Question 1

Figure 1.3  
-Based on the rates shown in Figure 1.3 in your textbook, which of the options correctly lists the geologic processes from slowest to fastest?

Accepted Answer

A)  rise of mountains, glacier flow, stream flow 
B)  landslide, stream flow, glacier flow 
C)  rise of mountains, glacier flow, ground water flow 
D)  motion of lithospheric plates, sediment accumulation in the deep sea, glacier flow 
A)  rise of mountains, glacier flow, stream flow 
B)  landslide, stream flow, glacier flow 
C)  rise of mountains, glacier flow, ground water flow 
D)  motion of lithospheric plates, sediment accumulation in the deep sea, glacier flow A

Question 2

For what percent of Earth's history have geologic processes been studied?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.000 004 
B)  0.000 000 4 
C)  0.000 000 04 
D)  0.000 04 
A)  0.000 004 
B)  0.000 000 4 
C)  0.000 000 04 
D)  0.000 04 D

Question 3

Which statement is false about the application of the scientific method in geology?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rates of geological processes are slow, so real-time experiments are difficult to carry out. 
B)  It is difficult to reproduce controlled laboratory conditions to test geological theories. 
C)  There are too many variables to run a controlled experiment in geology. 
D)  Computer simulations are impractical in the study of geology. 
A)  The rates of geological processes are slow, so real-time experiments are difficult to carry out. 
B)  It is difficult to reproduce controlled laboratory conditions to test geological theories. 
C)  There are too many variables to run a controlled experiment in geology. 
D)  Computer simulations are impractical in the study of geology. D

Question 4

Why is the Grand Canyon an interesting landmark?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the smallest canyon in the world. 
B)  It was created through a meteorite impact. 
C)  Thousands of dinosaur fossils have been found there. 
D)  It is a gorge that was eroded by a river about 1.7 billion years old and is about 1700 m deep. 
A)  It is the smallest canyon in the world. 
B)  It was created through a meteorite impact. 
C)  Thousands of dinosaur fossils have been found there. 
D)  It is a gorge that was eroded by a river about 1.7 billion years old and is about 1700 m deep.

Question 5

What is an important result of divergent plates?

Accepted Answer

A)  They spread, resulting in the formation of new seafloor along lines of submarine volcanoes. 
B)  Plate subduction occurs, resulting in less seafloor. 
C)  Plates slide past each other, resulting in violent earthquakes. 
D)  They often cause tsunamis. 
A)  They spread, resulting in the formation of new seafloor along lines of submarine volcanoes. 
B)  Plate subduction occurs, resulting in less seafloor. 
C)  Plates slide past each other, resulting in violent earthquakes. 
D)  They often cause tsunamis.

Question 6

An environmental geologist discovers contamination in soil surrounding groundwater which supplies a local reservoir. What are some steps he/she should take to figure out where the contamination stems from? (Scientific method).

Accepted Answer

Although not a step of the scientific me

Question 7

Where does most mountain-building activity actually occur on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  in the inner mantle, where force causes pressure to build up 
B)  mountain pressures that build up end up forming mountains in the middle of the tectonic plates 
C)  at tectonic plate boundaries 
D)  anywhere on Earth where the necessary forces are evident 
A)  in the inner mantle, where force causes pressure to build up 
B)  mountain pressures that build up end up forming mountains in the middle of the tectonic plates 
C)  at tectonic plate boundaries 
D)  anywhere on Earth where the necessary forces are evident

Question 8

Rockfalls, landslides, and glacier movement are processes that are due to which physical principle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hooke's law 
B)  potential energy 
C)  heat 
D)  kinetic energy 
A)  Hooke's law 
B)  potential energy 
C)  heat 
D)  kinetic energy

Question 9

Briefly explain plate tectonics in terms of convection. (Plate tectonics and work).

Accepted Answer

Through convection, a process involving

Question 10

Transform boundaries

Accepted Answer

A)  involve no destruction or creation of new crust. 
B)  occur near subduction zones. 
C)  involve destruction of crust as one plate slips beneath another. 
D)  involve creation of crust as two plates collide. 
A)  involve no destruction or creation of new crust. 
B)  occur near subduction zones. 
C)  involve destruction of crust as one plate slips beneath another. 
D)  involve creation of crust as two plates collide.

Question 11

Which sphere does not experience convection forces?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

Why is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge important to geologists?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a divergent boundary, causing the Atlantic Ocean to widen by about 5 centimeters each year. 
B)  Massive earthquakes take place there every day. 
C)  It is the source of tsunamis. 
D)  Plate subduction occurs, shrinking the Atlantic ocean about 5 centimeters each year. 
A)  It is a divergent boundary, causing the Atlantic Ocean to widen by about 5 centimeters each year. 
B)  Massive earthquakes take place there every day. 
C)  It is the source of tsunamis. 
D)  Plate subduction occurs, shrinking the Atlantic ocean about 5 centimeters each year.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a valid reason for studying Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  All Earth processes can only be explained by supernatural forces. 
B)  Earth is the planet upon which you live. 
C)  Earth is an active planet that experiences cataclysmic earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides, and other processes that constantly reshape the surface and sometimes threaten human lives and property. 
D)  Earth is a source of raw materials for metals, plastics, building materials, and precious gemstones. 
A)  All Earth processes can only be explained by supernatural forces. 
B)  Earth is the planet upon which you live. 
C)  Earth is an active planet that experiences cataclysmic earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides, and other processes that constantly reshape the surface and sometimes threaten human lives and property. 
D)  Earth is a source of raw materials for metals, plastics, building materials, and precious gemstones.

