you have caught little sediment coming to your pond form the new pasture but sediment has continued to fill in your pond.
a. 3,1,5,4,2
b. 5,1,2,4,3
c. 3,1,5,2,4
d. 1,2,3,4,5
e. 5,4,3,2,1
which layer within the earth is thought to be made of molten metallic alloy consisting mainly of iron and nickel:
a. inner core
b. outer core
c. asthenosphere
d. lithosphere
the main layers of the Earth in correct order, from the surface moving down, are:
a. crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
b. outer core, inner core, upper mantle, lower crust
c. upper lithosphere, outer core, inner core, mantle
d. upper mantle, lower mantle, inner core, crust
true or false: continental crust subducts:
true
false
which of the following earth layers is the thinnest?
a. outer core
b. oceanic crust
c. lithosphere
d. continental crust
e. asthenosphere
at which plate boundary would you expect to find volcanic activity?
a. transform
b. convergent
c. divergent
d. volcanic activity only occurs within plates, not at the boundaries
e. B and C
how can you distinguish a divergent boundary from a convergent boundary using features found on the earth's surface?:
a. a convergent boundary is usually associated with an oceanic trench, while a divergent boundary is associated with a mid-ocean ridge.
b. a convergent boundary has volcanic activity, while a divergent does not
c. a convergent boundary is usually associated with a mid-ocean ridge, while a divergent boundary is associated with an oceanic trench
d. a convergent boundary has earthquakes, while a divergent does not
can scientific theories and hypotheses by proven false?
a. some only: others have been proven true
b. yes, but only with the right evidence
c. no; scientific theories are facts
of the following, which is NOT a line of evidence that supports continental drift and plate tectonics:
a. glacier evidence found on different continents
b. similar fossils found on different continents
c. similar mountain ranges found on different continents
d. the climate of Scotland
e. continent shapes
if you observe an oceanic trench that has a line of volcanoes next to it, which plate tectonic boundary are you most likely looking at?
a. transform
b. hot spot
c. divergent
d. convergent with subduction zone
e. continental collision
which layer of the Earth has a name that refers to its "weak" consistency?:
a. mantle
b. outer core
c. asthenosphere
d. lithosphere
e. inner core
Plate tectonic plates are composed of the crust and which other layer
a. outer core
b. inner core
c. asthenosphere
d. lithosphere
e. mantle
what is the feature that makes a zigzag pattern on the seafloor:
a. linear island chain
b. island arc
c. subduction zone
d. mid-ocean ridge
e. none of the choices
which layer of the earth is liquid
crust
lithosphere
asthenosphere
outer core
inner core
which of the following is true about rocks and minerals
a. a rock can contain more than one mineral
b. a mineral is composed of chemical elements
c. rocks have no relationship to minerals
d. A and B
e. all of the above
which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all minerals
a. inorganic
b. ordered internal structure
c. specific chemical formula
d. liquid
e. naturally occuring
which of the following statements best summarizes the relationship between the chemical and physcial properties of minerals
a. the chemical composition of mineral such as quartz is determined by where it forms in the earth, such as in the mountains or in the ocean
b. the chemical composition of a mineral such as quartz will change depending on the temperature and pressure when it forms
c. The shape of a mineral such as quartz determines its chemical composition and what type of ions make up the mineral
d. the chemical composition of a mineral determines its color, density, and other physical characteristic
the mineral halite has cube-shaped crystals because
a. of the arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice
b. halite is soluble in water
c. there are no planes along which the mineral can break
d. cubes are the most common way two tetrahedra can join
what is the main difference between a rock and a mineral:
a. minerals are made up a single substance that meets certain criteria, while rocks are made up of minerals
b. there is no difference, as the word 'mineral' is a synonym for the word 'rock'
c. minerals are transparent while rocks are opaque
d. minerals can be made by humans while rocks must be form naturally
in minerals, color is primarily due to:
a. luster
b. cleavage
c. the arrangements of atoms with the crystalline lattice
d. the type of elements that make up the mineral
e. the type and strength of the bonds
which of the following contrasts between rocks and minerals Is correct?:
1. rocks are hard while minerals are soft
2. rocks are multi-colored, minerals are generally a single color
3. rocks can break into any shape, minerals often cleave into geometric shapes
4. rocks generally break into geometric shapes, minerals break in any which way
5. rocks can contain lots of different types of things, minerals are a single substance
a. 1 only
b. 2,4, and 5
c. 2, 3, and 5
d. none of the above are correct
e. all of the above are correct
if a mineral cleaves into thin sheets, it probably has:
a. one dominant direction of cleavage
b. three directions of cleavage a non-metallic luster
c. fractures rather than cleavage
d. no well-defined cleavage planes
mineral cleavage is:
a. determined by the type of elements that make up the chemical structure of the mineral
b. determined by the luster of the mineral
c. dependent on hardness
d. determined by the arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice
continental crust is generally composed of which composition of igneous rocks?
