Geology 113 Quizzes

Why is fossil correlation important for figuring out Earth's geologic history? A. Fossils can be used to match rock units in different areas that are the same age. B. Fossils represent small periods of geologic time in different areas C. Fossils correlate with only one rock unit in different areas.

A. Fossils can be used to match rock units in different areas that are the same age.

What type of volcano is Mount St. Helens and what caused the explosion? A. It is a stratovolcano that exploded when trapped gasses were quickly released. B. It is a stratovolcano that exploded when trapped gasses were slowly released C. It is a shield volcano that exploded when trapped gasses were quickly released. D. It is a shield volcano that exploded when trapped gasses were slowly released..

A. It is a stratovolcano that exploded when trapped gasses were quickly released.

What type of volcanoes form the Hawaiian Islands? A. Shield volcanoes B. Stratovolcanoes C. Cinder cones D. Lava domes

A. Shield volcanoes

Where are the largest magnitude earthquakes most common? A. Subduction zones B. Mid- ocean ridges C. Transform faults D. Continental collision zones E. Hot spots

A. Subduction zones

What happens to minerals in rocks that cool in the presence of the Earth's magnetic field? A. The minerals align with the field. B. The minerals align opposite to the field C. The minerals are not aligned based on the field

A. The minerals align with the field.

Shallow earthquakes (shallower the 50 km) occur here (Check all that apply) A. Transform plate boundary B. Convergent plate boundary C. Divergent plate boundary

A. Transform plate boundary B. Convergent plate boundary C. Divergent plate boundary

Currently, no reliable method exists for making short-range earthquake predictions. A. True B. False

A. True

Most people who die in an earthquake die because: A. a building falls or collapses on them B. they fall into a crack opening in the ground C. the shaking makes their heart stop D. they get caught in a tsunami

A. a building falls or collapses on them

Plate boundaries (all there types) can generally be recognized by: A. a presence of an earthquake belt B. a deep chasm that can be seen from space C. the presence of an ocean basin D. the presence of a rift valley

A. a presence of an earthquake belt

Of the following, which causes the most earthquakes? A. a sudden slip on a pre- existing fault B. the explosion of a volcano C. a giant landslide

A. a sudden slip on a pre- existing fault

In the following list of magmas, only one is likely to explode - the others will produce lava flows or spatter to form small cinder cones or ooze out to form lava domes. Which one of the following magmas is most likely to produce an explosive volcanic eruption when it reaches the Earth's surface? A. a basaltic magma with gas B. An andesitic magma with gas C. a rhyolitic magma without gas D. a basaltic magma without gas

B. An andesitic magma with gas

Deep earthquakes (greater than 100km) occur here (Check all that apply) A. Transform plate boundary B. Convergent plate boundary C. Divergent plate boundary

B. Convergent plate boundary

Explosive volcanism is common here (Check all that apply) A. Transform plate boundary B. Convergent plate boundary C. Divergent plate boundary

B. Convergent plate boundary

Volcanic activity is common here (Check all that apply) A. Transform plate boundary B. Convergent plate boundary C. Divergent plate boundary

B. Convergent plate boundary C. Divergent plate boundary

Surface waves are called that because they are the only seismic waves that reach the surface. A. True. They are the only seismic waves that can be recorded by seismometers at the Earth's surface. B. False. All seismic waves, including P-waves and S-waves, reach the surface and can be recorded there. Surface waves are called that because they travel along the surface of the planet rather than through the body of the planet.

B. False. All seismic waves, including P-waves and S-waves, reach the surface and can be recorded there. Surface waves are called that because they travel along the surface of the planet rather than through the body of the planet

What is the difference between earthquake magnitude and earthquake intensity? A. Magnitude documents earthquake damage, intensity measures the amount of energy released in the earthquake. B. Magnitude measures the amount of energy released in the earthquake, intensity documents damage. C. There is little difference, they both relate to size and damage.

B. Magnitude measures the amount of energy released in the earthquake, intensity documents damage.

Which of the following is a correct sequence of geologic time units from oldest to today? A. Cenozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian, Mesozoic B. Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic C. Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Precambrian D. Precambrian, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Cenozoic

B. Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic

A volcanic dike would be most likely to illustrate this geologic principle. A. Principle of Superposition B. Principle of Cross- Cutting Relations C. Principle of Original Horizontality

B. Principle of Cross- Cutting Relations

Of all the volcanic hazards, which one if the most deadly? A. lava flows B. Pyroclastic flows C. Ash fall D. Lahars E. Poisonous gas

B. Pyroclastic flows

Why were Wegener's ideas regarding continental drift not accepted by most scientists in the early 20th century? A. The continents did not fit exactly as if they had split B. There was no viable mechanism to cause such a drift C. They recognized that vertical forces explain Earth's geology D. They found errors in his analysis of paleoclimate and the fossil record

