Chapter Reading Assessments

What would the longitudinal profile of a river flowing from a gentle valley into an ocean look like? A) A gently downward sloping line B) A steeply downward sloping line C) A gently upward sloping line D) An upward sloping and then downward sloping line E) A steeply upward sloping line

A) A gently downward sloping line

About how many MAJOR Mass Extinctions have there been in the Earth's history? A) About 6 B) One, just the dinosaurs C) About 100 D) About 50 E) About 1000

A) About 6

Volcanoes aren't typically associated with continent-continent convergence zones for several reasons. A) Both plates are too buoyant to sink into the asthenosphere and melt, as happens at a subduction zone. B) The continental plate isn't hot enough to cause volcanoes. C) Volcanoes are not associated with convergent plate boundaries. D) Rising magma can't break through continental crust. E) Volcanoes only occur on islands in the ocean and not on land.

A) Both plates are too buoyant to sink into the asthenosphere and melt, as happens at a subduction zone.

If you were digging down into a soil, which horizon would you hit last? A) C B) B C) O D) A E) E

A) C

Which is the best explanation for how earthquakes cause tsunamis? A) Certain types of earthquakes shift the seafloor upward or downward, causing water to be vertically displaced. B) Certain types of earthquakes shake the water, causing the ripples to move outward in all directions. C) Certain types of earthquakes heat ocean water, causing it to expand and move as a wave. D) Certain types of earthquakes transmit seismic waves, especially s-waves, upwards through the seawater and when the seismic waves reach the surface, they release that energy in the form of water waves. E) Certain types of earthquakes cause a release of gas on the seafloor that causes water to be displaced.

A) Certain types of earthquakes shift the seafloor upward or downward, causing water to be vertically displaced.

Which of the following signs should NOT cause a person to leave a coastal area due to the threat of a tsunami? A) Change in wind direction, from blowing offshore to blowing onshore. B) An earthquake is felt near a susceptible coastline area. C) A giant wall of water is seen moving towards the beach. D) A tsunami siren is heard. E) The ocean begins to recede, showing the ocean floor.

A) Change in wind direction, from blowing offshore to blowing onshore.

What causes volume change in expansive soil? A) Changes in the water content B) Changes in atmospheric pressure C) Changes in elevation of the soil D) Changes in temperature of the soil E) Adding weight, such as a new building, on top of the soil

A) Changes in the water content

What is the most important soil particle that characterizes expansive soils? A) Clay minerals B) Limestone C) Rock salt D) Marble E) Calcite

A) Clay minerals

Which of the following is an effective and long term solution to coastal erosion? A) Dam removal or sediment management along rivers B) Growth of plants and bushes that hold sand in place C) Construction of sea walls to protect the coats D) Beach nourishment and construction of groins and breakwater

A) Dam removal or sediment management along rivers

How do scientists measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for dates prior to the 1955? A) From air bubbles in glacial ice from cores B) From measurements of carbon dioxide trapped in sediment from the ocean floor C) Written records D) Direct measurements at Mauna Loa E) From air bubbles in volcanic rocks

A) From air bubbles in glacial ice from cores

What could cause a large change in eustatic sea level? A) Global warming B) Earthquakes C) Tides D) Heavy storms E) Drought on land

A) Global warming

Which of the following data are NOT used in predicting an earthquake? A) Gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Earth B) Locations of seismic gaps along a fault C) Changes in ground elevation D) Foreshocks

A) Gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Earth

What is the stage of a river? A) Height of water that is flowing B) Volume of water that flows past a point over time C) Length of the river D) Age of the river E) Elevation of the top of the river valley

A) Height of water that is flowing

Which of the following statements best explains why events that have caused disasters in the past are now causing catastrophes? A) Human population growth has caused a greater concentration of population in areas at risk for natural hazards. B) Scientists understand less today about disasters than they did in the past. C) Governments are not as interested in preparing for disasters today as they were in the past. D) The earth is aging and therefore becoming more prone to natural hazards. E) People are less aware of disasters and are less prepared.

A) Human population growth has caused a greater concentration of population in areas at risk for natural hazards.

What is "grading" as it pertains to the stability of a slope? A) Human-induced changes in the slope angle to make it more or less steep B) A classification of the material in the slope C) The greatest slope that a material can be stable at D) A measure of the maximum weight a slope can hold E) A classification of how likely a slope is to slide

A) Human-induced changes in the slope angle to make it more or less steep

In which of the following environments are flash floods LEAST common? A) Humid environments with large meandering rivers B) Urban environments with poor drainage C) Arid environments with steep slopes D) Higher elevations in a small drainage basin

A) Humid environments with large meandering rivers

Vibration during an earthquake A) Is usually most intense when the surface waves arrive. B) Causes wet clay to become firmer; thus, when siting a house in an earthquake-prone region, it is best to build it over a landfill containing wet clay. C) Creates large open gashes in the Earth, which can swallow automobiles. D) Will result in the development of a cliff at Earth's surface where the fault rupture occurred.

A) Is usually most intense when the surface waves arrive.

Does adding vegetation to a slope make it more or less stable? A) It depends on the slope, adding vegetation could make the slope either more or less stable.. B) More stable because the vegetation roots will hold together loose soil. C) Less stable because the vegetation will keep more water at the surface of the slope. D) Less stable because the vegetation adds weight to the slope. E) More stable because the roots will draw water deeper into the ground instead of allowing water to saturate the surface.

A) It depends on the slope, adding vegetation could make the slope either more or less stable..

Does it have to be raining for a river to flood? A) No. Rivers can flood after rain has stopped and tributaries bring their increased discharge volume to bigger streams. B) Yes. Rain runs off over the ground and into the river as runoff, causing flooding. C) No. Rivers can flood during droughts without any rain. D) Yes. Only the rain that falls into the river fills it up and causes it to overflow. E) No. Rivers only flood after warm temperatures melt a heavy snowfall.

A) No. Rivers can flood after rain has stopped and tributaries bring their increased discharge volume to bigger streams.

Does channelization of a stream prevent flooding? A) No. Ultimately nothing can completely prevent flooding. B) No one actually knows because channelization of a stream has never been applied to the real world. C) No. It increases flooding. D) Yes. However, it is not necessarily good for habitats. E) Yes. It is the best solution for flooding and it has no drawbacks.

A) No. Ultimately nothing can completely prevent flooding.

Where does a meandering river run the fastest? A) On the outside of a bend B) Near the point bars C) On the inside of a bend D) All parts of a meandering river run at similar speeds.

