Geology Exam 1

The doctrine of uniformitarianism implies that the current forces and processes shaping the earth have been operating for a very long time. A. True B. False

A True

Active mountain belts are most likely to be found: A. Along the margins of continents B. In the interior regions of continents C. Scattered throughout continents D. Along only the eastern margins of continents

A. Along the margins of continents

. A ____ system is one in which energy moves freely in and out, but no matter enters or leaves the system. A. Closed B. Open C. Feedback D. Equilibrated

A. Closed

The gently sloping submerged surface extending from the shoreline toward the deep ocean is termed the: A. Continental shelf B. Continental slope C. Continental rise D. Submarine canyon

A. Continental Shelf

5. Submarine canyons are most numerous and best developed on the: A. Continental slopes B. Continental rise C. Abyssal region D. Continental shelf E. Oceanic ridge

A. Continental Slopes

The ___ of the Earth has the smallest volume A. Crust B. Outer core C. Mantle D. inner core

A. Crust

The Earth's magnetic field: A. Is a self-generating and self-reversing dynamo in the outer core B. Is a high temperature superconductor in the inner core C. Results from self-induction of rising magmas in the asthenosphere D. Is a permanent field due to magnetized, iron- rich, mineral grains in the oceanic lithosphere

A. Is a self generating and self reversing dynamo in the outer core

Which of the following statements concerning the oceanic ridge is NOT true? A. It has a series of parallel folds like the Appalachian Mountains B. It has a rift valley along its central axis C. It extends continuously into all major oceans of the world D. It is cut by numerous fracture zones (transform faults) E. It is a broad, up-arched region of the ocean basin

A. It has a series of parallel folds like the Appalachian Mountains

According to the nebular hypothesis, all the bodies in the universe evolved from a rotating cloud of gases and dust about 5 billion years ago A. True B. False

A. TRUE

In an open system both energy and matter flow into and out of the system. A. True B. False

A. TRUE

As P-waves pass from mantle into the outer core, velocities drop abruptly. A. True B. False

A. True

High rock temperatures enhance plastic deformation and flow in the asthenosphere and inhibit brittle fracturing A. True B. False

A. True

All of the following are possible steps of scientific investigation except for _____. A. The collection of scientific facts through observation and measurement B. Assumption of conclusions without prior experimentation or observation C. The development of one or more working hypotheses or models to explain facts D. Development of observations and experiments to test the hypothesis

B.

What are the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical geology? A. Physical geology is the study of fossils and sequences of rock strata; historical geology is the study of how rocks and minerals were used in the past B. Historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and geologic events, utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference; physical geology includes the study of how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface C. Physical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and deposition in relation to plate movement in the geologic past; historical geology charts how and where the plates were moving in the past D. None of the above - physical geology and historical geology are essentially the same

B.

Which of the following best characterizes how the diameter of Earth's core and the nature of the outer core were discovered A. Crystalline iron was found in lavas erupted from the deepest known hot spots B. By analysis of the P-wave and S-wave shadow zone C. Because P-wave speeds are higher in the outer core than in the lower mantle D. By using the ratio of iron meteorites to stony meteorites to deduce the relative diameters of the core and mantle

B. By analysis of the P-Wave and S-Wave shadow zone

4. Internal layers of the earth based on composition consist of: A. Asthenosphere, core, crust, mesosphere B. Crust, mantle, core C. Lithosphere, crust, mantle, mesosphere D. Mesosphere, core, asthenosphere, lithosphere E. Crust, shield, mantle, asthenosphere

B. Crust, Mantle, Core

Dense forms of ___ are probably major components of the inner core A. Solid iron silicates and magnesium silicates B. Crystalline iron and nickel C. Liquid iron-nickel alloy D. Solidified uranium and other very heavy elements

B. Crystalline iron and nickel

A scientific theory is a tentative or untested explanation that is proposed to explain scientific observations. A. True B. False

B. False

The currently accepted age of Earth is approximately 4.5 million years. A. True B. False

B. False

The inner core is probably liquid iron because it has the characteristics of a permanent magnet A. True B. False

B. False

The term "maria" is currently used to describe which of the following features on the earth's lunar surface? A. Impact craters B. Lava plains C. Luna volcanoes D. Dry river valleys

B. Lava Plains

. The ____ forms the relatively cool, brittle plates of plate tectonics. A. Asthenosphere B. Lithosphere C. Eosphere D. Astrosphere