a. felsic
b. intermediate
c. mafic and ultramafic
d. A and B
e. B and C
of the following igneous rock compositions, which has the lowest percentage of the molecule silicate (SiO4)?:
a. felsic
b. intermediate
c. mafic
d. ultramafic
e. all of the compositions have the same percentage of SiO4
why is continental crust so much thicker than oceanic crust?
a. continental crust is not actually thicker than oceanic crust, it just rides on top of oceanic crust
b. quartz, the main mineral in felsic rocks, is very blocky in shape, so the continental crust is also blocky in shape
c. the high silicate content of continental crust makes the magma and lava more viscous, so it forms thicker mounds
d. the low silicate content of continental crust makes the magma and lava more viscous, so it forms thicker mounds.
why is oceanic crust so much denser than continental crust
a. the large amount of the elements Mg(magnesium) and Fe(Iron) in mafic and ultramafic rocks
b. the high percentage of silicate found in ultramafic rocks
c. the low viscosity of mafic and ultramafic rocks
d. the large amount of quartz found in mafic rocks
in geology, the word "texture" means
a. how jagged or smooth the rock is
b. the size of the minerals within the rock
c. how the rock feels
d. all of the above
a rock that has an extrusive texture should have the following characteristic
a. dark in color
b. small grain size
c. light in color
d. big grain size
e. A and B
what composition of igneous rocks is likely to form at an ocean-continental convergent plate boundary:
a. extrusive
b. intrusive
c. felsic
d. intermediate
e. mafic or ultramafic
which texture of igneous rock is likely to form deep inside the Earths crust:
a. extrusive
b. intrusive
c. felsic
d. intermediate
e. mafic or ultramafic
which of the following is very common in oceanic crust?
a. quartz
b. dark-colored minerals
c. metallic iron
d. metallic nickel
e. C and D only
volcanoes that form due to plate tectonics get their magma from the ____, while hot spot volcanoes get their magma from the ____:
a. outer core/asthenosphere
b. asthenosphere/ outer core
c. inner core/lower mantle
d. lower mantle/ inner core
which of the following minerals is found in felsic igneous rocks?
a. olivine
b. pyroxene
c. quartz
d. none of the above occur in felsic rocks
e. all of the above occur in felsic rocks
you observe that a particular igenous rock has grains that are so small that you cant see them without a microscope. This suggest that the igenous rock
a. formed at the surface where it cooled slowly
b. formed at the surface where it called quickly
c. formed at a hot spot volcano like hawaii
d. formed deep within the crust where it cooled slowly
e. formed deep within the crust where it cooled quickly
which of the following volcanoes is generally the tallest?
a. shield volcano
b. volcanic dome
c. composite volcano
d. scoria cone
what types of rocks would be most common in a shield volcano:
a. intrusive lava flows
b. felsic and intermediate lava flows
c. scoria and other mafic lava flows
d. none of the above
which of the following best describes how a rock with a porphyritic texture would form?:
a. crystals begin to form slowly at depth, but then the material moves to the surface as lava is expelled, the remaining molten material cools quickly
b. magma cools slowly
c. lava is erupted and the gas bubbles form vesicles
d. lava cools quickly at a divergent boundary
which of the following are ways that viscosity (thickness of the liquid) affects the gases in magma and lava?:
a. viscous magma prevents gas from escaping easily
b. gas builds up in viscous magma and can cause explosive eruptions
c. less viscous magma allows gas to escape, which can lead to very explosive eruptions
d. A and B only
e. All of the choices
which of the following best describes why felsic and intermediate lavas form composite volcanoes?:
a. felsic and intermediate lavas are extremely viscous and only flow short distances making composite volcanoes with steep slopes
b. felsic and intermediate lavas have a low viscosity which allows it to flow long distance forming the large but gently sloping composite volcanoes
c. felsic and intermediate lavas are low in silica which caused them to be very explosive allowing ejected from the volcano to be piled into steep slopes
Magma can have different compositions depending on the source of the melt. How would magma melted from continental crust differ from magma melted from the asthenosphere?
