1. A scientific theory is a method in science where scientists are in the process of trying to prove or disprove a phenomenon.
a. True
b. False
2. What energy source is Earth using primarily for its external processes?
a. Primordial heat from Earth's formation
b. The core
c. Radioactive decay
d. The Sun
3. The primary energy source for ocean currents ultimately is:
a. Primordial heat from Earth's formation
b. The core
c. Radioactive decay
d. The Sun
4. The element most abundant in Earth's core is:
a. Calcium
b. Iron
c. Chlorine
d. Silicon
e. Oxygen
5. Geology is strictly the scientific study of the Earth. It does not involve other planets in our solar system.
a. True
b. False
6. The lithosphere is defined as a __________.
a. Rocky layer having a relatively uniform chemical composition.
b. Rigid layer of crustal and mantle material.
c. Rocky layer composed mainly of crustal rocks.
d. Plastic layer composed mainly of mantle material.
e. Tsunami zone
7. The asthenosphere is located __________.
a. Within the lithosphere
b. Within the crust
c. Just below the lithosphere
d. Within the outer core
e. Just above the crust
8. The densest layer of Earth is the __________.
a. Crust
b. Inner core
c. Outer core
d. Mantle
e. Low velocity zone
9. Which layer listed below can also be considered a tectonic plate?
a. Asthenosphere
b. Crust
c. Mesosphere
d. Lithosphere
e. Outer core
10. The innermost layer of the Earth defined by its composition is called:
a. Core
b. Inner Core
c. Asthenosphere
d. Lithosphere
e. Outer core
11. The layer that sits directly under the crust is called:
a. Lithosphere
b. Mantle
c. Asthenosphere
d. Inner core
e. Outer core
12. The Earth's magnetic field is generated in this region:
a. Crust
b. Inner core
c. Outer core
d. Mantle
e. Low velocity zone
13. The oldest rocks of the seafloor are found at the mid-ocean ridges of the world.
a. True
b. False
14. What type of plate boundary is located off the west coast of South America?
a. Divergent boundary
b. Convergent boundary
c. Transform boundary
d. There is no plate boundary
15. The Earth's magnetic field helps to drive plate motion.
a. True
b. False
16. Continents are younger than ocean basins.
a. True b. False
17. The Himalayan mountains were formed at which type of plate boundary?
a. Divergent boundary
b. Convergent boundary
c. Transform boundary
d. There is no plate boundary
18. What type of plate boundary are shallow focus earthquakes associated with?
a. Convergent boundary
b. Divergent boundary
c. Transform boundary
d. All boundary types
19. What type of plate boundary is found off the coast of Northernmost California, Oregon and Washington State?
a. Divergent boundary
b. Convergent boundary
c. Transform boundary
d. There is no plate boundary
20. Which feature below is a subduction zone associated with?
a. Flat topography
b. Mantle upwelling
c. Deep trench
d. Mid-ocean ridge
21. Since oceanic crust is constantly being produced, the size of the Earth is increasing in size over time.
a. True
b. False
22. The volcanoes that make up volcanic arcs always sit directly on top of the plate boundary of a subduction zone.
a. True
b. False
23. Oceanic crust is destroyed along __________.
a. Divergent boundaries
b. Convergent boundaries
c. Transform boundaries
24. Geomagnetic reversals __________.
a. Provide strong evidence for seafloor spreading.
b. Reveal that polar wondering may have occurred.
c. Were discovered by the Deep Sea Drilling Project
d. Confirmed the existence of subduction zones.
e. Cause the movement of the plates.
25. Crust is neither created nor destroyed at this type of plate boundary.
a. Divergent boundary
b. Convergent boundary
c. Transform boundary
26. The Mariana Trench is the deepest trench in the world. What type of plate boundary creates such a trench?
a. Divergent boundary
b. Convergent boundary
c. Transform boundary
d. All boundary types can create this feature.
27. Ocean trenches:
a. Are caused by divergence at divergent boundaries.
b. Parallel continents and island arc volcanoes.
c. Are created at transform boundaries during an earthquake.
d. Are typically only ~10 meters deep.
28. The seafloor does not get any older than ~200 million years old due to:
a. Volcanism incinerating existing sediment at mid-ocean ridges.
b. The CCD dissolving all sediment before it can deposit.
c. Subduction at the edges of ocean basins.
d. Pressure at great depths dissolves all sediment on ocean floor over time.
29. Anions are __________ charged because they have __________electrons.
a. Negatively - lost
b. Positively - lost
c. Positively - gained
d. Negatively - gained
30. In ionic bonding, during the transfer of electrons between two neutrally charged atoms, one electron moves from one atom to another. What are the new relative charges between the two atoms?
a. The giving atom and receiving atom are both negatively charged.
b. The giving atom is now positively charged and the receiving atom is now negatively charged.
c. The giving atom and receiving atom are both positively charged.
d. The giving atom is now negatively charged and the receiving atom is now positively charged.
31. The distance between a seismological recording station and the earthquake source is determined from the __________.
a. Calculation of the earthquake magnitude.
b. Intensity of the earthquake.
c. Length of the seismic record.
d. Arrival times of P and S waves.
e. Measurement of the amplitude of the surface waves.
32. The Richter Magnitude of an earthquake is determined from the:
a. Duration of the earthquake.
b. Intensity of the earthquake.
c. Length of the seismic record.
d. Arrival time of P and S waves.
e. Measurement of the amplitude of the surface waves.
33. This type of seismic wave travels most rapidly.
a. P-waves
b. S-waves
c. Surface waves
d. Tsunami
e. Seiches
34. Which of the following is used to describe what occurs to produce an earthquake?
a. Elastic rebound
b. Plastic deformation
c. Bowen's Reaction Series
d. Mercalli scale
e. Melting
35. The quantity of energy released by an earthquake is a measurement referred to as:
a. Intensity
b. Displacement
c. Stress
d. Magnitude
e. Ergs
36. When an earthquake occurs, energy radiates in all directions from its source. The source is referred to as the:
a. Inertial point
b. Wave front
c. Focus
d. Seismic zone
e. None of the above
37. An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale releases about __________ times more energy than one with a magnitude of 5.5.
a. 5
b. 10
c. 15
d. 30
e. 45
38. Quartz is a mineral that is created in the mantle.
a. True
b. False
39. The positively charged particles that compose atoms are called:
a. Protons
b. Electrons
c. Neutrons
d. Nuclei
e. Shells
40. The most abundant mineral group in Earth's crust is __________.
a. Oxides
b. Carbonates
c. Sulfides
d. Halides
e. Silicates
41. Which mineral below has a single-chain structure:
a. Quartz
b. Muscovite
c. Hornblende
d. Pyroxene
e. Olivine
42. Ionic bonds are stronger than covalent bonds.
a. True
b. False
43. Each element is defined by the number of __________.
a. Atoms
b. Isotopes
c. Neutrons
d. Protons
e. Nuclei
44. Which of the following rocks below is a mafic intrusive igneous rock?
a. Rhyolite
b. Gabbro
c. Basalt
d. Andesite
e. Diorite
45. Which of the following rocks below is a mafic extrusive igneous rock?
a. Rhyolite
b. Gabbro
c. Basalt
d. Andesite
e. Diorite
46. Which of the following rocks below is a felsic extrusive igneous rock?
a. Rhyolite
b. Gabbro
c. Basalt
d. Andesite
e. Diorite
47. When magma cools, it is generally the silicon and carbon that link together first.
a. True
b. False
48. The last mineral to crystallize from a melt is olivine.
a. True
b. False
49. Granite is the most common extrusive igneous rock.
a. True
b. False
50. The rocks that results when lava solidifies are referred to as extrusive igneous rocks.
a. True
b. False