GEO 200 - Exam 3 Study Guide
Like faults, a ________ is a separation in a rock body. joint slump dike sill graben
joint
A ________ develops along a streambed containing bedrock of differential resistance.
knickpoint
The Black Hills, South Dakota, is a dome-shaped mass which is built over a ________. vein dike batholith laccolith stock
laccolith
A volcanic mudflow is known as a(n) ________.
lahar
Currently, the rate of sea-floor spreading in the Atlantic is thought to be less than 1 centimeter per year. 1 kilometer per year. 10 meters per year. 100 meters per year. 0 centimeters per year (stopped).
less than 1 centimeter per year.
Mt. St. Helen's is ________. scheduled to erupt in the year 2050 the world's best example of intrusive vulcanism the largest volcano in the world likely to vigorously erupt again dead
likely to vigorously erupt again
The "plates" in plate tectonics are in the ________. outer core crust asthenosphere inner core lithosphere
lithosphere
Death Valley is below sea level. Therefore, in Death Valley, base level is ________ ultimate base level.
lower than
Soil creep is unimportant in arid regions since lack of water removes the primary ________. catalyst cement binder lubricant none of the above
lubricant
Molten ________ extruded onto the surface of the Earth, where it cools and solidifies, is known as lava.
magma
An inner segment of the Earth which is rigid, dense, and solid and lies directly beneath the Moho is called the ________. mantle crust inner core outer core magma
mantle
The thickest of Earth's interior layers is the ________. mantle crust outer core inner core Moho
mantle
The single most important mechanism of transport for weathered overburden in the subarctic zones is ________. exfoliation oxidation none of the above frost wedging mass wasting
mass wasting
A large joint extending long horizontal distances and through considerable thickness of rock is a ________ joint.
master
Which of the following is out of order if we are considering the Earth from the atmosphere to the center? mantle moho crust inner core outer core
moho
A ________ is a one-sided fold connecting horizontal or gently inclined strate. anticline syncline symmetrical fold monocline overthrust
monocline
________ are mass movement flows that occur on slopes in arid and semiarid regions.
mudflows debris flows mudflows and debris flows
A(n) ________ fault results from tensional forces and the upthrown and downthrown sides are separated by a steep fault scarp.
normal
The basic classification of rock types is based on their ________. pH crystal structure petrology origin color
origin
On a meandering stream, maximum erosion takes place along the ________.
outer edge of the meanders
Structurally, the most complicated of the list below is the ________. reverse fault overthrust fault normal fault fault scarp transform fault
overthrust fault
Volcanic activity that takes place deep under the crust is termed ________. metamorphic subduction pyroclastic plutonic intrusive
plutonic
The totality of materials ejected from a volcano, including liquid material, ashes and dust is termed ________. lava pyroclastic material magma silica granite
pyroclastic material
A typical drainage pattern on conic volcanic mountains would be ________.
radial
A(n) ________ fault results from compressional forces and is frequently associated with landslides.
reverse
A lengthy complex of grabens forms a ________ valley.
rift
In mountain areas, when large amounts of rock fragments move downslope of their own weight, they are called ________. dikes veins slumps rock glaciers laccolith
rock glaciers
Water collected in small bodies along a recently active fault line forms ________. sag ponds sills dikes playas reservoirs
sag ponds
The most widely distributed type of metamorphic rock is ________. schist quartz opal granite sandstone
schist
The best example of a product of mass wasting is ________. limestone exfoliation domes faults scree sandstone monoliths
scree
Joints existing in series of parallel fractures are known as ________.
sets
The most common sedimentary rock is ________. limestone basalt shale sandstone marble
shale
Which of the following is most closely associated with a mantle plume? A) the Hawaiian Islands B) southern California C) the lower Mississippi River Valley D) the Florida peninsula E) none of the above
the Hawaiian Islands
Relatively cooler magma in an erupting volcano is apparently the result of ________. position of astronomical bodies the relatively high amount of silica present surface salinity depth of magma formation the amount of water present
the relatively high amount of silica present
The Glomar Challenger proved ________. the seafloors are spreading mountains exist under the sea the poles reverse their polarities continental drift has stopped the Earth is round
the seafloors are spreading
A ________ plate boundary is associated with lateral slippage, conservation of existing crust, and the San Andreas fault system? subducting convergent transform divergent fault scarp
transform
The drainage pattern common in ridge and valley landscapes is ________.
trellis
The process of creep works ________. only in the tropics only in deserts only in the tundra universally only in the mountains
universally
The smallest feature in the list below is the ________. A) batholith B) dike C) vein D) sill E) laccolith
vein
Most processes which shape topography are ________. unknown very slow quite abrupt no longer active very rapid
very slow
Compared to Earth's crust as a whole, the sedimentary rocks beneath the ocean bottoms are ________. laid down vertically instead of horizontally found almost as deep as is the Moho very thin not commonly found much sandier
very thin
A lava ________ is a small hole which develops in cooling lava when gas is unable to escape as the lava solidifies. pore space cavern cavity chamber vesicle
vesicle
In frost wedging, the principal force is exerted against the ________ of the confining rock. walls outside bottom microscopic openings top
walls
FIB It is ________ acting in conjunction with erosion that created the spectacular canyon of the Colorado River.
weathering
A steep walled defile with a V-shaped profile and narrow valley floor would, according to the geomorphic cycle, be in the ________ stage.
youthful
Where would one find a convergent plate boundary? A) along the Pacific coast of South America B) at the midocean ridge of the Atlantic Ocean C) in the middle of Antarctica D) in the middle of North America E) along a transform plate boundary
A) along the Pacific coast of South America
A tsunami is ________. A) another term for a seismic sea wave B) the glowing blast of an exploded volcano C) a large earthquake which kills humans D) unknown in tropical places like Hawaii E) a common occurrence in the central United States
A) another term for a seismic sea wave
Which material, accumulated from the remains of plants and animals, can produce limestone? A) calcium carbonate B) slate C) carbon dioxide D) clay E) carbon
A) calcium carbonate
These rock-forming minerals are light-colored or colorless. They are common components of sedimentary rock and frequently combine with oxygen. A) carbonates B) native elements C) sulfates D) oxides E) halides
A) carbonates
Research since the 1970s has identified the cause of plate tectonics to be ________. A) convection B) uniformitarianism C) sun spots D) warping E) diastrophism
A) convection
Weathering and mass wasting can be classified as ________ processes. A) denudational B) tectonic C) mountain building D) quick E) constructive
A) denudational
With the passage of time, all talus migrates ________. A) downslope B) upslope C) very quickly D) only when there are earthquakes E) out of the ravine
A) downslope
Which of the following is NOT associated with biological weathering? A) formation of rock joints B) disintegration of rock by burrowing animals C) expansion of rock cracks by tree roots D) flaking of rock particles because of lichens present E) leaching of nutrient minerals from rocks
A) formation of rock joints
Mass movements are likely to happen after ________. A) heavy rains B) denudation C) material has been moved to the talus cone D) summer E) erosion is finished
A) heavy rains
Which of the following can occur far below the surface in the tropics? A) hydrolysis B) soil formation C) oxidation D) differential weathering E) carbonation
A) hydrolysis
Rhyolite, andesite, basalt, and obsidian are all rocks that are classified as ________. A) igneous and extrusive B) metamorphic and unfoliated C) metamorphic and foliated D) igneous and intrusive E) sedimentary and clastic
A) igneous and extrusive
A volcanic mud flow is known as a(n) ________. A) lahar B) mafic form of lava C) tsunami D) mantle plume E) horst
A) lahar
Which of the following processes is most closely associated with "rusting"? A) oxidation B) carbonation C) hydrolysis D) hydration E) nivation
A) oxidation
Which of the following processes is NOT associated with the biological weathering of the landscape? A) photosynthesis B) wedging by roots C) ion exchange by lichens D) the burrowing of animals E) wetting and drying of lichens
A) photosynthesis
Sandstone is usually metamorphosed into ________. A) quartzite B) magma C) slate D) limestone E) chalcedony
A) quartzite
The altitudinal difference between the highest and lowest points in an area is known as ________. A) relief B) regolith C) the strata D) landscape E) topography
A) relief
In dry climates, ________ is a (are) prevalent process(es). A) salt wedging B) landslides C) carbonation D) hydrolysis E) frost wedging
A) salt wedging
Erosion, compaction, and sedimentation are most closely associated with ________ rocks. A) sedimentary B) basaltic C) intrusive D) metamorphic E) igneous
A) sedimentary
The map of rock distribution in the United States clearly shows ________ rocks are the most extensive type. A) sedimentary B) big C) igneous extrusive D) igneous intrusive E) metamorphic
A) sedimentary
Which of the following describes the vast majority of rock exposed on Earth's land surface? A) sedimentary B) granite C) metamorphic D) foliated E) igneous