a. magma with a continental source would be felsic to intermediate in composition, while magma with asthenosphere source would be mafic in composition
b. magma with a continental source would be mafic to ultramafic in composition, while magma with an asthenosphere source would be felsic to intermediate in composition
c. the difference would have to do with grain size- continental source magmas have small grains, asthenosphere-source magmas have large grains
d. both magma with a continental source and with an asthenosphere source would be intermediate in composition
e. the difference would have to do with grain size- continental source magmas have large grains, asthenosphere-source magmas have small grains
The continental crust that underlies North Carolina was assembled by successive collisions of volcanic island arcs that formed at ocean-ocean convergent boundaries. As these arcs collided, the rocks that made them up because part of the continental crust that underlies our state. Select the composition and texture of rocks that would have erupted from volcanoes on these island arcs.
a. felsic/intermediate intrusive
b. mafic/ultramafic extrusive
c. felsic/intermediate extrusive
d. mafic/ultramafic intrusive
what role does silicate play in viscosity?:
a. silicate does not affect viscosity instead an increase in silicate results in an increase in the gas content of the lava
b. an increase in silicate means a lower viscosity
c. an increase in silicate means a higher viscosity
d. silicate does not affect viscosity, instead an increase in silicate results in a decrease in the gas content of the lava
e. silicate is constant among all igneous rock types
a hot spot is interpreted to have formed when:?
a. abundant magma formed within a typical mid-ocean ridge
b. extreme heating of the seas near the equator
c. a rising plume of hot liquid magma that originates at the outer core
d. abundant magma produced within a subduction zone
which characteristics of oceanic crust is due to the presence of large amounts of Mg and Fe in mafic rocks?
a. density
b. thickness
c. the fact that it is found underneath the ocean
d. dark color
choose the rock sample below that is mafic and intrusive:
a. granite
b. diorite
c. gabbro
d. basalt
a sample of vesicular basalt, a mafic igneous rock. Did it form intrusively from cooling magma, or exclusively from cooling lava
a. intrusively then extrusively
b. extrusively
c. intrusively
at which boundary did the vesicular basalt, a mafic igenous rock, most likely form:
a. continent-continent collision
b. ocean-continent convergent boundary
c. ocean-ocean convergent boundary
d. divergent boundary
e. none of the above
if grains within a sedimentary rock are angular in shape, which of the following statements is true?
a. angular grains form in lake environments only
b. the material travelled a long distancec
c. the shape of the grians does not tell us anything about the rock
d. the material travelled a short distance
choose the following process that would not round clasts
a. fast moving streams with the velocity to move rocks along the bottom
b. landslides
c. waves crashing on a rocky beach
d. wind transport
e. all of the above would round clast
of the following which environment has the highest energy?
a. deep ocean
b. delta
c. reef
d. floodplain
beach with crashing waves
of the following, which envrionment has the lowest energy
a. landslide
b. glacier
c. lake
d. steep mountain stream
e. gentle, flat stream
in which environment could a sedimentary rock that contains clasts that are primarily made out of shells come from?
a. glacier
b. coral reef
c. lake
d. floodplain
e. landslide
smaller clasts in a sedimentary rock are the result of
a. higher energy environments
b. lower energy environments
c. long transport distances
d. short transport distances
a well-sorted rock is the result of
a. higher energy environments
b. lower energy environments
c. long transport distances
d. short transport distances
e. chemical processes
a sedimentary rock that has clasts primarily made out of partially decomposed plants could form in which of the following environments
a. delta
b. swamp
c. desert
d. A and B only
e. All of the above
when shells are transported, they experiences changes in sorting and rounding. Choose the description below of what well-rouned (worn) shells should look like
a. lots of different shell sizes
b. broken shells
c. Whole, unbroken shells
d. shells are all the same size
which of the following processes is a chemical, rather than phhysical, process?