A) On the outside of a bend

Which rivers have the highest gradient? A) Rivers moving down mountains B) Rivers near their base level C) Rivers near the ocean D)

A) Rivers moving down mountains

Which of the following hard stabilizations is built parallel to shore and is intended to protect homes, cliffs, or bluffs? A) Seawalls B) Groins C) Jetties D) Breakwaters E) Beach nourishment

A) Seawalls

If you see a concrete wall with several drain holes through it on the side of a roadway, what is its purpose? A) Support the base of the slope B) To collect rocks from rock falls C) Provide extra weight on the slope D) Cushion the slope from potential collisions with cars

A) Support the base of the slope

Describe the relationship between the crust and the lithosphere. A) The crust sits on top of the lithosphere. B) The lithosphere sits on top of the crust. C) The lithosphere and the crust are the same thing. D) The lithosphere contains both the oceans and the continents, the crust only includes continents. E) The lithosphere is liquid, whereas the crust is solid.

A) The crust sits on top of the lithosphere.

If you were in a very cold climate and looking out at an area with many sinkholes and rough terrain, what would you most likely be looking at? A) Thermokarst B) Soil compaction C) Expansive soils D) Disappearing springs E) Subsidence due to groundwater pumping

A) Thermokarst

A numerical calculation of risk due to a volcanic eruption depends on both the probability of an eruption and where the volcano is located with respect to people and property. A) True B) False

A) True

A potential service function of landslides: creating new habitats for plants and animals. A) True B) False

A) True

All non-horizontal slopes have potential for mass wasting of some type. A) True B) False

A) True

An alluvial fan can be found at the base level of rivers. A) True B) False

A) True

Blind faults are dangerous because they do not always extend to the surface and thus could be undetected. A) True B) False

A) True

Channelization is one of the more drastic solutions to flooding because it can cause the draining of wetlands, which can have a negative impact on the wildlife. A) True B) False

A) True

Climate refers to the average weather pattern in a given location over a long period of time. A) True B) False

A) True

Earthquakes cause subsidence because tectonic plates involved in subduction can actually snap downward after stress is released in an earthquake. A) True B) False

A) True

If you are on the beach on the edge of the water looking out at people sunbathing, you are probably looking towards the berm. A) True B) False

A) True

Insurance and building codes are two important ways that the government can protect property from disaster in a flood. A) True B) False

A) True

It is possible to develop an earthquake warning system that would provide 15 - 60 seconds of warning to an urban area before the arrival of damaging earthquake waves if the earthquake occurred far enough away. A) True B) False

A) True

Karst topography is a common type of landscape seen in many areas of the United States. A) True B) False

A) True

Land use planning is one of the most effective ways to mitigate natural hazards. A) True B) False

A) True

Landslides are a significant hazard on the California coastline and in the Rocky Mountain states. A) True B) False

A) True

Low magnitude (less damaging) natural hazards tend to occur more frequently than high magnitude (more damaging) natural hazards. A) True B) False

A) True

Mass extinctions are usually caused by some kind of rapid climate change. A) True B) False

A) True

Most snow avalanches are triggered by the victims themselves or by someone in their company. A) True B) False

A) True

Natural catastrophes and natural disasters differ in the magnitude of the effect of the hazard. A) True B) False

A) True

Not all earthquakes are preceded by foreshocks. A) True B) False

A) True

P-waves are the fastest seismic waves produced. A) True B) False

A) True

Permafrost is particularly problematic when there is extensive thawing. A) True B) False

A) True

Placing a greater weight on the top of a slope can cause mass wasting to occur. A) True B) False

A) True

Plate motion is a geologically fast process. A) True B) False

A) True

Rocks are made of one or more minerals. A) True B) False

A) True

Salt mines can be places for land subsidence because salt can be dissolved in water, leaving behind cavities for water to pool. A) True B) False

A) True

Seawalls are usually only a temporary solution to shoreline erosion because they tend to reflect energy back to the ocean causing increased erosion. A) True B) False

A) True

Slumps involve sliding of rock or soil along a curved surface. A) True B) False

A) True

Snow avalanches usually move down chutes that have previously produced snow avalanches, making it easier to predict where a snow avalanche will occur. A) True B) False

A) True

The Portuguese Bend landslide in California involved an area with weak sedimentary rock with bedding parallel to the slope, and a cliff at the front edge where ocean waves eroded into the cliff. A) True B) False

A) True

The longitudinal profile of most streams is concave, downwardly curving line. A) True B) False

A) True

The risk from asteroid impacts is higher than that of drowning or a car accident. A) True B) False

A) True

The structure of rocks can give clues as to the type of hazard that might affect an area. A) True B) False

A) True

The type of mass wasting process that occurs depends on many different factors, including the steepness of the slope and the type of material involved. A) True B) False

A) True

Though M8 ("great") earthquakes can cause extreme devastation, they only occur once per year, on a worldwide average. A) True B) False

A) True

Volcanoes are capable of causing short-term global climate change. A) True B) False

A) True

Waves break when they reach shallow water because their height grows too large. A) True B) False

A) True

Weathering is the physical and chemical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces and is involved in soil development. A) True B) False

A) True

Which of the following is NOT a natural service function of tsunamis? A) Tsunamis provide to coastal areas a new dynamic ecosystem that is better adapted to the area than the previous one. B) Tsunamis bring in nutrients for fish and wildlife. C) Tsunamis bring in nutrients from the ocean to the soil. D) Tsunamis bring in sediment to some coastlines.

A) Tsunamis provide to coastal areas a new dynamic ecosystem that is better adapted to the area than the previous one.

Which of the following is NOT a way in which hazards are related to climate? A) Volcanic eruptions are related to warmer climates. B) Landslides are linked to wet climates. C) Wildfires are linked to drier climates. D) Flooding is related to amount and timing of rainfall. E) Land subsidence is linked to climates with permafrost.

A) Volcanic eruptions are related to warmer climates.

Do humans have an effect on the frequency of natural disasters? A) Yes. Land use by humans can increase the frequency or size of natural disasters such as flooding or landslides. B) No. Natural disasters are caused by forces internal to the Earth. C) Yes. Humans can control many natural disasters such as earthquakes and tornadoes. D) No. Natural disasters are random and people cannot affect them.

A) Yes. Land use by humans can increase the frequency or size of natural disasters such as flooding or landslides.

Which tectonic plate setting is associated with the following features: light to moderate earthquakes; nonexplosive volcanic eruptions; new oceanic lithosphere produced? Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a geographic example. A) divergent plate boundary B) convergent plate boundary (subduction zone) C) convergent plate boundary (collision zone) D) transform plate boundary E) hotspot

A) divergent plate boundary

Which of the following hazards would you expect to see at a divergent plate boundary? A) moderate strength earthquakes; nonexplosive volcanic eruptions; flooding if volcanoes erupt underwater or near ice (such as in Iceland) B) large earthquakes; explosive volcanic eruptions; a long chain of volcanic mountains; an oceanic trench C) large earthquakes; no volcanoes; a range of high mountains pushed upward due to the plate-plate collision D) large earthquakes; no volcanoes; landslides if the plate boundary is hilly

A) moderate strength earthquakes; nonexplosive volcanic eruptions; flooding if volcanoes erupt underwater or near ice (such as in Iceland)

The characteristic type of tectonic plate motion associated with a transform plate boundary is A) plates move laterally past each other with horizontal motion. B) plates move directly towards each other and one plate sinks deep into the mantle. C) plates move directly towards each other and one plate slides beneath the other. D) plates move directly away from each other.

