geo practice exam 3
Chemical weathering processes are particularly effective on limestone landscapes, forming A) karst topography. B) complex patterns over only 5 percent of Earth's land area. C) hydrolysis plains. D) exfoliation domes and arch-like forms.
a
Heat energy and new materials are brought to the surface from the interior by the A) tectonic cycle. B) rock cycle. C) hydrologic cycle. D) mineral cycle.
a
Ocean floor subducts under continents because A) the ocean floor is made of mafic material and is therefore more dense than continental material. B) the ocean floor has a lower density and therefore sinks more easily. C) the ocean floor is made of felsic minerals and is heavier than continental material. D) the weight of the continents is so great that they push the ocean floor material downward. E) both A and B
a
The most common type of mass wasting in a slightly hilly environment is A) soil creep. B) rockfall. C) a soil slide. D) debris avalanche.
a
The phrase "considerable-to-serious damage to buildings" would be used in the __________ scale. A) Mercalli B) Richter C) Beaufort D) Moh's
a
The total possible load a stream can transport is its _________, whereas a stream's ability to move particles of specific size is its __________. A) capacity; competence B) bed load; sediment load C) discharge; competence D) competence; capacity
a
Volcanoes formed from silica-rich magma A) are highly explosive and dangerous. B) are associated with rift zones. C) have gently sloping surfaces that give them the appearance of a shield. D) are associated with midocean ridges.
a
Watersheds are defined by A) drainage divides. B) fluvial units. C) continental divides. D) stream orders.
a
Which of the following is incorrect relative to the principal locations of volcanic activity? A) They occur around the perimeter of the Atlantic Ocean basin. B) They occur along sea-floor spreading centers. C) They occur in the circum-Pacific belt. D) They occur in association with hot spots over plumes in the mantle.
a
A cutoff on a meandering stream results in the formation of A) a point bar. B) an oxbow lake. C) a levee. D) a terrace.
b
After a threshold is crossed, the landscape A) looks identical to the landscape that existed prior to the crossing of the threshold. B) adjusts to a new equilibrium condition. C) remains unstable thereafter. D) Any of the above are equally likely to occur.
b
Earth's crust is roughly made up of A) mantle and core material. B) at least 14 plates capable of movement. C) a brittle material that does not move. D) strong, unbroken material.
b
Explosive eruptions tend to build up A) many subsequent lava flows. B) composite volcanoes. C) shield-shaped volcanoes. D) plateau basalts.
b
The disintegration and dissolving of surface and subsurface rock is called A) landmass denudation. B) weathering. C) mass wasting. D) erosion.
b
When a dam and reservoir are constructed, the natural response of the river and its channel gradient come under the control of A) the same base level that existed prior to construction. B) a local, or temporary, base level. C) an ultimate base level. D) the government.
b
Which drainage pattern is produced by folded topography? A) radial B) trellis C) deranged D) dendritic
b
Which of the following are the principal active agents involved in chemical weathering? A) nitrogen, oxygen, argon B) water, oxygen, carbon dioxide C) oxygen, silicon, aluminum D) magnesium, water, limestone
b
Which of the following gives the correct sequence of layers in the Earth, from the surface to the center? A) crust, lower mantle, aesthenosphere, core B) crust, aesthenosphere, lower mantle, core C) aesthenosphere, lower mantle, crust, core D) crust, core, lower mantle, aesthenosphere
b
Which of the following is not part of the hydrologic cycle? A) transportation B) radioactive decay C) sedimentation D) erosion
b
Which of the following is true regarding continental drift? A) It is an old theory that has been essentially disproven. B) It does not occur because the crust is brittle. C) It occurred about two billion years ago, but no longer occurs today. D) The term "continental drift" refers to crustal plate movement.
d
High mountains consisting of tightly folded and overthrust sedimentary rock layers, as well as metamorphic rocks, are formed A) during volcanic eruptions. B) in continental rift zones. C) during plate collisions. D) exclusively by magma intrusions. E) along midocean ridges during seafloor spreading activity and are subsequently uplifted above sea level in response to isostatic processes.
c
Normal faults are associated with A) plate convergence. B) compressional forces. C) tensional forces. D) transcurrent forces.
c
Salt is an example of __________ rock. A) metamorphic B) extrusive igneous C) sedimentary D) intrusive igneous
c
The aesthenosphere can best be described as A) a rigid solid. B) plasma-like. C) plastic-like. D) a liquid.
c
The density of material below the Moho is __________ that above it. A) less than B) the same as C) greater than
c
All processes that cause reduction and rearrangement of landforms are included in the term A) mass movement. B) weathering. C) mass wasting. D) denudation.
d
Hydration involves A) frost action. B) the action of wind. C) a chemical weathering process. D) swelling and stress within a rock with the addition of water.
d
If you were driving down the highway and saw mountains composed of layered strata, you could be confident that you were looking at A) batholiths or laccoliths. B) extrusive igneous rock. C) a shield volcano. D) sedimentary rocks.
d
In reality, a landscape behaves as A) a closed system in terms of energy and an open system in terms of matter. B) a closed system. C) an evolutionary model changing in a sequence of stages that is the same everywhere on the Earth. D) an open system.
d
Landslides occur when A) the internal friction is overcome by the force of gravity. B) a threshold is reached. C) driving forces exceed resisting forces. D) all of the above E) B and C only
d
The eventual catastrophic eruption of Mount Saint Helens was A) a total surprise. B) not preceded by any physical activity. C) within only a few days of the first earthquake. D) related to seafloor subduction at the west coast of North America.
d
The major rocks of Earth's crust are classified into principal types based on A) element composition. B) mineral composition. C) relative and absolute locations. D) three specific rock-forming processes; i.e., the manner in which they formed.
d
The majority of the Earth's crust is composed of __________ rock. A) metamorphic B) sedimentary C) carbonate D) igneous
d
The most active tectonic regions of North and South America are on the A) mid-continent. B) southern coasts. C) eastern coasts. D) western coasts.
d
The thickness of Earth's crust ranges from A) the surface down to 2900 km (1800 mi.). B) the surface to an unknown depth. C) 70 km to 250 km (43 mi. to 155 mi.). D) 5 km to 60 km (3 mi. to 37 mi.).
d
The variety of surface features on the Earth results from A) weathering and erosion. B) gravity. C) tectonic activity. D) all of these
d
Which of the following is not an example of an age-relationship based on absolute dating? A) The Vishnu schist at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is 2 billion years old. B) The dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago. C) The oldest known rocks on Earth are 3.96 billion years old. D) The Coconino formation in the Grand Canyon is older than the Kaibab formation.
d
Which of the following is true of divergent plate boundaries? A) Tensional forces exist there. B) Rifting occurs there. C) New ocean crust can be created there. D) all of the above E) none of the above
d
Bed load is moved by A) saltation. B) traction. C) suspension. D) all of the above E) A and B only
e
How have we gained knowledge of Earth's internal structure? A) studying shock waves from earthquakes and underground nuclear tests B) direct observation of Earth's inner layers C) analysis of seismic waves passing through Earth's layers D) all of the above E) A and C
e