Question 14

Against which variable force must work be done to raise mountains?

Accepted Answer

A)  the rigidity and tensile strength of the rock, which varies with rock type 
B)  gravitational pull, which varies with distance from Earth's core 
C)  the attractive force of the mantle and the melting and subduction of the Earth's crust at boundary zones, which varies according to plate speed 
D)  the magnetic attraction of Earth's core, which will vary according to the composition of the rock in the mountains being pushed up 
A)  the rigidity and tensile strength of the rock, which varies with rock type 
B)  gravitational pull, which varies with distance from Earth's core 
C)  the attractive force of the mantle and the melting and subduction of the Earth's crust at boundary zones, which varies according to plate speed 
D)  the magnetic attraction of Earth's core, which will vary according to the composition of the rock in the mountains being pushed up

Question 15

Figure 1.13  
-Based on the energy-related graph in Figure 1.13 of your textbook, what is the ratio of the amount of solar energy reaching Earth's surface to the amount of energy required to drive plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

A)  10 000 to 3 
B)  3 to 10 
C)  10 to 3 
D)  about 100 to 1 
A)  10 000 to 3 
B)  3 to 10 
C)  10 to 3 
D)  about 100 to 1

Question 16

Earthquakes may occur along

Accepted Answer

A)  transform boundaries. 
B)  convergent boundaries. 
C)  divergent boundaries. 
D)  plate boundaries. 
A)  transform boundaries. 
B)  convergent boundaries. 
C)  divergent boundaries. 
D)  plate boundaries.

Question 17

Why do scientists formulate hypotheses?

Accepted Answer

A)  to explain the problem that accounts for existing data and predict additional phenomena that should exist 
B)  to state a law 
C)  to explain something that cannot be observed or measured by scientific procedures 
D)  to generalize data and observations about data without necessarily offering an explanation 
A)  to explain the problem that accounts for existing data and predict additional phenomena that should exist 
B)  to state a law 
C)  to explain something that cannot be observed or measured by scientific procedures 
D)  to generalize data and observations about data without necessarily offering an explanation

Question 18

Uniformitarian principles cannot

Accepted Answer

A)  accurately describe past events. 
B)  predict where geologic events will likely occur in the future. 
C)  forecast the severity of upcoming geologic events. 
D)  closely predict the timing of upcoming geologic events. 
A)  accurately describe past events. 
B)  predict where geologic events will likely occur in the future. 
C)  forecast the severity of upcoming geologic events. 
D)  closely predict the timing of upcoming geologic events.

Question 19

How are past volcanic eruptions most commonly recorded in the geologic record?

Accepted Answer

A)  by changes in rock cracks 
B)  by fossils of organisms that died during the eruptions 
C)  by deposits of ash and lava 
D)  by changes in the water table 
A)  by changes in rock cracks 
B)  by fossils of organisms that died during the eruptions 
C)  by deposits of ash and lava 
D)  by changes in the water table

Question 20

Why is Mount Etna in Sicily an important place for geology?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is very calm, showing the serenity of the earth. 
B)  It is a famous underwater volcano. 
C)  It is a famous mountain for geologists to climb. 
D)  It is an active volcano, showing that the earth is a dynamic place. 
A)  It is very calm, showing the serenity of the earth. 
B)  It is a famous underwater volcano. 
C)  It is a famous mountain for geologists to climb. 
D)  It is an active volcano, showing that the earth is a dynamic place.

Exam 1: Why Study Earth

Figure 1.3 -Based on the rates shown in Figure 1.3 in your textbook, which of the options correctly lists the geologic processes from slowest to fastest?

For what percent of Earth's history have geologic processes been studied?

Which statement is false about the application of the scientific method in geology?

Why is the Grand Canyon an interesting landmark?

What is an important result of divergent plates?

An environmental geologist discovers contamination in soil surrounding groundwater which supplies a local reservoir. What are some steps he/she should take to figure out where the contamination stems from? (Scientific method).

Where does most mountain-building activity actually occur on Earth?

Rockfalls, landslides, and glacier movement are processes that are due to which physical principle?

Briefly explain plate tectonics in terms of convection. (Plate tectonics and work).

Transform boundaries

Which sphere does not experience convection forces?

Why is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge important to geologists?

Which of the following is not a valid reason for studying Earth?

Against which variable force must work be done to raise mountains?

Figure 1.13 -Based on the energy-related graph in Figure 1.13 of your textbook, what is the ratio of the amount of solar energy reaching Earth's surface to the amount of energy required to drive plate tectonics?

Earthquakes may occur along

Why do scientists formulate hypotheses?

Uniformitarian principles cannot

How are past volcanic eruptions most commonly recorded in the geologic record?

Why is Mount Etna in Sicily an important place for geology?

Minerals: Building Blocks of the Planet

Rocks and Rock-Forming Processes

Formation of Magma and Igneous Rocks

Formation of Sediment and Sedimentary Rocks

Formation of Metamorphic Rocks

Earth Materials As Time Keepers

Earth Materials As Time Keepers

Making Earth

Motion Inside Earth

Deformation of Rocks

Global Tectonics: Plates and Plumes

Tectonics and Surface Relief

Soil Formation and Landscape Stability

Mass Movements: Landscapes in Motion

Streams: Flowing Water Shapes the Landscape

Water Flowing Underground

Glaciers: Cold-Climate Sculptors of Continents

Shorelines: Changing Landscapes Where Land Meets Sea

Wind: a Global Geologic Process

Global Warming: Real Time Change in the Earth System

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