A) plates move laterally past each other with horizontal motion.

Life on Earth first arose: A) 4.6 billion years ago. B) 3.5 billion years ago, with chemosynthetic microorganisms. C) 541 million years ago, with the Cambrian explosion. D) 65 million years ago, with the beginning of the Cenozoic Era.

B) 3.5 billion years ago, with chemosynthetic microorganisms.

What is the definition of soil according to a soil scientist? A) Any dark material on earth's surface B) Any solid earth material that has been altered by physical, chemical, and organic processes so that it can support rooted plants C) Decayed plant material D) Any solid earth material that can be removed without blasting E) Hard clay layer cemented with calcite, iron oxide, or silica

B) Any solid earth material that has been altered by physical, chemical, and organic processes so that it can support rooted plants

Which of the following regions has the LEAST risk from tsunamis? A) Pacific Northwest coast of the U.S. B) Atlantic coast of the U.S. C) Northeastern coast of the Indian Ocean D) Japan E) Hawaii

B) Atlantic coast of the U.S.

Where would you find ridge-push, a possible mechanism for driving the motion of tectonic plates? A) Convergent boundary B) Divergent boundary C) Transform fault boundary D) Hotspot E) Between a continental plate and an oceanic plate

B) Divergent boundary

Mexico City was built on mud deposits from an ancient lake. How will this substrate affect the earthquake hazard there? A) The lake sediments will absorb the seismic vibrations, meaning less shaking energy will be transferred to the surface. B) Earthquakes shaking will be increased. C) Mexico City is not susceptible to earthquakes. D) The ground will be susceptible to supershear, which will cause sonic booms that increase damage. E) There will be more earthquakes due to brittle rupture of the mud.

B) Earthquakes shaking will be increased.

Which of the following is the best match between climate and soil hazard? A) Solution sinkholes and polar climates B) Expansive soils with distinct wet and dry seasons C) Collapsible soils and polar climates D) Solution sinkholes and arid climates E) Collapsible soils and humid climates

B) Expansive soils with distinct wet and dry seasons

A significant portion of the observed global warming over the past 100 years is from natural forces. A) True B) False

B) False

A slope with sedimentary layering parallel to the ground surface is more stable than a slope with sedimentary layering perpendicular to the ground surface. A) True B) False

B) False

All earthquakes in the U.S. are situated on the West Coast near the San Andreas Fault. A) True B) False

B) False

All tsunamis in recorded history have occurred in the Pacific Ocean. A) True B) False

B) False

An area hit by a natural disaster this year is not likely to have one in the future. A) True B) False

B) False

Beach sand everywhere is the same color because it all comes from eroded oceanic tectonic plates. A) True B) False

B) False

Because Japan is so well prepared for earthquakes, it receives little earthquake damage despite experiencing many earthquakes each year. A) True B) False

B) False

Because flash floods are of short duration, they are not hazardous. A) True B) False

B) False

Building in backshore areas and sand dunes do not affect sediment budget and coastal erosion. A) True B) False

B) False

Climate and tectonic processes are the main contributors to relative sea level change. A) True B) False

B) False

During a flood, the safest place to be is behind a levee or floodwall. A) True B) False

B) False

Expansive soils are relatively rare and cause little if any damage to structures. A) True B) False

B) False

Glaciers have always covered the continents and it is only in our current time that the glaciers have been confined to polar climates. A) True B) False

B) False

Haiti faces a major problem of soil erosion because it has been growing corn without applying any fertilizer for centuries and that has depleted the soil of its nutrients. A) True B) False

B) False

Hydrographs are used to show the amount of water in the hydrologic cycle. A) True B) False

B) False

In general, gases such as carbon dioxide make up such a small amount of the atmosphere that they aren't really important to climate and weather. A) True B) False

B) False

Most of the increase in global temperatures over the past century or so can be attributed to natural changes in the Earth's tilt, orbit and wobble. A) True B) False

B) False

Northern California, Oregon, and Washington state has one the highest threats from tsunamis in the world. A) True B) False

B) False

Once glaciers retreat and melt away, they can never come back. A) True B) False

B) False

Only one mass wasting type happens at a single time to an individual slope. A) True B) False

B) False

Paving over land decreases the amount of flooding because water soaks more readily into the soil. A) True B) False

B) False

People on the African Coast had only minutes to prepare for the Indonesian tsunami of 2004. A) True B) False

B) False

Recurrence intervals allow you to predict that, within the 100-year flood plain of a river, if a large flood has occurred recently, there won'€™t be another flood for 100 years. A) True B) False

B) False

The San Andreas Fault is considered a potentially active fault because it has not produced a major quake in over 5 years. A) True B) False

B) False

The U.S. Midwest has relatively low risk for landslides mainly because the soils are extremely compacted and therefore strong. A) True B) False

B) False

The depletion of the ozone layer is caused by the greenhouse effect. A) True B) False

B) False

The main societal impact of soil erosion is that the eroded soil ends up filling our water reservoirs and diminishes our drinking water supply. A) True B) False

B) False

The term "avalanche"€ only applies to the movement of snow down slopes. A) True B) False

B) False

There is 20 times more ground shaking associated with a magnitude 7 earthquake on the Richter scale compared to a magnitude 5 earthquake. A) True B) False

B) False

Volcanic eruptions are the one example of a natural hazard that cannot produce landslides. A) True B) False

B) False

Which of the following are hazards that are NOT related to tsunamis in some way? A) Erosion B) Hurricanes C) Earthquakes D) Volcanic activity E) Asteroids

B) Hurricanes

Where does the majority of soil originate from? A) It comes from magma from the mantle. B) It comes from weathered rock. C) It is produced by humans. D) It comes from volcanoes. E) It is brought up from the ocean floor.

B) It comes from weathered rock.

Which of the following case histories did NOT involve a tsunami? A) Tohoku, Japan in 2011 B) Kobe, Japan in 1995 C) Lituya Bay, Alaska in 1958 D) Indonesia in 2004

B) Kobe, Japan in 1995

Which of the following is NOT an indication that there are expansive soils in an area? A) Wavy bumps on surfaces B) Large circular holes with broken pieces of rock at the bottom C) Tilting sidewalks D) Cracks in building foundations E) Popcorn-like weathering texture in the soil

B) Large circular holes with broken pieces of rock at the bottom

Water moving parallel to the shore is called A) Rip current B) Longshore current C) Wave refraction D) Beach drift E) Sand drift

B) Longshore current

Sediments along the coast are moved primarily by A) Submarine landslides B) Longshore currents C) Tides D) Riptide currents

B) Longshore currents

What is the importance of magnetic reversals to the theory of plate tectonics? A) Magnetic reversals cause earthquakes. B) Magnetic reversals provide evidence for seafloor spreading. C) Magnetic reversals cause volcanic eruptions. D) Magnetic reversals are associated with mass extinction events. E) Magnetic reversals explain times of rapid change on the Earth's surface.

