Question 1

If you were to come back to Earth in 150 million year's time, what would a map of the planet look like compared to today?

Accepted Answer

A)  so completely different that none of our current continents would be recognizable 
B)  only slightly different because plate motion is extremely slow 
C)  exactly the same because plate tectonics is no longer occurring 
D)  quite different because plate tectonics would have caused a shift in the position of the continents 
A)  so completely different that none of our current continents would be recognizable 
B)  only slightly different because plate motion is extremely slow 
C)  exactly the same because plate tectonics is no longer occurring 
D)  quite different because plate tectonics would have caused a shift in the position of the continents D

Question 2

The carbon dioxide cycle is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  positive feedback 
B)  negative feedback 
C)  bipolar feedback 
D)  a chaotic system 
A)  positive feedback 
B)  negative feedback 
C)  bipolar feedback 
D)  a chaotic system B

Question 3

Rocks are found on the surface of another planet which appear to have been formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean. Given this, they are most likely to be classified as

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

Fossils of early life are very difficult to identify in very old rocks because early life

Accepted Answer

A)  was very simple and microscopic in size 
B)  was not made of organic material that could be replaced by minerals 
C)  was so different to life found on Earth today that we are not capable of identifying it 
D)  did not leave behind any fossilized remains 
A)  was very simple and microscopic in size 
B)  was not made of organic material that could be replaced by minerals 
C)  was so different to life found on Earth today that we are not capable of identifying it 
D)  did not leave behind any fossilized remains

Question 5

Tiny grains of zirconium silicate (zircons) found embedded in sedimentary rocks have been radiometrically dated to what age?

Accepted Answer

A)  4.57 billion years ago 
B)  3.85 billion years ago 
C)  4.38 billion years ago 
D)  4.02 billion years ago 
A)  4.57 billion years ago 
B)  3.85 billion years ago 
C)  4.38 billion years ago 
D)  4.02 billion years ago

Question 6

The Moon, Mercury, and Mars do not have plate tectonics because

Accepted Answer

A)  they have cooled so rapidly that they do not have enough internal convection to break up their thick crusts 
B)  they have no oceans for subduction and seafloor spreading to occur in 
C)  impacts have filled in the plate boundaries essentially turning the process off 
D)  their crusts have dried up and thickened so the crust cannot be broken up into plates 
A)  they have cooled so rapidly that they do not have enough internal convection to break up their thick crusts 
B)  they have no oceans for subduction and seafloor spreading to occur in 
C)  impacts have filled in the plate boundaries essentially turning the process off 
D)  their crusts have dried up and thickened so the crust cannot be broken up into plates

Question 7

Which of the following geological processes has shaped the surface of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  plate tectonics 
B)  volcanism 
C)  erosion 
D)  all of these 
A)  plate tectonics 
B)  volcanism 
C)  erosion 
D)  all of these

Question 8

Seafloor spreading on the Earth is the process by which

Accepted Answer

A)  volcanic material flows from the deep interior to produce volcanic islands 
B)  dense material sank while lighter material rose to the surface during the early geological history 
C)  molten lava oozes out between two tectonic plates that are slowly moving apart 
D)  oceanic crust sinks below continental crust at a tectonic plate boundary 
A)  volcanic material flows from the deep interior to produce volcanic islands 
B)  dense material sank while lighter material rose to the surface during the early geological history 
C)  molten lava oozes out between two tectonic plates that are slowly moving apart 
D)  oceanic crust sinks below continental crust at a tectonic plate boundary

Question 9

The dark maria on the moon are

Accepted Answer

A)  layers of dark meteoritic debris from impacts 
B)  layers of darker rock just beneath the surface which have been uncovered by impacts 
C)  huge impact basins filled in by lava flows 
D)  oceans of liquid water covering the surface 
A)  layers of dark meteoritic debris from impacts 
B)  layers of darker rock just beneath the surface which have been uncovered by impacts 
C)  huge impact basins filled in by lava flows 
D)  oceans of liquid water covering the surface

Question 10

How are the "geological record" and the "fossil record" related?

Accepted Answer

A)  the geological and fossil records are completely unrelated 
B)  the fossil record is part of the geological record 
C)  the geological record is part of the fossil record 
D)  the geological record and the fossil record are just different names for the same thing 
A)  the geological and fossil records are completely unrelated 
B)  the fossil record is part of the geological record 
C)  the geological record is part of the fossil record 
D)  the geological record and the fossil record are just different names for the same thing

Question 11

If the temperature of the Earth cools, how does the carbon dioxide cycle respond?

Accepted Answer

A)  it increases the rate of volcanic eruptions, thus increasing the rate of carbon dioxide production 
B)  it slows the formation of carbonate minerals in the oceans, thus pulling less carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere 
C)  it speeds up the formation of carbonate minerals in the oceans, thus pulling more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere 
D)  it reduces the rate of volcanic eruptions, thus reducing the rate of carbon dioxide production 
A)  it increases the rate of volcanic eruptions, thus increasing the rate of carbon dioxide production 
B)  it slows the formation of carbonate minerals in the oceans, thus pulling less carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere 
C)  it speeds up the formation of carbonate minerals in the oceans, thus pulling more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere 
D)  it reduces the rate of volcanic eruptions, thus reducing the rate of carbon dioxide production

Question 12

A fossil is found in a layer of strata below one layer dated at 8 million years. From this we can deduce the age of the fossil to be

Accepted Answer

A)  between 7 and 8 million years old 
B)  we can tell nothing about the fossil's age from this data 
C)  older than 8 million years 
D)  younger than 7 million years 
A)  between 7 and 8 million years old 
B)  we can tell nothing about the fossil's age from this data 
C)  older than 8 million years 
D)  younger than 7 million years

Question 13

Plate tectonics is currently found

Accepted Answer

A)  on all of the terrestrial planets 
B)  only on Venus and the Earth 
C)  only on the Earth, Venus and Mars 
D)  only on the Earth 
A)  on all of the terrestrial planets 
B)  only on Venus and the Earth 
C)  only on the Earth, Venus and Mars 
D)  only on the Earth

Question 14

In order to have a global magnetic field, a planet must have

Accepted Answer

A)  an electrically conducting fluid in its interior which is undergoing convection and a reasonably rapid rotation 
B)  magnetic rocks in its interior 
C)  magnetic rocks on its surface 
D)  a large core of solid magnetized iron 
A)  an electrically conducting fluid in its interior which is undergoing convection and a reasonably rapid rotation 
B)  magnetic rocks in its interior 
C)  magnetic rocks on its surface 
D)  a large core of solid magnetized iron

Question 15

What do we mean by the "geological record"?

Accepted Answer

A)  rocks from earlier periods of the Earth's history 
B)  samples of meteorites that fell to Earth early in its history 
C)  remains of ancient organisms preserved in rocks 
D)  an album by the Rolling Stones 
A)  rocks from earlier periods of the Earth's history 
B)  samples of meteorites that fell to Earth early in its history 
C)  remains of ancient organisms preserved in rocks 
D)  an album by the Rolling Stones

Question 16

If the temperature of the Earth warms up how does the carbon dioxide cycle respond?

Accepted Answer

A)  it slows the formation of carbonate minerals in the oceans, thus pulling less carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere 
B)  it increases the rate of volcanic eruptions, thus increasing the rate of carbon dioxide production 
C)  it reduces the rate of volcanic eruptions, thus reducing the rate of carbon dioxide production 
D)  it speeds up the formation of carbonate minerals in the oceans, thus pulling more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere 
A)  it slows the formation of carbonate minerals in the oceans, thus pulling less carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere 
B)  it increases the rate of volcanic eruptions, thus increasing the rate of carbon dioxide production 
C)  it reduces the rate of volcanic eruptions, thus reducing the rate of carbon dioxide production 
D)  it speeds up the formation of carbonate minerals in the oceans, thus pulling more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere

Question 17

The Earth's lithosphere has broken up into plates because of

Accepted Answer

A)  earthquakes 
B)  tidal forces due to the Moon 
C)  tidal forces due to the Sun 
D)  mantle convection 
A)  earthquakes 
B)  tidal forces due to the Moon 
C)  tidal forces due to the Sun 
D)  mantle convection

Question 18

Smaller worlds are more prone to atmospheric loss via impacts than large worlds because they

Accepted Answer

A)  have no plate tectonics 
B)  have weaker gravities 
C)  are more likely to be hit 
D)  have less internal heat 
A)  have no plate tectonics 
B)  have weaker gravities 
C)  are more likely to be hit 
D)  have less internal heat

Question 19

Granite is a common type of

Accepted Answer

A)  meteoritic rock 
B)  metamorphic rock 
C)  igneous rock 
D)  sedimentary rock 
A)  meteoritic rock 
B)  metamorphic rock 
C)  igneous rock 
D)  sedimentary rock

Question 20

The greenhouse effect is the

Accepted Answer

A)  generation of heat in the outer layers of the Earth's atmosphere due to absorption of short wavelength radiation 
B)  generation of heat in the ozone layer due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation 
C)  release of heat by volcanism along tectonic plate boundaries 
D)  trapping of infrared radiation from the Earth's surface by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water 
A)  generation of heat in the outer layers of the Earth's atmosphere due to absorption of short wavelength radiation 
B)  generation of heat in the ozone layer due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation 
C)  release of heat by volcanism along tectonic plate boundaries 
D)  trapping of infrared radiation from the Earth's surface by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water

If you were to come back to Earth in 150 million year's time, what would a map of the planet look like compared to today?

The carbon dioxide cycle is an example of

Rocks are found on the surface of another planet which appear to have been formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean. Given this, they are most likely to be classified as

Fossils of early life are very difficult to identify in very old rocks because early life

Tiny grains of zirconium silicate (zircons) found embedded in sedimentary rocks have been radiometrically dated to what age?

The Moon, Mercury, and Mars do not have plate tectonics because

Which of the following geological processes has shaped the surface of the Earth?

Seafloor spreading on the Earth is the process by which

The dark maria on the moon are

How are the "geological record" and the "fossil record" related?

If the temperature of the Earth cools, how does the carbon dioxide cycle respond?

A fossil is found in a layer of strata below one layer dated at 8 million years. From this we can deduce the age of the fossil to be

Plate tectonics is currently found

In order to have a global magnetic field, a planet must have

What do we mean by the "geological record"?

If the temperature of the Earth warms up how does the carbon dioxide cycle respond?

The Earth's lithosphere has broken up into plates because of

Smaller worlds are more prone to atmospheric loss via impacts than large worlds because they

Granite is a common type of

The greenhouse effect is the

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

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Exam 4: The Habitability of Earth

If you were to come back to Earth in 150 million year's time, what would a map of the planet look like compared to today?

The carbon dioxide cycle is an example of

Rocks are found on the surface of another planet which appear to have been formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean. Given this, they are most likely to be classified as

Fossils of early life are very difficult to identify in very old rocks because early life

Tiny grains of zirconium silicate (zircons) found embedded in sedimentary rocks have been radiometrically dated to what age?

The Moon, Mercury, and Mars do not have plate tectonics because

Which of the following geological processes has shaped the surface of the Earth?

Seafloor spreading on the Earth is the process by which

The dark maria on the moon are

How are the "geological record" and the "fossil record" related?

If the temperature of the Earth cools, how does the carbon dioxide cycle respond?

A fossil is found in a layer of strata below one layer dated at 8 million years. From this we can deduce the age of the fossil to be

Plate tectonics is currently found

In order to have a global magnetic field, a planet must have

What do we mean by the "geological record"?

If the temperature of the Earth warms up how does the carbon dioxide cycle respond?

The Earth's lithosphere has broken up into plates because of

Smaller worlds are more prone to atmospheric loss via impacts than large worlds because they

Granite is a common type of

The greenhouse effect is the

A Universe of Life

The Science of Life in the Universe

The Universal Context of Life

The Nature of Life on Earth

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Searching for Life in Our Solar System

Mars

Life on Jovian Moons

The Nature and Evolution of Habitability

Extrasolar Planets: Their Nature and Potential Habitability

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Interstellar Travel and the Fermi Paradox

Filters