Question 1

Metamorphic rock is formed by changing the nature of minerals of preexisting rocks. What could the preexisting rocks be?

Accepted Answer

A)  metamorphic 
B)  igneous 
C)  metamorphic, igneous, or sedimentary 
D)  sedimentary 
A)  metamorphic 
B)  igneous 
C)  metamorphic, igneous, or sedimentary 
D)  sedimentary C

Question 2

A genetic classification scheme only requires good powers of observation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

What may result from precipitation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dissolved elements turn into sedimentary rock. 
B)  Igneous rock turns into sedimentary rock. 
C)  Sediment turns into metamorphic rock. 
D)  Metamorphic rock turns into igneous rock. 
A)  Dissolved elements turn into sedimentary rock. 
B)  Igneous rock turns into sedimentary rock. 
C)  Sediment turns into metamorphic rock. 
D)  Metamorphic rock turns into igneous rock. A

Question 4

Loose sediment is converted into consolidated sedimentary rock by

Accepted Answer

A)  cooling and freezing. 
B)  precipitation and melting. 
C)  recrystallization and transformation. 
D)  compaction and cementation. 
A)  cooling and freezing. 
B)  precipitation and melting. 
C)  recrystallization and transformation. 
D)  compaction and cementation.

Question 5

How can you tell the difference between plutonic and volcanic igneous rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  A volcanic rock is fine-grained; a plutonic rock is coarse-grained. 
B)  A volcanic rock experienced more pressure, so they are smaller; plutonic rocks are larger. 
C)  A volcanic rock has less silicate material than plutonic. 
D)  A volcanic rock is much hotter than a plutonic rock. 
A)  A volcanic rock is fine-grained; a plutonic rock is coarse-grained. 
B)  A volcanic rock experienced more pressure, so they are smaller; plutonic rocks are larger. 
C)  A volcanic rock has less silicate material than plutonic. 
D)  A volcanic rock is much hotter than a plutonic rock.

Question 6

How would a Neptunist explain the layers of rock made during the formation of the Earth? (3.3)

Accepted Answer

Neptunists envisioned concentric shells

Question 7

Why are plutonic rocks often called massive?

Accepted Answer

A)  They often accumulate as successive layers, appearing banded. 
B)  They are covered by the ocean. 
C)  They are very large. 
D)  They rarely accumulate as successive layers and as result look very different from sedimentary rocks. 
A)  They often accumulate as successive layers, appearing banded. 
B)  They are covered by the ocean. 
C)  They are very large. 
D)  They rarely accumulate as successive layers and as result look very different from sedimentary rocks.

Question 8

Earth pressure increases with increasing depth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Basic components of sand include shells and quartz. How did these particles get so small?

Accepted Answer

A)  through artificial grinding 
B)  heat and pressure 
C)  animals walking on them so much 
D)  physical weathering 
A)  through artificial grinding 
B)  heat and pressure 
C)  animals walking on them so much 
D)  physical weathering

Question 10

How would a clastic sedimentary rock form?

Accepted Answer

A)  A sedimentary rock is intensely heated. 
B)  Particles of preexisting rocks liberate by physical weathering, then cement together. 
C)  An igneous rock breaks down. 
D)  A metamorphic rock breaks down. 
A)  A sedimentary rock is intensely heated. 
B)  Particles of preexisting rocks liberate by physical weathering, then cement together. 
C)  An igneous rock breaks down. 
D)  A metamorphic rock breaks down.

Question 11

What is one situation in which a metamorphic rock results?

Accepted Answer

A)  A volcano ejects a rock and it cools on the surface of the earth. 
B)  A sedimentary rock experiences the physical elements of the earth's surface. 
C)  An igneous rock breaks down to fragments and then experiences heat and pressure. 
D)  A sedimentary rock experiences intense heat and pressure. 
A)  A volcano ejects a rock and it cools on the surface of the earth. 
B)  A sedimentary rock experiences the physical elements of the earth's surface. 
C)  An igneous rock breaks down to fragments and then experiences heat and pressure. 
D)  A sedimentary rock experiences intense heat and pressure.

Question 12

An igneous rock is weathered down to rock fragments; what happens to the fragments?

Accepted Answer

A)  They undergo lithification to form sedimentary rocks. 
B)  They are transported and deposited into sediment banks, then undergoing lithification to form sedimentary rock. 
C)  They experience intense heat and pressure to form metamorphic rock. 
D)  They melt to form new igneous rock. 
A)  They undergo lithification to form sedimentary rocks. 
B)  They are transported and deposited into sediment banks, then undergoing lithification to form sedimentary rock. 
C)  They experience intense heat and pressure to form metamorphic rock. 
D)  They melt to form new igneous rock.

Question 13

What may result from lithification?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sediment becomes a sedimentary rock. 
B)  Metamorphic rock becomes a sedimentary rock. 
C)  Igneous rock becomes a metamorphic rock. 
D)  Sedimentary rock melts. 
A)  Sediment becomes a sedimentary rock. 
B)  Metamorphic rock becomes a sedimentary rock. 
C)  Igneous rock becomes a metamorphic rock. 
D)  Sedimentary rock melts.

