Deck 10: Earthʹs Surface Relief Features

Question 1

The six types of topographic regions are defined based on

A)logarithmic relationships applied to elevation.
B)complex statistical analyses of surface relief variation across the surface of Earth.
C)arbitrary elevation or other descriptive criteria in common use.
D)local criteria that have never been universally recognized.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A topographic region that is characterized by local relief of more than 600 m (2,000 ft)is a

A)low tableland.
B)depression.
C)high tableland.
D)mountain

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a second order of relief?

A)Pikeʹs Peak
B)The Canadian and American Rockies
C)The North America plate
D)Mt.Capulin

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A topographic region that is characterized by local relief of more than 100 m (325 ft.),but less than 600 m (2000 ft.),is considered a

A)high tableland.
B)hill or low tableland.
C)mountain.
D)plain.

Question 5

A hypsographic curve is

A)a graph that shows the change in temperature with depth below the surface of a continent.
B)a graph that shows Earthʹs relief is great when compared to its diameter.
C)a generalized curve showing Earthʹs surface by area and elevation in relation to sea level.
D)a graph that shows the change in temperature with depth below the surface of the ocean floor.
E)a graph that shows Earth is of relatively high relief.

Question 6

The vertical relief of Earth (highest point to lowest point)is approximately

A)5 km (3.1 mi).
B)10 km (6.2 mi).
C)20 km (12.4 mi).
D)30 km (18.6 mi).

Question 7

provides the highest resolution for mapping Earthʹs surface.

A)GPS
B)Radar
C)LiDAR
D)Passive remote sensing platforms,such as Landsat 8,

Question 8

The concept of ʺorders of reliefʺ refers to

A)the classification of landscapes based on scale.
B)the ordering of surface features based on height.
C)the ordering of surface features based on their time of origin.
D)the rate at which stress is relieved in the crust.

Question 9

Vertical elevation differences in a local landscape are referred to as

A)topography.
B)crust.
C)an order of relief.
D)relief.

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of the tools scientists use to study topography?

A)GPS
B)LiDAR
C)Radar
D)LiDAR,radar,and GPS are all used in the study of topography.

Question 11

The general term for the undulations and other variations in the shape of Earthʹs surface is called

A)terrain.
B)relief.
C)topography.
D)geomorphology.

Question 12

Large portions of North and South America,Asia,and Australia are dominated by which topographic region?

A)Basins
B)High tablelands
C)Plains
D)Widely space mountains

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a first order of relief?

A)The Alps and Rockies
B)North America plate
C)The Shenandoah Valley
D)The Tibetan Plateau

Question 14

Africa is dominated by which topographic region?

A)Plains
B)Hills and low tablelands
C)High tablelands
D)Mountains

Question 15

The measurement of land elevation relative to sea level is known as

A)hypsometry.
B)topography.
C)geodesy.
D)bathymetry.

Question 16

The most detailed order of relief applies to order relief features.

A)first
B)second
C)third

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a third order of relief?

A)The South America Plate
B)Irazú Volcano
C)The Tibetan Plateau
D)The Alps

Question 18

The average elevation of the exposed land is

A)875 m (2870 ft.).
B)-2070 m (-6790 ft.).
C)-3800 m (-12,470 ft.).
D)100 m (325 ft.).

Question 19

A topographic region that is characterized by local relief of less than 100 m (325 ft.)is considered a

A)depression.
B)hill or low tableland.
C)high tableland.
D)plain.

Question 20

The average elevation of the depth of the oceans is

A)-2070 m (-6790 ft.).
B)100 m (325 ft.).
C)-3800 m (-12,470 ft.).
D)875 m (2870 ft.).

Question 21

Large areas of high tablelands are found in

A)Greenland.
B)Central Asia.
C)Africa.
D)Australia.

Question 22

Folded layers of rock can form a wavelike pattern of troughs and crests.The layers near the trough (i.e.downward fold)form

A)a thrust fault.
B)a tension zone.
C)an anticline.
D)a syncline.

