Question 1

Which of the following are tectonic settings in which regional mountain belts form?

Accepted Answer

A)  subduction zones 
B)  continental collisions 
C)  mantle upwellings 
D)  all of these 
A)  subduction zones 
B)  continental collisions 
C)  mantle upwellings 
D)  all of these

Question 2

Why are different parts of a continent often different ages?

Accepted Answer

A)  Different ages of terranes may be accreted onto continents, and newer-aged sedimentary rocks or volcanic rocks are deposited on top of older rocks. 
B)  Different ages only mean that different radiometric isotopes have been used to date the different parts; rocks on one continent are the same age. 
C)  Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks were all created at different times, so these different types of rock yield the different ages. 
A)  Different ages of terranes may be accreted onto continents, and newer-aged sedimentary rocks or volcanic rocks are deposited on top of older rocks. 
B)  Different ages only mean that different radiometric isotopes have been used to date the different parts; rocks on one continent are the same age. 
C)  Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks were all created at different times, so these different types of rock yield the different ages.

Question 3

How many times has rifting occurred along eastern North America since 600 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  once in the Mesozoic 
B)  once near the start of the Paleozoic 
C)  twice, once in the Mesozoic and once near the start of the Paleozoic 
D)  four times 
A)  once in the Mesozoic 
B)  once near the start of the Paleozoic 
C)  twice, once in the Mesozoic and once near the start of the Paleozoic 
D)  four times

Question 4

In what tectonic setting was the Sierra Nevada formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  melting along a transform fault 
B)  continental rifting 
C)  a continental collision 
D)  subduction beneath the continent 
E)  all of these 
A)  melting along a transform fault 
B)  continental rifting 
C)  a continental collision 
D)  subduction beneath the continent 
E)  all of these

Question 5

Which numbered site is likely to have exposure of crystalline rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  1, the continental shield 
B)  2, the continental platform 
C)  3, a basin in the continent 
D)  4, a continental shelf 
E)  5, a deep sediment-filled basin next to the continent 
A)  1, the continental shield 
B)  2, the continental platform 
C)  3, a basin in the continent 
D)  4, a continental shelf 
E)  5, a deep sediment-filled basin next to the continent

Question 6

Uplifting caused by the removal of weight on top of the crust, as when an ice sheet melts away or when erosion strips material off the top of a thick crustal root of a mountain, is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  isostatic rebound 
B)  elastic buoyancy 
C)  floating equilibrium 
D)  the iceberg principal 
A)  isostatic rebound 
B)  elastic buoyancy 
C)  floating equilibrium 
D)  the iceberg principal

Question 7

Which statement best describes how region 3 will look in the future?

Accepted Answer

A)  lower in elevation as thrusting thickens the crust 
B)  higher in elevation because magma generated along a subduction zone will rise into and thicken the crust 
C)  below or close to sea level as this area becomes part of an accretionary prism 
A)  lower in elevation as thrusting thickens the crust 
B)  higher in elevation because magma generated along a subduction zone will rise into and thicken the crust 
C)  below or close to sea level as this area becomes part of an accretionary prism

Question 8

The formation of mountains or the time period during which tectonic activity causes deformation and forms mountains is called an):

Accepted Answer

A)  orogeny 
B)  tectonism 
C)  hot spot 
D)  terrane 
A)  orogeny 
B)  tectonism 
C)  hot spot 
D)  terrane

Question 9

Which feature on this figure formed after the two terranes were already joined?

Accepted Answer

A)  sediment with fossils F) 
B)  the overlapping sedimentary unit O) 
C)  the pluton P) 
D)  all of these 
A)  sediment with fossils F) 
B)  the overlapping sedimentary unit O) 
C)  the pluton P) 
D)  all of these

Question 10

What was the main tectonic setting of the western U.S. in early Paleozoic time?

Accepted Answer

A)  continental collision 
B)  transform fault 
C)  passive margin 
D)  the interior of a supercontinent 
A)  continental collision 
B)  transform fault 
C)  passive margin 
D)  the interior of a supercontinent

Question 11

Which statement best describes how region 2 will look in the future?

Accepted Answer

A)  close to sea level because divergence between the two plates will thin the continental crust, forming a passive margin 
B)  added to the edge of a continent, forming a tectonic terrane 
C)  a deep basin that is underlain by oceanic crust and a thin sediment cover 
A)  close to sea level because divergence between the two plates will thin the continental crust, forming a passive margin 
B)  added to the edge of a continent, forming a tectonic terrane 
C)  a deep basin that is underlain by oceanic crust and a thin sediment cover

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a tectonic setting in which a basin can form?

Accepted Answer

A)  passive margin 
B)  in front of a fold and thrust belt 
C)  along a strike-slip fault 
D)  at high elevations 
E)  basins can form in all these settings 
A)  passive margin 
B)  in front of a fold and thrust belt 
C)  along a strike-slip fault 
D)  at high elevations 
E)  basins can form in all these settings

Question 13

What is the timing of the basin shown in this figure?

Accepted Answer

A)  it was still forming during the eruption of volcanic unit A 
B)  it began forming during deposition of unit E 
C)  it began forming during deposition of unit D 
D)  both a and b 
E)  none of these 
A)  it was still forming during the eruption of volcanic unit A 
B)  it began forming during deposition of unit E 
C)  it began forming during deposition of unit D 
D)  both a and b 
E)  none of these

Question 14

Where was North America 150 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  next to Antarctica 
B)  next to Australia 
C)  over the south pole 
D)  closer to Africa and South America 
E)  none of these 
A)  next to Antarctica 
B)  next to Australia 
C)  over the south pole 
D)  closer to Africa and South America 
E)  none of these

Question 15

Which of these regions is high because of mantle upwelling near a continental rift?