a. rodents and other burrowing organisms dig and break apart rocks
b. cracks/breaks form form intense seasonal heating and cooling on the surface
c. water reacts with feldspar, turning it into clay minerals
d. plant roots pry apart fractures as the root grows in size
which of the following rocks would weather the fastests in a warm, wet climate?
a. quartz-rich sandstone
b. quartzite
c. granite
d. limestone
erosion is the process by which rock is ____, while weathering is when rock is _____.
a. broken down into small pieces that are left in place/ broken into small pieces that are then immediately removed
b. broken down into small pieces / cemented together
c. broken into small pieces that are then immediately removed/ broken down into small pieces that are left in place
d. formed / destroyed
of the following rocks, which cannot be metamorphosed?
a. limestone
b. shale
c. phyllite
d. granite
e. all of the above can be metamorpohsed
feldspar, a mineral in felsic and mafic rocks, chemically weathers through ___ to become clay
a. dissolution
b. oxidation
c. hydrolysis
d. frost wedging
e. mineral wedging
pyroxene and amphibole, mafic minerals that contian the element iron (Fe), chemically weather through ___
a. dissolution
b. oxidation
c. hydrolysis
d. frost wedging
e. mineral wedging
hematite is a mineral that is the product of ____
a. dissolution
b. oxidation
c. hydrolysis
d. frost wedging
e. mineral wedging
marbal statues chemically weather through _____ in reponse to acid rain.
a. dissolution
b. oxidation
c. hydrolysis
d. frost wedging
e. mineral wedging
given what we've learned about how feldspar weathers, which of the following is true for sedimentary rocks that contain large amounts of un-weathered feldspar minerals?
a. hematite
b. oxidation must have occurred
c. you cannot tell anything about the environment of weathering by the fact that the sedimentary rock contains feldspars
d. the pre-existing rock weathered in a drier environment, which allowed the feldspars to be broken into smaller pieces, but did not allow for hydrolysis or dissolution
e. the pre-existing igneous rock weathered in a wet environment: all of the other minerals weathered away except for the more resistant feldspar which can be found in the resulting sedimentary rock
which of the following common rock-forming minerals does nto chemically weather at all?
a. quartz
b. calcite
c. plagioclase feldspar
d. olivine
e. amphibole
why do chemical- and physical- weathering commonly occur on the surface of the crust, rather than below the surface of the crust
a. oxygen gas, a major contributor to chemical weathering, is only found in large quantities at the surface
b. below the surface, rocks are held tightly together due to high pressures. It's only at the surface that this pressure is released, allowing rocks to break physically
c. seasonal temperature changes are not felt deep below the surface
d. all of the above
where does the quartz in granite typically end up?
a. quartz does not chemically or physically weather; mountains made of quartz cannot be worn down
b. as small clay minerals that are deposited in lakes and the sea
c. it is converted into feldspar and weathers into clays
d. it ends up as sand in rivers, dunes, and beaches
what are the major processes that influence metamorphism?
a. pressure, water, and hydrologic cycle
b. pressure and temperature
c. hydrogen, temperature, and pressure
d. temperature, carbon dioxide, and water
which of the following is a common metamorphic process?
a. deforming objects into new shape
b. remobilization of chemical constituents into light and dark bonds
c. rotation of minerals into a common orientation
d. all of the above
choose the plate tectonic setting in which a foliated rock, like schist, could form.
a. continental-continental convergent boundary
b. transform fault
c. divergent plate boundary
d. subduction zone volcano
e. B and C
choose the plate tectonic setting in a which a non-foliated rock, like hornfels, could form.
