Question 1

Most of the state of Nevada is in the Basin and Range Province. The predominant active fault for this region is

Accepted Answer

A) thrust faulting. 
B) reverse faulting. 
C) normal faulting. 
D) none of the above. 
A) thrust faulting. 
B) reverse faulting. 
C) normal faulting. 
D) none of the above.

Question 2

The theory of continental drift is attributed to

Accepted Answer

A) H.H. Hess. 
B) Alfred Wegener. 
C) W. Loma Prieta. 
D) Simon Tectonic. 
A) H.H. Hess. 
B) Alfred Wegener. 
C) W. Loma Prieta. 
D) Simon Tectonic.

Question 3

Compared with oceanic crust, continental crust is very buoyant because it is

Accepted Answer

A) composed of basaltic rock that contains air bubbles from successive lava flows. 
B) composed of granitic rocks whereas oceanic crust is composed of basaltic rocks. 
C) thinner and forms a thin upper skin on the oceanic crust below. 
D) very young and fresh. 
A) composed of basaltic rock that contains air bubbles from successive lava flows. 
B) composed of granitic rocks whereas oceanic crust is composed of basaltic rocks. 
C) thinner and forms a thin upper skin on the oceanic crust below. 
D) very young and fresh.

Question 4

The theory of seafloor spreading is attributed to

Accepted Answer

A) Harry Hess. 
B) Marie Tharp. 
C) Alfred Wegener. 
D) Richard Oldham 
A) Harry Hess. 
B) Marie Tharp. 
C) Alfred Wegener. 
D) Richard Oldham

Question 5

Thermal convection movement in the upper mantle

Accepted Answer

A) generates the electric current that powers Earth's magnetic field. 
B) greatly influences Earth's surface features. 
C) heats Earth's core by frictional forces. 
D) is usually negligible. 
A) generates the electric current that powers Earth's magnetic field. 
B) greatly influences Earth's surface features. 
C) heats Earth's core by frictional forces. 
D) is usually negligible.

Question 6

Subduction is the process of one lithospheric plate descending beneath another. Why does the oceanic portion of the lithosphere undergo subduction while the continental portion does not?

Accepted Answer

Oceanic crust is more dense th

Question 7

In a reconstruction of Earth's geologic past, the continents of Africa and South America fit best along the

Accepted Answer

A) shorelines. 
B) continental shelves. 
C) continental slopes. 
D) ocean floors. 
A) shorelines. 
B) continental shelves. 
C) continental slopes. 
D) ocean floors.

Question 8

The energy in an earthquake is released

Accepted Answer

A) all at once. 
B) before the quake, after the quake, and during the quake. 
C) as an epicenter focus. 
D) in unconsolidated rock. 
A) all at once. 
B) before the quake, after the quake, and during the quake. 
C) as an epicenter focus. 
D) in unconsolidated rock.

Question 9

Plate tectonics differs from continental drift because it

Accepted Answer

A) provides a credible driving force. 
B) did not explain the fit between South America and Africa. 
C) showed that ancient ice sheets did not exist. 
D) showed that Pangaea broke up much later than predicted. 
A) provides a credible driving force. 
B) did not explain the fit between South America and Africa. 
C) showed that ancient ice sheets did not exist. 
D) showed that Pangaea broke up much later than predicted.

Question 10

Spreading centers occur along

Accepted Answer

A) trenches. 
B) transform faults. 
C) mid-ocean ridges. 
D) the northern and western margins of the Juan de Fuca Plate. 
A) trenches. 
B) transform faults. 
C) mid-ocean ridges. 
D) the northern and western margins of the Juan de Fuca Plate.

Question 11

The Himalayan Mountains formed at which type of plate boundary?

Accepted Answer

A) Transform-fault boundary. 
B) Oceanic-continental convergent boundary. 
C) Divergent boundary. 
D) Continental-continental convergent boundary. 
A) Transform-fault boundary. 
B) Oceanic-continental convergent boundary. 
C) Divergent boundary. 
D) Continental-continental convergent boundary.

Question 12

In comparison to P-waves, S-waves

Accepted Answer

A) compress and expand the rock as they move through it. 
B) can travel through all mediums-solid granite, magma, water and/or air. 
C) can travel only through solids-not in fluids. 
D) are fast and the first to register on a seismograph. 
A) compress and expand the rock as they move through it. 
B) can travel through all mediums-solid granite, magma, water and/or air. 
C) can travel only through solids-not in fluids. 
D) are fast and the first to register on a seismograph.

Question 13

Rocks in the core of an anticline are than rocks away from the core.

Accepted Answer

A) higher 
B) lower 
C) older 
D) younger 
A) higher 
B) lower 
C) older 
D) younger

Question 14

We can say that Earth's crust floats on the mantle because

Accepted Answer

A) the mantle is very hot and flows from internal convection. 
B) part of the mantle is hot enough to flow as a plastic solid. 
C) the continental crust floats on the oceanic crust. 
D) the mantle is below the crust. 
A) the mantle is very hot and flows from internal convection. 
B) part of the mantle is hot enough to flow as a plastic solid. 
C) the continental crust floats on the oceanic crust. 
D) the mantle is below the crust.

Question 15

plates are touching-plate boundaries. When the stress reaches a critical threshold, rocks break, slide past each other, and earthquakes are generated.

Accepted Answer

Stress builds up in

Question 16

When the magnetic field of Earth is reversed,

Accepted Answer

A) Earth flips over in its orbit. 
B) Earth's rotation is also reversed. 
C) newly formed mineral grains on the ocean floor are magnetized according to the new orientation of the magnetic field. 
A) Earth flips over in its orbit. 
B) Earth's rotation is also reversed. 
C) newly formed mineral grains on the ocean floor are magnetized according to the new orientation of the magnetic field.

Question 17

The mantle can be separated into two different portions: the lower mantle and the upper mantle. The lower mantle is

Accepted Answer

A) completely solid due to extreme pressure that prevents iron-rich silica rocks from melting. 
B) composed of silly putty that flows like molasses. 
C) rigid and has no capability of flow. 
D) predominantly liquid silica. 
A) completely solid due to extreme pressure that prevents iron-rich silica rocks from melting. 
B) composed of silly putty that flows like molasses. 
C) rigid and has no capability of flow. 
D) predominantly liquid silica.

Question 18

At divergent boundaries the dominant rock type is

Accepted Answer

A) basalt. 
B) granite. 
C) andesite. 
D) basalt, granite, and andesite. 
A) basalt. 
B) granite. 
C) andesite. 
D) basalt, granite, and andesite.

Question 19

Tectonic interaction between plate boundaries does NOT explain

Accepted Answer

A) magma production and the variety of igneous rocks. 
B) mountain building. 
C) polar wandering. 
D) global distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes. 
A) magma production and the variety of igneous rocks. 
B) mountain building. 
C) polar wandering. 
D) global distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes.

Question 20

Continental crust is

Accepted Answer

A) thinner than oceanic crust. 
B) less dense than oceanic crust. 
C) more dense than oceanic crust. 
D) thinner and more dense than oceanic crust. 
A) thinner than oceanic crust. 
B) less dense than oceanic crust. 
C) more dense than oceanic crust. 
D) thinner and more dense than oceanic crust.

Exam 21: Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Most of the state of Nevada is in the Basin and Range Province. The predominant active fault for this region is

The theory of continental drift is attributed to

Compared with oceanic crust, continental crust is very buoyant because it is

The theory of seafloor spreading is attributed to

Thermal convection movement in the upper mantle

Subduction is the process of one lithospheric plate descending beneath another. Why does the oceanic portion of the lithosphere undergo subduction while the continental portion does not?

In a reconstruction of Earth's geologic past, the continents of Africa and South America fit best along the

The energy in an earthquake is released

Plate tectonics differs from continental drift because it

Spreading centers occur along

The Himalayan Mountains formed at which type of plate boundary?

In comparison to P-waves, S-waves

Rocks in the core of an anticline are than rocks away from the core.

We can say that Earth's crust floats on the mantle because

plates are touching-plate boundaries. When the stress reaches a critical threshold, rocks break, slide past each other, and earthquakes are generated.

When the magnetic field of Earth is reversed,

The mantle can be separated into two different portions: the lower mantle and the upper mantle. The lower mantle is

At divergent boundaries the dominant rock type is

Tectonic interaction between plate boundaries does NOT explain

Continental crust is

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Shaping Earths Surface

Geologic Timereading the Rock Record

The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Driving Forces of Weather

The Solar System

Stars and Galaxies

The Structure of Space and Time

Prologue: the Nature of Science

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