A) sedimentary
Shale, sandstone, breccia, and limestone are all rocks that are classified as ________. A) sedimentary and clastic B) metamorphic and foliated C) metamorphic and unfoliated D) igneous and extrusive E) igneous and intrusive
A) sedimentary and clastic
The vast majority of all sedimentary rocks are sandstones, limestones and ________. A) shales B) diamonds C) magmas D) detritus E) schists
A) shales
The mass-wasting type characterized by a crescent-shaped scarp face is the ________. A) slump B) solifluction C) rock glacier D) debris flow E) primary joint
A) slump
Carbonate rock is closely associated with ________. A) solution cavities B) exfoliation C) vesicles D) hydration E) granular disintegration
A) solution cavities
The mechanism of formation of the Hawaiian Islands is directly responsible for the ________ island being the youngest and having current volcanic activity. A) southeastern-most B) smallest C) northwestern-most D) center E) terrane-covered
A) southeastern-most
"The angle of repose" is a term most closely associated with ________. A) talus B) exfoliation C) chemical weathering D) mudflows E) mechanical weathering
A) talus
The following is found at the base of Earth's crust: A) the Moho B) the mesosophere C) the geosphere D) the outer core E) the inner core
A) the Moho
In the section "An Example of Scale," it is apparent that ________. A) the smallest scale is related to the view from farthest away B) ordinary human experience transcends all the scales C) landform scale has precise definitions in kilometers D) scale is meaningless in landform study E) the largest scale would consider the North American continent
A) the smallest scale is related to the view from farthest away
Where is the daily temperature change the most significant in rock weathering? A) the humid tropics B) mountain summits C) the Arctic region D) the subtropical deserts E) midlatitude valleys
B) mountain summits
A strongly metamorphosed rock with narrow foliation is ________. A) basalt B) schist C) gneiss D) limestone E) tufa
B) schist
Which of the following represents the largest and most important group of rock-forming minerals? The bulk of the crust of the Earth is composed of these minerals. A) oxides B) silicates C) native elements D) sulfates E) carbonates
B) silicates
Shale is usually metamorphosed into ________. A) gneiss B) slate C) tufa D) marble E) basalt
B) slate
When magma cools rapidly, it results in ________. A) large crystals B) small crystals C) detritus D) foliation E) earthquakes
B) small crystals
Sedimentary deposits built into relatively regular layers are known as ________. A) intrusive exfoliation B) strata C) granite D) detrital striations E) clastic inclusions
B) strata
A joint can be distinguished from a fault in that ________. A) joints are a feature of cold climates exclusively B) there is no movement along joints C) there is wider separation between two sides D) joints are not found in metamorphic rocks E) there is no difference between joints and faults
B) there is no movement along joints
A(n) ________ detects swelling and possible eruption in a volcano. A) frightened graduate student B) tiltmeter C) anemometer D) ceilometer E) seismograph
B) tiltmeter
In rock, ________ is another term for pressure release. A) rusting B) unloading C) slumping D) creep E) oxidation
B) unloading
Foliation refers to this characteristic of rocks: A) small crystals B) wavy, banded lines C) large crystals D) hollow cores E) numerous joints
B) wavy, banded lines
In the Precambrian, muds and sands were washed into a shallow inland sea now occupied by the Rocky Mountains. The limestones, shales, and sandstones which accumulated into six distinct formations, each with a conspicuous color variation, are known collectively as the ________.
Belt series
Which of the following is NOT closely related to jointing? A) contraction of sediments after they dry out B) ease of percolation of water into rock C) horizontal and vertical orientation D) vesicles E) Zion Canyon National Park, Utah
D) vesicles
Salt wedging is most closely associated with ________. A) chemical weathering B) plant roots C) capillary action D) freeze/thaw cycles E) humid climates
C) capillary action
Some sedimentary rocks are formed chemically and known as ________. A) magma B) igneous intrusive rocks C) chemical sedimentary rocks D) granites E) basalts
C) chemical sedimentary rocks
The plate boundaries which are ________ are likely to make island arcs. A) divergent between continental plates B) convergent between continental plates C) convergent between oceanic plates D) transducive boundaries between oceanic and continental plates E) divergent between oceanic plates
C) convergent between oceanic plates
A chain of mountains encompassing many ranges is known as a(n) ________. A) mantle plume B) first-order landform C) cordillera D) hot spot E) island arc
C) cordillera
Which of the following is NOT an external geomorphic process? A) deposition B) weathering C) diastrophism D) mass wasting E) erosion
C) diastrophism
Radial walls extending outward from a volcano are ________. A) veins B) clay pans C) dikes D) plugs E) sills
C) dikes
Hot, plastic material of the asthenosphere is most conspicuous at ________. A) the centers of the continents B) areas in which mountains are being built C) divergent plate boundaries D) oceanic trenches E) subduction zones
C) divergent plate boundaries
Which of the following is the SHORTEST amount of time? A) period B) Earth history C) epoch D) the Precambrian E) era
C) epoch
Which of the following is NOT associated with sedimentary rocks? A) fragmented parts of preexisting rocks B) cementation C) extrusion of magma D) skeletal remains of coral E) stratification
C) extrusion of magma
Rapid cooling in molten, extrusive materials makes the resulting materials ________. A) dense B) hard C) fine-grained D) large-grained E) soft
C) fine-grained
Frost wedging is associated with ________ in coarse-grained rocks. A) hydrolysis B) slumping C) granular disintegration D) solution cavities E) faults
C) granular disintegration
An uplift of a block of land between two parallel faults is a ________. A) rift valley B) mesa C) horst D) caldera E) graben
C) horst
Which of the following is NOT associated with volcanoes? A) magma B) plutonic activity C) horsts D) Nutrients are provided for plant growth. E) pyroclastic material
C) horsts
Exfoliation is probably the result of unloading and ________. A) jointing B) glaciation C) hydration D) salt wedging E) mechanical weathering
C) hydration
Gravity is the main force impelling movement in all of the following EXCEPT ________. A) slide B) creep C) hydrolysis D) solifluction E) fall
C) hydrolysis
Granite, diorite, gabbro, and peridotite are ________ rocks. A) metamorphic foliated B) igneous extrusive C) igneous intrusive D) sedimentary clastic E) sedimentary chemical and organic
C) igneous intrusive
The concept of plate tectonics ________. A) shows the astenosphere is floating on top of plates B) is a theory with few proofs C) is related to faulting and volcanic activity D) would definitely be true if the Earth were far older E) was proven hundreds of years ago
C) is related to faulting and volcanic activity
Which of the following is NOT closely associated with the large system of ridges on the ocean floors? A) upwelling of magma B) rift zones C) island arcs D) seafloor spreading E) transform faults
C) island arcs
An earthflow is most conspicuous in ________ where a bulging lobe of material pushes out onto a valley floor. A) its center B) landslide zones C) its lower reaches D) its upper reaches E) rock glacier zones
C) its lower reaches
Marble is metamorphosed ________. A) shale B) gneiss C) limestone D) slate E) schist
C) limestone
The process of solifluction works ________. A) universally B) mainly in the tropical rainforest C) mainly in the tundra D) underwater E) mainly in the midlatitudes
C) mainly in the tundra
Slate, schist, and gneiss are all rocks which are classified as ________. A) metamorphic and unfoliated B) igneous and intrusive C) metamorphic and foliated D) sedimentary and clastic E) igneous and extrusive
C) metamorphic and foliated
If no water is involved, rocks can mechanically weather if they undergo ________ temperature change cycles. A) a dozen B) two C) millions of D) hundreds of E) thousands of
C) millions of
Which of the following form of mass wasting is relatively fast and wet compared to the others? A) solifluction B) slump C) mudflow D) rock glacier E) creep
C) mudflow
The basic elements for an analytical approach to landform development do NOT include which of the following? A) structure B) slope C) normality D) drainage E) process
C) normality
Mechanically formed sedimentary rocks are those formed from ________. A) granite B) oxygen C) pieces of other rocks D) silt E) magma
C) pieces of other rocks
Which material is most resistant to chemical weathering? A) limestone B) gypsum C) quartz D) dolomite E) iron-bearing rocks
C) quartz
Clays which change to a near-liquid state as a result of sudden disturbance are ________ clays. A) sandy B) scree C) quick D) talus E) mudflow
C) quick
Which of the following is postulated as the ultimate source of energy causing continental drift? A) gravity B) volcanism C) radioactive decay D) the Sun E) diastrophism
C) radioactive decay
Oxidation of aluminum causes which of the following colors on the surfaces of rocks? A) light purple B) grayish-blue C) reddish brown D) black E) lime green
C) reddish brown
The Appalachian Mountains are famous for their ________ structure. A) volcanic B) rift valley C) ridge and valley D) faulted E) graben
C) ridge and valley
Which of the following is not a form of folding? A) syncline B) anticline C) rift valley D) monocline E) overturned fold
C) rift valley
A considerable body of knowledge concerning Earth's interior has been amassed through all these methods EXCEPT ________. A) digging mines B) studying seismic waves C) sampling rocks from Earth's core D) studying Earth's magnetism E) drilling wells
C) sampling rocks from Earth's core