Question 23

Which of the following is INCORRECTLY matched?

A)Tension stretching or faulting
B)Compression shortening or folding
C)Shearing stretching or faulting
D)Tension normal fault

Question 24

The Wrangellia terranes refer to

A)pieces of crust that moved with the Pacific plate to their present location near Japan.
B)a terrane in southern Tibet that migrated to the region during the Paleozoic from Australia.
C)a mountain range that became part of the Himalayas.
D)a former volcanic island arc that migrated 10,000 km (6200 mi.)to its present location along the western margin of North America.

Question 25

The nucleus of old crystalline rock in each of the principal continental masses is called a

A)continental shield,or craton.
B)composite zone.
C)basalt mass.
D)mountain mass.

Question 26

Large areas of depressions are found in

A)Asia.
B)Antarctica.
C)North America.
D)Australia.

Question 27

Strain,the amount of deformation undergone by an object,is expressed in rocks by

A)breaking and removal.
B)folding or faulting.
C)bending.
D)metamorphism.

Question 28

Which of the following properly describes the formation of continental crust?

A)The formation of continental crust is independent of the formation of oceanic crust,involving only volcanism over the land masses.
B)The formation of continental crust involves the entire sequence of seafloor spreading,subduction,remelting of oceanic crust,and subsequent rise of the remelted material.
C)New continental crust is formed essentially in the same many as oceanic crust from upwelling at mid-continental ridges.
D)All continental crust was formed millions of years ago.There is no active continental crust being formed.

Question 29

Warping produces bends in rocks that are those produced by folding.

A)larger than
B)the same size as
C)smaller than

Question 30

The general term that describes subducted oceanic crusts that incorporate seawater and sediments is

A)sial.
B)melt.
C)batholiths.
D)sima.

Question 31

Most cratons date to the

A)Paleozoic era.
B)Precambrian eon.
C)Devonian period.
D)Paleocene epoch.

Question 32

Folded layers of rock can form a wavelike pattern of troughs and crests.The layers near the crest (i.e.the upward fold)form

A)a thrust fault.
B)a tension zone.
C)a syncline.
D)an anticline.

Question 33

If one were to stack thick fabric on top of one another,then push the opposite ends towards one another,resulting and bending and rumpling,this would illustrate what physical process?

A)Faulting
B)Tension
C)Shear
D)Folding

Question 34

The Zagros mountains of Iran is an example of

A)a zone of shearing motions.
B)a zone of tension.
C)a zone of compression and folding.
D)a series of faulted mountain blocks.

Question 35

The variety of surface features on Earth results from

A)exogenic processes only.
B)endogenic processes only.
C)Both endogenic and exogenic processes.

Question 36

Terranes refer to

A)subducted oceanic crust that is melted and later reaches the surface in volcanic eruptions or cools in the subsurface as an intrusive body.
B)fragmented crustal material from one plate and accreted to another plate.
C)the topography of a tract of land.
D)a large region where a craton is exposed at the surface.

Question 37

A continental craton is best described as

A)the inactive remains of ancient tectonic activity.
B)a landform undergoing constant tectonic activity.
C)the surface accumulation of molten rock.
D)the product of active folding and faulting.

Question 38

Which of the following is a cause of warping?

A)Isostatic adjustment
B)Mantle convection
C)Hot spots
D)Mantle convection,hot spots,and isostatic adjustment all cause warping.

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT correct regarding terranes?

A)They are framed by fracture zones.
B)They can move thousands of miles from their place of origin.
C)They are smaller-scale migrating crustal pieces; i.e.,microplates.
D)They may accrete onto continents and thereby increase the size of the continents.
E)They are very similar in composition to the continents to which they attach.

Question 40

The horizontal line that defines the portion of the anticline or syncline with the maximum curvature is known as the

A)trough.
B)valley.
C)basin.
D)hinge.

Question 41

Compressional stress along a fault resulting in rocks moving upward along the fault plane is an example of a

A)strike-slip fault.
B)normal fault.
C)reverse fault.
D)lateral fault.

