Deck 1: The Nature of Geology

Question 1

Which of the following Earth layers is the thinnest?

A) oceanic crust
B) upper mantle
C) lower mantle
D) outer core
E) inner core

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which potential geologic hazard is NOT represented by a feature on this figure?

A) an earthquake
B) a volcano
C) contaminated groundwater
D) a landslide
E) flood-prone areas

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Geology can help us learn about Earth's past by studying:

A) why continents and oceans are different
B) why a landscape looks the way it does
C) how life in the past was different than today
D) how global climate has changed since the ice ages
E) all of these

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Which of the following is probably least at risk for geologic hazards?

A) next to a river in low areas
B) near an active fault
C) on soils that gently expand when wet
D) on gentle slopes away from mountains
E) close to, but upwind of, an active volcano

Question 5

Which layer in the earth is similar in composition to an iron-nickel meteorite?

A) continental crust
B) oceanic crust
C) upper mantle
D) lower mantle
E) core

Question 6

Continental ice sheets were more common 28,000 years ago than they are today because:

A) the Earth had more water then than now
B) the Earth was cooler then than now
C) the Earth was further away from the Sun then than now

Question 7

Which layer on this figure is the oceanic crust?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a way geology informs us about Earth's past?

A) how the first second of the universe differed from a second today
B) why continents and oceans are different
C) why a landscape looks the way it does today
D) how life in the past was different than today
E) how past global climate was different than today

Question 9

Which layer in the earth is similar to the composition of granite?

A) continental crust
B) oceanic crust
C) upper mantle
D) lower mantle
E) core

Question 10

The main layers of the Earth in correct order, from the surface moving down, are:

A) upper crust, outer core, inner core, mantle
B) outer core, inner core, upper mantle, lower crust
C) crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
D) upper mantle, lower mantle, inner core, crust

Question 11

Which of the following geologic aspects influence our lives based on the photograph showing horses and cows on a grassy field?

A) the presence of mountains, which influence the formation of clouds and precipitation
B) the steepness of slopes
C) the availability of water
D) all of these

Question 12

Which of the following was mentioned in the opening two-page spread of Chapter 1?

A) oil beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve
B) the scenery of Glacier National Park
C) earthquakes along the San Andres fault
D) oil beneath the Gulf Coast of the United States

Question 13

Which layer on this figure is the upper mantle?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 14

Which layer on this figure is the continental crust?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 15

Which layer in the earth is similar in composition to basalt, a dark lava rock?

A) continental crust
B) oceanic crust
C) upper mantle
D) lower mantle
E) core

Question 16

Which of the following factors was most important in controlling the distribution of copper mines in the western U.S. versus iron mines in the Great Lakes region?

A) the amount of precipitation rain and snow)
B) the time of year when precipitation occurs
C) different ages and geologic histories of the rocks
D) the latitude distance south or north from the equator)

Question 17

Continents differ in appearance from ocean basins because:

A) each has its own geologic history
B) each contains different fossils
C) each has its own climate

Question 18

The distribution of natural resources is influenced by the:

A) type of rocks
B) age of the rocks
C) way in which the rocks formed
D) all of these

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a possible reason for why a region is higher in elevation than adjacent regions?

A) the lithosphere is hotter
B) it has continental crust, but adjacent regions have oceanic crust
C) the crust is thicker
D) the crust is more dense

Question 20

Which layer in the earth is similar to the green mineral olivine?

A) continental crust
B) oceanic crust
C) mantle
D) core

Question 21

Based on this topographic profile across the central United States, which region probably has the thickest crust?

A) Colorado Rockies
B) Great Plains
C) Mississippi River
D) Appalachian Mountains
E) East Coast

Question 22

Which type of crust has the greater thickness?

A) continental
B) oceanic

Question 23

The lithosphere is:

A) also called the crust
B) also called the mantle
C) the rigid portion of the Earth crust and upper mantle)
D) where convection occurs in the mantle

Question 24

Based on this topographic profile across the central United States, which region probably has neither the thinnest nor thickest crust?

A) Colorado Rockies
B) Mississippi River
C) East Coast

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT an important difference between continents and oceans?

A) thickness of the crust
B) composition of the crust
C) density of the crust
D) whether it is part of the lithosphere
E) elevation

Question 26

Which of the following is the best description of what the lithosphere contains?

A) continental and oceanic crust
B) both types of crust and the uppermost mantle
C) weak part of the upper mantle
D) upper and lower mantle
E) lower mantle and outer core

Question 27

What is the condition of equilibrium or balance in a system called? Geologists often use this term to describe crustal blocks floating on the asthenosphere.

A) isostasy
B) convection
C) Curie point
D) geothermal gradient

Question 28

What happens to a mountain in terms of isostatic adjustment following a period of significant erosion?