B. Lithosphere

The density of the earth's core is: A. About the same as that of the crust B. More than that of the crust C. Less than that of the crust D. Less than that of the mantle E. About the same as that of the mantle

B. More than that of the crust

The most prominent feature on the ocean floor is the: A. Deep-ocean trenches B. Oceanic ridges C. Seamounts D. Lava plateaus

B. Oceanic Ridges

The fact that ___ is a good evidence for a solidified inner core A. S-waves do not pass directly through the core B. P-waves are faster in the inner core than in the outer core C. S-waves are slower in the inner core than in outer core D. S-waves are focused at the center of the P-wave shadow zone

B. P-Waves are faster in the inner core than the outer core

The ____ division of the geologic time scale is an era of the phanerozoic eon. A. Paleocene B. Paleozoic C. Permian C. Proterozoic

B. Paleozoic

Most of the earth's continental landscape was formed by A. Glacial processes B. Stream erosion C. Volcanism D. Wind erosion E. Ground water actions

B. Stream Erosion

_____ marks the edge of a continent A. An offshore, barrier island system B. The lowest part of the continental slope C. The center of an abyssal plain D. The highest part of the continental shelf

B. The lowest part of the continental slope

. _______ is often paraphrased as "The present is the key to the past." A. Biblical prophesy B. Uniformitarianism C. Catastrophism D. Aristotelian logic

B. Unifomitarianism

Compared to the age of Earth accepted as correct today, how did 17th and 19th century proponents of catastrophism envision the Earth's age? A. They believed Earth to be much older than current estimates B. They believe it to be about the same as current estimates, give or take a few million years C. They believed Earth to be much younger than current estimates D. None of the above - they didn't really address the age of Earth

C

The deepest portion of the ocean basin is in the Mariana Trench with a depth of about: A. -2.32 km B. -8.84 km C. -11.03 km D. -840 m

C. -11.03 km

The currently accepted age of Earth is ______ years. A. 4.5 thousand B. 6.1 trillion C. 4.5 billion D. 6.4 million

C. 4.5 Billion

The ____ refers to the total of all life on Earth. A. Hydrosphere B. Atmosphere C. biosphere D. asthenosphere

C. Biosphere

Which one of the following would most likely be covered with thick turbidite layers? A. Axial rift zone of an active mid-oceanic spreading center B. Upper part of a steep, narrow, submarine canyon C. Deep-sea fan at the base of a continental slope D. Ocean floor around a conical-shaped seamount

C. Deep Sea fan at the base of a continental slope

Which of the following is the most appropriate path of water from the ocean to the continent in the hydrological cycle? A. Evaporation, precipitation, condensation, runoff B. Precipitation, evaporation, runoff, condensation C. Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff D. Runoff, precipitation, evaporation

C. Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Runoff

Continental shields are composed of: A. Younger rocks associated with mid-oceanic ridge B. Horizontal sedimentary rock C. Intensely deformed metamorphic rocks and igneous intrusions D. Mainly basaltic rocks E. Folded lava overlain by sedimentary rocks

C. Intensely Deforemd metamorhpic rocks and igneous intrusions

6. The thermal layers of the earth's atmosphere consist of the following, except: A. Troposphere B. Mesosphere C. Ionosphere D. Thermosphere E. Stratosphere

C. Ionosphere

Which of the following is Not true about the asthenosphere? A. It is close to its melting point B. It occurs within the upper mantle C. It is part of the crust D. It is a "weak" layer below the lithosphere E. Seismic wave velocity is drastically reduced in this layer

C. It is part of the crust

________ was an important 18th century English geologist and proponent of uniformitarianism. A. Charles Lyell B. Isaac Newton C. James Hutton D. James Ussher

C. James Hutton

The ________ proposes that the bodies of our solar system formed at essentially the same time from a rotating cloud of gases and dust. A. Big Bang theory B. Plate tectonics C. Nebula hypothesis D. Heliocentric theory

C. Nebula Hypothesis

3. The most dominant gas in the earth's atmosphere by percentage volume is: A. Oxygen B. Helium C. Nitrogen D. Hydrogen

C. Nitrogen

The ___ of the Earth does not transmit S-waves A. Outer mantle B. Inner core C. Outer core D. Deep mantle

C. Outer Core

The P-wave shadow zone is largely the result of: A. reflection of P-waves from the inner core - outer core boundary B. Lower P-wave velocities in the mantle than in the crust C. Refraction of P-waves crossing the mantle- outer core boundary D. Reflection of P-waves at the boundary between the inner and outer cores

C. Refraction of P waves crossing the mantle outer core boundary

Which of the following is NOT true of deep ocean trenches? A. They are long and narrow depressions B. They are sites where plates plunge back into the mantle C. They are geologically very stable D. They may act as sediment traps

C. They are geologically very stable

The Earth's magnetic field originates by: A. Weak electrical currents associated with hot, rising mantle plumes B. Magnetic mineral grains in the inner core C. Weak electrical currents associated with fluid motions in the outer core D. Magnetization of oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the atmospheric ozone layers by solar radiation

C. Weak electrical currents associated with fluid motions in the outer core

The major wind system operating between latitude 30oN and 60o N is: A. Northeast trade winds B. Southeast trade winds C. Westerlies D. Polar Easterlies

C. Wester flies

Which of the following statements is NOT correct? A. Equatorial diameter of the earth is longer than the polar diameter by about 27 miles B. P-waves can pass through liquid outer core of the earth while S-waves cannot C. Oceanic crust is referred to as SIMA rocks while continental crust are referred to as SIAL D. Africa is the largest continent while North America is the smallest continent on earth E. 95% of total land is said to the opposite water bodies on the globe thereby exhibiting an antipodal relationship

D. Africa is the largest continent while North America is the smallest on earth

____ discovered the crust-mantle seismic discontinuity in ____. A. Beno Gutenbery; 1936 B. Petrovich Divac; 1914 C. Charles Richter; 1888 D. Andrija Mohorovicic, 1909

D. Andriha Mohorovicic, 1909

Most of our knowledge of the interior of the earth comes from A. information derived from deep oil wells B. Density measurements C. Deep mines D. Behavior of seismic waves passing through the Earth

D. Behavior of seismic waves passing through the Earth

. ______, a popular natural philosophy of the 17th and early 18th centuries, was based on a firm belief in a very short geologic history for Earth. A. Ecospherism B. Exoschism C. Uniformitarianism D. Catastrophism

D. Catastrophism

The ____ lies at the base of the continental slope A. Offshore shelf B. Off-slope reef C. Continental rift D. Continental rise

D. Continental Rise

A stable platform is a region characterized by A. No vertical crustal movement until recent times B. A complete lack of deformed rocks at any depth C. Numerous folds and faults D. Horizontal sedimentary rocks overlying the crystalline Basement Complex rocks E. Extensive exposures of igneous and metamorphic rocks

D. Horizontal sedimentary rocks overying the crystalline Basement Complex Rocks

The asthenosphere is actually a part of the ____ of the Earth A. Outer core B. Crust C. Inner core D. Mantle

D. Mantle

Submarine canyons found on the continental slope and rise are believed to have been created: A. By rivers during the ice age B. By faulting C. Because of a plate plunging into the mantle D. None of the above

D. None of the above

The ____ is thought to be a liquid, metallic region in the Earth's interior A. Inner core B. Lithosphere C. Mantle D. Outer core

D. Outer Core

____ transmits P-waves but not S-waves A. Inner core B. Mantle C. Crust D. Outer core

D. Outer Core

____ is probably closest in chemical composition to the upper mantle A. Granite B. Shale C. Andesite D. Peridotite

D. Peridotite

The P-wave shadow zone is largely the result of: ______ are thought to be similar in composition to Earth's mantle A. Shooting star B. Metallic meteorites C. Cosmic gas clouds D. Stony meteorites

D. Stony Meteorites

The earth's moon and the planet mercury are described as primitive bodies because: A. Their basic surface features have remained unchanged shortly after their formation B. Of the lack of internal heat to drive any major internal geologic processes early in their history C. Of the lack of the hydrological cycle and effective atmosphere to drive external geologic processes early in their history D. Of the rotation of the bodies E. A, B, and C

E. A,B, and C

The lithosphere is: A. The outermost solid layer of the earth B. A layer above the asthenosphere C. A rigid layer that is about 100 km thick D. In continuous motion E. All of these answers

E. All these answers

The zone of soft plastic rock beneath the lithosphere is called the: A. Magnetosphere B. Thermosphere C. Mantle D. Outer core E. Asthenosphere

E. Asthenosphere

Physical geology is the science of the earth focusing on: A. The chronology of geologic events B. The structural materials of the earth C. Geologic processes D. Asking and answering when questions about the earth E. B and C

E. B and C

The rock forming the mantle layer of the earth's interior is: A. Granite B. Basalt C. Gabbro D. Quartzite E. Peridotite

E. Peridotite