Deck 1: Introduction to Earth Science

Question 1

The earth is estimated to be approximately 4.6 billion years old.Life appeared early in the history of Earth,but metazoans (multicelled organisms)did not appear until about 600 million years ago.If the history of Earth were compressed into a single year,when would metazoans appear?

A)late September
B)late November
C)mid-December
D)late January

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which science is not used within the Earth sciences?

A)Chemistry
B)Physics
C)Biology
D)Mathematics
E)None of the above; Earth Science makes use of all of these sciences.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Which of the following is not necessary for a hypothesis to be accepted by the scientific community?

A)It must be testable.
B)It must predict something other than the observations it was based on.
C)There must be alternative hypotheses proposed.
D)It must be based on observations or facts.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

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 5

Sedimentary rocks with marine fossils are exposed at the top of Mt.Everest.Which scientists would make most use of this observation in their study?

A)Meteorologists,because they could use the fossils as a guide to ancient climates
B)Geologists,because their elevation is related to physical geology and fossils are related to Earth history
C)Oceanographers,because the fossils can tell us about periods when the earth was covered with water to the height of Mt.Everest
D)Astronomers,because they can study how life came from outer space to Earth

Question 6

If you want to buy a house in an area and you are worried there may be an earthquake hazard,who would be the best person to ask for advice on this hazard?

A)a civil engineer
B)a geologist
C)a physicist
D)an astrologer

Question 7

Hurricanes are natural disasters.Which branch of the Earth sciences studies the impact of this phenomenon on coastal environments?

A)Meteorology
B)Geology
C)Oceanography
D)Astronomy

Question 8

The primary goal of Earth Science is ________.

A)to develop things that will benefit mankind
B)to identify the patterns in nature and use that information to predict the future
C)to locate resources
D)to protect the environment

Question 9

Hurricanes and tornados are natural disasters.What branch of the Earth sciences studies the origin of these phenomena?

A)Meteorology
B)Geology
C)Oceanography
D)Astronomy

Question 10

Tsunamis and earthquakes have killed millions of people during human history.What branch of the Earth sciences is the main group that studies these phenomena?

A)Meteorology
B)Geology
C)Oceanography
D)Astronomy

Question 11

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 12

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

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

Question 13

Oceanography is the study of the oceans and geology is the study of the earth,so what is meteorology?

A)the study of meteors
B)the study of the Sun's impact on the upper atmosphere
C)the study of the atmosphere
D)the study of how to be a TV newscaster

Question 14

In the television series "Cosmos" the astronomer Carl Sagan used to say,"We are all made of star stuff." What did he mean by that?

A)All of the chemical elements were formed during the big bang when the universe began,so we are like the stars.
B)We all have to potential to be stars.
C)All of the chemical elements in our solar system were forged in an ancient star that went supernova.
D)The earth has incorporated large amounts of chemical material from the solar wind,so our bodies carry this material.

Question 15

In the proto-solar system nebula,gravity pulled matter together to form larger bodies.As they collided,what happened to these bodies?

A)Oblique collisions caused individual bodies to spin.
B)The objects broke apart to form asteroids,much like a neutron colliding with a heavy atom produces fission.
C)The objects temporarily broke apart and then reformed into large objects,cooling rapidly during the breakup period.
D)Immense heat was released within the colliding bodies as gravitational potential energy was converted to heat.

Question 16

Climate change is a well-known human problem and remains controversial despite widespread scientific agreement on the issue.Although most scientists are familiar with the issues,if you were a congressman and wanted an informed analysis of the problem,which of the following would be most likely to give you the most complete analysis?

A)an astronomer
B)a meteorologist with knowledge of oceanography
C)a geologist with knowledge of astronomy
D)a physicist

Question 17

Which of the following is not a planet?

A)Europa
B)Venus
C)Saturn
D)Neptune

Question 18

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

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

Question 19

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

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

Question 20

Which of the following would not typically be considered an Earth Science study?

A)studies of volcanic eruptions
B)studies of impact craters on the moon
C)studies of acid mine waters and the bacteria that live in those waters
D)chemical refining of petroleum

Question 21

Which of the following layers in the earth has the highest density?

A)Lithosphere
B)Asthenosphere
C)Lower mantle
D)Outer Core

Question 22

Light elements like hydrogen and helium form a large percentage of the outer planets and Sun is made up primarily of hydrogen.Why are these elements nearly absent from the inner planets?

A)The Sun captured all of the hydrogen during its formation.
B)These light elements are blown away from the inner planets by the solar wind.
C)It is a mystery that has never been solved by science.
D)Hydrogen and helium have all been bound up by chemical reactions on the inner planets and are held in rock.

Question 23

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

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

Question 24

The Oort cloud is ________.

A)an unusual type of cloud formed when meteorites strike the earth
B)another name for the inner solar system,just before the Sun became hot enough for nuclear fusion
C)the outer solar system where planetesimals,rocky debris and comets orbit outside beyond the outer planets but cross into the inner solar system at times
D)the asteroid belt

Question 25

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

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

Question 26

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 27

Comets are made up primarily of ________.

A)iron-nickel alloys
B)silicate minerals,like rocks on Earth
C)frozen hydrogen
D)frozen water,carbon dioxide,and methane

Question 28

Oceanic crust is generated at ________.

A)hot spots on the sea floor,like Iceland
B)spreading ridges
C)convergent plate margins
D)transform plate margins

Question 29

The ________ is the thinnest layer of the earth.