a. continental-continental convergent boundary
b. transform fault
c. divergent plate boundary
d. subduction zone volcano
e. C and D
in metamorphic rocks, foliation occurs when:
a. the rock was metamorphosed due to low temperatures and pressures
b. any rock is metamorphosed in response to any conditions that cause metamorphism
c. the rock has not yet metamorphosed
d. the rock is metamorphosed primarily due to heat
e. the rock was metamorphosed primarily due to pressure
a particular metamorphic rock sample is NOT foliated. what does this tell us about the conditions under which it metamorphosed?
a. it metamorphosed under high temp, high pressure conditions
b. it metamorphosed under low temp, high pressure conditions
c. it mormorphosed under high temp, low pressure conditions
d. none of the above
e. all of the above are possible
how could we cause a rock in location 'a' to undergo regional metamorphism?
a. leave it where it is; conditions there will cause regional metamorphism
b. move it to location B
c. move it to location C
d. move it to location D
describe the sorting of the rock and how far the sediment travelled before it bcame lithified
a. well-sorted, long distance
b. poorly sorted, short distance
c. well-sorted, short distance
d. poorly sorted, long distance
describe the type of clast and list a potential environment where this rock could form
a. rocks, lake
b. plants, swamp
c. shells, floodplain
d. shells, deep ocean
e. rocks, a raging river
we see three rock layers: a limestone (made of shells), a mudstone ( made of clay-sized clasts), and sandstone (made of sand-sized particles) in order bottom (first to form) to top (last to form). If each layer is deposited right after the other forms, how might the environment at the location where these rocks are forming have changed over time when these rocks were forming
a. when the limestone formed, the are was a reef, but by the time the sandstone was formed, the area was a beach
b. the limestone formed in a mountain stream, the mudstone in a landslide, and the sandstone formed in a river
c. all of the rocks could have formed in the same environment
d. when the limestone formed, the are was a landslide, but by the time the sandstone formed, this area was a lake
describe the rounding of clasts within the rock and how far the sediment travelled before it became lithified
a. well-rounded, short distance
b. angular, short distance
c. well-rounded, long distance
d. angular, long distance
describe the type of clasts adn list a potential environment where this rock could form
a. shells, deep ocean
b. rocks, a beach
c. rocks, a landslide
d. plants, a floodplain
e. shells, a lake
is this metamorphic rock foliated or non-foliated
a. foliated
b. non-foilated
c. there is not information to tell
which of the following processes is the metamorphic rock in the picture most likely a result of
a. a continental collision
b. cooking of a pre-existing rock by a cooling magma chamber
c. weathering and erosion
d. quick cooling and crystallizing of lava
is this metamorphic rock foliated or non-foliated
a. foliated
b. non-foliated
c. there is not information to tell
which of the following processes is the metamorphic rock in the picture most likely a result of
a. a continental collision
b. cooking of a pre-existing rock by a cooling magma chamber
c. weathering and erosion
d. quick cooling and crystallizing of lava
At which site on this figure would you expect low temperature metamorphism to occur
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
An earthquake occurs and you experience the shaking. FIrst, you feel a short vertical jolt, then an intense side-to-side motion, followed by een more intense shaking in all directions. These types of shaking correspond to seismic wave types. In order of arrival, they are:
a. Surface waves, Rayleigh waves, S-waves
b. P-waves, S-waves, surface waves
c. S-waves, P-waves, surface waves
d. rayleigh waves, S-waves, P-waves
seismic body waves were used to discover that the outer core has the consistency of liquid, while the mantle and other layers of the earth have the consistency of a solid. Which property of the body waves most likely led to these discoveries?
a. P-waves can travel through liquid, but S-waves cannot
b. S-waves can travel through, but S-waves cannot
c. S-waves travel through the earth in the same way sound travels
d. the velocities of both P and S waves increase when travelling through liquids
the difference between a seismic body wave and a seismic surface wave is that
a. body waves only travel through solids, but surface waves travel through solids, liquids, and gasses
b. body waves travel through the earth, while surface waves travel only along the surface
c. you can feel a body wave but not a surface wave
d. body waves travel through gasses, liquids, and solids, but surface waves only travel through solids
an earthquake occurs. The difference in the travel times between the S-wave and P-waves (s-p) is 20 seconds. Use the graph to determine the distance to the earthquake
a. 95km
b. 160km
c. 200km
d. 500km
e. 700 km
which letter represents the P-wave on the seismogram
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. This seismogram does not show a P-wave
which letter represents the surface waves
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. This seismogram does not show surface waves
In puncutated equilibrium, the rate at which rocks form and are destroyed
a. varies: most of the time no rocks are forming or are being destroyed, but during catastrophic events lots of rocks are formed and destroyed all at once
b. is a constant, slow rate
c. is a constant, fast rated
d. varies: every rock forms at a different rate, some more slowly than others
what type of fault offsets the road in the photo (hint: the painted double line on the road in the middle of the picture is broken by the fault. The fault runs horizontally across the picture, around the middle of the picture vertically)
a. normal
b. reverse
c. right-lateral strike slip
d. left-lateral strike slip
of the following, which is NOT a possible end-result of compression stress?