B) Magnetic reversals provide evidence for seafloor spreading.

Which shorelines are at greatest risk for tsunamis? A) Near transform plate boundaries B) Near subduction zones C) Near hotspots D) Near mid-ocean ridges E) All shorelines have a similar risk for tsunamis.

B) Near subduction zones

The 2010 earthquake in Haiti caused an extraordinarily high number of deaths, as many as 300,000, for a magnitude 7 earthquake. Which factor did NOT play a role as to why there so many deaths? A) Weak building construction B) Shallow sloping coastline allowed tsunami to surge far inland. C) Large young population were in schools that collapsed. D) Poverty E) High population density

B) Shallow sloping coastline allowed tsunami to surge far inland.

Which region has the LEAST risk for tsunamis? A) Shorelines in the Indian Ocean B) Shorelines in the Atlantic Ocean C) Shorelines in the Mediterranean Sea D) Shorelines in the Pacific Ocean E) All shorelines have a similar risk for tsunamis

B) Shorelines in the Atlantic Ocean

Convection currents occur when materials become heated and less dense -- they become buoyant. Buoyant materials, such as continents or hot rocks or hot water or hot air: A) Tend to sink into denser materials. B) Tend to float on denser material or to rise up through denser rock or water or air. C) Tend to resist any kind of motion.

B) Tend to float on denser material or to rise up through denser rock or water or air.

Which of the following coastlines is most affected by rising sea level? A) The Minnesota coastlines on Lake Superior B) The Florida coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean C) The Oregon coastlines on the Pacific Ocean D) The California coastlines on the Pacific Ocean

B) The Florida coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean

What is a hydrograph NOT able to tell you about a river? A) The discharge of a river at a particular time B) The amount of rainfall an area receives C) How the discharge of a river varies over time D) The highest discharge of a river over a period of time

B) The amount of rainfall an area receives

What is "runup"? A) Amount of damage done by a tsunami wave B) The farthest vertical distance that tsunami waves move inland C) Number of tsunami waves produced by an earthquake D) Speed of a tsunami wave on land E) Speed of a tsunami wave in the open ocean

B) The farthest vertical distance that tsunami waves move inland

How would the hydrograph of a large rainstorm change after urbanization of an area? A) The hydrograph would become a straight line. B) The peak of the hydrograph would become higher and narrower. C) The peak of the hydrograph would become lower and narrower. D) The peak of the hydrograph would become lower and wider. E) The peak of the hydrograph would become higher and wider.

B) The peak of the hydrograph would become higher and narrower.

Why did scientists FIRST hypothesize that a meteorite impact caused the extinction at the K-Pg Boundary? A) They found evidence of acid rain in the rocks in the Southern Hemisphere. B) They found evidence of Iridium enrichments in a clay layer that led them to believe that the Iridium was the remains of a meteorite impact. C) They found evidence of wildfires in many regions throughout the globe. D) They found evidence of a giant tsunami on the Gulf coast. E) They found evidence of an impact crater in Mexico.

B) They found evidence of Iridium enrichments in a clay layer that led them to believe that the Iridium was the remains of a meteorite impact.

How have global temperatures changed over the last 800,000 years? A) There is no way to know how global temperatures have changed with our current knowledge. B) They have increased and decreased many times. C) They have been decreasing. D) They have been constant. E) They have been increasing.

B) They have increased and decreased many times.

Which of the following has the LEAST effect on flood damage to the built environment? A) Speed of the floodwaters B) Where the flooding occurs geographically (i.e., north, south, east, west) C) Flood duration D) How communities are using the land (agriculture vs hard-scaling, for example) E) Stage of the river at maximum flooding

B) Where the flooding occurs geographically (i.e., north, south, east, west)

What is the swash zone? A) Where the highest tides reach B) Where the waves surge up the beach and then flow back to the ocean C) Where the waves break D) Where the longshore bar forms E) Between the surf zone and the breaker zone

B) Where the waves surge up the beach and then flow back to the ocean

The slow movement of the upper, brittle mantle (the lithosphere) is A) caused by the gravitational attraction from the Moon. B) a key feature in the theory of plate tectonics. C) responsible for earthquakes but not volcanoes. D) speeding up because of human-induced changes.

B) a key feature in the theory of plate tectonics.

An ________ is the smallest unit of matter that cannot be broken down chemically into simpler substances. A) ion B) atom C) element D) molecule

B) atom

All of the following are forces that may contribute to plate movements EXCEPT A) convection currents within the asthenosphere. B) centrifugal forces from the rotation of the Earth. C) the gravitational pull of the Earth on the subducting slabs of oceanic lithosphere. D) the push on tectonic plates away from the mid-ocean ridges, displaced by new material is forced up and out.

B) centrifugal forces from the rotation of the Earth.

Which tectonic plate setting is associated with the following features: great earthquakes; explosive volcanic eruptions; oceanic plate sinks into mantle and remelts? Andes Mountains are a geographic example. A) divergent plate boundary B) convergent plate boundary (subduction zone) C) convergent plate boundary (collision zone) D) transform plate boundary E) hotspot

B) convergent plate boundary (subduction zone)

Tectonic plates move about as fast as A) a car moves on a city street. B) fingernails grow. C) a crow flies. D) a tortoise walks. E) They move too slowly to be compared to a human timescale.

B) fingernails grow.

Geologists tested the model of sea floor spreading by dating rocks from the ocean floor. The model successfully predicted that ocean rocks A) get younger with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge. B) get older with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge. C) get older moving from south to north along a mid-ocean ridge. D) show no particular pattern of age with respect to mid-ocean ridges.

B) get older with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge.

According to the elastic rebound model, earthquakes are caused by energy released when A) landslides rumble down a mountain slope. B) highly stressed (i.e.,bent) rock breaks and abruptly moves. C) dissolved gases escape violently from molten rock. D) the asthenosphere is dragged over the lithosphere.

B) highly stressed (i.e.,bent) rock breaks and abruptly moves.

Earthquakes are found A) only on transform fault boundaries. B) on all plate boundaries and within tectonic plates. C) only on convergent plate boundaries. D) only on divergent plate boundaries. E) only within tectonic plates.

B) on all plate boundaries and within tectonic plates.

