Question 1

The idea that Earth formed only a few thousand years ago is

Accepted Answer

A) basically accepted today by science. 
B) based on little physical evidence and is more appropriately considered a belief. 
C) referred to as uniformitarianism. 
D) the basis of the geologic time scale. 
E) is calculated by measuring crustal thickness. 
A) basically accepted today by science. 
B) based on little physical evidence and is more appropriately considered a belief. 
C) referred to as uniformitarianism. 
D) the basis of the geologic time scale. 
E) is calculated by measuring crustal thickness.

Question 2

Several large,linear lakes are forming in East Africa.This is evidence of what process?

Accepted Answer

A) rifting 
B) subduction 
C) compression 
D) isostatic uplift 
E) transform faulting 
A) rifting 
B) subduction 
C) compression 
D) isostatic uplift 
E) transform faulting

Question 3

Limestone is lithified metamorphic rock,high in magnesium,whereas marble is a sedimentary form.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The size of sediment transported from an area is a function of

Accepted Answer

A) the velocity of the transporting agent. 
B) the volume of water available in the soil in an area. 
C) the amount of energy in the atmosphere. 
D) the type of rock from which the sediment came. 
E) the daylength. 
A) the velocity of the transporting agent. 
B) the volume of water available in the soil in an area. 
C) the amount of energy in the atmosphere. 
D) the type of rock from which the sediment came. 
E) the daylength.

Question 5

An intrusion of magma that forms a wall-like structure when exposed by erosion is known as a

Accepted Answer

A) dike. 
B) sill. 
C) batholith. 
D) laccolith. 
E) volcanic neck. 
A) dike. 
B) sill. 
C) batholith. 
D) laccolith. 
E) volcanic neck.

Question 6

The density of material below the Moho is ________ that above it.

Accepted Answer

A) greater than 
B) less than 
C) the same as 
A) greater than 
B) less than 
C) the same as

Question 7

Benjamin Franklin once suggested that the crust of Earth must have been broken into pieces that moved.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

With  increasing depth,the mantle becomes ________ due to greater ________.

Accepted Answer

A) more plastic pressures 
B) more plastic temperatures 
C) stiffer pressures 
D) stiffer temperatures 
A) more plastic pressures 
B) more plastic temperatures 
C) stiffer pressures 
D) stiffer temperatures

Question 9

The fact that Earth's interior is sorted into layers indicates that

Accepted Answer

A) the process of formation from a nebula (by the slamming together of material and planetesimals that stuck together on impact)produces nice,neat layers. 
B) Earth was once in a molten state,during which materials became sorted based on density. 
C) the rotation of the early Earth acted like a centrifuge which separated materials based on weight. 
D) Earth was once in a molten state,during which materials became sorted by electromagnetic fields. 
E) nothing can be inferred about such a perplexing level of organization. 
A) the process of formation from a nebula (by the slamming together of material and planetesimals that stuck together on impact)produces nice,neat layers. 
B) Earth was once in a molten state,during which materials became sorted based on density. 
C) the rotation of the early Earth acted like a centrifuge which separated materials based on weight. 
D) Earth was once in a molten state,during which materials became sorted by electromagnetic fields. 
E) nothing can be inferred about such a perplexing level of organization.

Question 10

At which of the following locations is new ocean crust being formed?

Accepted Answer

A) oceanic rift zones 
B) along collision zones between two continents 
C) along collision zones between two oceanic plates 
D) in oceanic trenches 
E) subduction zones 
A) oceanic rift zones 
B) along collision zones between two continents 
C) along collision zones between two oceanic plates 
D) in oceanic trenches 
E) subduction zones

Question 11

A guiding principle of modern science is the principle of uniformitarianism-as opposed to catastrophism.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of an intrusive,igneous rock formation?

Accepted Answer

A) volcano 
B) pluton 
C) dome 
D) lava flow 
E) pyroclastic bomb 
A) volcano 
B) pluton 
C) dome 
D) lava flow 
E) pyroclastic bomb

Question 13

The occurrence of contact metamorphism would be direct evidence for

Accepted Answer

A) cementation of sedimentary rock. 
B) the local intrusion of magma. 
C) regional plate collision. 
D) lithification of clastics. 
E) erosion of surficial layers. 
A) cementation of sedimentary rock. 
B) the local intrusion of magma. 
C) regional plate collision. 
D) lithification of clastics. 
E) erosion of surficial layers.

Question 14

Radiometric dating

Accepted Answer

A) can have erroneous results if the sample was subjected to natural weathering. 
B) is based on episodic decay of certain atoms. 
C) is related to the rate at which Earth orbits the Sun. 
D) gives a punctuated time clock for making 'ballpark' estimates of the age of sediments. 
A) can have erroneous results if the sample was subjected to natural weathering. 
B) is based on episodic decay of certain atoms. 
C) is related to the rate at which Earth orbits the Sun. 
D) gives a punctuated time clock for making 'ballpark' estimates of the age of sediments.