A) The continent underneath will be uplifted.
B) The continent underneath will subside.
C) Erosion does not affect isostasy.

Question 29

The asthenosphere is beneath the:

A) lithosphere
B) mantle
C) outer core

Question 30

The principle of isostasy refers to:

A) the difference in the strength of the mantle versus the crust
B) the relationship between regional elevations and thickness of crust
C) how the outer core differs from the inner core
D) how the upper mantle differs from the lower mantle

Question 31

Compared to oceanic crust, continental crust is:

A) thinner
B) more dense
C) lighter in color
D) all of these

Question 32

The asthenosphere is part of the:

A) mantle
B) lithosphere

Question 33

Based on this topographic profile across the central United States, which region probably has the thinnest crust?

A) Colorado Rockies
B) Great Plains
C) Mississippi River
D) Appalachian Mountains
E) East Coast

Question 34

What is the largest of Earth's concentric zones by volume?

A) the crust
B) the mantle
C) the core

Question 35

The main difference between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere is the:

A) asthenosphere is less rigid
B) asthenosphere flows less easily
C) asthenosphere is cooler
D) asthenosphere has more oceanic crust
E) asthenosphere has more continental crust

Question 36

Which layer on this figure is the outer core?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 37

What is the most likely reason why a region is higher than adjacent regions?

A) there is a hot spot beneath it
B) the crust is thicker
C) it is underlain by oceanic crust
D) the asthenosphere is hotter
E) the crust is hotter

Question 38

Which of these best describes the location of the core within the Earth?

A) The core is located in the central zone of the Earth, beneath the mantle.
B) The core is located between the thin surface crust and the thick mantle.
C) The core is located at the surface of the Earth, forming a thin skin.

Question 39

Which of the following combinations would result in the highest regional elevations?

A) thin, dense crust
B) thick, dense crust
C) thin, less dense crust
D) thick, less dense crust

Question 40

Which of the following Earth layers is the thickest?

A) continental crust
B) oceanic crust
C) mantle
D) outer core

Question 41

Which of the following is true about gravity?

A) Gravity of the Sun and Moon exert a pull on Earth.
B) The mass of the Earth causes a downward pull on objects on Earth.
C) Gravity causes ice, water, and rocks to move downhill.
D) All of these.

Question 42

Which of the following locations would most likely contain large, angular rocks?

A) location 1, along the margins of a glacier
B) location 2, along a steep mountain front
C) location 3, in sand dunes
D) locations 1 and 2
E) locations 2 and 3

Question 43

Which arrows in this figure indicates evaporation?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D

Question 44

What happens to material that is hotter than its surrounding material deep within the Earth?

A) The hot material slowly moves up toward the surface.
B) The hot material moves slowly down toward the core.
C) Nothing. The hot material doesn't move at all.

Question 45

Radioactive decay within the Earth produces heat; the other form of heat produced by the Earth comes from:

A) heat trapped when the Earth was formed
B) solar radiation trapped in the rock on the Earth's surface
C) heat produced by air as it moves across the oceans

Question 46

Which of the following is true about processes that affect Earth?

A) Atmospheric pressure is less at sea level than in high mountains.
B) Forces decrease downward within Earth.
C) Forces are imposed on deep rocks from all directions.
D) All heat inside Earth comes from magma.
E) None of these.

Question 47

Which of the following are ways that the atmosphere interacts with Earth's surface?

A) Liquid water on the surface can evaporate, becoming water vapor in the atmosphere.
B) The atmosphere includes a low percentage of water vapor, most of which comes from the oceans.
C) Earth's atmosphere blocks most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
D) Some energy that strikes the earth is converted into infrared energy.
E) All of these.

Question 48

Which of the following surface environments is the most likely site for deposits in this photograph?

A) steep mountain front
B) river channel
C) sand dunes
D) beach
E) lake

Question 49

Which arrows in this figure indicates ultraviolet energy, an external energy source?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D

Question 50

Which arrows in this figure indicates infrared energy, which has been converted from ultraviolet energy?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D

Question 51

Which of the following locations would contain a wide variety of sediment, from large angular blocks to fine rock powder, produced from grinding of the rocks?

A) location 1, along the margins of a glacier
B) location 2, along a steep mountain front
C) location 3, in sand dunes
D) location 4, along a beach
E) location 5, on relatively deep seafloor

Question 52

Which of the following locations would contain sand, rounded stones, and broken shells?

A) location 1, along the margins of a glacier
B) location 2, along a steep mountain front
C) location 3, in sand dunes
D) location 4, along a beach
E) location 5, on relatively deep seafloor

Question 53

What type of rock would the materials shown in this photograph produce?