In a section of the chapter "Introduction to Landform Study," the authors write about Horseshoe Park in the Colorado Rockies and about looking back at North America from a spacecraft. The point of this is to understand more about ________ and the landscape. A) local relief B) folding C) scale D) volcanoes E) rocks
C) scale
The inferential knowledge concerning the nature of the interior of the Earth has been accumulated by ________. A) gravity studies B) lunar cycles C) seismic wave analysis D) computer modeling E) astronomy
C) seismic wave analysis
Earth's crust appears to be composed of ________ major plates and an equally number of intermediate ones. A) two B) a dozen C) seven D) over one hundred E) about seventy five
C) seven
Caverns are most closely associated with ________. A) joints B) lava vesicles C) solution cavities D) microscopic open spaces E) faults
C) solution cavities
Invariably, hydrolysis makes a mineral ________. A) redder B) denser C) take up more volume D) more acidic E) more beautiful
C) take up more volume
The relief we see today is best thought of as ________. A) not very diverse B) everlasting in terms of Earth history C) temporary D) unexplainable E) a product of internal, rather than external, processes
C) temporary
What is the term for a piece of crust which has been in a collision along a convergent crustal boundary and become accreted to another crustal plate? A) midoceanic ridge B) terracette C) terrane D) loxodrome E) none of the above
C) terrane
There is a prominent oceanic trench off of ________. A) the coast of Lake Michigan B) the east coast of the continental United States C) the coast of Alaska's Aleutian Islands D) the west coast of the continental United States E) the Gulf Coast of the continental United States
C) the coast of Alaska's Aleutian Islands
Which of the following illustrates the concept of "relief"? A) uplift of sediments after erosion of overlying sediments B) the substitution of one subaerial process for another C) the vertical distance between lowest and highest points in an area D) altitude E) the cessation of volcanic activity
C) the vertical distance between lowest and highest points in an area
Which of the following are waves generated by earthquakes? A) plutons B) lahars C) tsunamis D) monoclines E) pyroclastic flows
C) tsunamis
The viewpoint that past processes are the same as the present ones which created our present land surface is known as ________. A) foliation B) diastrophism C) uniformitarianism D) plate tectonics E) volcanism
C) uniformitarianism
Which of the following is NOT a form of tectonism? A) faulting B) broad warping C) volcanism D) folding E) downwarping
C) volcanism
________ is an expression of the total load a stream can transport.
Capacity
The most recent Era on the Earth is ________. Cenozoic Eocene Precambrian Permian Miocene
Cenozoic
________ is a facilitator of mass wasting. Clay Friction Talus Calcium carbonate Gravel
Clay
The outer and inner cores together make up approximately ________ of the mass of the Earth. A) 1/3,000 B) 1/30,000 C) 1/300 D) 1/3 E) 1/30 E) 1/30
D) 1/3
The world system of interconnected ocean bottom ridges comes to a total of about ________ kilometers. A) 6,000 B) 60 C) 6 D) 60,000 E) 600,000
D) 60,000
The Great Rift Valley is on the continent of ________. A) Asia B) Europe C) Antarctica D) Africa E) North America
D) Africa
In terms of plate tectonics, Indian is a part of the ________ plate. A) Arabian B) African C) Eurasian D) Indo-Australian E) Tasmanian
D) Indo-Australian
The Unzen volcanic complex is a composite of overlapping composite volcanoes and has had recent pyroclastic flows, lazars, and loss of life. This complex is in the country of ________. A) Russia B) Australia C) Canada D) Japan E) South Africa
D) Japan
The island of Krakatau disappeared in a volcanic explosion. Krakatau was located in the ________. A) Arctic Ocean B) ocean off of California C) Gulf of Alaska D) Java Sea E) Mediterranean Sea
D) Java Sea
The original large continental mass containing all of the present continents prior to separation millions of years ago has been named ________. A) Laurasia B) Transcurrent C) Subduction D) Pangaea E) Gondwanaland
D) Pangaea
________ is the detailed knowledge of characteristics of different kinds of rock. A) Tectonics B) Geology C) Seismology D) Petrology E) Metamorphism
D) Petrology
________ and amount of moisture present can be used to classify types of mass wasting. A) Amount of mechanical weathering B) Gravity C) Temperature D) Speed of movement E) Amount of chemical weathering
D) Speed of movement
________ is an area of extensive flood basalts. A) New England B) The Amazon River watershed C) Western Europe D) The Columbia Plateau E) The South Carolina Coastal Plain
D) The Columbia Plateau
The term "exfoliation dome" is best applied to ________. A) Bryce National Park, Utah B) unweathered parent material C) subarctic hillslopes D) Yosemite National Park E) Bunker Hill, Massachusetts
D) Yosemite National Park
Undercutting of a bank by its stream may trigger ________. A) solifluction B) movement of a rock glacier C) soil creep D) a landslide E) an earthquake
D) a landslide
Clays are sometimes instrumental in mass movements because of their ability to ________. A) move uphill B) capture sunlight C) become translucent D) absorb water E) become smaller over time
D) absorb water
A simple symmetrical upfold is called a(n) ________. A) syncline B) monocline C) inselberg D) anticline E) None of the answer choices is correct.
D) anticline
Which of the following is NOT an intrusive volcanic landform? A) sill B) batholith C) vein D) caldera E) dike
D) caldera
The nature of a volcanic eruption is determined largely by the ________ of the magma. A) color B) pressure C) temperature D) chemistry E) density
D) chemistry
The main types of erosion processes do NOT include ________. A) solution B) glacial C) aeolian D) diastrophism E) fluvial
D) diastrophism
Wegener's early proposal of continental drift was not taken seriously because of his ________. A) lack of scientific research B) training as a meteorologist C) lack of attention to Earth's species distribution D) failure to provide a plausible cause E) inability to read and write
D) failure to provide a plausible cause
Weathering may reach as far as ________ below Earth's surface. A) a few meters B) the outer core C) the bottom of the crust D) hundreds of meters E) a few centimeters
D) hundreds of meters
Weathering is deepest ________. A) at high latitudes B) on ocean floors C) in the middle latitudes D) in the humid tropics E) at high altitudes
D) in the humid tropics
Earthquake forecasting ________. A) will never be possible B) would not be useful C) is not possible D) is being studied E) has been quite successful
D) is being studied
Calcium bicarbonate produced in the chemical weathering process of carbonation ________. A) is rare B) eventually transforms into diamonds C) is difficult to remove from the spot where it was formed D) is very soluble E) is very resistant to erosion
D) is very soluble
Landslides are often responsible for the formation of ________. A) hydrolysis B) reverse faults C) basins D) lakes E) jointing
D) lakes
A massive pile of highly irregular debris in the form of a low-lying ridge or cone on a valley bottom is a topographic result of a ________. A) rock glacier B) fault C) joint D) landslide E) rock fall
D) landslide
Loose, water-saturated sediments may undergo ________ during an earthquake. A) fibrillation B) estivation C) dessication D) liquefaction E) metamorphism
D) liquefaction
The Moho is the boundary between the crust and the ________. A) outer core B) inner core C) ocean basins D) mantle E) continents
D) mantle
Consider the location of New York City. In terms of crustal plates, New York City is ________. A) on a divergent boundary B) on a convergent boundary C) not on a plate D) not on a plate boundary E) on a transform boundary
D) not on a plate boundary
During sedimentation, materials are often sorted by ________. A) shape B) color C) porosity D) size E) atomic weight
D) size
The slight displacement of human-built structures such as fence posts and telephone poles is subtle evidence that ________ has(have) occurred. A) rock glaciers B) landslides C) rockfalls D) soil creep E) mudflows
D) soil creep
Which of the following is the slowest of all types of mass movement? A) landslide B) slump C) rockfall D) solifluction E) earthflow
D) solifluction
Which openings in rocks are associated with calcareous rocks? A) joints B) faults C) microscopic openings D) solution cavities E) lava vesicles
D) solution cavities
In folded terrain, a simple symmetrical down fold is termed a(n) ________. A) overthrust fold B) anticline C) monocline D) syncline E) magma pool
D) syncline
Crustal movements of various kinds in the Earth's crust is collectively called ________ activity. A) detrital B) clastic C) metamorphic D) tectonic E) 1st order
D) tectonic
Deformation of the Earth's crust is called ________. A) folding B) faulting C) broad warping D) tectonism E) plate tectonics
D) tectonism
The term "landforms" is synonymous with ________. A) relief B) physical geography C) local relief D) topography E) geology
D) topography
Where UNDER the surface of the Earth would one expect a convection current directed towards the surface? A) under plates B) under subduction zones C) under continents D) under midocean ridges E) in the core
D) under midocean ridges
The main chemical weathering processes all take place more or less simultaneously because they all require the presence of ________. A) plants B) air C) hydrogen D) water E) salt crystal growth
D) water
The single most important weathering agent is ________. A) nitrogen B) water vapor C) oxygen D) water E) carbon dioxide
D) water
Which of the following concepts does not belong with the others? A) continental drift B) plate tectonics C) plasticity D) midocean ridge E) a rigid crust with fixed continents
E) a rigid crust with fixed continents
Which of the following is termed "conservative"? A) a convergent plate boundary B) a divergent plate boundary C) an oceanic ridge D) an oceanic trench E) a transform plate boundary