Question 42

Normal faults are associated with

A)tensional forces.
B)compressional forces.
C)transcurrent forces.
D)plate convergence.

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT one of the three types of tectonic activity that causes orogenesis along convergent boundaries?

A)Oceanic plate-continental plate collision
B)Continental plate-continental plate collision
C)Oceanic plate-oceanic plate collision
D)Oceanic plate-continental plate collision,oceanic plate-oceanic plate collision,and continental plate-continental plate collision are all correct.

Question 44

A occurs when the fault plane forms a low angle relative to the horizontal,resulting in the overlying block being shifted over the underlying block.

A)normal fault
B)lateral fault
C)strike-slip fault
D)thrust fault

Question 45

An exposed fault plane with significant vertical extent is known as

A)anticline.
B)dome.
C)an escarpment.
D)a fracture zone.

Question 46

What type of convergent boundary associated with orogeny is illustrated here?

A)Continental plate-continental plate collision
B)Oceanic plate-oceanic plate collision
C)Oceanic plate-continental plate collision

Question 47

The San Andreas system in California is an example of a

A)thrust fault.
B)strike-slip fault.
C)transform fault.
D)both a strike-slip and transform fault.

Question 48

The Basin and Range Province in the western United States is a result of faulting produced by forces.

A)normal; tensional
B)normal; compressional
C)reverse; tensional
D)reverse; compressional

Question 49

A large region identifiable by several topographic or geological traits is known as a

A)topographic region.
B)biome.
C)physiographic province.
D)ecoregion.

Question 50

When lateral shear causes horizontal movement along a fault plane,the resulting fault is called a

A)lateral fault.
B)strike-slip fault.
C)thrust fault.
D)normal fault.

Question 51

applies to upward-faulted blocks,whereas applies to downward-faulted blocks.

A)Normal; thrust
B)Horst; graben
C)Graben; horst
D)Thrust; normal

Question 52

Tensional stress along a fault can result in a dropped hanging-wall block relative to the footwall side,producing a

A)normal fault.
B)strike-slip fault.
C)reverse fault.
D)thrust fault.

Question 53

Orogenesis refers to

A)a general thinning of the crust.
B)the beginning of extensive faulting.
C)the formation of mountains without faulting,folding,or the capture of migrating terranes.
D)a general term for a mountain-building episode that thickens continental crust.

Question 54

The relatively young mountains along the western margins of the North America and South America plates are referred to as the

A)Cordilleran system.
B)Sierra Nevadan orogeny.
C)Eurasian-Himalayan system.
D)Allegheny orogeny.

Question 55

Which of the following shows the general sequency of an orogeny?

A)Thickening of crust through accretion or magma intrusion weathering and/or erosion uplift
B)Uplift thickening of crust through accretion or magma intrusion weathering and/or erosion
C)Thickening of crust through accretion or magma intrusion uplift weathering and/or erosion
D)Weathering and/or erosion uplift thickening of crust through accretion or magma intrusion

Question 56

The Appalachians formed as a result of the

A)Allegheny orogeny.
B)Cordilleran orogeny.
C)Alpine orogeny.
D)Laramide orogeny.

Question 57

What type of convergent boundary associated with orogeny is illustrated here?

A)Continental plate-continental plate collision
B)Oceanic plate-oceanic plate collision
C)Oceanic plate-continental plate collision

Question 58

When rock strata are strained beyond their ability to remain an intact unit,displacement occurs in a process known as

A)faulting.
B)broad warping.
C)folding.
D)stressing.

Question 59

What type of convergent boundary associated with orogeny is illustrated here?

A)Continental plate-continental plate collision
B)Oceanic plate-continental plate collision
C)Oceanic plate-oceanic plate collision

Question 60

Fault types are differentiated by

A)the type of rock material in which they occur.
B)the amount of movement along the fault plane.
C)the tilt and orientation of the fault plane.
D)the amount of energy liberated during movement.

