Question 1

The youngest unit or feature in this photograph is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the rock at the top that contains angular fragments 
B)  the gray layer in the middle of the photograph 
C)  the tilted rocks at the bottom 
D)  there is no way to tell 
A)  the rock at the top that contains angular fragments 
B)  the gray layer in the middle of the photograph 
C)  the tilted rocks at the bottom 
D)  there is no way to tell

Question 2

The phrase trading location for time signifies that:

Accepted Answer

A)  It takes more time to observe a landscape than is available. 
B)  Expensive homes are built in locations that cost people time. 
C)  Different parts of a landscape can be used to infer how the landscape changes over time. 
D)  Some rocks are harder than others to erode and so last a longer time. 
A)  It takes more time to observe a landscape than is available. 
B)  Expensive homes are built in locations that cost people time. 
C)  Different parts of a landscape can be used to infer how the landscape changes over time. 
D)  Some rocks are harder than others to erode and so last a longer time.

Question 3

Which type of map or diagram would best indicate elevation of the land surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  shaded-relief map 
B)  satellite image 
C)  topographic map 
D)  stratigraphic section 
A)  shaded-relief map 
B)  satellite image 
C)  topographic map 
D)  stratigraphic section

Question 4

The periods and subdivisions of Earth history, arranged in proper order, are called the:

Accepted Answer

A)  geologic timescale 
B)  calendar year 
C)  geologic flowchart 
D)  stratigraphic timeline 
A)  geologic timescale 
B)  calendar year 
C)  geologic flowchart 
D)  stratigraphic timeline

Question 5

Which are true of a hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the same thing as a theory. 
B)  It is assumed to be true and requires no further examination. 
C)  None of these. 
A)  It is the same thing as a theory. 
B)  It is assumed to be true and requires no further examination. 
C)  None of these.

Question 6

Rocks that are easy to erode often create:

Accepted Answer

A)  slopes 
B)  ledges 
C)  cliffs 
A)  slopes 
B)  ledges 
C)  cliffs

Question 7

What is the youngest unit or feature in this figure?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5

Question 8

If all of geologic time is represented as a single year, and the Jurassic Period is in the middle of the Mesozoic era, what month were dinosaurs most abundant on the planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  January 
B)  April 
C)  June 
D)  July 
E)  December 
A)  January 
B)  April 
C)  June 
D)  July 
E)  December

Question 9

What is the best criterion for the relative ages of the rocks in this photograph?

Accepted Answer

A)  The igneous rock is younger because it is on top. 
B)  The igneous rock is younger because it has baked the adjacent rock. 
C)  The lower rock is younger because it contains pieces of volcanic rock. 
D)  The igneous rock is older because it formed at depth. 
A)  The igneous rock is younger because it is on top. 
B)  The igneous rock is younger because it has baked the adjacent rock. 
C)  The lower rock is younger because it contains pieces of volcanic rock. 
D)  The igneous rock is older because it formed at depth.

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of quantitative data?

Accepted Answer

A)  North America is moving across Earth's surface several centimeters per year 
B)  the river has flooded a low-lying area 
C)  the volcano is releasing much steam 
D)  volcanoes are dangerous 
E)  when held, one rock feels heavier than another rock 
A)  North America is moving across Earth's surface several centimeters per year 
B)  the river has flooded a low-lying area 
C)  the volcano is releasing much steam 
D)  volcanoes are dangerous 
E)  when held, one rock feels heavier than another rock

Question 11

What is probably the most important factor in the health of most ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  the amount of calcium in the soil 
B)  the amount of potassium in the soil 
C)  availability of clean water 
D)  the length of daylight hours 
E)  how often hurricanes strike 
A)  the amount of calcium in the soil 
B)  the amount of potassium in the soil 
C)  availability of clean water 
D)  the length of daylight hours 
E)  how often hurricanes strike

Question 12

What explanation did the textbook favor for the origin of the crater in Arizona?

Accepted Answer

A)  an explosion when rising magma encountered groundwater 
B)  warping by a rising mass of salt that was later dissolved away to form the crater 
C)  collapse of a large cave that contained large crystals of gypsum 
D)  impact by a large meteoroid that hit the surface at a very high speed 
A)  an explosion when rising magma encountered groundwater 
B)  warping by a rising mass of salt that was later dissolved away to form the crater 
C)  collapse of a large cave that contained large crystals of gypsum 
D)  impact by a large meteoroid that hit the surface at a very high speed

Question 13

The image represents a broad, flat-topped mountain with steep sides. This feature is called a:

Accepted Answer

A)  mesa 
B)  butte 
C)  knob 
A)  mesa 
B)  butte 
C)  knob

Question 14

This figure shows the main subdivisions of the geologic timescale. Which of these is the Precambrian?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D

Question 15

What type of map is used primarily to show the shape of the land by simulating light and dark shading on the hills and valleys?