E) a transform plate boundary
Mass wasting is associated with which speed of movement? A) imperceptibly slow B) a few centimeters per day C) 100 kilometers per hour D) a few meters per year E) a wide variety of speeds
E) a wide variety of speeds
In terms of Earth history, life appeared ________. A) before the first true "landscapes" B) after 99% of the time had elapsed C) after the continents started to drift D) almost directly after the beginning E) before the Grand Canyon began
E) before the Grand Canyon began
Typically, solifluction lobes move a few ________ per year. A) kilometers (miles) B) meters (feet) C) tens of meters (tens of feet) D) tens of kilometers (tens of miles) E) centimeters (inches)
E) centimeters (inches)
The Himalayas were formed by crumpling of plate edges in a ________ zone. A) transcurrent B) divergent C) rift D) basalt E) convergent
E) convergent
The La Conchita landslides are most closely associated with ________. A) problems in Mexico B) an earthquake C) causes that are no longer active D) an unsafe dam E) cracks underneath cliff houses
E) cracks underneath cliff houses
Which of the following refers to the surface of the Earth directly above the center of an earthquake? A) hot spot B) nadir C) seismic zone D) focus E) epicenter
E) epicenter
The peeling of thin layers of stone off a large rock is ________. A) explosion B) carbonation C) hydrolysis D) scree E) exfoliation
E) exfoliation
A sag pond is caused by collection of water from springs or runoff after movement along ________. A) flood basalts B) volcanoes C) synclines D) anticlines E) fault lines
E) fault lines
The east face of the Sierra Nevadas presents an excellent example of a(n) ________. A) syncline B) transform fault C) sag pond D) overthrust E) fault scarp
E) fault scarp
Which is formed on top of Earth's crust? A) batholith B) vein C) sill D) dike E) flood basalt
E) flood basalt
Which of the following is most effective in weathering rock? A) salt wedging B) daily heating and cooling C) fire D) plant roots E) freeze/thaw cycles
E) freeze/thaw cycles
Granular disintegration is most closely associated with ________. A) biological weathering B) mass wasting C) landslides D) hydrolysis E) frost wedging
E) frost wedging
A crustal block which is down thrown with a steep fault scarp on either side is a ________. A) horst B) fault block mountain C) syncline D) rift valley E) graben
E) graben
Chemical weathering is speeded because mechanical weathering tends to ________. A) make coarse-grained materials decompose more rapidly than fine-grained materials B) stop when chemical weathering starts C) deliver rocks to where chemical processes are dominant D) prevent moisture from washing away the chemicals E) greatly increase the surface area to be weathered
E) greatly increase the surface area to be weathered
Which sort of rocks are most susceptible to hydrolysis? A) metamorphic B) sedimentary C) plutonic D) unjointed E) igneous
E) igneous
Denudation is NOT closely related to ________. A) erosion B) biologic weathering C) atmospheric weathering D) mass wasting E) internal processes
E) internal processes
The initial formation of Earth involved the solidification and cooling of ________. A) strata B) sediments C) metamorphic rocks D) ice E) magma
E) magma
Over the past 100 million years of Earth history, it is known that the magnetic poles have reversed themselves ________ times. A) 10 B) 0 C) 2 D) 25 E) many
E) many
When subjected to metamorphism, limestone usually becomes ________. A) basalt B) sandstone C) schist D) gneiss E) marble
E) marble
The location of features, such as cliffs and valleys might be strongly influenced by the position of ________. A) talus slopes B) rocks which can be exfoliated C) systems of microspaces D) scree E) master joints
E) master joints
________ and nickel are thought to comprise significant portions of Earth's inner and outer cores. Titanium Aluminum Basalt Iron Quartz
Iron
The Unzen volcanic complex is composite of overlapping composite volcanoes and has had recent pyroclastic flows, lahars, and loss of life. This complex is in the country of ________.
Japan
________ are the most common structural features of rocks. Fractures Solution cavities Lava vesicles Joints Faults
Joints
Which of the following are fault-block mountains? Cascades Ozarks Sierra Nevada Appalachians Rockies
Sierra Nevada
________ minerals are the most abundant material making up the rocks of Earth's crust.
Silicate
________ are the layers in sedimentary rock.
Strata
________ is an area of extensive flood basalts.
The Columbia Plateau The Deccan Plateau
A foreshock sometimes comes before a major earthquake. True False
True
A minor volcanic eruption releases the energy equivalent to a cluster of atomic bombs. True/False
True
A simple symmetrical upfold in topography is an anticline. True False
True
A talus slope has a characteristic angle of repose of about 35 degrees. True False
True
A volcano is "active" if it has had at least one eruption in recorded history. True/False
True
According to Wegener, all the continents were once joined together in one continent. True/False
True
According to the concepts of plate tectonics, the continents of Africa and South America are gradually changing their distance from each other. True False
True
Angular rocks and boulders on high mountain peaks were produced by frost shattering. True False
True
Any downward movement of broken rocks owing to gravity is called mass wasting. True False
True
Brush fires and forest fires speed the process of mechanical weathering. True/False
True
Burrowing animals, earthquakes, and thunder are all significant contributors to soil creep. True/False
True
Clayey soils or clayey subsoils greatly facilitate mass movement. True/False
True
Complex geologic structures in North Africa, North America, and Europe correlate very well with one another in terms of continental drift. True False
True
Current theory likens the world's sea floors to conveyor belts moving ever outward from the oceanic ridges. True/False
True
Debris flows are mass movements that occur on slopes in arid regions. True/False
True
Deep fault zones apparently serve as conduits allowing water and heat to approach the surface. True False
True
Diastrophism is considered a set of internal geomorphic processes. True/False
True
Diastrophism is considered an internal geomorphic process. True False
True
During subduction, oceanic crust melts as it is pushed down into the hot mantle. True/False
True
Earth's topography is more varied than that of any known planet. True/False
True
Exfoliation appears to involve both mechanical and chemical weathering agents. True False
True
External geomorphic processes are mainly subaerial. True/False
True
Faulting can take place many kilometers below the surface. True/False
True
Fragmented mineral material is called sediment. True False
True
Granite is a type of rock which has cooled from magma. True False
True
Gravity is the energizing force in mass wasting. True/False
True
Huge mountain ranges and shallow-focus earthquakes are common along convergent boundaries between pairs of continental plates. True/False
True
Humans have drilled less than one-thousandth of the distance from the surface to the center of the Earth. True/False
True
Igneous rocks apparently make up the bulk of Earth's entire crust. True False
True
Igneous rocks can be directly derived from the deformation of metamorphic rocks. True/False
True
In general, the slow cooling of molten rock leads to formation of large crystals. True/False
True
In the 1920s, Alfred Wegener assembled much scientific evidence suggesting that the continents drift. True/False
True
In the Cascade Range, there are many peaks larger or taller than Mount Saint Helens which exploded. True False
True
In the Earth system, internal and external geomorphic processes act more or less in direct opposition to each other. True/False
True
Isostasy can cause land lifting when groundwater dissolves limestone. True/False
True
Mafic lava is likely to be hotter and more fluid, causing non-explosive volcanic eruptions. True False
True
Many of the most important ore minerals are sulfides. True/False
True
Mass wasting is generally the second step in a three-step system of denudation True/False
True
Mechanical and chemical weathering usually act in concert with one another. True False
True
Mudflows are potentially more dangerous to humanity than earthflow True False
True
Mudflows tend to follow the local drainage network. True/False
True
Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust. True/False
True
Offset streams are caused by strike-slip faults. True/False
True
Our understanding of the crust and upper mantle has fundamentally improved in the last few decades. True/False
True
Oxidation in rocks is often initiated by oxygen dissolved in water. True False
True
Oxidation produces compounds which are more easily eroded than the original rock. True/False
True
Paleomagnetism is used to show that the continents drifted apart. True/False
True
Parallel structure, also known as stratification, is a characteristic of most sedimentary rocks. True/False
True
Plant roots are agents of weathering. True/False
True
Plate tectonics is another term for lithospheric rearrangement. True/False
True
Plutonic rocks are the same thing as intrusive rocks. True False
True
Process refers to the analytical element of landscape study which considers the actions that have combined to produce the landform. True/False
True
Salt wedging is a weathering process which is unimportant in humid regions. True/False
True
Scale differences in landform studies are complex and of significance True/False
True
Sedimentary strata are always formed horizontally. True/False
True
Soil creep is generally faster on water-saturated slopes than on dry ones. True False
True
Sometimes, landslides come down into a valley and then race upslope on the other side. True/False
True
Strata are the layers in sedimentary rock. True/False
True
T/F In physical geography, comprehending the dynamics of topographic development is more important than any amount of detailed landform distribution study.
True
Talus slopes are normally gently concave upward, with the steepest angle near the apex of the cone. True/False
True
The Andesite Line refers to the numerous volcanoes which dot the rim of the Pacific Ocean. True False
True
The Deccan Plateau of India is associated with flood basalts. True/False
True
The Earth's crust is rigid as compared to the mantle directly underneath. True False
True
The Haiti earthquake was so devastating because of poor construction of buildings. True/False
True
The Lewis Overthrust in Glacier National Park in Montana is such a large thrust fault that sediments have been displaced horizontally as much as 30 kilometers. True/False
True
The asthenosphere is the portion of Earth's interior between the lithosphere and lower mantle. True/False
True
The crust under the ocean bottom is thinner than the crust under the continental surface. True/False
True
The largest recorded earthquake had a moment magnitude of 9.5 and occurred in Chile. True False
True
The mantle is located beneath the Moho. True False
True
The most widely distributed intrusive rock is granite True/False
True
The motive force behind continental drift appears to be convection. True/False
True
The slight difference in time of observation between the arrival of P and S waves at a seismographic station allows scientists to determine the distance to the focus of an earthquake. True/False
True
The southern portion of the "super continent" envisioned by Wegener is called Gondwanaland. True False
True
The steepest angle that can be assumed by loose fragments on a slope without downslope movement is the angle of repose. True False
True
The term "mountains without roots" is used to refer to mountains in overthrust fault zones. True/False
True
When water freezes, it decreases in density and expands in volume. True False
True
Whenever soil is present, it makes up the upper portion of the regolith. True/False
True
Where solifluction occurs, drainage channels are usually scarce. True/False
True
Rivers downcutting into a land surface, in the absence of other forces, usually tend to erode a ________-shaped form.
V
The first comprehensive theory of continental drift was propounded by ________. Wallace Kppen Wegener Darwin Sagan
Wegener
The major batholiths of North America occur on which part of the continent? Central Northern Western Eastern Southern
Western
On the Modified Mercalli scale, the largest earthquakes would be assigned a value of ________. 10 8.5 1 XII 3
XII
Crater Lake, Oregon, is an example of a volcanic ________. lava flow peak batholith caldera neck
caldera
From a chemical standpoint, the three reacting agents of greatest importance to weathering are ________. hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor water vapor, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide none of the above
carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor
The major end product of chemical weathering is(are) ________. sands talus airborne dust clays silts
clays
The local deformation of Earth's crust because magma contacts surrounding rocks is called ________.
contact metamorphism
Water is a major agent of weathering because of its property that, when it freezes, it decreases in density and ________. expands in volume stays in liquid form below 0° Celsius evaporates turns white turns acidic
expands in volume
Igneous rocks deposited on the surface and then cooled are known as ________. clastic extrusive detrital core intrusive
extrusive
Using the idea of "mantle plumes," it is obvious that the crust associated with the Hawaiian islands is moving from southwest to northeast. True False
false
In a flow, the center moves ________ than the outer edges.
faster
Lava flows often create ________. dikes batholiths volcanic necks flattish plains volcanoes
flattish plains
Evidence of former surface volcanic activity is often found in the vast accumulations of lava called ________. hot spots magma flood basalts calderas pyroclastic
flood basalts
Which of the following mass movements involves the greatest amount of water? rockfall slide slump flow solifluction
flow
The oldest continental rocks that have been discovered are on the order of ________ billion years old.
four
The most important type of mechanical weathering process is ________. hydrolysis oxidation frost shattering salt wedging uniformitarianism
frost shattering
In high altitude climates ________ is a (are) prevalent process(es).
frost wedging
Davisian theory is usually referred to as the ________.
geomorphic cycle
A crustal block which is downthrown with a steep fault scarp on either side is a ________. rift valley horst graben syncline fault block mountain
graben
Exfoliation is most common in ________ and similar rocks.
granite
Where the land is flat, ________ exerts a minimal influence on topographic development. chemical weathering mechanical weathering water biological weathering gravity
gravity
As they are created, sedimentary rock strata align ________. vertically horizontally along faults along folds with Earth's magnetic field
horizontally
Grabens are commonly found in association with ________. anticlines batholiths horsts sag ponds concretions
horsts
Salt wedging is of slight consequence in ________. arid regions marshes regions above the treeline humid regions volcanic regions
humid regions
The rotting of rock by the various types of chemical weathering takes place best in ________. limestone regions upland montane forests arid lands polar regions humid regions
humid regions
The chemical union of water with another substance is called ________. magma oxidation hydrolysis solifluction talus
hydrolysis
The original rocks which cooled on the surface of the Earth could be classified as ________.
igneous extrusive igneous
Density ________ with depth in the Earth's crust. remains largely the same decreases is insignificant increases is not described by any of the above
increases
The land separating adjoining valleys is known as a(n) ________.
interfluve
The ________ processes working on Earth's landscapes are energized by heat inside the Earth; they work without any regard to atmospheric influences.
internal
The most widespread oxides are those that combine oxygen and ________. silver water calcite native elements iron
iron
How long ago did Pangaea first begin to exist?
250 million years
Within 5%, the typical angle of repose on talus is ________%.
35
Earth's age is ________ billion years old. 4.6 .046 460 46 .46
4.6
It is clear that some rocks will never weather, waste, or erode. True/False
False
Joints and solution cavities are different names for the same feature. True/False
False
Landslides are the most common form of mass wasting. True/False
False
Like climate and vegetation, landforms have "predictable" worldwide distributions. True/False
False
Mass wasting and denudation are synonymous terms. True False
False
Mass wasting and weathering are synonymous terms. True False
False
Mechanical weathering is more effective than chemical weathering in the breakdown of the individual grains of a large rock. True False
False
Metamorphic rocks are probably the most common rock type found in the Earth's crust. True/False
False
Metamorphic rocks must be exposed to sunlight for cementation. True/False
False
Mid-oceanic ridges contain the oldest rocks in the ocean basins. True False
False
On the Richter scale, an earthquake number of 8 releases twice as much energy as an earthquake number of 4. True/False
False
Our understanding of the Earth's crust and upper mantle has remained virtually the same for a very long time (a couple of centuries). True False
False
Prior to Mt. St. Helens in 1980 there had never been an active volcano in the United States. True False
False
Rock glaciers form on flat surfaces. True/False
False
Salt wedging is a form of physical weathering especially prevalent in the humid tropics. True False
False
Sandstone is the most common metamorphic rock. True/False
False
Sedimentary rocks are the most common rock type found within the Earth's entire crust. True False
False
Several organic minerals are found in nature. True False
False
Shield volcanoes tend to be the most explosive of all volcanoes. True/False
False
Soil creep, because it is so common, produces a rich array of landforms. True/False
False
The "active layer" of permafrost must melt for solifluction to occur. True/False
False
The Black Hills of South Dakota provide an example of a structure formed by a dike. True/False
False
The Earth's crust is a layer of the lithosphere about 1,000 kilometers thick. True/False
False
The Haiti earthquake of 2010 was "surprising" because there were no major faults in the vicinity. True/False
False
Which of the following numbers is CLOSEST to the number of active volcanoes on Earth? A) 550 B) 55 C) 5 D) 55,000 E) 5,500
550
Each year, approximately ________ significant earthquakes cause damage and loss of life.
60 - 70
The Mississippi River delta's current position has been there for ________.
600 years
On the Richter scale, "very large" earthquakes are assigned a number of ________ or above.
