Question 1

Coal is derived from __________ compressed and hardened over millennia.

Accepted Answer

A)  Vast forests 
B)  Lava 
C)  Phytoplankton 
D)  Plant material from swamps 
A)  Vast forests 
B)  Lava 
C)  Phytoplankton 
D)  Plant material from swamps D

Question 2

Mechanical weathering changes both the physical and chemical composition of rocks.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

Which of the following statements is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earthquakes occur along faults 
B)  Tsunamis are generally caused by volcanic eruptions 
C)  The largest North American earthquake in recorded history occurred in Missouri 
D)  Human activities can trigger earthquakes 
A)  Earthquakes occur along faults 
B)  Tsunamis are generally caused by volcanic eruptions 
C)  The largest North American earthquake in recorded history occurred in Missouri 
D)  Human activities can trigger earthquakes B

Question 4

Which of the following bodies of water is growing due to tectonic movement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Pacific Ocean 
B)  Atlantic Ocean 
C)  Black Sea 
D)  Indian Ocean 
E)  None of these are growing 
A)  Pacific Ocean 
B)  Atlantic Ocean 
C)  Black Sea 
D)  Indian Ocean 
E)  None of these are growing

Question 5

It takes _______________ energy to recycle waste aluminum (e.g., beverage cans) compared to the energy of extracting new aluminum from bauxite.

Accepted Answer

A)  About half as much 
B)  About twice as much 
C)  About one-twentieth as much 
D)  About the same 
E)  Slightly more 
A)  About half as much 
B)  About twice as much 
C)  About one-twentieth as much 
D)  About the same 
E)  Slightly more

Question 6

The most common element in the earth's crust is

Accepted Answer

A)  iron. 
B)  oxygen. 
C)  nickel. 
D)  aluminum. 
A)  iron. 
B)  oxygen. 
C)  nickel. 
D)  aluminum.

Question 7

A giant sea swell known as a tsunami is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  Typhoons 
B)  Earthquakes 
C)  Lunar gravity 
D)  Unusual tides combined with seasonal storms 
E)  A strong wave during an exceptionally high tide 
A)  Typhoons 
B)  Earthquakes 
C)  Lunar gravity 
D)  Unusual tides combined with seasonal storms 
E)  A strong wave during an exceptionally high tide

Question 8

Rocks formed from solidified magma are known as ________ rocks.

Accepted Answer

A)  sedimentary 
B)  igneous 
C)  metamorphic 
A)  sedimentary 
B)  igneous 
C)  metamorphic

Question 9

A lesson from the Ducktown, Tennessee mining experience is that mineral exploitation can

Accepted Answer

A)  produce great wealth but at great social and environmental cost. 
B)  be done in an environmentally sound way. 
C)  significantly improve the health of local people. 
D)  actually enhance the biotic resources of a region. 
A)  produce great wealth but at great social and environmental cost. 
B)  be done in an environmentally sound way. 
C)  significantly improve the health of local people. 
D)  actually enhance the biotic resources of a region.

Question 10

The metal(s) that is/are most important in global economies is/are

Accepted Answer

A)  Marble 
B)  Cadmium 
C)  Halite 
D)  Iron 
E)  All are important metals in the global economy 
A)  Marble 
B)  Cadmium 
C)  Halite 
D)  Iron 
E)  All are important metals in the global economy

Question 11

The physical breakdown of a rock into smaller pieces is called

Accepted Answer

A)  The rock cycle 
B)  Sedimentation 
C)  Chemical weathering 
D)  Mechanical weathering 
E)  Abrasion 
A)  The rock cycle 
B)  Sedimentation 
C)  Chemical weathering 
D)  Mechanical weathering 
E)  Abrasion

Question 12

Placer mining involves washing metals, minerals, and the gemstones from streambeds with a water cannon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following statements regarding tectonics is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because of tectonic movements, Europe and Africa are drifting slowly toward the Americas 
B)  When continental plates collide with continental plates, both plates usually subside 
C)  When oceanic plates collide with continental plates, the continent usually rides up over the seafloor 
D)  Because of tectonic movements, California is slowly increasing in size 
E)  When oceanic plates collide with continental plates, the oceanic plate usually rides up over the continental plate 
A)  Because of tectonic movements, Europe and Africa are drifting slowly toward the Americas 
B)  When continental plates collide with continental plates, both plates usually subside 
C)  When oceanic plates collide with continental plates, the continent usually rides up over the seafloor 
D)  Because of tectonic movements, California is slowly increasing in size 
E)  When oceanic plates collide with continental plates, the oceanic plate usually rides up over the continental plate

Question 14

Existing U.S. mining law is based on legislation passed in 1872.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Using recycled materials utilizes about as much energy as required to process virgin ore.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The continental crust of the earth is thicker and lighter than the oceanic crust.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The fundamental characteristic(s) that distinguish(es) a mineral is/are its _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  Grain size 
B)  Crystal structure only 
C)  Organic materials. 
D)  Chemical composition only 
E)  Chemical composition and its crystal structure 
A)  Grain size 
B)  Crystal structure only 
C)  Organic materials. 
D)  Chemical composition only 
E)  Chemical composition and its crystal structure

Question 18

The continents are the lightest part of Earth's crust.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The word "igneous" comes from a Latin word meaning

Accepted Answer

A)  Water 
B)  Fossil 
C)  Sediment 
D)  Fire 
E)  Compressed 
A)  Water 
B)  Fossil 
C)  Sediment 
D)  Fire 
E)  Compressed

Question 20

________ in the mantle and core make tectonic plates move.

Accepted Answer

A)  Conduction movements 
B)  Earthquakes 
C)  Radioactive decay 
D)  Convection currents 
E)  Concurrent currents 
A)  Conduction movements 
B)  Earthquakes 
C)  Radioactive decay 
D)  Convection currents 
E)  Concurrent currents

Exam 14: Geology and Earth Resources

Coal is derived from __________ compressed and hardened over millennia.

Mechanical weathering changes both the physical and chemical composition of rocks.

Which of the following statements is false?

Which of the following bodies of water is growing due to tectonic movement?

It takes _______________ energy to recycle waste aluminum (e.g., beverage cans) compared to the energy of extracting new aluminum from bauxite.

The most common element in the earth's crust is

A giant sea swell known as a tsunami is caused by

Rocks formed from solidified magma are known as ________ rocks.

A lesson from the Ducktown, Tennessee mining experience is that mineral exploitation can

The metal(s) that is/are most important in global economies is/are

The physical breakdown of a rock into smaller pieces is called

Placer mining involves washing metals, minerals, and the gemstones from streambeds with a water cannon.

Which of the following statements regarding tectonics is true?

Existing U.S. mining law is based on legislation passed in 1872.

Using recycled materials utilizes about as much energy as required to process virgin ore.

The continental crust of the earth is thicker and lighter than the oceanic crust.

The fundamental characteristic(s) that distinguish(es) a mineral is/are its _______.

The continents are the lightest part of Earth's crust.

The word "igneous" comes from a Latin word meaning

________ in the mantle and core make tectonic plates move.

Understanding Our Environment

Principles of Science and Systems

Matter, Energy, and Life

Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions

Biomes: Global Patterns of Life

Population Biology

Human Populations

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Food and Hunger

Farming: Conventional and Sustainable Practices

Biodiversity: Preserving Species

Biodiversity: Preserving Landscapes

Restoration Ecology

Climate Change

Air Pollution

Water Use and Management

Water Pollution

Conventional Energy

Sustainable Energy

Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste

Urbanization and Sustainable Cities

Ecological Economics

Environmental Policy, Law, and Planning

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