Accepted Answer

A)  shaded relief map 
B)  satellite image 
C)  geologic map 
D)  topographic map 
A)  shaded relief map 
B)  satellite image 
C)  geologic map 
D)  topographic map

Question 16

The sediment in this photograph most likely formed in:

Accepted Answer

A)  a steep mountain front 
B)  a river 
C)  a sand dune 
D)  deep water conditions on the seafloor 
A)  a steep mountain front 
B)  a river 
C)  a sand dune 
D)  deep water conditions on the seafloor

Question 17

Which of the following are ways in which a geologist may determine the density of earth materials?

Accepted Answer

A)  determining the weight of the object, but not its volume 
B)  calculating the volume of the object, but not its mass 
C)  none of these 
A)  determining the weight of the object, but not its volume 
B)  calculating the volume of the object, but not its mass 
C)  none of these

Question 18

The formula to determine density is:

Accepted Answer

A)  mass/volume 
B)  mass/weight 
C)  volume/mass 
D)  gravity/mass 
E)  weight/gravity 
A)  mass/volume 
B)  mass/weight 
C)  volume/mass 
D)  gravity/mass 
E)  weight/gravity

Question 19

Which of the following shows the correct order for a scientific explanation?

Accepted Answer

A)  observation - question - hypotheses - predictions - results of investigation - conclusions 
B)  hypotheses - question - observation - predictions - results of investigation - conclusions 
C)  predictions - hypotheses - results of investigation - question - observation - conclusion 
A)  observation - question - hypotheses - predictions - results of investigation - conclusions 
B)  hypotheses - question - observation - predictions - results of investigation - conclusions 
C)  predictions - hypotheses - results of investigation - question - observation - conclusion

Question 20

Slopes that drop or rise sharply in elevation are:

Accepted Answer

A)  steep 
B)  plains 
C)  contours 
A)  steep 
B)  plains 
C)  contours

The youngest unit or feature in this photograph is:

The phrase trading location for time signifies that:

Which type of map or diagram would best indicate elevation of the land surface?

The periods and subdivisions of Earth history, arranged in proper order, are called the:

Which are true of a hypothesis?

Rocks that are easy to erode often create:

What is the youngest unit or feature in this figure?

If all of geologic time is represented as a single year, and the Jurassic Period is in the middle of the Mesozoic era, what month were dinosaurs most abundant on the planet?

What is the best criterion for the relative ages of the rocks in this photograph?

Which of the following is an example of quantitative data?

What is probably the most important factor in the health of most ecosystems?

What explanation did the textbook favor for the origin of the crater in Arizona?

The image represents a broad, flat-topped mountain with steep sides. This feature is called a:

This figure shows the main subdivisions of the geologic timescale. Which of these is the Precambrian?

What type of map is used primarily to show the shape of the land by simulating light and dark shading on the hills and valleys?

The sediment in this photograph most likely formed in:

Which of the following are ways in which a geologist may determine the density of earth materials?

The formula to determine density is:

Which of the following shows the correct order for a scientific explanation?

Slopes that drop or rise sharply in elevation are:

The Nature of Geology

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Climate and Weathering

Glaciers, Shorelines, and Changing Sea Levels

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters

Exam 2: Investigating Geologic Questions

The youngest unit or feature in this photograph is:

The phrase trading location for time signifies that:

Which type of map or diagram would best indicate elevation of the land surface?

The periods and subdivisions of Earth history, arranged in proper order, are called the:

Which are true of a hypothesis?

Rocks that are easy to erode often create:

What is the youngest unit or feature in this figure?

If all of geologic time is represented as a single year, and the Jurassic Period is in the middle of the Mesozoic era, what month were dinosaurs most abundant on the planet?

What is the best criterion for the relative ages of the rocks in this photograph?

Which of the following is an example of quantitative data?

What is probably the most important factor in the health of most ecosystems?

What explanation did the textbook favor for the origin of the crater in Arizona?

The image represents a broad, flat-topped mountain with steep sides. This feature is called a:

This figure shows the main subdivisions of the geologic timescale. Which of these is the Precambrian?

What type of map is used primarily to show the shape of the land by simulating light and dark shading on the hills and valleys?

The sediment in this photograph most likely formed in:

Which of the following are ways in which a geologist may determine the density of earth materials?

The formula to determine density is:

Which of the following shows the correct order for a scientific explanation?

Slopes that drop or rise sharply in elevation are:

The Nature of Geology

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Climate and Weathering

Glaciers, Shorelines, and Changing Sea Levels

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters