Question 1

If a geologist discovered coal in a modern-day cold, snowy location, he or she could conclude that

Accepted Answer

A) a meteorite must have struck the area. 
B) the area was once covered with swamps and/or jungles. 
C) the area was once covered with an ocean. 
D) this discovery was anomalous. 
A) a meteorite must have struck the area. 
B) the area was once covered with swamps and/or jungles. 
C) the area was once covered with an ocean. 
D) this discovery was anomalous. B

Question 2

According to the image below, where is new oceanic crust being formed?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Compared with typical oceanic lithosphere, the thickness of continental lithosphere is

Accepted Answer

A) less. 
B) greater. 
C) approximately the same. 
D) There is not a consistent pattern of lithospheric thickness. 
A) less. 
B) greater. 
C) approximately the same. 
D) There is not a consistent pattern of lithospheric thickness. B

Question 4

How can hotspot volcanoes be used to measure past plate velocities?

Accepted Answer

Hot spot volcanic islands form on the su

Question 5

What would happen if the rate of seafloor spreading was faster than the rate of subduction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Arc volcanoes would not form. 
B)  The ocean basins would shrink. 
C) The Earth would become smaller. 
D) The Earth would grow larger. 
A)  Arc volcanoes would not form. 
B)  The ocean basins would shrink. 
C) The Earth would become smaller. 
D) The Earth would grow larger.

Question 6

Deformed (bent, stretched, or cracked) lithosphere occurs

Accepted Answer

A) randomly over the surface of Earth. 
B) primarily within the interiors of tectonic plates. 
C) primarily on the margins of tectonic plates. 
D) primarily at hot spots. 
A) randomly over the surface of Earth. 
B) primarily within the interiors of tectonic plates. 
C) primarily on the margins of tectonic plates. 
D) primarily at hot spots.

Question 7

Which basic type of plate boundary is shown in the image below?

Accepted Answer

A) divergent 
B) convergent 
C) transvergent 
D) transform 
A) divergent 
B) convergent 
C) transvergent 
D) transform

Question 8

Compare the oceanic crust to the continental crust with respect to age. Why is this so?

Accepted Answer

Oceanic crust is younger than continenta

Question 9

Hot spots can occur

Accepted Answer

A)  only within continental plates. 
B)  only within oceanic plates. 
C) within either continental or oceanic plates. 
D) only when the thickness of the crust is less than 10 km. 
A)  only within continental plates. 
B)  only within oceanic plates. 
C) within either continental or oceanic plates. 
D) only when the thickness of the crust is less than 10 km.

Question 10

Late Paleozoic glacial deposits are NOT found in

Accepted Answer

A) India. 
B) southern Africa. 
C) North America. 
D) South America. 
A) India. 
B) southern Africa. 
C) North America. 
D) South America.

Question 11

Explain why Wegener's theory of continental drift was not originally accepted by geologists of his time.

Accepted Answer

Wegener could not provide a pl

Question 12

At transform plate boundaries,

Accepted Answer

A) earthquakes are common but volcanoes are absent. 
B) volcanoes are common but earthquakes do not occur. 
C) both earthquakes and volcanoes are common. 
D) neither earthquakes nor volcanoes are common. 
A) earthquakes are common but volcanoes are absent. 
B) volcanoes are common but earthquakes do not occur. 
C) both earthquakes and volcanoes are common. 
D) neither earthquakes nor volcanoes are common.

Question 13

Seafloor spreading occurs at __________ boundaries.

Accepted Answer

A) divergent 
B) convergent 
C) transform 
D) transvergent 
A) divergent 
B) convergent 
C) transform 
D) transvergent

Question 14

The distribution of __________ across the globe provides the primary indicator of boundaries between all tectonic plates.

Accepted Answer

A) mountain ranges 
B) volcanoes 
C) mid-ocean ridges 
D) earthquakes 
A) mountain ranges 
B) volcanoes 
C) mid-ocean ridges 
D) earthquakes

Question 15

Consult the figure below. Hawaii is an example of

Accepted Answer

A) hot-spot volcanism. 
B) mid-ocean ridge volcanism. 
C) a volcanic island arc formed by subduction. 
D) transform margin. 
A) hot-spot volcanism. 
B) mid-ocean ridge volcanism. 
C) a volcanic island arc formed by subduction. 
D) transform margin.

Question 16

Globally, the rate of seafloor spreading takes place at the same rate as

Accepted Answer

A) ocean subsidence. 
B) transgression. 
C) subduction. 
D) erosion of the seafloor. 
A) ocean subsidence. 
B) transgression. 
C) subduction. 
D) erosion of the seafloor.

Question 17

Younger oceanic crust will have __________ ocean sediments, whereas older oceanic crust will have __________ oceanic sediments.

Accepted Answer

A) older; younger 
B) carbonate; silicic 
C) thicker; thinner 
D) thinner; thicker 
A) older; younger 
B) carbonate; silicic 
C) thicker; thinner 
D) thinner; thicker

Question 18

Using the image below, which marine magnetic anomalies show a reversed polarity?

Accepted Answer

A) A; D; E 
B) A; B; F 
C) B; C; F 
D) C; D; F 
A) A; D; E 
B) A; B; F 
C) B; C; F 
D) C; D; F

Question 19

Seafloor spreading is MOST likely to occur at

Accepted Answer

A)  convergent boundaries. 
B)  transform boundaries. 
C) divergent boundaries. 
D) hot spots. 
A)  convergent boundaries. 
B)  transform boundaries. 
C) divergent boundaries. 
D) hot spots.

Question 20

Transform boundaries occur MOST commonly perpendicular to __________ boundaries in order to break the __________ into segments so as to accommodate motion on a sphere.

Accepted Answer

A) convergent; accretionary prisms 
B) convergent; deep ocean trenches 
C) divergent; mid-ocean ridges 
D) divergent; magnetic anomalies 
A) convergent; accretionary prisms 
B) convergent; deep ocean trenches 
C) divergent; mid-ocean ridges 
D) divergent; magnetic anomalies

Exam 2: The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

If a geologist discovered coal in a modern-day cold, snowy location, he or she could conclude that

According to the image below, where is new oceanic crust being formed?

Compared with typical oceanic lithosphere, the thickness of continental lithosphere is

How can hotspot volcanoes be used to measure past plate velocities?

What would happen if the rate of seafloor spreading was faster than the rate of subduction?

Deformed (bent, stretched, or cracked) lithosphere occurs

Which basic type of plate boundary is shown in the image below?

Compare the oceanic crust to the continental crust with respect to age. Why is this so?

Hot spots can occur

Late Paleozoic glacial deposits are NOT found in

Explain why Wegener's theory of continental drift was not originally accepted by geologists of his time.

At transform plate boundaries,

Seafloor spreading occurs at __________ boundaries.

The distribution of __________ across the globe provides the primary indicator of boundaries between all tectonic plates.

Consult the figure below. Hawaii is an example of

Globally, the rate of seafloor spreading takes place at the same rate as

Younger oceanic crust will have __________ ocean sediments, whereas older oceanic crust will have __________ oceanic sediments.

Using the image below, which marine magnetic anomalies show a reversed polarity?

Seafloor spreading is MOST likely to occur at

Transform boundaries occur MOST commonly perpendicular to __________ boundaries in order to break the __________ into segments so as to accommodate motion on a sphere.

The Earth in Context

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

A Process of Change: Metamorphism and the Rock Cycle

Crags, Cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Shaping the Earths Surface: Landscapes, the Hydrologic Cycle, and Mass Wasting

Freshwater: Streams, Lakes, and Groundwater

Extreme Realms: Desert and Glacial Landscapes

Ocean Waters: the Blue of the Blue Marble

Marine Geology: the Study of Ocean Basins and Coasts

The Air We Breathe: Introducing Earths Atmosphere

Winds of the World: the Earths Major Weather Systems

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Local Weather Systems

Climate and Climate Change

Our Solar System and Beyond

Our Neighborhood in Space

The Sun, Stars, and Deep Space

Prelude: Welcome to Earth Science

Filters

Younger oceanic crust will have ocean sediments, whereas older oceanic crust will have oceanic sediments.

Transform boundaries occur MOST commonly perpendicular to boundaries in order to break the into segments so as to accommodate motion on a sphere.