Question 1

The asthenosphere is part of the _____________ of Earth.

Accepted Answer

A)  inner core 
B)  crust 
C)  mantle 
D)  outer core 
A)  inner core 
B)  crust 
C)  mantle 
D)  outer core

Question 2

Active mountain belts are most likely to be found ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  in the interior regions of continents 
B)  along only the eastern margins of continents 
C)  scattered throughout continents 
D)  along the margins of continents 
A)  in the interior regions of continents 
B)  along only the eastern margins of continents 
C)  scattered throughout continents 
D)  along the margins of continents

Question 3

The "Big Bang" is an example of a_______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  theory 
B)  law 
C)  hypothesis 
D)  observation 
A)  theory 
B)  law 
C)  hypothesis 
D)  observation

Question 4

Subduction zones are regions of convergence and the overlying plate is made of_________ lithosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  oceanic 
B)  continental 
C)  sedimentary 
D)  liquid 
A)  oceanic 
B)  continental 
C)  sedimentary 
D)  liquid

Question 5

Ocean crust is denser than continental crust because ocean crust is______________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  thinner than continental crust 
B)  thicker than continental crust 
C)  composed primarily of basalt 
D)  composed primarily of granite 
A)  thinner than continental crust 
B)  thicker than continental crust 
C)  composed primarily of basalt 
D)  composed primarily of granite

Question 6

Internally, Earth consists of ____________shells with different compositions and densities.

Accepted Answer

A)  square 
B)  hollow 
C)  rectangular 
D)  circular 
A)  square 
B)  hollow 
C)  rectangular 
D)  circular

Question 7

The____________ is the thinnest layer of Earth.

Accepted Answer

A)  crust 
B)  outer core 
C)  inner core 
D)  mantle 
A)  crust 
B)  outer core 
C)  inner core 
D)  mantle

Question 8

The_____________ explains how our solar system probably formed from a giant cloud of gases and dispersed solid particles.

Accepted Answer

A)  nebular theory 
B)  planetary compression theory 
C)  protogalactic theory 
D)  extrastellar solar hypothesis 
A)  nebular theory 
B)  planetary compression theory 
C)  protogalactic theory 
D)  extrastellar solar hypothesis

Question 9

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  mantle 
B)  lithosphere 
C)  core 
D)  crust 
A)  mantle 
B)  lithosphere 
C)  core 
D)  crust

Question 10

What are the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical geology?

Accepted Answer

A)  Physical geology is the study of fossils and sequences of rock strata; historical geology is the study of how rocks and minerals were used in the past. 
B)  Physical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and deposition in relation to plate movements in the geologic past; historical geology charts how and where the plates were moving in the past. 
C)  Historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and geologic events, utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference; physical geology includes the study of how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface. 
D)  None of the above- physical geology and historical geology are essentially the same. 
A)  Physical geology is the study of fossils and sequences of rock strata; historical geology is the study of how rocks and minerals were used in the past. 
B)  Physical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and deposition in relation to plate movements in the geologic past; historical geology charts how and where the plates were moving in the past. 
C)  Historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and geologic events, utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference; physical geology includes the study of how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface. 
D)  None of the above- physical geology and historical geology are essentially the same.

Question 11

Below is a picture of an Appalachian mountain ridge and Himalayan mountain peaks left and right, respectively.. Why are the Appalachians so much smoother and lower than the Himalayan Mountains?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Appalachian Mountains are younger and younger mountains tend to be more weathered. 
B)  The Appalachian Mountains are younger and have not yet built up to being jagged. 
C)  The Appalachian Mountains are older and thus have become more worn down. 
D)  The Appalachian Mountains are older and thus have softer rocks. 
A)  The Appalachian Mountains are younger and younger mountains tend to be more weathered. 
B)  The Appalachian Mountains are younger and have not yet built up to being jagged. 
C)  The Appalachian Mountains are older and thus have become more worn down. 
D)  The Appalachian Mountains are older and thus have softer rocks.