Accepted Answer

A)  1, Andes of South America 
B)  2, East Africa 
C)  3, Tibet 
D)  none of these 
A)  1, Andes of South America 
B)  2, East Africa 
C)  3, Tibet 
D)  none of these

Question 16

For a terrane to become attached to a continent, it typically:

Accepted Answer

A)  enters a subduction zone, where it is scraped off the subducting plate and added to the continent 
B)  floats across the ocean until it becomes lodged against the coast of a continent 
C)  is welded to the continent through volcanic activity 
D)  must result from the development of a hot spot and continental rifting 
A)  enters a subduction zone, where it is scraped off the subducting plate and added to the continent 
B)  floats across the ocean until it becomes lodged against the coast of a continent 
C)  is welded to the continent through volcanic activity 
D)  must result from the development of a hot spot and continental rifting

Question 17

What will happen during movement on these normal faults?

Accepted Answer

A)  the crust will thicken and the region will be uplifted 
B)  the crust will thin and the region will be uplifted 
C)  the fault blocks will rotate in the same direction, like books sliding on a shelf 
D)  the blocks will be uplifted or downdropped with only minor rotation 
A)  the crust will thicken and the region will be uplifted 
B)  the crust will thin and the region will be uplifted 
C)  the fault blocks will rotate in the same direction, like books sliding on a shelf 
D)  the blocks will be uplifted or downdropped with only minor rotation

Question 18

Which statement best describes how region 5 will look in the future?

Accepted Answer

A)  higher in elevation because magma generated along a subduction zone will rise into and thicken the crust 
B)  close to sea level because it will be underlain by a combination of oceanic crust and thin continental crust 
C)  below sea level as this area becomes part of an accretionary prism 
A)  higher in elevation because magma generated along a subduction zone will rise into and thicken the crust 
B)  close to sea level because it will be underlain by a combination of oceanic crust and thin continental crust 
C)  below sea level as this area becomes part of an accretionary prism

Question 19

Hot spots have helped define the outlines of the continents by:

Accepted Answer

A)  shaping the boundaries along which continents separate, due to location of the rift arms 
B)  "welding" continents together due to rising magma bodies and eruptions of lava 
C)  melting the edges of continents away to form indentions along the coast 
A)  shaping the boundaries along which continents separate, due to location of the rift arms 
B)  "welding" continents together due to rising magma bodies and eruptions of lava 
C)  melting the edges of continents away to form indentions along the coast

Question 20

On the image below, what feature will be present in the future at site D?

Accepted Answer

A)  passive margin 
B)  trench and accretionary prism 
C)  volcanic mountain belt and nearby fold and thrust belt 
A)  passive margin 
B)  trench and accretionary prism 
C)  volcanic mountain belt and nearby fold and thrust belt

Which of the following are tectonic settings in which regional mountain belts form?

Why are different parts of a continent often different ages?

How many times has rifting occurred along eastern North America since 600 million years ago?

In what tectonic setting was the Sierra Nevada formed?

Which numbered site is likely to have exposure of crystalline rocks?

Uplifting caused by the removal of weight on top of the crust, as when an ice sheet melts away or when erosion strips material off the top of a thick crustal root of a mountain, is called:

Which statement best describes how region 3 will look in the future?

The formation of mountains or the time period during which tectonic activity causes deformation and forms mountains is called an):

Which feature on this figure formed after the two terranes were already joined?

What was the main tectonic setting of the western U.S. in early Paleozoic time?

Which statement best describes how region 2 will look in the future?

Which of the following is NOT a tectonic setting in which a basin can form?

What is the timing of the basin shown in this figure?

Where was North America 150 million years ago?

Which of these regions is high because of mantle upwelling near a continental rift?

For a terrane to become attached to a continent, it typically:

What will happen during movement on these normal faults?

Which statement best describes how region 5 will look in the future?

Hot spots have helped define the outlines of the continents by:

On the image below, what feature will be present in the future at site D?

The Nature of Geology

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

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 11: Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Which of the following are tectonic settings in which regional mountain belts form?

Why are different parts of a continent often different ages?

How many times has rifting occurred along eastern North America since 600 million years ago?

In what tectonic setting was the Sierra Nevada formed?

Which numbered site is likely to have exposure of crystalline rocks?

Uplifting caused by the removal of weight on top of the crust, as when an ice sheet melts away or when erosion strips material off the top of a thick crustal root of a mountain, is called:

Which statement best describes how region 3 will look in the future?

The formation of mountains or the time period during which tectonic activity causes deformation and forms mountains is called an):

Which feature on this figure formed after the two terranes were already joined?

What was the main tectonic setting of the western U.S. in early Paleozoic time?

Which statement best describes how region 2 will look in the future?

Which of the following is NOT a tectonic setting in which a basin can form?

What is the timing of the basin shown in this figure?

Where was North America 150 million years ago?

Which of these regions is high because of mantle upwelling near a continental rift?

For a terrane to become attached to a continent, it typically:

What will happen during movement on these normal faults?

Which statement best describes how region 5 will look in the future?

Hot spots have helped define the outlines of the continents by:

On the image below, what feature will be present in the future at site D?

The Nature of Geology

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

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