Vertical movement of rock occurs in all of the following faults EXCEPT A) normal B) strike-slip C) reverse D) dip-slip

B) strike-slip

A tsunami is a wave in the ocean that is A) seen only in the summer months. B) usually caused by earthquakes. C) usually caused by hurricanes. D) seen only in Japan. E) usually caused by tides.

B) usually caused by earthquakes.

Which of the following describes the tsunami at Krakatoa in 1883? A) M 9 earthquake triggered a 10 m tsunami (up to 40 m high in certain locations), which caused the meltdown of 3 nuclear reactors and killed more than 20,000 people in a country that has many high seawalls that were built to protect it from tsunamis. B) M 7.9 earthquake triggered a massive landslide, which fell into the water and caused water to surge 530 m above the normal water level. C) A volcanic explosion caused part of the volcano to collapse into the ocean, producing a 35 m tsunami that killed 36,000 people. D) M 9 earthquake triggered a 10 m tsunami, which was the deadliest tsunami ever, killing more than 200,000 people in several countries.

C) A volcanic explosion caused part of the volcano to collapse into the ocean, producing a 35 m tsunami that killed 36,000 people.

The geographic distribution of the Mesosaurus, a small swimming reptile that lived during the late Paleozoic, shows that the reptile lived on the southwest coast of what is now Africa and the southeast coast of what is now South America. This provides evidence that A) a land bridge once existed between Africaand South America. B) the Atlantic Ocean was once much more shallow. C) Africa and South America were once joined into one continent. D) migration between Africa and South America was once possible. E) the Earth was once much smaller in size.

C) Africa and South America were once joined into one continent.

Which of the following is the correct order of soil grain size from smallest to largest? A) Gravel, sand, silt, clay B) Sand, silt, clay, gravel C) Clay, silt, sand, gravel D) Silt, clay, sand, gravel E) Silt, sand, clay, gravel

C) Clay, silt, sand, gravel

What is the difference between a distant tsunami and local tsunami? A) Distant tsunamis are larger than local tsunamis. B) Distant tsunamis hit the same area, but after the local tsunamis. C) Distant tsunamis move farther from their source before they hit land. D) Distant tsunamis are triggered in remote parts of the ocean whereas local tsunamis are triggered near the continents. E) Distant tsunamis aren't dangerous; local tsunamis are.

C) Distant tsunamis move farther from their source before they hit land.

What is the difference between eustatic and relative sea level? A) Eustatic refers to sea levels that are advantageous for shipping; relative sea level refers to high and low tides. B) Eustatic refers to sea levels that don't change; relative refers to local sea level. C) Eustatic refers to the global sea level; relative refers to local sea level near land. D) There is no difference between them. E) Eustatic refers to global sea level; relative refers to sea levels with respect to mid-ocean ridges.

C) Eustatic refers to the global sea level; relative refers to local sea level near land.

Which of the following human activities is NOT known to cause earthquakes? A) Injecting liquid waste deep into the ground B) Underground nuclear explosions C) Excavating large amounts of materials to make buildings D) Building a water reservoir

C) Excavating large amounts of materials to make buildings

How are fires started after a tsunami? A) Fires are started when people build fires after the tsunami for heat. B) Fires are started by molten lava that erupts from the subduction zone. C) Fires are started after gas lines break and catch on fire. D) Fires are not associated with tsunamis because conditions are too wet. E) Fire is brought along with the tsunami as it moves.

C) Fires are started after gas lines break and catch on fire.

Which statement is FALSE about the effects that floods can have? A) Floods can bring nutrients to ecosystems. B) Floods can supply sediments to build up the elevation of land. C) Flooding has no positive effects and always bodes ill for humans in the long-term. D) Floods can supply nutrients to soils for farming. E) Floods can clear ecosystems of debris.

C) Flooding has no positive effects and always bodes ill for humans in the long-term.

Which of the following is NOT a way that climate change can contribute to the subsidence problem? A) Some soils will dry out causing them to settle. B) Groundwater levels may rise or fall increasing sinkhole incidence. C) Groundwater will warm, causing a large increase in dissolved limestone and sinkhole formation. D) Permafrost will melt causing subsidence. E) Sea levels will rise sinking coastal cities that are already sinking.

C) Groundwater will warm, causing a large increase in dissolved limestone and sinkhole formation.

Which of the following is NOT a significant source of the internal heat of the earth? A) Original heat of formation of the planet B) Heat generated by crystallization of the core C) Heat from the Sun D) Radioactive decay of elements scattered throughout the mantle

C) Heat from the Sun

Which of the following human activities can DECREASE the incidence of mass wasting? A) Building a road on a slope B) Buildings are placed on slopes, increasing the weight on the slope. C) Improving drainage from the slope D) Removing vegetation such as trees and grass from the slope E) Cutting out a section at the base of a slope to build houses

C) Improving drainage from the slope

Which statement is TRUE about the rock cycle? A) It only makes rocks from silica-rich minerals. B) It stops after metamorphic rocks form. C) It involves heat, pressure, and cooling. D) Weathering only occurs in sedimentary rocks.

C) It involves heat, pressure, and cooling.

Which of the following is NOT a drawback to using beach nourishment (a form of soft stabilization)? A) It can be expensive to transport the large amounts of sand necessary. B) The replenished sand likely will eventually erode again. C) It is less aesthetically pleasing than other solutions. D) The sand used for beach nourishment must be chosen carefully to determine if it will fit the ecology of the beach. E) It can be difficult to transport the large amounts of sand necessary.

C) It is less aesthetically pleasing than other solutions.

How does pumping oil contribute to land subsidence? A) Oil reacts with the soil causing it to swell and take up more space. B) Oil reacts with the soil causing it to fuse and take up less space. C) Oil is removed, which removes the buoyant support it provided for the earth material, causing it to be more compacted. D) Oil pumps increase the weight on the ground causing the ground to sink. E) Removing hot oil cools the earth and causes it to contract.

C) Oil is removed, which removes the buoyant support it provided for the earth material, causing it to be more compacted.

Erosional features along a rocky coast do not include A) Stacks B) Arches C) Spits D) Wave cut platform

C) Spits

Which of the following is a statement involving climate rather than weather? A) It is 56 degrees F and sunny. B) The temperature will rise during the next week. C) The winters here are dry and warm. D) Today it is cloudy and raining. E) Rainfall amounts were above average this month.

C) The winters here are dry and warm.

Which of the following hazards causes the greatest number of deaths per year in the United States? A) Drought B) Volcanoes C) Tornadoes and other windstorms D) Hurricanes E) Landslides

C) Tornadoes and other windstorms

A tsunami refers to A) an unusual type of vibration that occurs in areas where the ground is very weak. B) an extremely large storm-generated wave. C) a large, fast, earthquake-generated water wave. D) an earthquake that occurs in Japan.

C) a large, fast, earthquake-generated water wave.

