Question 1

Which of the following is data rather than an interpretation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Recent volcanism at Yellowstone is related to the process that caused the low topography. 
B)  There is an area of low topography southwest of Yellowstone National Park. 
C)  Volcanism in Yellowstone overlies an area of hotter-than-average mantle. 
D)  The low topography southwest of Yellowstone formed when North America moved over a hot spot. 
A)  Recent volcanism at Yellowstone is related to the process that caused the low topography. 
B)  There is an area of low topography southwest of Yellowstone National Park. 
C)  Volcanism in Yellowstone overlies an area of hotter-than-average mantle. 
D)  The low topography southwest of Yellowstone formed when North America moved over a hot spot.

Question 2

Beneath the Mediterranean Sea, large deposits of salt and layers of wind-deposited sand dating from around 6 million years ago are present. Which of the following would you conclude based upon this information?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Mediterranean Sea once evaporated, leaving behind large salt deposits and creating a desert-like environment of wind-blown sands 
B)  The Mediterranean Sea was once deeper than at present, depositing large amounts of salt and layered sand 
C)  The environment within the Mediterranean Sea has not changed from 6 million years ago to today. 
D)  Sand and salt have blown into the Mediterranean Sea from the surrounding desert areas 
A)  The Mediterranean Sea once evaporated, leaving behind large salt deposits and creating a desert-like environment of wind-blown sands 
B)  The Mediterranean Sea was once deeper than at present, depositing large amounts of salt and layered sand 
C)  The environment within the Mediterranean Sea has not changed from 6 million years ago to today. 
D)  Sand and salt have blown into the Mediterranean Sea from the surrounding desert areas

Question 3

Which of the following correctly lists the four main chapters of Earth's history, from oldest to youngest?

Accepted Answer

A)  Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Precambrian 
B)  Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian 
C)  Paleozoic, Precambrian, Mesozoic, Cenozoic 
D)  Precambrian, Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic 
E)  Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic 
A)  Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Precambrian 
B)  Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian 
C)  Paleozoic, Precambrian, Mesozoic, Cenozoic 
D)  Precambrian, Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic 
E)  Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic

Question 4

Slopes in flatter areas are:

Accepted Answer

A)  gentle 
B)  elevated 
C)  cliffs 
D)  indexes 
A)  gentle 
B)  elevated 
C)  cliffs 
D)  indexes

Question 5

This figure shows the main subdivisions of the geologic timescale. Which of these is the Paleozoic?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

What is the oldest unit or feature in this figure?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5

Question 7

Which locations are composed of loose materials not bedrock)?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

What strategy was described for inferring the environment in which a rock formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  smashing the rock into pieces to see whether it breaks into square or rounded pieces 
B)  comparing the characteristics of the rock to deposits from modern environments 
C)  imagining what would happen if the rock was metamorphosed 
D)  all of these 
A)  smashing the rock into pieces to see whether it breaks into square or rounded pieces 
B)  comparing the characteristics of the rock to deposits from modern environments 
C)  imagining what would happen if the rock was metamorphosed 
D)  all of these

Question 9

This indicates to us that the environment in which this rock formed was likely:

Accepted Answer

A)  a river channel 
B)  a steep mountain front 
A)  a river channel 
B)  a steep mountain front

Question 10

A geologist performs analyses on a rock to gather data recording its specific chemical composition. This type of data is:

Accepted Answer

A)  quantitative 
B)  qualitative 
C)  a survey 
A)  quantitative 
B)  qualitative 
C)  a survey

Question 11

What sort of environment would possibly deposit sediment like that seen in the image?

Accepted Answer

A)  river channels 
B)  floodplain 
C)  steep mountain slope 
D)  cliff face 
A)  river channels 
B)  floodplain 
C)  steep mountain slope 
D)  cliff face

Question 12

This figure shows three blocks in water. Which two materials have the same density?

Accepted Answer

A)  blocks 1 and 2 
B)  blocks 2 and 3 
C)  block 1 and 3 
D)  block 2 and the water 4 
E)  block 3 and the water 4 
A)  blocks 1 and 2 
B)  blocks 2 and 3 
C)  block 1 and 3 
D)  block 2 and the water 4 
E)  block 3 and the water 4

Question 13

Which of the following would be most consistent with an origin of Upheaval Dome by rising mama?

Accepted Answer

A)  an igneous body should exist beneath the crater 
B)  baking of the layers closest to the magma 
C)  an age determination on igneous rocks that is younger than the age of the rock layers 
D)  all of these 
A)  an igneous body should exist beneath the crater 
B)  baking of the layers closest to the magma 
C)  an age determination on igneous rocks that is younger than the age of the rock layers 
D)  all of these

Question 14

What is the youngest unit or feature in this figure?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  there is no way to tell 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  there is no way to tell

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a problem addressed by geologists?

Accepted Answer

A)  energy and mineral resources 
B)  volcanoes and other natural hazards 
C)  geometry of rock layers in the subsurface 
D)  flow of groundwater 
E)  all of these are addressed by geologists 
A)  energy and mineral resources 
B)  volcanoes and other natural hazards 
C)  geometry of rock layers in the subsurface 
D)  flow of groundwater 
E)  all of these are addressed by geologists

Question 16

What steps are involved in having a hypothesis become an established theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  A United Nations scientific panel votes on whether the hypothesis is accepted. 
B)  A U.S. government agency votes on whether the hypothesis is accepted. 
C)  The hypothesis is consistent with new data and investigations used to test its predictions. 
D)  The hypothesis makes sense when explained by politicians. 
A)  A United Nations scientific panel votes on whether the hypothesis is accepted. 
B)  A U.S. government agency votes on whether the hypothesis is accepted. 
C)  The hypothesis is consistent with new data and investigations used to test its predictions. 
D)  The hypothesis makes sense when explained by politicians.

Question 17

What kind of map gives detailed information regarding the elevation of the land's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  topographic 
B)  shaded relief 
C)  geologic 
D)  satellite image 
A)  topographic 
B)  shaded relief 
C)  geologic 
D)  satellite image

Question 18

This figure shows three blocks in water. Which of these materials is the densest?

Accepted Answer

A)  block 1 
B)  block 2 
C)  block 3 
D)  the water 
A)  block 1 
B)  block 2 
C)  block 3 
D)  the water

Question 19

What can you interpret about the relative age of the rocks and features in this photograph?

Accepted Answer

A)  The upper sedimentary layer is younger. 
B)  The lower gray layers are younger. 
C)  The layers are the same age because the boundary is so irregular. 
D)  It is not possible to tell the relative ages of the layers. 
A)  The upper sedimentary layer is younger. 
B)  The lower gray layers are younger. 
C)  The layers are the same age because the boundary is so irregular. 
D)  It is not possible to tell the relative ages of the layers.

Question 20

Quantitative data may include:

Accepted Answer

A)  Specific temperature data 
B)  Size measurements of sediments 
C)  Chemistry of water in a stream 
D)  Age of a rock 
E)  All of these 
A)  Specific temperature data 
B)  Size measurements of sediments 
C)  Chemistry of water in a stream 
D)  Age of a rock 
E)  All of these

Which of the following is data rather than an interpretation?

Beneath the Mediterranean Sea, large deposits of salt and layers of wind-deposited sand dating from around 6 million years ago are present. Which of the following would you conclude based upon this information?

Which of the following correctly lists the four main chapters of Earth's history, from oldest to youngest?

Slopes in flatter areas are:

This figure shows the main subdivisions of the geologic timescale. Which of these is the Paleozoic?

What is the oldest unit or feature in this figure?

Which locations are composed of loose materials not bedrock)?

What strategy was described for inferring the environment in which a rock formed?

This indicates to us that the environment in which this rock formed was likely:

A geologist performs analyses on a rock to gather data recording its specific chemical composition. This type of data is:

What sort of environment would possibly deposit sediment like that seen in the image?

This figure shows three blocks in water. Which two materials have the same density?

Which of the following would be most consistent with an origin of Upheaval Dome by rising mama?

What is the youngest unit or feature in this figure?

Which of the following is NOT a problem addressed by geologists?

What steps are involved in having a hypothesis become an established theory?

What kind of map gives detailed information regarding the elevation of the land's surface?

This figure shows three blocks in water. Which of these materials is the densest?

What can you interpret about the relative age of the rocks and features in this photograph?

Quantitative data may include:

The Nature of Geology

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 2: Investigating Geologic Questions

Which of the following is data rather than an interpretation?

Beneath the Mediterranean Sea, large deposits of salt and layers of wind-deposited sand dating from around 6 million years ago are present. Which of the following would you conclude based upon this information?

Which of the following correctly lists the four main chapters of Earth's history, from oldest to youngest?

Slopes in flatter areas are:

This figure shows the main subdivisions of the geologic timescale. Which of these is the Paleozoic?

What is the oldest unit or feature in this figure?

Which locations are composed of loose materials not bedrock)?

What strategy was described for inferring the environment in which a rock formed?

This indicates to us that the environment in which this rock formed was likely:

A geologist performs analyses on a rock to gather data recording its specific chemical composition. This type of data is:

What sort of environment would possibly deposit sediment like that seen in the image?

This figure shows three blocks in water. Which two materials have the same density?

Which of the following would be most consistent with an origin of Upheaval Dome by rising mama?

What is the youngest unit or feature in this figure?

Which of the following is NOT a problem addressed by geologists?

What steps are involved in having a hypothesis become an established theory?

What kind of map gives detailed information regarding the elevation of the land's surface?

This figure shows three blocks in water. Which of these materials is the densest?

What can you interpret about the relative age of the rocks and features in this photograph?

Quantitative data may include:

The Nature of Geology

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