A) sedimentary
B) igneous
C) metamorphic
D) hydrothermal

Question 54

Radioactive decay in the Earth, especially in the Earth's crust, creates a tremendous amount of:

A) pressure
B) heat

Question 55

Which of the following surface environments is the most likely site for deposits in this photograph?

A) steep mountain front
B) glacier
C) sand dunes
D) beach
E) lake

Question 56

Which of the following locations would contain mud and the remains of small creatures?

A) location 1, along the margins of a glacier
B) location 2, along a steep mountain front
C) location 3, in sand dunes
D) location 4, along a beach
E) location 5, on relatively deep seafloor

Question 57

Which of the following locations would contain large, angular rocks that broke away from bedrock and moved downhill?

A) location 1, along the margins of a glacier
B) location 2, along a steep mountain front
C) location 3, in sand dunes
D) location 4, along a beach
E) location 5, on relatively deep seafloor

Question 58

Which of the following locations would most likely contain a high percentage of sand?

A) location 2, along a steep mountain front
B) location 3, in sand dunes
C) location 4, along a beach
D) locations 2 and 3
E) locations 3 and 4

Question 59

Which of the following is true about forces and energy imposed on Earth from space?

A) Internal processes within the Moon produce light during the night.
B) Sun's electromagnetic energy is all blocked by Earth's protective atmosphere.
C) Our massive Sun is the only object that exerts a gravitational pull on Earth.
D) All of these.
E) None of these.

Question 60

Which of the following locations would form an igneous rock?

A) locations 1 and 2
B) locations 2 and 3
C) locations 3 and 4
D) locations 1, 2, and 3
E) locations 5 and 6

Question 61

Which of the following is NOT a typical environment in which a metamorphic rock forms?

A) solidification of lava
B) heating adjacent to underground magma
C) squeezing by tectonic forces
D) burial to great depths

Question 62

A type of rock that forms directly from precipitates of hot water is called an):

A) hydrothermal rock
B) sedimentary rock
C) igneous rock

Question 63

Lava is molten rock that cools:

A) on the surface
B) underground

Question 64

Uplift can occur during the rock cycle:

A) only after deformation and metamorphism
B) only after melting and solidification
C) only after metamorphism or solidification
D) at any point after burial

Question 65

Which of the following is NOT one of the main families of rocks?

A) sedimentary
B) igneous
C) metamorphic
D) meteorites

Question 66

Which of the following best indicates a location where sediment is transported?

A) location 1
B) location 2
C) location 3
D) location 4

Question 67

According to the rock cycle, sediment that is being transported by a river could become a metamorphic rock after:

A) uplift and weathering
B) melting and solidification
C) deposition and burial
D) solidification and uplift

Question 68

If rock is exposed to enough heat after metamorphism it will eventually:

A) melt into magma
B) crystallize into magma
C) weather into magma
D) solidify into magma

Question 69

Which of the following settings would result in the formation of igneous rocks?

A) location 1
B) location 2
C) location 3
D) location 4

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT a typical environment in which a sedimentary rock forms?

A) beside glaciers
B) river channels
C) heating next to a magma
D) deep seafloor
E) shoreline of a lake

Question 71

Which of the following locations would form a metamorphic rock?

A) locations 1 and 2
B) locations 2 and 3
C) locations 3 and 4
D) locations 1, 2, and 3
E) locations 5 and 6

Question 72

The rock cycle shows that rock is transformed after partial melting during metamorphism into:

A) magma
B) sediment
C) igneous rock

Question 73

Heat, pressure, and deformation are processes that can create:

A) metamorphic rocks
B) igneous
C) sedimentary

Question 74

Which of the following does NOT list processes in an order consistent with a logical progression through the rock cycle?

A) weathering, erosion, deposition
B) solidification, melting, burial
C) erosion, deposition, burial
D) uplift, weathering, erosion
E) burial, metamorphism, melting

Question 75

Which of the following best indicates a location where sediment is deposited but not eroded?

A) location 1
B) location 2
C) location 3
D) location 4

Question 76

Which of the following locations would form a hydrothermal rock?

A) location 1
B) location 2
C) location 3
D) location 4
E) locations 2 and 3

Question 77

Magma is molten rock that occurs:

A) on the surface
B) underground

Question 78

Rock that has formed from cooling magma or lava is:

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

Question 79

Which of the following locations would have weathering of bedrock or loose sediment?

A) location 1
B) location 2
C) location 3
D) location 4
E) locations 1 and 2

Question 80

Which of the following is NOT an environment in which an igneous rock forms?

A) explosive eruption of volcanic ash
B) cooling and solidification of lava
C) solidification of magma at depth
D) intense squeezing from tectonic forces
E) all of these are environments that form igneous rock