The fossils of multicellular life forms observed in rocks: A) are found mostly in igneous rocks. B) are bones that have lithified into rock. C) are no older than ~600 million years. D) are proof of the young age of the Earth.

C) are no older than ~600 million years.

Which tectonic plate boundary is associated with the following features: major earthquakes; no volcanoes; large and high mountain chain is formed? Himalayan Mountains are a geographic example. A) divergent plate boundary B) convergent plate boundary (subduction zone) C) convergent plate boundary (collision zone) D) transform plate boundary E) hotspot

C) convergent plate boundary (collision zone)

In general, there is more ground shaking from an earthquake with A) increasing depth from the surface and decreasing distance to the epicenter. B) increasing depth from the surface and increasing distance to the epicenter. C) decreasing depth from the surface and decreasing distance to the epicenter. D) decreasing depth from the surface and increasing distance to the epicenter.

C) decreasing depth from the surface and decreasing distance to the epicenter.

Which of the following hazards would you expect to see at a convergent plate boundary associated with a continent-continent collision zone? A) moderate strength earthquakes; nonexplosive volcanic eruptions; flooding if volcanoes erupt underwater or near ice (such as in Iceland) B) large earthquakes; explosive volcanic eruptions; a long chain of volcanic mountains; an oceanic trench C) large earthquakes; no volcanoes; a range of high mountains pushed upward due to the plate-plate collision D) large earthquakes; no volcanoes; landslides if the plate boundary is hilly

C) large earthquakes; no volcanoes; a range of high mountains pushed upward due to the plate-plate collision

The three major classes of rocks are igneous, metamorphic, and ___________. A) sedentary B) conglomerate C) sedimentary D) lithified

C) sedimentary

Changes in the elevation of sea level in the last 20,000 years is in the order of A) 10 meters B) 1000 meters C) 500 meters D) 100 meters

D) 100 meters

Which of the following areas of the United States is not at risk for any natural disaster? A) San Francisco B) Newark, DE C) Oklahoma City, OK D) All areas of the United States are at risk for some kind of natural disaster. E) New York, NY

D) All areas of the United States are at risk for some kind of natural disaster.

Tectonic creep A) Occurs along an active fault. B) Describes constant, small-magnitude earthquakes that originate from the same fault. C) Can result in minor movements at the Earth's surface, which, over time, become noticeable and can cause problems. D) All of the above.

D) All of the above.

Which of the following statements is TRUE about the scientific method? A) One of the failures of the scientific method is when a hypothesis is disproven and must be rejected. B) No answer text provided. C) The scientific method is an inappropriate strategy to use for predicting natural hazards. D) An explanation is most believable when it is based on data. E) Scientific hypotheses are the most useful when they are tested repeatedly by the same scientists.

D) An explanation is most believable when it is based on data.

What two factors are often used for basic classification of global climate zones? A) Average monthly temperature and latitude B) Atmospheric pressure and average monthly temperature C) Average rainfall and atmospheric pressure D) Average monthly temperature and precipitation E) Average cloud cover and proximity to ocean

D) Average monthly temperature and precipitation

If you placed a small boat in waves in the open ocean (not near the shoreline) what would the motion of the boat be? A) Circular pattern slowly moving out to sea B) Up and down slowly moving out to sea C) Circular pattern slowly moving towards the shoreline D) Circular pattern staying mostly in the same place E) Up and down slowly moving towards shore

D) Circular pattern staying mostly in the same place

Which of the following is NOT uniquely a coastal hazard? A) Tsunamis B) Strong coastal currents C) Storm surge D) Earthquakes E) Coastline erosion

D) Earthquakes

Which of the following is TRUE about plate tectonics? A) Explains that continents drift around the globe, whereas the oceanic crust does not move over geologic time. B) Explains that the earth's crust is split into plates that float on a completely molten mantle. C) It is a controversial idea that most geologists now think is incorrect. D) Explains that the earth's lithosphere is split into large pieces that move on top of a weak and hot layer called the asthenosphere.

D) Explains that the earth's lithosphere is split into large pieces that move on top of a weak and hot layer called the asthenosphere.

Which of the following best describes a fault? A) A giant underground chamber, usually filled with magma B) Where the continent meets the ocean C) A giant gap or canyon at the Earth's surface D) Fractured rock that has been displaced, i.e., rocks on one side of the fracture have moved relative to the other side E) A cave or large hole hidden under the ground

D) Fractured rock that has been displaced, i.e., rocks on one side of the fracture have moved relative to the other side

Which of the following statements describes subsidence at the central (San Joaquin) valley of California? A) Gradual subsidence occurred over several decades due to the deep subsurface withdrawal of oil and gas. B) Rapid subsidence occurred due to a collapse sinkhole. C) Rapid subsidence occurred due to a collapsible soil. D) Gradual subsidence occurred over several decades due to the withdrawal of groundwater mainly for irrigation purposes.

D) Gradual subsidence occurred over several decades due to the withdrawal of groundwater mainly for irrigation purposes.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a mineral? A) It is a crystalline substance B) It is a solid C) It is naturally occurring D) It is organic

D) It is organic

Which of the following states has the greatest percentage of karst topography? A) Nebraska B) Alaska C) Nevada D) Kentucky E) Louisiana

D) Kentucky

Which of the following describes a asteroid? A) Small diameter (<10 cm) object destroyed in Earth's atmosphere B) Icy object that appears to have a tail as it burns, originates from outside our solar system C) Variable-sized object that intersects the Earth's surface D) Large diameter (10m-1000km) object originating from belt between Jupiter and Mars

D) Large diameter (10m-1000km) object originating from belt between Jupiter and Mars

Which of the following is NOT a source of data used to understand climate? A) Tree ring data B) Pollen C) Direct measurements of temperature in the ocean D) Liquefaction zones from earthquakes stored in the geologic record E) Historical records

D) Liquefaction zones from earthquakes stored in the geologic record

Which of the following describes the tsunami in Lituya Bay, Alaska in 1958? A) Volcanic explosion caused part of the volcano to collapse into the ocean, producing a 35 m tsunami that killed 36,000 people. B) M 9 earthquake triggered a 10 m tsunami (up to 40 m high in certain locations), which caused the meltdown of 3 nuclear reactors and killed more than 20,000 people in a country that has many high seawalls that were built to protect it from tsunamis. C) M 9 earthquake triggered a 10 m tsunami, which was the deadliest tsunami ever, killing more than 200,000 people in several countries. D) M 7.7 earthquake triggered a massive landslide, which fell into the water and caused water to surge over 500 m above the normal water level.

D) M 7.7 earthquake triggered a massive landslide, which fell into the water and caused water to surge over 500 m above the normal water level.