Question 12

Soil belongs to the_____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  geosphere 
B)  atmosphere 
C)  hydrosphere 
D)  biosphere 
E)  All of the above 
A)  geosphere 
B)  atmosphere 
C)  hydrosphere 
D)  biosphere 
E)  All of the above

Question 13

Oceans cover about___________ of Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

A)  97 
B)  30 
C)  70 
D)  90 
A)  97 
B)  30 
C)  70 
D)  90

Question 14

The largest of Earth's spheres is the ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  geosphere 
B)  hydrosphere 
C)  atmosphere 
D)  biosphere 
A)  geosphere 
B)  hydrosphere 
C)  atmosphere 
D)  biosphere

Question 15

According to the nebular theory, all of the bodies in the universe evolved from a rotating cloud of gases and dust about___________ billion years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  12 
B)  3 
C)  2 
D)  5 
A)  12 
B)  3 
C)  2 
D)  5

Question 16

The thin, outer layer of Earth, from 7 to 40 km in thickness, is called the _______________.

Accepted Answer

A)  core 
B)  crust 
C)  lithosphere 
D)  mantle 
A)  core 
B)  crust 
C)  lithosphere 
D)  mantle

Question 17

The earth is sometimes called "The Blue Planet" because__________ the appears blue in sunlight.

Accepted Answer

A)  rivers 
B)  atmosphere 
C)  lakes 
D)  overall surface of earth from space 
A)  rivers 
B)  atmosphere 
C)  lakes 
D)  overall surface of earth from space

Question 18

The study of Earth's atmosphere is known as___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  cosmology 
B)  meteorology 
C)  oceanography 
D)  astronomy 
A)  cosmology 
B)  meteorology 
C)  oceanography 
D)  astronomy

Question 19

Convergent plate boundaries are ___________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  sites of supervolcanoes like Yellowstone 
B)  sites where oceanic plates descend beneath continental plates 
C)  areas where two plates slide laterally past one another, generating earthquakes, like the San Andreas fault 
D)  sites where heat from Earth's interior is vented to the surface as volcanoes 
A)  sites of supervolcanoes like Yellowstone 
B)  sites where oceanic plates descend beneath continental plates 
C)  areas where two plates slide laterally past one another, generating earthquakes, like the San Andreas fault 
D)  sites where heat from Earth's interior is vented to the surface as volcanoes

Question 20

Which of the following is not necessary for a hypothesis to be accepted by the scientific community?

Accepted Answer

A)  It must be testable. 
B)  It must predict something other than the observations it was based on. 
C)  It must be based on observations or facts. 
D)  There must be alternative hypotheses proposed. 
A)  It must be testable. 
B)  It must predict something other than the observations it was based on. 
C)  It must be based on observations or facts. 
D)  There must be alternative hypotheses proposed.

Exam 1: Introduction to Earth Science

The asthenosphere is part of the _____________ of Earth.

Active mountain belts are most likely to be found ____________.

The "Big Bang" is an example of a_______ .

Subduction zones are regions of convergence and the overlying plate is made of_________ lithosphere.

Ocean crust is denser than continental crust because ocean crust is______________ .

Internally, Earth consists of ____________shells with different compositions and densities.

The____________ is the thinnest layer of Earth.

The_____________ explains how our solar system probably formed from a giant cloud of gases and dispersed solid particles.

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

What are the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical geology?

Below is a picture of an Appalachian mountain ridge and Himalayan mountain peaks left and right, respectively.. Why are the Appalachians so much smoother and lower than the Himalayan Mountains?

Soil belongs to the_____________.

Oceans cover about___________ of Earth's surface.

The largest of Earth's spheres is the ____________.

According to the nebular theory, all of the bodies in the universe evolved from a rotating cloud of gases and dust about___________ billion years ago.

The thin, outer layer of Earth, from 7 to 40 km in thickness, is called the _______________.

The earth is sometimes called "The Blue Planet" because__________ the appears blue in sunlight.

The study of Earth's atmosphere is known as___________ .

Convergent plate boundaries are ___________ .

Which of the following is not necessary for a hypothesis to be accepted by the scientific community?

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters