Question 1

Ground water saturating rock underground is a component of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  atmosphere. 
B)  hydrosphere. 
C)  biosphere. 
D)  geosphere. 
A)  atmosphere. 
B)  hydrosphere. 
C)  biosphere. 
D)  geosphere.

Question 2

A tectonic plate is composed of:

Accepted Answer

A)  cool, rigid rock that rides on a continuous shell of molten magma. 
B)  cool, rigid rock that rides on a plastic mantle layer. 
C)  hot, plastic rock supported by a rigid foundation of cool rock. 
D)  cool, rigid rock that floats on the Earth's molten core. 
A)  cool, rigid rock that rides on a continuous shell of molten magma. 
B)  cool, rigid rock that rides on a plastic mantle layer. 
C)  hot, plastic rock supported by a rigid foundation of cool rock. 
D)  cool, rigid rock that floats on the Earth's molten core.

Question 3

Water frozen in glaciers is a component of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  geosphere. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  hydrosphere. 
D)  atmosphere. 
A)  geosphere. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  hydrosphere. 
D)  atmosphere.

Question 4

Geologists estimate that Earth formed __________ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  4.6 billion 
B)  46 million 
C)  4.6 million 
D)  46 billion 
A)  4.6 billion 
B)  46 million 
C)  4.6 million 
D)  46 billion

Question 5

A feedback mechanism occurs when the environment initially changes slowly or not at all in response to a small perturbation, but after the threshold is crossed, an additional small perturbation causes rapid and dramatic change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

All of Earth's spheres continuously exchange matter and energy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The rigid, outer part of Earth, including the crust and the uppermost mantle, is called the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  atmosphere 
B)  geosphere 
C)  lithosphere 
D)  hydrosphere 
A)  atmosphere 
B)  geosphere 
C)  lithosphere 
D)  hydrosphere

Question 8

The Earth's atmosphere acts as a blanket, retaining heat at night and dispersing direct solar heating during the day.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Oceans cover __________ percent of the Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

A)  0.7 
B)  7 
C)  17 
D)  71 
A)  0.7 
B)  7 
C)  17 
D)  71

Question 10

The central portion of the Earth, called the __________, contains a solid layer surrounded by a molten layer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The central portion of the Earth, called...

Question 11

Earth's core consists mostly of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  iron and nickel 
B)  frozen water 
C)  solid rock 
D)  gas 
A)  iron and nickel 
B)  frozen water 
C)  solid rock 
D)  gas

Question 12

Imagine that a system has been perturbed at a constant rate for a long time, but the system has barely changed. Suddenly, a small additional perturbation causes a large change in the system. This scenario is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  uniformitarianism. 
B)  catastrophism. 
C)  a threshold effect. 
D)  a feedback mechanism. 
A)  uniformitarianism. 
B)  catastrophism. 
C)  a threshold effect. 
D)  a feedback mechanism.

Question 13

The Earth's population (in mid-2009) was about __________ people.

Accepted Answer

A)  2.3 billion 
B)  4.5 billion 
C)  6.7 billion 
D)  8.2 billion 
A)  2.3 billion 
B)  4.5 billion 
C)  6.7 billion 
D)  8.2 billion

Question 14

Earth's surface systems are ultimately powered by the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Moon 
B)  mantle convection 
C)  Sun 
D)  radioactive decay in the Earth's interior 
A)  Moon 
B)  mantle convection 
C)  Sun 
D)  radioactive decay in the Earth's interior

Question 15

Gradualism states that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Earth is uniform throughout its interior. 
B)  the Earth's mantle is uniform, although it is different from the crust and core. 
C)  geologic change occurs over long periods of time by a sequence of almost imperceptible events. 
D)  catastrophic events, such as volcanic eruptions, alter the Earth. 
A)  the Earth is uniform throughout its interior. 
B)  the Earth's mantle is uniform, although it is different from the crust and core. 
C)  geologic change occurs over long periods of time by a sequence of almost imperceptible events. 
D)  catastrophic events, such as volcanic eruptions, alter the Earth.

Question 16

A __________ __________ occurs when a small initial perturbation affects another component of the system, which amplifies the original effect.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A __________ __________ occurs when a small...

Question 17

The __________ is a mixture of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The __________ is a mixture of gases,...

Question 18

The core is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the least dense layer of the Earth. 
B)  the densest layer of the Earth. 
C)  the same density as the crust. 
D)  composed of liquid magma. 
A)  the least dense layer of the Earth. 
B)  the densest layer of the Earth. 
C)  the same density as the crust. 
D)  composed of liquid magma.

Question 19

Earth's crust is part of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrosphere. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  geosphere. 
D)  atmosphere. 
A)  hydrosphere. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  geosphere. 
D)  atmosphere.

Question 20

__________ means that the geologic processes operating today also worked in the past.

Accepted Answer

A)  Gradualism 
B)  Uniformitarianism 
C)  Catastrophism 
D)  Density layering 
A)  Gradualism 
B)  Uniformitarianism 
C)  Catastrophism 
D)  Density layering

Exam 1: Earth Systems

Ground water saturating rock underground is a component of the:

A tectonic plate is composed of:

Water frozen in glaciers is a component of the:

Geologists estimate that Earth formed __________ years ago.

A feedback mechanism occurs when the environment initially changes slowly or not at all in response to a small perturbation, but after the threshold is crossed, an additional small perturbation causes rapid and dramatic change.

All of Earth's spheres continuously exchange matter and energy.

The rigid, outer part of Earth, including the crust and the uppermost mantle, is called the __________.

The Earth's atmosphere acts as a blanket, retaining heat at night and dispersing direct solar heating during the day.

Oceans cover __________ percent of the Earth's surface.

The central portion of the Earth, called the __________, contains a solid layer surrounded by a molten layer.

Earth's core consists mostly of __________.

Imagine that a system has been perturbed at a constant rate for a long time, but the system has barely changed. Suddenly, a small additional perturbation causes a large change in the system. This scenario is an example of:

The Earth's population (in mid-2009) was about __________ people.

Earth's surface systems are ultimately powered by the __________.

Gradualism states that:

A __________ __________ occurs when a small initial perturbation affects another component of the system, which amplifies the original effect.

The __________ is a mixture of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen.

The core is:

Earth's crust is part of the:

__________ means that the geologic processes operating today also worked in the past.

Minerals

Rocks

Geologic Time: a Story in the Rocks

Geologic Resources

The Active Earth: Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and the Earths Structure

Volcanoes and Plutons

Mountains

Weathering, Soil, and Erosion

Fresh Water: Streams, Lakes, Ground Water, and Wetlands

Water Resources

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and Wind

Ocean Basins

Oceans and Coastlines

The Atmosphere

Energy Balance in the Atmosphere

Moisture, Clouds, and Weather

Climate

Climate Change

Motions in the Heavens

Planets and Their Moons

Stars, Space, and Galaxies

Filters

A occurs when a small initial perturbation affects another component of the system, which amplifies the original effect.