Question 61

Volcanic activity generally does NOT occur

A)along sea-floor spreading centers.
B)along subduction boundaries.
C)in association with plutons.
D)in association with hot spots over plumes in the mantle.

Question 62

The study of plate boundaries and the frequency of past earthquakes in order to forecast earthquakes is known as

A)perceptual studies.
B)dilatancy.
C)paleoseismology.
D)geodesy.

Question 63

Within the United States,which area has the highest earthquake hazards?

A)West Coast
B)Gulf Coast
C)Mid-continent.
D)East Coast

Question 64

The phrase ʺconsiderable-to-serious damage to buildingsʺ would be used in the scale.

A)Mohʹs
B)Beaufort
C)Modified Mercalli Intensity
D)Richter

Question 65

Small surface irregularities along a fault plane that prevent movement and are generally areas of high strain are termed

A)elastic spots.
B)fore points.
C)focal points.
D)asperities.

Question 66

An earthquake is best described as

A)the sharp release of energy in Earthʹs crust that creates seismic waves.
B)The point within Earth where seismic waves originate.
C)The amount of ground displacement along a fault.
D)The amount of stress rocks along plate boundaries experience.

Question 67

An earthquake that occurs in association with anthropogenic activity,such as waste water injection wells,is known as

A)a tectonic earthquake.
B)tectonic seismicity.
C)induced seismicity.
D)an earthquake.(There is no special name for such an implausible event.)

Question 68

What is the expected number of an M 8.0 or Mercalli XII earthquakes per year?

A)1
B)13,000
C)800
D)120

Question 69

The slight increase in rock volume produced by small cracks that form under stress and accumulated strain is known as

A)paleoseismology.
B)geodesy.
C)seismic gaps.
D)dilatancy.

Question 70

The area at the surface directly above the subsurface location where seismic waves are initiated is termed the

A)epicenter.
B)focus,or hypocenter.
C)Richter zone.
D)fault area.

Question 71

Molten rock that pours forth on Earthʹs surface is called

A)lava.
B)metamorphic.
C)intrusive.
D)magma.

Question 72

Which of the following is NOT used to rate an earthquake on the moment magnitude scale?

A)The amount of death and destruction that occurred
B)The nature of the ground materials affected by the quake
C)The size of the subsurface or surface area that ruptured
D)The amount of fault slippage that occurred

Question 73

A seismic gap refers to an area that

A)is overdue for an earthquake,based on past earthquake frequency.
B)is lacking seismometers or other measuring devices.
C)has had tectonic plates separate,leaving large cracks in the surface.
D)has significant surface fracturing due to fault movement.

Question 74

Circular surface depressions usually found at or near the summit of a volcano are known as

A)cinder cones.
B)craters.
C)calderas.
D)domes.

Question 75

The subsurface area where the motion of seismic waves is initiated along the fault plane is called the

A)focus,or hypocenter.
B)epicenter.
C)fault area.
D)Richter zone.

Question 76

An active volcano is defined as one that

A)has erupted at least once within recorded history
B)exhibits activity indicative of an imminent eruption.
C)has erupted at least once within the past decade.
D)has erupted at least once within the past century.

Question 77

An instrument used to record vibrations in the crust is the

A)land barometer.
B)the Richter scale.
C)seismometer.
D)tiltmeter.

Question 78

What is the expected number of an M 5-5.9 or Mercalli V-VII earthquakes per year?

A)1319
B)1
C)134
D)13,000

Question 79

Which of the following is CORRECT regarding the moment magnitude scale?

A)It is a closed scale that begins at 0.0 and ends at 10.0.
B)It is the same as the Mercalli scale.
C)It is a scale of magnitude based on arithmetical progressions (1,2,3,4,etc.).
D)It considers the amount of fault slippage produced by the earthquake,the size of the surface (and subsurface)area that ruptured,and the nature of the materials that faulted.

Question 80

The energy released by a magnitude 8 quake on the Richter scale is how many times greater than that of a magnitude 6 quake?

A)3)15
B)31.5
C)63
D)992
E)31,255