geo quiz questions

horizontal plate movement in which one plate slides past another

Transform motion

. The dynamic equilibrium model refers to a. a balancing act between tectonic uplift and rates of reduction in a given landscape. b. a theory involving the cyclic or evolutionary development of a landscape. c. a sequential development of landforms. d. an important concept first stated by John Powell

a (a balancing act between tectonic upflict and rates of reduction in a given landscape)

The Hawaiian Islands were formed as a result of a. a rising plume of magma from the mantle. b. an oceanic-oceanic plate collision. c. a continental-oceanic plate collision. d. activity along a midocean ridge.

a (a rising plume of magma from the mantle)

The uplift of mountains is caused by a. endogenic processes. b. aggradation. c. denudation. d. exogenic forces.

a (endogenic processes)

The density of material below the Moho is ________ that above it. a. greater than b. less than c. the same as

a (greater than)

At which of the following locations is new ocean crust being formed? a. rift zones b. along collision zones between two continents c. along collision zones between two oceanic plates d. in trenches

a (rift zones)

Several large, linear lakes are forming in East Africa. This is evidence of what process? a. rifting b. subduction c. compression d. isostatic uplift

a (rifting)

The steepness of a slope of loose material at rest is the a. height of the slope. b. angle of repose. c. mass movement gradient. d. the speed of the particles.

b (angle of repose)

Convergent plate boundaries are characteristic of a. sea-floor spreading centers. b. collision zones between plates. c. lateral motions of plates. d. all plate boundaries.

b (collision zones between plates)

The nucleus of old crystalline rock in each of the principal continental masses is called a a. basalt mass. b. continental shield, or craton. c. mountain mass. d. composite zone.

b (continental shield or craton)

Glaciers that once covered the Hudson Bay area melted 8,000 years ago. As a result of this, the bay is gradually rising. In another 10,000 years or so, it will have risen above sea level and become dry. This process can best be considered an example of a. catastrophism. b. isostasy. c. accretion. d. orogenesis

b (isostasy)

22. Which of the following is false relative to the principal locations of volcanic activity? a. They occur along sea-floor spreading centers. b. They occur around the perimeter of the Atlantic Ocean basin. c. They occur in association with hot spots over plumes in the mantle. d. They occur in the circum-Pacific belt

b (they occur around the perimeter of the Atlantic Ocean basin)

Tectonic forces a. erode the surface of Earth. b. warp, fold, and uplift rock. c. control soil formation processes. d. form sedimentary rock.

b (warp, fold, and uplfift rock)

Compared to oceanic crust, continental crust is a. denser. b. usually formed with less than 50 percent silica and is rich in iron and magnesium. c. generally more complex in content and structure. d. essentially composed of basalt

c (generally more complex in content and structure)

Continental crust is generally ________, whereas oceanic crust is generally ________. a. thin; thick b. basalt; granite c. granite; basalt d. sima; sial

c (granite; basalt)

The principles of buoyancy and balance, when applied to Earth's crust, helps us to explain fluctuations in Earth's outer crust, a property known as a. magnetism. b. Moho effect. c. isostasy. d. orogenesis.

c (isostasy)

Movement of earth materials propelled by gravity acting directly on those materials are referred to as a. lahars. b. downslope flows. c. mass movements or mass wasting. d. slides

c (mass movements or mass wasting)

The asthenosphere can best be described as a. a rigid solid. b. a liquid. c. plastic-like. d. plasma-like

c (plastic-like)

. A persistent, slow mass movement of surface soil is called a a. debris avalanche. b. soil creep. c. soil slide. d. rockfall.

c (soil slide)

. The ocean floor is a maximum of about 200 million years in age because a. Earth is only 200 million years old. b. the ocean floor is pushed up onto continental material during plate collisions. c. the ocean floor subducts during plate collisions. d. hot spots continuously destroy the ocean floor. e. None of the above—the ocean floor is 3.96 billion years old.

c (the ocean floor subducts during plate collisions)

. Which of the following is endogenic in nature? a. weathering b. stream deposition c. volcanism d. glacial erosion

c (volcanism)

The pattern developed by Wegner that involves the continents fitting as a jigsaw possible. There were similar fossils across continents and coal deposits of tropical plants

continental drift

the movement of two plates toward one another

convergent plate boundary

. The San Andreas system in California is an example of a a. strike-slip fault. b. transform fault. c. right-lateral motion. d. All of these are correct

d (all of these are correct)

8. Landslides occur when a. a threshold is reached. b. the internal friction is overcome by the force of gravity. c. when driving forces exceed resisting forces. d. all of these e. a threshold is reached and internal friction is overcome by gravity only

d (all of these)

Which of the following can initiate hillslope failure? a. making a roadcut in the side of a hill b. increasing the slope angle c. excessively watering a slope d. all of these

d (all of these)

Which of the following can lead to the formation of mountains? a. plate collisions and volcanic activity b. exposure of plutons by erosion of surrounding landscape c. faulting d. all of these e. plate collisions, volcanic activity, and faulting only

d (all of these)

Which of the following is true of divergent plate boundaries? a. Rifting occurs there. b. Tensional forces exist there. c. New ocean crust can be created there. d. all of these e. none of these

d (all of these)

At which of the following locations does subduction occur? a. along collision zones between two continents b. at sea floor spreading zones c. above mantle hot spots d. along collision zones between continental and oceanic plates

d (along collision zones between continental and oceanic plates)

. Which of the following is not exogenic in nature? a. weathering b. erosion c. denudation d. batholith formation e. mass wasting

d (batholith formation)

If you wanted to avoid earthquakes, which of the following areas would be the safest to live? a. convergent plate boundary b. divergent plate boundary c. island arc along a subduction zone d. shield

d (shield)

Which of the following lists of processes are in the correct sequence as to their occurrence in nature? a. deposition, erosion, transport, weathering b. weathering, erosion, deposition, transport c. weathering, deposition, erosion, transport d. weathering, erosion, transport, deposition

d (weathering, erosion, transport, deposition)

aggradational, net deposition of sediments results in a building up of the landscape

deposition

separation of two plates as they move in opposing directions

divergent plant boundary

Plate boundaries are associated with a. earthquakes. b. volcanoes. c. subduction. d. rifting. e. all of these

e (all of thes)

. Because of the processes responsible for the formation of the Himalayan Mountains, the crust in this region of the world has been a. shortened. b. extended. c. folded. d. extended and folded. e. shortened and folding

e (shortened and folded)

degradational, net _______ results in the lowering of the affected part of the landscape

erosion

rebound: the state of gravitational equilibrium between Earth's crust and mantle such that the crust "floats" at an elevation that depends on its thickness and density of underlying roots of the low density of the mountain.

isostacy

lithosphere composed of different plates that move independently of one another at varying speeds over the earth's surface

plate tectonics

the difference in height between the high point and the low point on a landscape

relief

Breakdown of rock material in place at or near earth's surface

weathering

Process in which new seafloor forms as molten rock from Earth's interior rises toward the surface, pushing the existing seafloor out of its way.

Seafloor spreading

oceanic plates (basalt, heavier) goes beneath continental plate (granite, lighter), forms trench on oceanic side and volcanoes and mountains on other side; ex. The Andes Mountains of South America and the Cascades Mountains of North America

Subduction