a. Brittle strain
b. metamorphism
c. a normal fault
d. a reverse fault
e. ductile strain
The seismogram recorded at station A would show the:
a. Arrival of S-waves before the arrival of P-waves
b. Arrival of P-waves only
c. Earliest arrival time of P-waves
d. Only surface waves would arrive here
e. last arrival time of P-waves
which seismogram would record the longest lag time between P- and S- waves
a. station A
b. station B
c. station C
d. all stations would record the same lag time between P- and S- waves
what distinguishes a fault from a joint
a. A joint is brittle deformation, a fault is elastic
b. There is no difference; both are examples of elastic strain
c. A fault is brittle deformation, a joint is elastic
d. when a fault occurs, rock pieces move past each other to create earthquakes. When a joint occurs, there is not movement of the rock pieces
e. When a joint occurs, rock pieces move apst each other to create earthquakes. When a fault occurs, there is no movement of the rock pieces
if a rock initially contained 200 milligrams of a radioactive parent isotope when it first crystallized, how much remains after 2 half-lives
a. 100 mills
b. 50 mills
c. 25 mills
d. 12.6 mills
e. 6.25 mills
what is the amplitude of the S-waves on the seismogram
a. 50 mm
b. 100 mm
c. 150 mm
d. 200 mm
e. the s-wave does not have an amplitude
calculate the magnitude of an earthquake that is 400 km from a seismic station, using the nonogram (on the right). What was the magnitude of this earthquake (Use amplitude of S-Wave)
a. 3.0
b. 5.4
c. 6.4
d. 100
a geologists measures the thickness of sedimentary rocks in the area and calculates how long it took to form using a fixed rate for the whole sequence. What is this method called in geology
a. Math calculations
b. uniformitarianism
c. catastrophism
d. punctuated equilibrium
e. velocified stasis
which layer on this disgram formed first
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
E. E
which layer on this diagram formed most recently
a. E
b. D
c. F
d. C
e. G
when did the tilting event that tilted layers E through H occur
a. after layer D
b. after layer F
c. after layers E through H were deposited but before layer C
d. after layer C
e. there is not enough information to tell
intrusion D formed
a. last
b. first
c. after layer a
d. before layer a
a radioactive (parent) isotope of element X is discovered in varying amounts in four igneous rocks (A, B, C, D) of different ages. Conclude which rock has the oldest calculated age
a. 15% of element X remains in rock A
b. 57% of element X remains in rock B
c. 28% of element X remains in rock C
d. 75% of element X remains in rock D
which of the following is the currently accepted theory for how rocks relate to time in the geologic record?
a. uniformitarianism
b. punctuated equilibrium
c. catastrophism
d. neptunism
e. cosmogeny
which theory about how rocks relate to time did james hutton, who lived in scotland and described siccar point, thich was right?
a. neptunism
b. cosmogeny
c. uniformitarianism
d. punctuated equilibrium
e. catastrophism
assuming all rocks are sedimentary unless otherwise indiciated, what is a possible age of F in the diagram below if A is 100 million years old and D is 70 million years old?
a. 55 million
b. 85 million
c. 110 million
d. 170 million
identify the stress and strain that resulted in the structure shown in the photo.
a. stress= compression, strain = brittle
b. stress = compression, strain = ductile
c. stress = shear, strain = brittle
d. stress = Extension, strain = ductile
e. stress = extension, strain = brittle
predict the tectonic setting that could have formed this structure.