Question 14

A plutonic rock results from

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrothermal activity. 
B)  volcanic activity. 
C)  clastic processes. 
D)  slow cooling beneath the earth's surface. 
A)  hydrothermal activity. 
B)  volcanic activity. 
C)  clastic processes. 
D)  slow cooling beneath the earth's surface.

Question 15

Werner invited his students to see a particular rock type in France, whereby their viewpoint about the formation of all rocks changed. Why was this so?

Accepted Answer

A)  They saw lava flows that clearly had not issued from the volcanoes and were composed of a rock called basalt; Werner believed that basalt was volcanic. 
B)  They saw lava flows that clearly had issued from the volcanoes and were composed of a rock called basalt; Werner didn't believe that basalt was volcanic. 
C)  They saw sandstone that contradicted their Neptunist beliefs. 
D)  They saw metamorphic rocks that contradicted their Neptunist beliefs. 
A)  They saw lava flows that clearly had not issued from the volcanoes and were composed of a rock called basalt; Werner believed that basalt was volcanic. 
B)  They saw lava flows that clearly had issued from the volcanoes and were composed of a rock called basalt; Werner didn't believe that basalt was volcanic. 
C)  They saw sandstone that contradicted their Neptunist beliefs. 
D)  They saw metamorphic rocks that contradicted their Neptunist beliefs.

Question 16

It's wise to use the site of formation as the primary criterion for rock classification.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Why is sedimentary rock found in basins?

Accepted Answer

A)  The whole Earth is a basin. 
B)  Volcanoes eject sedimentary materials into basins. 
C)  Clastic sediment erodes from high-standing areas and is transported primarily by water to be deposited in low areas. 
D)  Plate boundaries grind together at basins to form sediment. 
A)  The whole Earth is a basin. 
B)  Volcanoes eject sedimentary materials into basins. 
C)  Clastic sediment erodes from high-standing areas and is transported primarily by water to be deposited in low areas. 
D)  Plate boundaries grind together at basins to form sediment.

Question 18

Which of the following statements pertaining to rock formations at a spring is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rock may be tinted orange on account of bacteria. 
B)  The rock forms by reacting with mild acid to produce calcite. 
C)  The rock forms by reacting with precipitation to produce halite. 
D)  The rock may enclose vegetation as it builds outwards. 
A)  The rock may be tinted orange on account of bacteria. 
B)  The rock forms by reacting with mild acid to produce calcite. 
C)  The rock forms by reacting with precipitation to produce halite. 
D)  The rock may enclose vegetation as it builds outwards.

Question 19

Physical weathering involves reactions between minerals and water to produce dissolved ions and new minerals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

How could one test if calcite is the mineral that cements together loose grains of sandstone?

Accepted Answer

A)  If it is extremely strong then it is calcite. 
B)  If it does not react with dilute acid, then it is calcite. 
C)  If it does react with dilute acid, then it is calcite. 
D)  If you lick it and it falls apart, then it is calcite. 
A)  If it is extremely strong then it is calcite. 
B)  If it does not react with dilute acid, then it is calcite. 
C)  If it does react with dilute acid, then it is calcite. 
D)  If you lick it and it falls apart, then it is calcite.

Exam 3: Rocks and Rock-Forming Processes

Metamorphic rock is formed by changing the nature of minerals of preexisting rocks. What could the preexisting rocks be?

A genetic classification scheme only requires good powers of observation.

What may result from precipitation?

Loose sediment is converted into consolidated sedimentary rock by

How can you tell the difference between plutonic and volcanic igneous rocks?

How would a Neptunist explain the layers of rock made during the formation of the Earth? (3.3)

Why are plutonic rocks often called massive?

Earth pressure increases with increasing depth.

Basic components of sand include shells and quartz. How did these particles get so small?

How would a clastic sedimentary rock form?

What is one situation in which a metamorphic rock results?

An igneous rock is weathered down to rock fragments; what happens to the fragments?

What may result from lithification?

A plutonic rock results from

Werner invited his students to see a particular rock type in France, whereby their viewpoint about the formation of all rocks changed. Why was this so?

It's wise to use the site of formation as the primary criterion for rock classification.

Why is sedimentary rock found in basins?

Which of the following statements pertaining to rock formations at a spring is false?

Physical weathering involves reactions between minerals and water to produce dissolved ions and new minerals.

How could one test if calcite is the mineral that cements together loose grains of sandstone?

Why Study Earth

Minerals: Building Blocks of the Planet

Formation of Magma and Igneous Rocks

Formation of Sediment and Sedimentary Rocks

Formation of Metamorphic Rocks

Earth Materials As Time Keepers

Earth Materials As Time Keepers

Making Earth

Motion Inside Earth

Deformation of Rocks

Global Tectonics: Plates and Plumes

Tectonics and Surface Relief

Soil Formation and Landscape Stability

Mass Movements: Landscapes in Motion

Streams: Flowing Water Shapes the Landscape

Water Flowing Underground

Glaciers: Cold-Climate Sculptors of Continents

Shorelines: Changing Landscapes Where Land Meets Sea

Wind: a Global Geologic Process

Global Warming: Real Time Change in the Earth System

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