Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

The uppermost part of the oceans, as expressed by normal ocean waves, are in constant motion due to the effects of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  wind 
B)  ultraviolet radiation 
C)  gravity 
D)  tides 
A)  wind 
B)  ultraviolet radiation 
C)  gravity 
D)  tides

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

Choose appropriate ways) that volcanoes might impact people living nearby:

Accepted Answer

A)  Releases steam and noxious gases into the atmosphere. 
B)  Volcanic ash provides fertile sediment for growing crops. 
C)  Ash ejected into the atmosphere blocks sunlight. 
D)  Projectiles thrown into the air can hit your house. 
E)  All of these impact people living nearby. 
A)  Releases steam and noxious gases into the atmosphere. 
B)  Volcanic ash provides fertile sediment for growing crops. 
C)  Ash ejected into the atmosphere blocks sunlight. 
D)  Projectiles thrown into the air can hit your house. 
E)  All of these impact people living nearby.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A)  pressure 
B)  heat 
A)  pressure 
B)  heat

Question 8

The Earth's orbit around the Sun is almost circular. Therefore, Earth receives about the same amount of year-round ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  heat and light 
B)  heat and precipitation 
C)  light and precipitation 
A)  heat and light 
B)  heat and precipitation 
C)  light and precipitation

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

The main cause of the Rapid City flood of 1972 was:

Accepted Answer

A)  rapid melting of glaciers in the Black Hills because of global warming 
B)  failure of a dam because of a large landslide into the reservoir 
C)  poor design and poor construction of a large concrete dam 
D)  intense rainfall from a thunderstorm that resulted in a flash flood 
E)  all of these 
A)  rapid melting of glaciers in the Black Hills because of global warming 
B)  failure of a dam because of a large landslide into the reservoir 
C)  poor design and poor construction of a large concrete dam 
D)  intense rainfall from a thunderstorm that resulted in a flash flood 
E)  all of these

Question 11

Which of the following is true about gravity?

Accepted Answer

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. 
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 12

Choose the answer that best explains why a rock might not go through the complete rock cycle.

Accepted Answer

A)  The exposed rock may never weather thus never enter the rock cycle again. 
B)  Rock may be involved in a variety of processes in different sequences. 
C)  Some rocks are forever trapped in the magma of the Earth. 
A)  The exposed rock may never weather thus never enter the rock cycle again. 
B)  Rock may be involved in a variety of processes in different sequences. 
C)  Some rocks are forever trapped in the magma of the Earth.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

Which arrows in this figure indicates evaporation?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

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. 
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 18

The most important agent for sculpting the landscape is:

Accepted Answer

A)  flowing water 
B)  blowing wind 
C)  gravity 
D)  wave action 
A)  flowing water 
B)  blowing wind 
C)  gravity 
D)  wave action

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

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 
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 20

Which layer on this figure is the outer core?

Accepted Answer

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

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

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

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

The uppermost part of the oceans, as expressed by normal ocean waves, are in constant motion due to the effects of the:

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

Choose appropriate ways) that volcanoes might impact people living nearby:

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

The Earth's orbit around the Sun is almost circular. Therefore, Earth receives about the same amount of year-round ________.

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

The main cause of the Rapid City flood of 1972 was:

Which of the following is true about gravity?

Choose the answer that best explains why a rock might not go through the complete rock cycle.

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

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

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

Which arrows in this figure indicates evaporation?

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

The most important agent for sculpting the landscape is:

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

Which layer on this figure is the outer core?

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Climate and Weathering

Glaciers, Shorelines, and Changing Sea Levels

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters

Exam 1: The Nature of Geology

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

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

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

The uppermost part of the oceans, as expressed by normal ocean waves, are in constant motion due to the effects of the:

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

Choose appropriate ways) that volcanoes might impact people living nearby:

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

The Earth's orbit around the Sun is almost circular. Therefore, Earth receives about the same amount of year-round ________.

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

The main cause of the Rapid City flood of 1972 was:

Which of the following is true about gravity?

Choose the answer that best explains why a rock might not go through the complete rock cycle.

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

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

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

Which arrows in this figure indicates evaporation?

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

The most important agent for sculpting the landscape is:

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

Which layer on this figure is the outer core?

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Climate and Weathering

Glaciers, Shorelines, and Changing Sea Levels

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters