Question 1

Which of these numbered areas on Enceladus, a moon of Jupiter, is probably the oldest?

Accepted Answer

A)  1, a heavily cratered terrain 
B)  2, tectonic belts that cut across the cratered terrain 
C)  3, less cratered plains 
D)  there is not enough information to tell 
A)  1, a heavily cratered terrain 
B)  2, tectonic belts that cut across the cratered terrain 
C)  3, less cratered plains 
D)  there is not enough information to tell

Question 2

The Valles Marineris system on Mars is 4,000 km long, the width of:

Accepted Answer

A)  the United States 
B)  Europe 
C)  Texas 
D)  Saskatchewan 
A)  the United States 
B)  Europe 
C)  Texas 
D)  Saskatchewan

Question 3

This figure shows the moon at four different positions, representing four different times, as it orbits around Earth. At which position would there be a full moon as seen from Earth?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

What is the second largest planet in our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter 
B)  Earth 
C)  Saturn 
D)  Uranus 
A)  Jupiter 
B)  Earth 
C)  Saturn 
D)  Uranus

Question 5

Geologists have mapped the Moon by using data from:

Accepted Answer

A)  telescopes 
B)  binoculars 
C)  orbiting spacecraft 
D)  returned samples 
E)  geologists have used all of these to map the Moon 
A)  telescopes 
B)  binoculars 
C)  orbiting spacecraft 
D)  returned samples 
E)  geologists have used all of these to map the Moon

Question 6

Planetary geologists have successfully explored Mars using:

Accepted Answer

A)  orbiting spacecraft 
B)  sophisticated cameras 
C)  landed rovers 
D)  all of these 
A)  orbiting spacecraft 
B)  sophisticated cameras 
C)  landed rovers 
D)  all of these

Question 7

Which feature on Earth's moon is the oldest and consists of heavily crater, feldspar rich, igneous rock?

Accepted Answer

A)  1, the mare 
B)  2, lunar highlands 
C)  3, rayed crater 
D)  the polar ice caps 
A)  1, the mare 
B)  2, lunar highlands 
C)  3, rayed crater 
D)  the polar ice caps

Question 8

During its early stages of formation, a catastrophic collision with Earth by a large body is thought to have ripped part of the Earth away to form:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon 
B)  asteroid belt 
C)  Mars 
D)  Phobos and Deimos 
A)  the Moon 
B)  asteroid belt 
C)  Mars 
D)  Phobos and Deimos

Question 9

Channels on the surface of Mars may have been formed by:

Accepted Answer

A)  running water 
B)  wind 
C)  tectonics 
D)  collapse 
A)  running water 
B)  wind 
C)  tectonics 
D)  collapse

Question 10

Which of the following is the major difference between the inner planets as a group and the outer planets as a group?

Accepted Answer

A)  composition 
B)  presence of moons 
C)  orbital plane 
D)  presence of water 
A)  composition 
B)  presence of moons 
C)  orbital plane 
D)  presence of water

Question 11

The surface of this planet is obscured by an atmosphere of thick clouds and toxic gases. What planetary body is it?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mercury 
B)  Earth 
C)  Earth's moon 
D)  Mars 
E)  Venus 
A)  Mercury 
B)  Earth 
C)  Earth's moon 
D)  Mars 
E)  Venus

Question 12

What are the dominant features on the surface of Mercury?

Accepted Answer

A)  large canyons cut by running water 
B)  large dark burn marks because of the proximity to the Sun 
C)  impact craters of various sizes 
D)  pools of highly reflective liquid mercury 
A)  large canyons cut by running water 
B)  large dark burn marks because of the proximity to the Sun 
C)  impact craters of various sizes 
D)  pools of highly reflective liquid mercury

Question 13

What causes the phases of the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Earth's shadow obscures different amounts of the Moon during the year 
B)  the Earth's shadow obscures different amounts of the Moon over 28 days 
C)  the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth cause us to see different amounts of the Moon's lighted side 
D)  a partial eclipse causes the lighted part of the moon to grow and shrink over time 
A)  the Earth's shadow obscures different amounts of the Moon during the year 
B)  the Earth's shadow obscures different amounts of the Moon over 28 days 
C)  the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth cause us to see different amounts of the Moon's lighted side 
D)  a partial eclipse causes the lighted part of the moon to grow and shrink over time

Question 14

Uranus consists largely of:

Accepted Answer

A)  water, methane, ammonia 
B)  water, oxygen, ammonia 
C)  ice, methane, carbon dioxide 
D)  methane, helium 
A)  water, methane, ammonia 
B)  water, oxygen, ammonia 
C)  ice, methane, carbon dioxide 
D)  methane, helium

Question 15

What did the Cassini spacecraft and its Huygens probe discover on the surface of Titan, the largest of Saturn's moons?

Accepted Answer

A)  the surface was nearly completely covered by impact craters 
B)  there was a large impact crater that nearly blasted the moon apart 
C)  networks of drainages apparently carved by liquids 
D)  none of these 
A)  the surface was nearly completely covered by impact craters 
B)  there was a large impact crater that nearly blasted the moon apart 
C)  networks of drainages apparently carved by liquids 
D)  none of these

Question 16

The density of craters on a planet's surface can help planetary scientists estimate its:

Accepted Answer

A)  age 
B)  size 
C)  diameter 
D)  composition 
A)  age 
B)  size 
C)  diameter 
D)  composition

Question 17

Which of the following are present on Earth but not on any other planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  ice 
B)  features interpreted to have formed by flowing water 
C)  volcanoes 
D)  dust storms 
E)  none of these 
A)  ice 
B)  features interpreted to have formed by flowing water 
C)  volcanoes 
D)  dust storms 
E)  none of these

Question 18

What does this photograph, which is representative of most of Mercury, indicate about the planet?

Accepted Answer

A)  the surface is covered by impact craters 
B)  the planet does not have tectonic or volcanic activity 
C)  the planet lacks wind or water 
D)  all of these 
A)  the surface is covered by impact craters 
B)  the planet does not have tectonic or volcanic activity 
C)  the planet lacks wind or water 
D)  all of these

Question 19

This figure shows the moon at four different positions, representing four different times, as it orbits around Earth. At which position would there be a new moon as seen from Earth?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

The largest planet in our solar system is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Neptune 
A)  Jupiter 
B)  Saturn 
C)  Uranus 
D)  Neptune

Which of these numbered areas on Enceladus, a moon of Jupiter, is probably the oldest?

The Valles Marineris system on Mars is 4,000 km long, the width of:

This figure shows the moon at four different positions, representing four different times, as it orbits around Earth. At which position would there be a full moon as seen from Earth?

What is the second largest planet in our solar system?

Geologists have mapped the Moon by using data from:

Planetary geologists have successfully explored Mars using:

Which feature on Earth's moon is the oldest and consists of heavily crater, feldspar rich, igneous rock?

During its early stages of formation, a catastrophic collision with Earth by a large body is thought to have ripped part of the Earth away to form:

Channels on the surface of Mars may have been formed by:

Which of the following is the major difference between the inner planets as a group and the outer planets as a group?

The surface of this planet is obscured by an atmosphere of thick clouds and toxic gases. What planetary body is it?

What are the dominant features on the surface of Mercury?

What causes the phases of the Moon?

Uranus consists largely of:

What did the Cassini spacecraft and its Huygens probe discover on the surface of Titan, the largest of Saturn's moons?

The density of craters on a planet's surface can help planetary scientists estimate its:

Which of the following are present on Earth but not on any other planet?

What does this photograph, which is representative of most of Mercury, indicate about the planet?

This figure shows the moon at four different positions, representing four different times, as it orbits around Earth. At which position would there be a new moon as seen from Earth?

The largest planet in our solar system is:

The Nature of Geology

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Igneous Environments

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Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Geologic Time

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

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Exam 19: Geology of the Solar System

Which of these numbered areas on Enceladus, a moon of Jupiter, is probably the oldest?

The Valles Marineris system on Mars is 4,000 km long, the width of:

This figure shows the moon at four different positions, representing four different times, as it orbits around Earth. At which position would there be a full moon as seen from Earth?

What is the second largest planet in our solar system?

Geologists have mapped the Moon by using data from:

Planetary geologists have successfully explored Mars using:

Which feature on Earth's moon is the oldest and consists of heavily crater, feldspar rich, igneous rock?

During its early stages of formation, a catastrophic collision with Earth by a large body is thought to have ripped part of the Earth away to form:

Channels on the surface of Mars may have been formed by:

Which of the following is the major difference between the inner planets as a group and the outer planets as a group?

The surface of this planet is obscured by an atmosphere of thick clouds and toxic gases. What planetary body is it?

What are the dominant features on the surface of Mercury?

What causes the phases of the Moon?

Uranus consists largely of:

What did the Cassini spacecraft and its Huygens probe discover on the surface of Titan, the largest of Saturn's moons?

The density of craters on a planet's surface can help planetary scientists estimate its:

Which of the following are present on Earth but not on any other planet?

What does this photograph, which is representative of most of Mercury, indicate about the planet?

This figure shows the moon at four different positions, representing four different times, as it orbits around Earth. At which position would there be a new moon as seen from Earth?

The largest planet in our solar system is:

The Nature of Geology

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

Filters