Which of the following is NOT a Paleo-proxy data source? A) Pollen samples B) Ice core samples C) Tree rings D) Magma samples E) Carbon-14 data

D) Magma samples

Which statement about the hotspot at Hawaii is FALSE? A) A hotspot at Hawaii explains the presence of active volcanoes far from a tectonic plate boundary. B) A hotspot is a localized zone of upwelling mantle rock located deep below the moving tectonic plate. C) The age of volcanic rock in the Hawaiian Islands gets progressively older to the west. D) Magnetic reversals are the primary cause for the hotspot at Hawaii.

D) Magnetic reversals are the primary cause for the hotspot at Hawaii.

Which of the following are things that you should NOT do in preparing for a flood? A) Buy flood insurance. B) Place sandbags to block water from entering doors. C) Find out how to turn off utilities in the event of a flood. D) Make a flood kit and place it in your basement. E) Make a flood plan with members of your household.

D) Make a flood kit and place it in your basement.

Which of the following places in the U. S. has the lowest seismic hazard? A) Los Angeles, CA B) St. Louis, MO C) Seattle, WA D) Minneapolis, MN E) Charleston, SC

D) Minneapolis, MN

Which earthquake measurement scale is based mostly on human opinion and perception of recent events? A) Saffir-Simpson Scale B) Richter Scale C) Moment Magnitude Scale D) Modified Mercalli Scale E) Fujita Scale

D) Modified Mercalli Scale

Which of the following is FALSE about the ocean conveyor belt? A) Climate change could cause the ocean conveyor belt near Greenland to slow, cooling areas in Europe. B) In the Atlantic, it is responsible for keeping Europe warmer than it would be. C) In the Atlantic, it is driven by cooling of the water near Greenland. D) Movement of water in the ocean conveyor belt is speeding up due to human activities. E) It is capable of causing rapid changes in climate.

D) Movement of water in the ocean conveyor belt is speeding up due to human activities.

Which of the following is the correct link between the soil and its horizon classification? A) K is the zone of accumulation. B) E is the parent material. C) B is organic and mineral matter. D) O is organic material. E) C is zone of leaching.

D) O is organic material.

Where on a river would you most likely find point bars? A) On the outside of a bend B) In the center of the river C) At the headwaters of the river D) On the inside of a bend E) At the mouth of the river

D) On the inside of a bend

Which of the chemically distinct layers of the Earth is liquid? A) Inner core B) Crust C) Mantle D) Outer core

D) Outer core

If we cut down the tree in your great-great grandmother's backyard and analyzed the tree rings, what type of data would this be? A) Instrumental record B) Pollen record C) Historical record D) Paleo-proxy record

D) Paleo-proxy record

Eras of the standard Geological Time Scale are divided into: A) Epochs B) Years C) Eons D) Periods

D) Periods

Which of the following is NOT a way to minimize the hazard from tsunamis? A) Increased planting of native vegetation to break waves B) Educate people about what to do during a tsunami C) Greater emphasis on detection and warning systems D) Prohibit hydraulic fracturing for natural gas E) Stricter building codes for structures on vulnerable coastlines

D) Prohibit hydraulic fracturing for natural gas

The wave property responsible for concentration of energy on headlands (areas of the coast that protrudes toward the ocean) is called A) Reflection B) Polarization C) Diffraction D) Refraction

D) Refraction

If you see a steep cliff with piles of rocks at the bottom, what kind of mass wasting has occurred? A) Creep B) Debris flow C) Slump D) Rockfall

D) Rockfall

What is the effect of leveling the sand dunes on a barrier island? A) The island becomes less heavy, causing it to uplift and expose new sand. B) More sand will accumulate on the beach to replenish the lost material, increasing the size of the beach. C) Hard stabilization methods, such as seawalls, are the only method that will control rates of erosion on a barrier island. D) The barrier island becomes more vulnerable to storms. E) Less sand will accumulate on the beach, decreasing the size of the beach.

D) The barrier island becomes more vulnerable to storms.

If you lived on an active fault and felt a small earthquake, what would that mean? A) One and done -- the fault won't cause further shaking where you are. B) The Great Earth Goblin is surely awakening after a long slumber, to unleash his fury on the mortals of Earth. C) It's a foreshock. A big earthquake is coming. D) The fault is releasing energy, but this information alone is not enough to know what might happen next. E) The fault is becoming more active. You can expect a swarm of similarly sized earthquakes in the near future.

D) The fault is releasing energy, but this information alone is not enough to know what might happen next.

Which of the following is a prediction rather than a forecast for a natural event? A) Landslides are expected in the Tacoma, WA area throughout the weekend. B) There is a 50% chance of thunderstorms in the Seattle region on Saturday. C) Four to five inches of rain may fall with the Category 2 storm off of the coast of Alabama. D) The tsunami from today's massive earthquake near Alaska will arrive in Hilo, Hawaii at 2 PM. E) Tremors from an earthquake may cause damage to poorly built structures.

D) The tsunami from today's massive earthquake near Alaska will arrive in Hilo, Hawaii at 2 PM.

What happens to rivers when they reach their base level? A) They fill the bottom of a v-shaped valley. B) They erode sediment. C) Their discharge decreases. D) They often form alluvial fans or deltas.

D) They often form alluvial fans or deltas.

In a region susceptible to sinkhole formation, the most likely times for collapse will be A) During late afternoon when air temperatures are highest. B) During periods of heavy rain. C) Just before full moons. D) When groundwater levels are low. E) When groundwater levels are high.

D) When groundwater levels are low.

Is it possible to predict the arrival time of a tsunami in distant areas after a major earthquake? A) Sometimes, depending on whether or not the wave splits into a distant and local tsunami B) No, the calculations of a tsunami's arrival time are very time-consuming and cannot be completed before the tsunami arrives. C) No, tsunami behavior is poorly understood and calculations of a tsunami's arrival time are not possible at this time. D) Yes

D) Yes

When buying a house, should you be wary of tilted telephone poles on the lawn? A) Yes, this is a sign of rockfall. B) Yes, this is a sign of landslides. C) Yes, this is a sign of debris flows. D) Yes, this is a sign of creep. E) Yes, this is a sign of avalanches.

D) Yes, this is a sign of creep.

Aside from the oceans, which hydrologic reservoir contains most of the Earth's water? A) rivers B) groundwater C) the atmosphere D) glaciers E) lakes

D) glaciers

An important reason for the extraordinarily high death toll in the Indonesian tsunami of 2004 around the Indian Ocean was that A) panicking elephants created a stampede that crushed many people. B) the violent earthquake caused much more devastation than the tsunami that came later. C) tsunamis had never occurred in that area before. D) there was no warning system to alert people to evacuate. E) people ignored warning sirens that were sounding and instead went to coastal areas to watch the incoming tsunami.

D) there was no warning system to alert people to evacuate.