7
The Alaskan earthquake of 1964 was extraordinarily violent and has been assigned a moment magnitude of ________. 47.5 2.3 5.7 21.6 9.2
9.2
Oceans are being created and removed from the Earth on a cycling time of about ________. A) 100 million years B) 1 million years C) 2.5 billion years D) 4.6 billion years E) 500 million years
A) 100 million years
Sedimentary rocks are the most common bedrock on the continents and comprise about ________ percent of the surface. A) 75 B) 55 C) 25 D) 5 E) 95
A) 75
________ is the part of the United States where one could see terranes. A) Alaska B) Maine C) Florida D) The Midwest E) Arizona
A) Alaska
Which of the following landscapes is most closely associated with jointing? A) Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah B) the folded Appalachian Mountains C) the Front Range of the Rockies D) Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park E) Chief Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana
A) Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Flood basalts cover much of the ocean floor, India, and in North America, the ________. A) Columbia Plateau B) Colorado Plateau C) Ozark area D) Newfoundland area E) Florida region
A) Columbia Plateau
Which of the following is NOT a landscape caused by faulting? A) Crater Lake, Oregon B) the Sierra Nevada C) grabens D) the Swiss Alps E) horsts
A) Crater Lake, Oregon
Which of the following is LEAST important in the weathering processes? A) Earthquakes B) Faults C) Joints D) Lava vesicles E) Microscopic open spaces
A) Earthquakes
The origins of which of the following are less well understood than the other features on the list? A) Mountains in the middle of plates B) Convergent plate boundaries C) Divergent plate boundaries D) Ocean ridges E) Ocean trenches
A) Mountains in the middle of plates
________ have the most extensive occurrence at the surface of the continental United States? A) Sedimentary rocks B) Metamorphic rocks C) Basaltic rocks D) Intrusive rocks E) Igneous rocks
A) Sedimentary rocks
________ often initiates mass wasting in subarctic and high latitudes. A) The heaving of frozen groundwater B) Short day lengths C) Heavy snow D) Cold temperatures E) Greater gravity nearer the poles
A) The heaving of frozen groundwater
Which of the following is NOT true of the terranes of North America? A) They are the largest of the crustal plate types. B) They are associated with accretion. C) Some of them have origins south of the Equator. D) They have rocks that were too buoyant to be subducted. E) Several dozen exist.
A) They are the largest of the crustal plate types
Which of the following is NOT a property of minerals? A) They can be human-made. B) They all are composed of crystals. C) Each has a regular pattern of atoms. D) They are totally inorganic. E) Each always has the same chemical composition.
A) They can be human-made.
minerals and rocks of the crust? A) a quarter of them B) all of them C) none of them D) three quarters of them E) half of them
A) a quarter of them
The ________ Mountains are an example of symmetrical folding over a large area.
Appalachian
The deepest drill core into the Earth's crust is approximately ________ kilometers deep. A) 6,702 B) 12 C) 360 D) 0.5 E) 31
B) 12
The approximate LAND surface of the Earth totals more than ________ square kilometers. A) 15 thousand B) 150 million C) 1.5 billion D) 15 trillion E) 1.5 thousand
B) 150 million
________ is a dark, fine-grained extrusive rock. A) Granite B) Basalt C) Tufa D) Shale E) Conglomerate
B) Basalt
________ is an "internal" process. A) Weathering B) Diastrophism C) Aeolian D) Fluvial E) Mass wasting
B) Diastrophism
________ might happen directly as the result of the removal of an overlying weight from the landscape. A) Hydrolysis B) Exfoliation C) A slump D) Soil creep E) Mass wasting
B) Exfoliation
Which of the following associations is generally TRUE? A) Internal processes: wearing-down and destructive B) External processes: decrease local relief C) External processes: creative and uplifting D) Internal processes: well understood E) External processes: poorly understood
B) External processes: decrease local relief
________ is(are) the most obvious result of weathering. A) Slumps B) Fragmentation of bedrock C) Earthquakes D) Joints E) Landslides
B) Fragmentation of bedrock
________ is an example of a native element. A) Lead B) Gold C) Calcite D) Halite E) Iron
B) Gold
Which of the following does NOT fit the requirement to be a mineral? A) It must be made up of inorganic substances. B) It must have economic value. C) It must have the same chemical composition wherever found. D) It must form a regular pattern of crystals. E) It must be found in nature.
B) It must have economic value.
________ move downslope as much as 160 kilometers per hour. A) Solifluction lobes B) Landslides C) Slump blocks D) Rock glaciers E) Debris flows
B) Landslides
________ is a sedimentary rock formed mechanically from fine silt and clay particles. A) Sandstone B) Shale C) Basalt D) Limestone E) Granite
B) Shale
Which of the following is NOT closely associated with large landslides? A) Earthquakes B) Solifluction C) Fault zones D) Heavy rains E) Large joints
B) Solifluction
The state having the greatest extent of flood basalts is ________. A) Arkansas B) Washington C) Idaho D) California E) Arizona
B) Washington
Clay is a facilitator for mass wasting because clay ________. A) dissolves when wet B) absorbs water C) particles are larger than sand D) has solution cavities E) particles are so small
B) absorbs water
The Lewis Overthrust is a well known feature in the Appalachian Mountains. True/False
False
The Swiss Alps are noteworthy in that they demonstrate simple and symmetrical folding. True False
False
The U.S. Government is developing an Earthquake Early Warning System (EEW) True/False
False
The angle of repose is the same for all materials. True/False
False
The internal processes working on Earth's landscapes are energized by heat inside the Earth; they work without any regard to atmospheric influences. True/False
False
Topography is a synonym for geomorphology. True/False
False
Uniformitarianism is another term for the theory of massive crustal deformation. True/False
False
Uniformitarianism is the study of the interior of the Earth. True False
False
Using the idea of "mantle plumes," it is obvious that the crust associated with the Hawaiian islands is moving from southwest to northeast. True/False
False
Usually, the number of faults in an area is a much greater number than the number of joints. True False
False
Water is the energizing force in mass wasting. True/False
False
Internal forces of the Earth tend to be better understood and more predictable than the external forces of the Earth. True False
False Internal forces are somewhat of a mystery
Most Common silicate?
Feldspars and quartz
In earthquakes, P waves________. arrive more slowly than surface waves are faster than S waves are absent are also known as surface waves travel towards the focus
are faster than S waves
Where would one find a convergent plate boundary? A) in the middle of North America B) along a transform plate boundary C)at the midocean ridge of the Atlantic Ocean D) at all of the above locations E) at none of the above locations
at none of the above locations
Presently, the North American and Eurasian plates are moving ________. nowhere toward the North Pole away from each other toward each other toward the Equator
away from each other
A slump is a downslope movement with a ________. sag pond plateau formation tsunami backwards rotation lava vesicle
backwards rotation
The Sierra Nevada and Sawtooth mountain ranges were caused by a huge intrusion type known as a ________.
batholith
The ________ is an igneous intrusion which has a surface area of at least 100 square kilometers. butte laccolith batholith stock vein
batholith
The most massive form of igneous intrusion is a ________. none of the above batholith stock laccolith sill
batholith
In freeze/thaw or wet/dry conditions in soil creep, an individual soil particle tends to ________. slide downhill and then be lifted vertically slide downhill be lifted vertically be lifted vertically from the ground surface and placed slightly downhill be lifted vertically and placed at the same spot
be lifted vertically from the ground surface and placed slightly downhill
Residual rock that has not experienced erosion is termed ________. talus bedrock block basalt dome
bedrock
The ________ is usually covered by a layer of broken and partly decomposed rock particles.
bedrock
Under most of the Earth's land surface, solid rock exists as a buried layer known as ________. soil sediments regolith an outcrop bedrock
bedrock
The Age of Dinosaurs persisted for some ________ years. 160 thousand 160 million 160 billion 1.60 billion 160
160 million
Earth's inner core is thought to consist of ________. A) a rigid mass B) superheated water C) sulfur D) magma E) hydrogen/helium gas
A) a rigid mass
The current interest in continental drift, was started with the notion of sea-floor spreading which was propounded by Hess and Dietz in the 1890s. 1960s. 1990s. 1700s. 1850s.
1960s.
"Shortly" BEFORE the existence of Pangaea, ________. A) the supercontinent Rodinia had existed B) there was a single continent called "Micronesia" C) the Atlantic Ocean formed D) there was no continental drift E) Earth had formed
A) the supercontinent Rodinia had existed
The vast majority of North America is moving ________, A) to the west B) to the east C) down D) up E) so slowly that the direction is unknown
A) to the west
The Pacific "ring of fire" refers to the ________. A) volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean B) the Hawaiian Islands C) flood basalts D) subduction zones on the ocean floor E) Azores Island
A) volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean
Which process must take place FIRST during the denudation of a landscape? A) weathering B) mass wasting C) erosion D) They must occur simultaneously. E) None of them must necessarily occur first.
A) weathering
Shield volcanoes are ________ than composite volcanoes. A) wider B) more widespread C) taller D) more explosive E) steeper
A) wider
By Earth history standards, the Grand Canyon is ________. A) young B) as old as the Earth C) not important D) very old E) becoming a first-order landform
A) young
The Great Rift Valley is on the continent of ________
Africa
Life appeared on Earth ________. A) the day before yesterday B) as one-celled organisms and remained so over most of Earth's history C) after most of Earth's history was already over D) within the last one million years E) very early in Earth's history
B) as one-celled organisms and remained so over most of Earth's history
One sub-surface material which intensifies the process of earthquakes and mass movement is ________. A) batholiths B) clay C) calcium carbonate D) boulders E) scree
B) clay
A mudflow including numerous larger blocks of material is a(n) ________. A) slump B) debris flow C) earth slide D) earth flow E) rock glacier
B) debris flow
The most widespread of all intrusive forms is the ________. A) stock B) dike C) volcano D) lava flow E) batholith
B) dike
Which two terms are usually used to refer to the SAME plate boundary? A) terrane, trench B) divergent, constructive C) convergent, constructive D) subduction, constructive E) divergent, destructive
B) divergent, constructive
Frost wedging is NOT a significant agent in producing ________. A) sand B) dust C) mechanical weathering effects D) clay E) large boulders
B) dust
Jointing is most regularly patterned in ________. A) soil B) fine-grained rocks C) coarse-grained rocks D) exfoliated rocks E) faulted rocks
B) fine-grained rocks
The banding characteristic of metamorphic rocks is ________. A) relief B) foliation C) stratification D) uniformitarianism E) magma
B) foliation
Mass wasting is most likely during ________. A) the perihelion of Earth to the Sun B) heavy rain C) joint formation D) freezing temperatures E) daytime
B) heavy rain
If you travel away from a midocean ridge you will find ________. A) increasingly younger rocks B) increasingly older rocks C) more and more earthquakes D) the seafloor is drifting opposite to your direction of motion E) little evidence of paleomagnetic reversals of the poles
B) increasingly older rocks
A ________ is another name for a volcanic mudflow. A) laccolith B) lahar C) landslide D) pyroclastic flow E) bornhardt
B) lahar
Within the Earth is molten mineral matter called ________. A) extrusive material B) magma C) bedrock D) rock E) soil
B) magma
The ________ is NOT a portion of Earth's interior. A) asthenosphere B) magnetosphere C) lithosphere D) Moho E) outer core
B) magnetosphere
Large ________ extend for considerable distances and depths through rock. Below the surface, there is minimal separation between the blocks on either side. A) faults B) master joints C) solution cavities D) glory holes E) vesicles
B) master joints
Crustal plates are on the order of ________ kilometer(s) thick. A) 10 B) 10,000 C) 100 D) 1 E) 1,000
C) 100
How long ago did the Atlantic start to form as Pangaea started to rift apart? A) 20 million years B) 2.0 billion years C) 200 million years D) 1 million years E) 4.6 billion years
C) 200 million years
It has been deduced the mantle is composed of ________ concentric layers of various composition and density. A) 9 B) 51 C) 3 D) 153 E) 27
C) 3
The Rocky Mountains started to be uplifted ________ years ago. A) 6.5 billion B) 0.65 million C) 65 million D) 650 million E) 6.5 million
C) 65 million
________ is NOT a direct cause of sedimentary deposits forming into rock. A) Chemical cementation B) Pressure C) Erosion D) Weight of the overburden E) Precipitation of materials from water
C) Erosion
Which is a fundamental question at the heart of any geographic inquiry? A) How often? B) What? C) If so? D) Why? E) So what?
C) If so?
Mount Saint Helens exploded in 1980. Which of the following is NOT true? A) It is a volcano. B) It caused salmon to change their spawning habits. C) It is quite unlike the other mountains near it. D) It is in the State of Washington. E) It had been dormant for over 100 years.
C) It is quite unlike the other mountains near it.
The earliest era in the geologic time scale is ________. A) Archaeozoic B) Mesozoic C) Precambrian D) Cenozoic E) Paleozoic
C) Precambrian
________ refers to the analytical element of landscape study concerned with the nature, arrangement, and orientation of the materials comprising the observed feature(s). A) Isostasy B) Drainage C) Structure D) Slope E) Process
C) Structure
"The present is the key to the past" is the summarization of the doctrine of ________. A) Fundamentalism B) Earth history C) Uniformitarianism D) Precambrian time E) Analogy
C) Uniformitarianism
Where is one plate being subducted under another plate? A) the middle of the Arctic Ocean B) the middle of the Atlantic Ocean C) along the Aleutian Trench D) the middle of North America E) along the Hawaiian Islands
C) along the Aleutian Trench
Which of the following is NOT a type of opening along which weathering agents attack bedrock? A) joints B) solution cavities C) batholiths D) lava vesicles E) faults
C) batholiths
Limestone is composed primarily of ________. A) cations B) igneous material C) calcite D) tufa E) silt
C) calcite
The chemical binder for many sedimentary rocks, such as limestone, is ________. A) phosphorous B) boron C) calcium carbonate D) basalt E) nitrogen
C) calcium carbonate
As water freezes it expands almost ________ percent and is able to mechanically weather rock. A) 1 B) 75 C) 100 D) 50 E) 10
E) 10
The maximum world relief is CLOSEST to ________. A) 1 meter B) 50 kilometers C) 40,000 kilometers D) 1 kilometer E) 20 kilometers
E) 20 kilometers
Approximately ________ different minerals are known. A) 440,000 B) 440 C) 4,400,000 D) 44 E) 4,400
E) 4,400
The present estimate of the Earth's age is about ________ years. A) 2.8 trillion B) 500 million C) 50 million D) 2.8 billion E) 4.6 billion
E) 4.6 billion
Of the states below, which has the greatest number of volcanoes (active or inactive)? A) New York B) Louisiana C) Florida D) Arizona E) Alaska
E) Alaska
Which of the following doesn't belong with the others? A) Rift valley B) Overthrust C) Graben D) Horst E) Dike
E) Dike
The Indian subcontinent was originally attached to ________. A) Laurasia B) Sima C) Tasmania D) Sial E) Gondwanaland
E) Gondwanaland
Crater Lake, Oregon, is a remnant of a larger volcano named ________. A) Mt. St. Helens B) Paricutin C) Mt. Whitney D) Mt. McKinley E) Mt. Mazama
E) Mt. Mazama
"Fracking" is associated with all but the ________. A) making of small earthquakes B) pollution of groundwater C) rock formations known as plays D) fracturing of rocks E) most oil production from Saudi Arabia
E) most oil production from Saudi Arabia
Worldwide, volcanic eruptions are ________. A) a thing of the past B) mostly explosive C) rare D) rarely fatal to those around them E) mostly underwater
E) mostly underwater
"Fracking" is most closely associated with ________. A) conventional extraction B) an environmentally safe extraction method C) fossil fuels in sandstones D) oil E) natural gas
E) natural gas
In Hawaii, the direction of movement of the "hot spot" means that the ________ is the oldest part of the island chain. A) largest island B) center islands C) southeastern islands D) rainiest island E) northwestern islands
E) northwestern islands
A(n)________ is the same thing as a pyroclastic flow. A) earthquake B) landslide C) flood basalt D) steam explosion E) nuée ardente
E) nuée ardente
Which of the following is thought to be liquid? A) mantle B) crust C) inner core D) asthenosphere E) outer core
E) outer core
The Glacier Park, Montana area, provides a classic example of large scale ________. A) flood basalts B) graben structure C) transcurrent faulting D) horsts E) overthrust faulting
E) overthrust faulting
Which of the following is NOT one of the principal categories of rock-forming minerals? A) halides B) sulfides C) oxides D) native elements E) peptides
E) peptides
Which of the following is thought to transfer materials WITHOUT the lubricating effect of water? A) mudflow B) landslides C) solifluction D) debris flows E) rock glaciers
E) rock glaciers
The most common oxidation effect in the lithosphere is ________. A) talus B) hydrolysis C) scree D) exfoliation E) rusting
E) rusting
The most commonly occurring type of metamorphic rocks are gneiss and ________. A) shale B) coal C) limestone D) magma E) schist
E) schist
The new substances made through oxidation of existing minerals are ________ than the original minerals. A) less oxygen rich B) less voluminous C) less easily eroded D) more organic E) softer
E) softer
Instead of the vertical displacement of other faults, a ________ fault has horizontal displacement between the two sides A) normal B) reverse C) overthrust D) graben E) strike-slip
E) strike-slip
Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons scientists strongly believe in plate tectonics? A) the ability to explain oceanic trenches B) the ability to explain many earthquake zones C) the ability to explain many volcanic zones D) the ability to explain midoceanic ridges E) the ability to explain Earth's crust is rigid
E) the ability to explain Earth's crust is rigid
Which of the following was NOT associated with the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens? A) the filling in of the River shipping channel B) the destruction of many lakes C) the deaths of 70 people D) the change of rivers to which salmon come to spawn E) the end of life in the local ecosystem for at least 1,000 years
E) the end of life in the local ecosystem for at least 1,000 years
Frost shattering is also called frost ________. A) weathering B) exfoliation C) creep D) slump E) wedging
E) wedging
The geographer's concern with Earth's interior is restricted primarily to its influence on________. Earth surface features oxidation foliation magnet fields magma intrusions
Earth surface features
"Hot spots" in the Earth's crust are so rare that only 3 of them have been documented. True False
False
A batholith is an igneous extrusive landform. True False
False
A common maximum speed for landslides is about 500 kilometers per hour. True False
False
A crescent-shaped scarp on a high slope often appears above a rock glacier. True/False
False
A fault is a break in the Earth's surface or crust without horizontal or vertical displacement. True/False
False
A fault is any break in the Earth's surface or crust. True False
False
A mudflow is a slope collapse with a backward rotation. True False
False
A normal fault results from compressional forces. True/False
False
A rock is defined as a mixture of elements True/False
False
According to our best estimates, humans (Homo sapiens) have been on Earth for about half of Earth's history. True/False
False
Aeolian processes are a subdivision of the internal geomorphic processes. True False
False
All surface expressions of faults are on a north-south axis. True/False
False
An example of a large syncline is the Sierra Nevada. True/False
False
Basalt is an example of a rock type with very large crystals. True/False
False
Chemical weathering is at its peak in high northern latitudes. True False
False
Continental crust is recycled "quickly" while oceanic crust tends to be conserved for much greater times. True/False
False
Earth is probably 14.6 billion years old. True False
False
Exfoliation is a type of weathering which is produced by hydrolysis. True/False
False
Fault lines tend to block magma from reaching the surface. True/False
False
Foliation occurs when rock composed of a single material is subjected to heat and pressure. True/False
False
Generally, joints do not exist below 1 meter from Earth's surface. True False
False
Generally, joints do not exist below one meter from Earth's surface. True/False
False
Hutton was the scientist who discovered catastrophism. True/False
False
Igneous rocks are directly derived from the deformation of metamorphic rocks. True False
False
In extreme cases, soil creep can carry materials as much as a kilometer downhill in a single year. True/False
False
With respect to minerals, which of the following is TRUE? Fewer than 20 minerals make up 95% of the crust. "Mineral" is a synonym for "rock". All minerals crystals are too small to be seen. All minerals have probably been discovered. Over 500,000 minerals exist.
Fewer than 20 minerals make up 95% of the crust.
________ is the counterpart of "scouring".
Filling
In the rock cycle, sedimentary rocks can become metamorphic rocks through ________.
Heat or melting
________ are formed from skeletal remains of coral and other lime-secreting sea animals. Shales Schists none of the above Sandstones Limestones
Limestones
The ________ discontinuity separates the crust from the mantle.
Moho
Which scale is now the most commonly used to measure the size of LARGE earthquakes? Fujita Richter Moment magnitude Saffir-Simpson Mercalli
Moment magnitude
The first person to write about the possibility of continental drift was ________. Aristotle Einstein Hess Ortelius Wegener
Ortelius
FIB Silica and ________ are the two most abundant elements in the lithosphere.
Oxygen
Which of the following was the single, "supercontinent" which existed before individual continents broke apart from it a quarter of a billion years ago? India Pangaea Laurasia Gondwanaland Asia
Pangaea
Which of the following scientists is closely associated with the theory of crustal change and slope development? A) Davis B) Penck C) Bacon D) Richter E) Wegener
Penck
________ refers to the analytical element of landscape study which considers the actions that have combined to produce the landform.
Process
The Pleistocene is a part of the ________ period. Permian Quaternary Cambrian Silurian Tertiary
Quaternary
Which earthquake wave type travels the slowest? Q S R P T
S
Which of the following would be most likely to develop a radial drainage pattern? A) mountain ridges caused by faulting B) a cone-shaped volcano C) folded, ridge-and-valley topography D) flat-lying, sedimentary rocks E) none of the above
a cone-shaped volcano
Earth's crust is composed of at least ________ major plates and a number of smaller ones. one hundred a dozen fifty two seventy five
a dozen
In ________ there is a rough sorting of particles, with larger pieces farther downslope. a mudslide soil creep a rockfall faulting a flow
a rockfall
Creep associated with animals and resembling a faint network of trails is called ________. a seiche solifluction oxidation hydrolysis a terracette
a terracette
A result of soil creep might be ________. a sinking land surface a landslide an earthquake along a fault a tilted fence post a house engulfed in mud
a tilted fence post
Water penetrating into soil promotes chemical weathering by acting as a weak ________. saline solution neutral agent base catalyst acid
acid
Which of the following is associated with large landslides? A) large joints B) heavy rains C) earthquakes D) fault zones E) all of the above
all of the above
The proof for the long-doubted idea of drifting continents came in the form of ________. observation of coastlines animal distributions understanding of mountains analysis of magnetic and seismic patterns glacial ice
analysis of magnetic and seismic patterns
When fragments deposited by mass movement are at the ________, they are in a fine balance between the pull of gravity and the cohesion and friction of the rock material.
angle of repose
No matter where you go, which of the following is almost certainly acting on the landscape around you? creep rock glaciers landslides solifluction mudflow
creep
The most widespread form of mass wasting is ________.
creep
The slowest and least perceptible form of mass wasting is ________. solifluction exfoliation landslide mudflow creep
creep
Isostasy refers to the recognition that the ________ floats on the denser mantle. atmosphere aluminium crust inner core outer core
crust
The ________ is a layer comprising less than 1% radius and 0.4% of Earth's mass.
crust
The ________ is the thinnest layer. mantle crust asthenosphere outer core inner core
crust
The lithosphere is sometimes defined as the: lower mantle and outer core. crust and upper mantle. asthenosphere and mesosphere. upper and lower mantle. outer and inner core. crust and upper mantle.
crust and upper mantle.
This drainage pattern looks like the veins on the underside of a leaf:
dendritic.
When tectonic plates subduct it is because ocean crust is ________ than continental crust.
denser
The general term signifying the overall lowering of the rock material on the Earth's crust is ________. mass wasting weathering denudation slumping jointing
denudation
The most widespread of all the intrusive forms in this list is the A) volcano B) dike C) stock D) lava flow E) batholith
dike
Radial walls extending outward from a volcano are ________. veins clay pans plugs sills dikes
dikes
Which of the below is the major concept to which all the others are part of? A) valley bottom B) interfluve C) drainage basin D) valley side E) drainage divide
drainage basin
In percolating rainwater, dissolved gases and the decay products of local vegetation increases the water's capacity to ________. undergo mechanical weathering condense evaporate drive chemical reactions freeze
drive chemical reactions
A(n) ________ is an abrupt movement of the Earth's crust usually associated with a fault zone.
earthquake
Mass movements are likely to occur after _______.
earthquakes heavy rains
About 100 chemical ________ are found in the Earth's crust.
elements
When a meandering stream is incised into a gradually rising crust or bedrock the result is a(n)________.
entrenched meander
The detachment and removal of fragmented rock material is known as ________.
erosion
A weathering type associated with curved and concentric sets of joints break away in successive layers is called ________. creep exfoliation solifluction hydrolysis landslide
exfoliation
The largest and most important mineral family consists of the ________. sulfides halides bromides silicates oxides
silicates
The rock type which results from metamorphosed shale is ________. marble limestone slate quartz gneiss
slate
In the formation of igneous rocks, large crystal size is closely related to ________. fast cooling percentage of silica slow cooling percentage of oxygen absence of light
slow cooling
A slope collapse with a backward rotation is a ________. rock glacier rock slide talus slope slump debris flow
slump
The main downslope movement of subarctic and arctic landscapes is ________. mass wasting mud slide solifluction rock glacier permafrost
solifluction
Calcareous rock is closely associated with ________.
solution cavities
Similar in nature to a batholith but much smaller in size is a ________. stock sill dike vein all of the above
stock
Which of the following is uncommon along streams? A) natural levee B) thalweg C) alluvium D) straight channel E) floodplain
strait channel
Instead of the vertical displacement of other faults, a ________ fault has horizontal displacement between the two sides.
strike-slip
The rock debris which accumulates at the base of steep slopes by gravitational action is called ________. exfoliation creep slump vesicles talus
talus