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

Question 30

Continental shields and platforms represent ________.

A)sites where continents collide,analogous to warriors clashing shields
B)names given to Paleozoic mountain belts
C)sedimentary basins with inland seas shaped like a shield,like Hudson's bay
D)areas in the interior of continents that have not experienced mountain building for billions of years

Question 31

The composition of the earth's inner core is thought to be ________.

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

Question 32

Soil belongs to the ________.

A)hydrosphere
B)atmosphere
C)geosphere
D)biosphere
E)All of the above

Question 33

Convergent plate boundaries are ________.

A)sites where cold,downgoing convective cells,the plates,descent into the mantle
B)sites where heat from the earth's interior is vented to the surface as volcanos
C)areas where two plates slide laterally past one another,generating earthquakes,like the San Andrea fault
D)sites of supervolcanos like Yellowstone

Question 34

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)heat transfer between the earth's interior and the surface of the earth
D)swirling movements of the molten iron particles in the outer core

Question 35

The ________ refers to the water-dominated parts of the earth.

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

Question 36

The Andes Mountains in South America are formed by ________.

A)subduction
B)sea floor spreading
C)back-arc contraction
D)continental collision

Question 37

The largest of Earth's spheres is the ________.

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

Question 38

The exchange of energy between the surface of the earth,the atmosphere,and space causes ________.

A)topography
B)temperature
C)weather
D)glaciers

Question 39

The ________ forms the relatively cool,brittle tectonic plates.

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

Question 40

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 41

Ocean floor averages about ________ km depth below sea level.

A)2
B)4
C)6
D)8

Question 42

What two chemical elements are most abundant in the deep interior of the earth?

A)iron and magnesium
B)magnesium and oxygen
C)hydrogen and helium
D)silicon and oxygen

Question 43

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

Question 44

The Himalayan Mountains and adjacent Tibet are a mountain system formed by ________.

A)subduction
B)sea floor spreading
C)back-arc contraction
D)continental collision

Question 45

A mineralogist studies minerals and their origins.A mineralogist studying the Earth system would ________.

A)do the same thing,studying minerals and their origins,as any other mineralogist
B)study how minerals form rocks
C)study how minerals influence organisms living on them,how they react with water to produce soil forming minerals,or study how wind transports minerals as dust and influences climate
D)Minerals can never be used to study the Earth system.

Question 46

A major cause of the differences in elevation between ocean basins and continents is ________.

A)viscosity
B)temperature
C)density
D)mass

Question 47

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 48

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 49

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

Question 50

Long oceanic mountain chains typically are characterized by ________.

A)highly deformed sedimentary rocks
B)granitic plutons and batholiths
C)layers of igneous rocks
D)rocks older than 1 billion years old

Question 51

Which of the following is not considered to be part of a typical ocean basin?

A)a linear chain of volcanoes
B)large expanses of flat plains
C)granitic intrusions
D)deep canyons

Question 52

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

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

Question 53

Shield areas in continental interiors are characterized by ________.

A)linear chains of mountains less than 100 million years old
B)flat areas that include rocks older than 1 billion years old
C)flat river valleys that cut through older mountain ranges
D)ancient coastal regions that have become abandoned and eroded

Question 54

Major mountain belts on the earth are ________.

A)older than smaller mountain belts because they have had enough time to grow large
B)located around the Pacific Ocean
C)over 10 km high
D)made of granite because it is low density and allows for maximum growth

Question 55

Ocean crust is denser than continental crust because ocean crust is ________.

A)composed primarily of basalt
B)composed primarily of granite
C)thicker than continental crust
D)thinner than continental crust

Question 56

Which of the following is a reasonable approximation of the rate that plates move?

A)the rate of growth of human hair or fingernails
B)the speed a turtle walks
C)the speed of a mountain glacier
D)the speed of deep ocean currents

Question 57

Flat,stable areas of continental crust tend to be located ________.

A)along coastlines
B)near desert regions
C)in the interior of continents
D)in areas that receive large amounts of rainfall

Question 58

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 59

Which of the following is not a system?

A)the biosphere
B)soil,plants,rock,soil organisms,and animals
C)the study of minerals
D)the Pacific Ocean and the west coast of North America

Question 60

Deep ocean trenches typically are not located adjacent to ________.

A)transform plate boundaries
B)volcanic island arc chains
C)young continental mountains
D)abyssal plains

Question 61

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

Question 62

Environmental science always involves a large component of Earth Science.

Question 63

abyssal plain seamount oceanic ridge continental crust

Question 64

protosun Oort cloud planetesimals meteorites

Question 65

Scientists only use measurements that are known to be reliable and accurate.

Question 66

Earth Science is the only science that doesn't use mathematics beyond simple arithmetic.

Question 67

There are places on the deepest parts of the ocean where no light penetrates that support colonies of life.

Question 68

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

Question 69

mountain belt shield continental interior stable platform

Question 70

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

Question 71

hydrosphere biosphere atmosphere solid earth

Question 72

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

Question 73

Not all scientific hypotheses require real world observations.Some are tested through computer modeling or some other non-direct observations.

Question 74

hypothesis theory fact observation

Question 75

The "Big Bang" is an example of theory.

Question 76

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

Question 77

A scientific theory is the first step in developing an idea.It is not very well tested.

Question 78

The vast majority of Earth scientists are involved in either extraction of mineral resources or energy.

Question 79

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.

-crust mantle lithosphere core

Question 80

Science is based on the assumption that nature behaves in a consistent and predictable manner.