a. hot spot
b. convergent boundary
c. divergent boundary
d. transform boundary
of the following locations, which is a potential real-world location where the fault in the photo could have formed
a. Hawaii
b. Appalachian Mountains
c. mid-atlantic ridge
d. san andreas fault
e. east african rift
if you are trying to calculate a radioactive date for a rock sample, and you know the length of the half-life of the isotope involved, what other information is required to find how old the rock sample is.
a. how many half-lives have passed
b. the temperature when the rock formed
c. length of the half-life
d. rate of decay
which type of strain will result from low levels of stres
a. compression
b. extension
c. elastic
d. ductile
e. brittle
which type of strain will occcur in warm or hot environments
a. compression
b. extension
c. elastic
d. ductile
e. brittle
which type of strain will occur in cold environments
a. compression
b. extension
c. elastic
d. ductile
e. brittle
the oldest rocks on Earth are only 4.0 billion years old, but the scientific consensus says that the Earth is 4.55 billion years old, based on data on the age of the moon, meteorites, and the solar system. Why aren't Earth's rocks the same age as the Earth?
a. Unlike on the moon meteorites, rocks on Earth weather and erode away; the oldest rocks to form on earth have all long since eroded away
b. when the Earth first formed, it was molten, and we can't get a date from magma. So the oldest dates we have are from the first rocks to solidify on Earth
c. Meteorites and the moon are smaller than Earth, so they would have solidified faster giving them older dates
d. scientists are wrong that the Earth formed with the rest of the planets and asteroids when the solar system and sun formed. It must have formed later to give us the younger dates on Earths rocks.
e. All of the above are hypotheses that explain this discrepancy.
what type of structure is shown in this photograph (hint: follow the light layer across. You are standing on the road looking at a vertical outcrop wall.)
a. Reverse faults
b. Anticlines
c. Strike-slip faults
d. normal faults
e. synclines
which direction of stress caused this structure, and which type of strain resulted? (hint: follow the light layer across. You are standing on the road looking at a vertical outcrop wall.)
a. extension/ductile
b. extension/brittle
c. compression/brittle
d. compression/ductile
near which type of plate boundary would you likely see this structure? (hint: follow the light layer across. You are standing on the road looking at a vertical outcrop wall.)
a. convergent
b. divergent
c. transform
of the following, which feature is the youngest
a. Granite
b. fault 1
c. Fault 2
d. tilted layer
e. lava flow
Which letter on the diagram indicates the location of the epicenter of an earthquake
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
in the figure, what type of fault caused the earthquake?
a. normal
b. reverse
c. right-lateral strike-slipe
d. left-lateral strike-slip
which direction of stress caused this fault, and which type of strain resulted?
a. extension/ductile
b. extension/elastic
c. shear/brittle
d. shear/elastic
near which type of plate boundary would you likely see this structure?
a. convergent
b. divergent
c. transform
based on the current plate tectonic setting, in which direction is the black dot moving
A. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
what mountain range and typew of plate boundary is the diagram showing
a. himalayas (found in SE Asia), ocean-ocean convergent boundary
b. Himalayas (found in SE Asia), ocean-continental convergent boundary
c. Andes Mountains (found in South America), transform boundary
d. Andes Mountains (found in South America), ocean-continental convergent boundary
e. Andes Mountains (found in South America), divergent boundary
which type of plate tectonic boundary is decpicted in the picture
a. Ocean-ocean convergent boundary
b. oceanic divergent boundary
c. transform boundary
d. continental collision boundary
e. ocean-continent convergent boundary
examine the world map shown below. Which areas are likely to be near an active plate boundary
a. A and B
b. B and D
c. A and D
d. C and D
e. None of the choices
a map of the south atlantic ocean, what is the feature that makes a zigzag pattern on the seafloor
a. linear island chain
b. island arc
c. subduction zone
d. mid-ocean ridge
e. None of the choices
which of the layers is liquid
a. A only
b. A and B
c. D only
e. D and E
e. All of the layers are liquid except of A
which letter is over the oldest oceanic curst
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
e. E
which of the locations on the diagram below would most likely represent a subduction zone
a. W
b. X
c. Y
d. Z
e. None of the above