Question 15

The presence of 180-million-year-old salt domes in the Gulf Coast region of the United States indicates that

Accepted Answer

A) the area was once volcanically active. 
B) the area was subjected to plate collisions which caused metamorphism to occur. 
C) subsidence is now occurring due to the withdrawal of magma from the region. 
D) a sea used to cover the area but subsequently evaporated. 
E) the Mississippi River used to carry salt water. 
A) the area was once volcanically active. 
B) the area was subjected to plate collisions which caused metamorphism to occur. 
C) subsidence is now occurring due to the withdrawal of magma from the region. 
D) a sea used to cover the area but subsequently evaporated. 
E) the Mississippi River used to carry salt water.

Question 16

Which of the following is matched correctly?

Accepted Answer

A) 3)0 grams per cubic centimetre - granitic crust 
B) 4)7 grams per cubic centimetre - upper mantle 
C) 3)3 grams per cubic centimetre - asthenosphere 
D) 3)0 grams per cubic centimetre - oceanic crust 
E) 5)0 grams per cubic centimetre - continental crust 
A) 3)0 grams per cubic centimetre - granitic crust 
B) 4)7 grams per cubic centimetre - upper mantle 
C) 3)3 grams per cubic centimetre - asthenosphere 
D) 3)0 grams per cubic centimetre - oceanic crust 
E) 5)0 grams per cubic centimetre - continental crust

Question 17

The basic unit into which the lithosphere is broken is a

Accepted Answer

A) plate. 
B) batholith. 
C) metamorphism zone. 
D) tablet. 
E) boulder. 
A) plate. 
B) batholith. 
C) metamorphism zone. 
D) tablet. 
E) boulder.

Question 18

A conically-shaped laccolithic mountain can readily be distinguished from a similarly shaped volcano based on

Accepted Answer

A) the different heights of the features. 
B) the chemical composition of the minerals they are made of. 
C) the size of the crystals they are composed of. 
D) the ease at which they are eroded. 
E) the density of the rock. 
A) the different heights of the features. 
B) the chemical composition of the minerals they are made of. 
C) the size of the crystals they are composed of. 
D) the ease at which they are eroded. 
E) the density of the rock.

Question 19

The half-life of a radioactive isotope does not vary.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following is true regarding the geologic time scale?

Accepted Answer

A) the bulk of Earth's history has occurred during the Cenozoic era. 
B) over 87 percent of Earth's history has elapsed during the more recent Cenozoic,Mesozoic,and Paleozoic eras. 
C) both relative and absolute dating methods are used in determining the sequence of the time scale. 
D) we live in the Tertiary period. 
E) there have been only two periods of major extinctions in geologic time. 
A) the bulk of Earth's history has occurred during the Cenozoic era. 
B) over 87 percent of Earth's history has elapsed during the more recent Cenozoic,Mesozoic,and Paleozoic eras. 
C) both relative and absolute dating methods are used in determining the sequence of the time scale. 
D) we live in the Tertiary period. 
E) there have been only two periods of major extinctions in geologic time.

Exam 11: The Dynamic Planet

The idea that Earth formed only a few thousand years ago is

Several large,linear lakes are forming in East Africa.This is evidence of what process?

Limestone is lithified metamorphic rock,high in magnesium,whereas marble is a sedimentary form.

The size of sediment transported from an area is a function of

An intrusion of magma that forms a wall-like structure when exposed by erosion is known as a

The density of material below the Moho is ________ that above it.

Benjamin Franklin once suggested that the crust of Earth must have been broken into pieces that moved.

With increasing depth,the mantle becomes ________ due to greater ________.

The fact that Earth's interior is sorted into layers indicates that

At which of the following locations is new ocean crust being formed?

A guiding principle of modern science is the principle of uniformitarianism-as opposed to catastrophism.

Which of the following is an example of an intrusive,igneous rock formation?

The occurrence of contact metamorphism would be direct evidence for

Radiometric dating

The presence of 180-million-year-old salt domes in the Gulf Coast region of the United States indicates that

Which of the following is matched correctly?

The basic unit into which the lithosphere is broken is a

A conically-shaped laccolithic mountain can readily be distinguished from a similarly shaped volcano based on

The half-life of a radioactive isotope does not vary.

Which of the following is true regarding the geologic time scale?

Essentials of Geography

Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Earth's Modern Atmosphere

Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances

Global Temperatures

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Weather

Water Resources

Climate Systems and Climate Change

Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanism

Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

River Systems and Landforms

Eolian Processes and Arid Landscapes

The Oceans, Coastal Processes, and Landforms

Glacial and Periglacial Processes and Landforms

The Geography of Soils

Ecosystem Essentials

Terrestrial Biomes

Earth and the Human Denominator

Filters

With increasing depth,the mantle becomes due to greater .