What is the role of a drainage basin? A) A drainage basin is a set of underground tunnels that drain water into the ocean. B) Rivers empty into a drainage basin, which represents a lake or the ocean. C) A drainage basin is very permeable soil into which flood waters seep instead of going into a river. D) A drainage basin is very impermeable soil, where flood waters are held and eventually evaporate instead of going into a river. E) A drainage basin is the area drained by a river and all of its tributaries.

E) A drainage basin is the area drained by a river and all of its tributaries.

Which of the following organizations need skilled geologists? A) the National Oceanographic Administration B) the Environmental Protection Agency C) the petroleum industry D) the Federal Emergency Management Agency E) All of the above

E) All of the above

At what water depth do waves begin to slow down and "feel bottom"? A) Never. Waves don't slow down. B) At a water depth equal to 1/4 wavelength C) At a water depth equal to twice the wavelength D) At a water depth equal to one wavelength E) At a water depth equal to 1/2 wavelength

E) At a water depth equal to 1/2 wavelength

Which of the following describes a slump? A) Mud becomes saturated with water and flows quickly into a streambed. B) Rocks break off of cliffs and fall to the base of a slope. C) Rapid downslope movement of snow and ice, sometimes with the addition of rock, soil, and vegetation D) Rocks and soil move downslope very slowly. E) Blocks of rock break off and move together, sliding along a curved path.

E) Blocks of rock break off and move together, sliding along a curved path.

Where are earthquakes usually the LEAST common? A) Convergent plate boundaries B) Divergent plate boundaries C) Transform plate boundaries D) Hotspots E) Central region of tectonic plates

E) Central region of tectonic plates

What is mass wasting? A) Land lost due to explosive volcanic eruptions B) Recycling of ancient earth materials to make slopes for development C) Movement of sediment along the coast due to offshore ocean currents D) Loss of mass from a soil during chemical weathering E) Downslope movement of rock, soil, and sediment

E) Downslope movement of rock, soil, and sediment

Which of the following is NOT a typical problem of erosion by tsunamis? A) Erosion shortens the shoreline, which makes the new shoreline more vulnerable to future wave erosion. B) Erosion dislodges native vegetation that is useful as a barrier against future wave erosion. C) Erosion removes some of the shoreline, which causes valuable land to be unusable. D) Erosion damages structures built by humans. E) Erosion creates waterfalls in coastal river channels, making navigation by boats dangerous.

E) Erosion creates waterfalls in coastal river channels, making navigation by boats dangerous.

Which of the following describes a comet? A) Large diameter (10m-1000km) object originating from belt between Jupiter and Mars B) Small diameter (<10 cm) object destroyed in Earth's atmosphere C) Variable-sized object that intersects the Earth's surface D) Moderate diameter (<10m) object originating from collisions of asteroids E) Icy object that appears to have a tail as it burns, originates from outside our solar system

E) Icy object that appears to have a tail as it burns, originates from outside our solar system

Which of the following is NOT an effect that can be caused by tsunamis? A) Contaminated water supplies B) Coastline erosion C) Fires D) Disease E) Increased volcanic activity

E) Increased volcanic activity

Which of the following describes the trend in the worldwide number of natural disasters over the past 50 years or so? A) It has been increasing at a rate of doubling every few years. B) It has remained constant. C) It has been decreasing steadily. D) It has been decreasing exponentially. E) It has been increasing steadily.

E) It has been increasing steadily.

Why didn't the Tunguska Event in Siberia in 1908 cause any deaths? A) It was a meteorite that created one of the largest impact craters ever recorded on Earth but it occurred in a remote area of the world. B) It was a small diamond-bearing meteorite that was incapable of producing much damage. C) It was a meteor that vaporized high in the Earth's atmosphere but it was visible to millions of people for several minutes. D) It was a comet that passed near the Earth but it was visible to people for 18 months. E) It was an airburst that flattened trees over a huge area but it occurred in a remote area of the world.

E) It was an airburst that flattened trees over a huge area but it occurred in a remote area of the world.

Which of the following is FALSE about the effects of landslides? A) Landslides can bury people in debris. B) Landslides can break utility wires and disrupt travel. C) Landslides can cause damage to homes and roads. D) Landslides can cause flooding when rivers are blocked. E) Landslides, because of the damage they normally inflict, offer no natural service functions.

E) Landslides, because of the damage they normally inflict, offer no natural service functions.

How would you spot a rip-current from the shore? A) Look for an area where longshore are moving quickly parallel to the shore B) Rip currents are not visible from the shore. C) Look for an area of intense breaking waves D) Look for an area where waves are moving towards the shore E) Look for an area of calm surrounded by breaking waves

E) Look for an area of calm surrounded by breaking waves

Which of the following is TRUE about seismographs taken far from the epicenter of the earthquake as compared to those that are closer? A) The amplitude of the waves will be larger. B) There will not be any P-waves detected. C) There will not be any S-waves detected. D) The P and S waves will be closer together. E) The P and S waves will be farther apart.

E) The P and S waves will be farther apart.

Which of the following is FALSE about the mantle? A) The mantle surrounds the outer core. B) The mantle is composed of iron- and magnesium-rich rocks. C) The density of the rocks in the mantle is higher than water. D) The density of the rocks in the mantle is lower than the outer core. E) The mantle is mostly liquid.

E) The mantle is mostly liquid.

The force for most external processes on the Earth comes from: A) The ocean B) The internal heat of the Earth C) The magnetic field of the Earth D) The atmosphere E) The sun

E) The sun

Why are groins NOT a perfect solution for saving beaches from eroding? A) They are difficult to position on the beach. B) They completely trap all longshore drift. C) They are difficult to build. D) They increase amount of sand on one side of the groin. E) They increase erosion in the downdrift area.

E) They increase erosion in the downdrift area.

Which of the following is NOT a sign of a potential landslide? A) Exposed bedrock with layering parallel to slope B) Cracks or terraces on hillside C) Path of cleared vegetation extending down a hill D) Area of bare soil or rock on hillside E) Vegetated slope that has not received rain in two weeks

E) Vegetated slope that has not received rain in two weeks

If you were watching waves from the shore and started counting the seconds between one crest to the next, what would you be measuring? A) Wave speed B) Wave height C) Wave energy D) Wavelength E) Wave period

E) Wave period

Which tectonic plate setting is associated with the following features: volcanic eruptions; magma rises from deep in the mantle; can produce a chain of extinct volcanoes with increasing distance from the active volcano? Yellowstone National Park and Hawaiian islands are geographic examples. A) divergent plate boundary B) convergent plate boundary (subduction zone) C) convergent plate boundary (collision zone) D) transform plate boundary E) hotspot

E) hotspot

Which of the following will affect the half-life of a radioactive element? A) an enrichment of uranium at the Earth's surface. B) extreme deep heat within the Earth C) deployment of nuclear weapons. D) bombardment of the Earth by cosmic rays. E) none of these

E) none of these