Deck 1: Introduction to Earth Science

Question 1

The continental shelf is located ________.

A) between the continental slope and continental rise
B) between the continental rise and the abyssal plains
C) seaward of the continental slope
D) landward of the continental slope

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The ________ explains how our solar system probably formed from a giant cloud of gases and dispersed solid particles.

A) protogalactic theory
B) nebular hypothesis
C) extrastellar solar hypothesis
D) planetary compression theory

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Active mountain belts are most likely to be found ________.

A) along the margins of continents
B) in the interior regions of continents
C) scattered throughout continents
D) along only the eastern margins of continents

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Flat, expansive regions on a continent, composed of deformed crystalline rock, are known as ________.

A) cratons
B) shields
C) platforms
D) belts

Question 5

Mechanisms that enhance or drive change are known as ________.

A) negative feedback mechanisms
B) positive feedback mechanisms
C) closed feedback mechanisms
D) open feedback mechanisms

Question 6

A(n) ________ system is one in which energy moves freely in and out, but no matter enters or leaves the system.

A) closed
B) open
C) feedback
D) equilibrated

Question 7

The ________ refers to the sum total of all life on Earth.

A) hydrosphere
B) atmosphere
C) biosphere
D) asthenosphere

Question 8

The study of Earth's atmosphere is known as ________.

A) astronomy
B) oceanography
C) meteorology
D) cosmology

Question 9

Which of the following energy sources is thought to drive the lateral motions of Earth's lithospheric plates?

A) gravitational attractive forces of the Sun and Moon
B) electrical and magnetic fields localized in the inner core
C) export of heat from deep in the mantle to the top of the asthenosphere
D) swirling movements of the molten iron particles in the outer core

Question 10

What is the source of the energy that powers the Earth system?

A) the Sun
B) heat from Earth's interior
C) both A and B
D) none of the above

Question 11

The most prominent feature on the ocean floor are the ________.

A) deep-ocean trenches
B) oceanic ridges
C) seamounts
D) lava plateaus

Question 12

The composition of the core of Earth is thought to be ________.

A) basalt
B) granite
C) peridotite
D) solid iron-nickel alloy

Question 13

The asthenosphere is actually a part of the ________ of the Earth.

A) outer core
B) crust
C) inner core
D) mantle

Question 14

The ________ is thought to be a liquid, metallic region in the Earth's interior.

A) inner core
B) lithosphere
C) mantle
D) outer core

Question 15

In correct order from the center outward, Earth includes which units?

A) core, inner mantle, outer mantle, crust
B) inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
C) inner core, crust, mantle, hydrosphere
D) core, crust, mantle, hydrosphere

Question 16

What are the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical geology?

A) Physical geology is the study of fossils and sequences of rock strata; historical geology is the study of how rocks and minerals were used in the past.
B) Historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and geologic events, utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference; physical geology includes the study of how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface.
C) Physical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and deposition in relation to plate movements in the geologic past; historical geology charts how and where the plates were moving in the past.
D) none of the above - physical geology and historical geology are essentially the same

Question 17

The ________ is the thinnest layer of the Earth.

A) crust
B) outer core
C) mantle
D) inner core

Question 18

The ________ forms the relatively cool, brittle plates of plate tectonics.

A) asthenosphere
B) lithosphere
C) astrosphere
D) eosphere

Question 19

All of the following are possible steps of scientific investigation except for ________.

A) the collection of scientific facts through observation and measurement
B) assumption of conclusions without prior experimentation or observation
C) the development of one or more working hypotheses or models to explain facts
D) development of observations and experiments to test the hypotheses

Question 20

A ________ is a well-tested and widely accepted view that best explains certain scientific observations.

A) hypothesis
B) generalization
C) law
D) theory

Question 21

The currently accepted age of Earth is approximately 4.5 million years.

Question 22

According to the nebular hypothesis, all of the bodies in the universe evolved from a rotating cloud of gases and dust about five billion years ago.

Question 23

A scientific theory is a tentative or untested explanation that is proposed to explain scientific observations.

Question 24

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. mountain belt B. shield C. continental interior D. stable platform

Question 25

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. hydrosphere B. biosphere C. atmosphere D. solid Earth

Question 26

The lithosphere, asthenosphere, and mesosphere are all layers of Earth defined by their composition.

Question 27

A(n) ________ resource is one which can be replenished over a relatively short time span.

Question 28

Internally, the Earth consists of spherical shells with different compositions and densities.

Question 29

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. abyssal plain B. seamount C. oceanic ridge D. continental slope

Question 30

In an open system both energy and matter flow into and out of the system.

Question 31

Oceans cover slightly less than half of the Earth's surface.

Question 32

In natural systems, mechanisms that drive or enhance change are called ________.

Question 33

The word ________ refers to everything that surrounds and influences an organism.

Question 34

The formation of the solar system from a huge cloud of gases and dispersed particles is known as the solar galactic hypothesis.

Question 35

The asthenosphere is a relatively cool and rigid shell that overlies the lithosphere.

Question 36

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. protosun B. Oort cloud C. protoplanets D. meteorites

Question 37

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. hypothesis B. theory C. fact D. observation

Question 38

Shields and stable platforms are typically found in the interior regions of a continent.

Question 39

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. crust B. mantle C. lithosphere D. core

Question 40

List the two broad, traditional subject areas of geologic study.

Question 41

The ________ is the most prominent feature on the ocean floor.

Question 42

Theories that are extensively documented and comprehensive in their scope are called ________.

Question 43

The convective flow of liquid, metallic iron in the ________ is thought to generate Earth's magnetic field.

Question 44

The thin, outer layer of Earth, from 7 to 40 km in thickness, is called the ________.

Question 45

Moving from the shoreline towards the deep-ocean basin, the continental margin includes the ________ and the ________.

Question 46

A good scientific theory is one which has survived extensive scrutiny by the scientific community and also best explains observable facts. What are some observations regarding our solar system that are explained by the nebular hypothesis? Are there any observations which are not easily explained by the nebular hypothesis?

Question 47

Earth's physical environment is traditionally divided in the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and the solid Earth. Remembering the scientific method, why do you think that scientists tend to categorize and classify various features, phenomena, and characteristics of the natural world into groups or subdivisions? Also, are there potential pitfalls or problems if we only consider the natural world as individual groups or categories rather than as a whole?

Question 48

How specifically do the hydrologic and rock cycles interact with one another at the interface illustrated on the diagram below?

Question 49

What is the relationship of the dense oceanic crust that is produced at a divergent plate boundary to the convergence or collision of an oceanic plate and a continental plate, such as the western margin of South America in the diagram below?

Question 50

The ________ is the solid, rocky shell between the crust and outer core.

Question 51

The ________ is the relatively rigid zone above the asthenosphere that includes the crust and upper mantle.