B. There was no viable mechanism to cause such a drift

What principle suggests that geologic processes that operate on Earth today are similar to those that operated in the past? A. Catastrophisms B. Uniformitarianism C. Deep time

B. Uniformitarianism

What feature is found when there is erosion or a time gap in the geologic record? A. a deformed rock unit B. an unconformity in the rock unit C. an inclusion rock unit

B. an unconformity in the rock unit

The point on Earth's surface directly above the point where an earthquake occurs if termed the A. hypocenter (focus) B. epicenter C. eye of the fault D. vortex

B. epicenter

Which of the following magmas has the highest viscosity? A. high silica content, high temperature B. high silica content, low temperature C. low silica content, high temperature D. low silica content, low temperature

B. high silica content, low temperature

Atoms with different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus are called A. ions B. isotopes C. electrons

B. isotopes

Events or changes in the earth that have occasionally been observed to occur before the mainshock of an earthquake are called A. seismic gaps B. precursors C. tsunami D. hot spots

B. precursors

Surface waves_________ A. travel more rapidly than body waves B. produce most of the damage to buildings during earthquakes C. are the first waves initially produced in an earthquake D. are the first waves to arrive at a seismograph station after an earthquake

B. produce most of the damage to buildings during earthquakes

When a volcano experiences an explosive eruption, it produces mostly A. lava B. pyroclastic material C. poisonous gas D. mudflows

B. pyroclastic material

Nonviolent eruptions characterized by extensive flows of basaltic lava are termed A. pyroclastic eruptions B. quiescent (effusive) eruptions C. Explosive eruptions

B. quiescent (effusive) eruptions

Where are the oldest rocks on the Atlantic seafloor located? A. Trenches B. Mid- oceanic ridges C. Close to continental coastlines D. On volcanic islands like the Canaries

C. Close to continental coastlines

Rocks on both sides of the boundary are normally about the same age A. Transform plate boundary B. Convergent plate boundary C. Divergent plate boundary

C. Divergent plate boundary

________ travel the fastest of energy waves produced by earthquakes and can travel through ___________, whereas ___________ are slower and can travel through _________ A. P-waves; solids only; S-waves; solids, liquids, or gases. B. S-waves; solids, liquids, and gases; P-waves; liquids only. C. P-waves; solids, liquids or gases; S-waves; solids only. D. S-waves; solids only; P-waves; solids, liquids, or gases. E. None of these choices are correct

C. P-waves; solids, liquids or gases; S-waves; solids only.

Which one of the plate tectonic settings listed below is most likely to have explosive volcanoes? A. Mid- oceanic ridges B. Continental collisions C. Subduction zones D. Transform faults E. Continental rifts

C. Subduction zones

What is the lithosphere or tectonic plate? A. The plastic asthenosphere above the rigid core and the upper mantle B. The crust and underlying plastic asthenosphere above the mantle C. The crust and underlying rigid mantle above the asthenosphere D. The lithosphere is part of the crust

C. The crust and underlying rigid mantle above the asthenosphere

Plate Tectonics Theory A. is a theory that explains how the solar system formed. B. is the hypothesis proposed by Alfred Wegener that the continents moved about on the surface of the Earth like ships plowing through sea ice. C. is the theory that the Earth's lithosphere is broken into pieces that move around and interact with each other. D. is the idea that proposed the depth of an earthquake's focus could be explained by the type of plate boundary on which it occurred. E. All of these choices are correct

C. is the theory that the Earth's lithosphere is broken into pieces that move around and interact with each other.

If mid-ocean spreading was to stop, but subduction continue, which of the following would occur? A. Continents would begin moving toward each other. B. The surface area of the Earth would decrease. C. Sea level would rise D. All of the above are correct E. Only a and b are correct

D. All of the above are correct

What evidence indicated that Most St. Helens was going to erupt? A. Volcanic gas emissions B. Earthquakes C. A growing bulge on the side of the volcano D. All of the above are correct E. Only A and B

D. All of the above are correct

Which two hypotheses were combined to form the theory of Plate Tectonics? A. Continental drift and the Big Bang B. Continental drift and the scientific method C. Continental drift and contracting Earth D. Continental drift and seafloor spreading

D. Continental drift and seafloor spreading

Suppose two identical magnitude 6 earthquakes occur in two different locations. The locations are San Diego, California and Istanbul, Turkey. Based on what you know from this chapter, which location would likely suffer the most casualties and why? A. San Diego because building codes are better enforced than in Istanbul. B. San Diego because building codes are less enforced than in Istanbul. C. Istanbul because building codes are better enforced than in San Diego. D. Istanbul because building codes are less enforced than in San Diego.

D. Istanbul because building codes are less enforced than in San Diego.

What happens when two oceanic plates converge? A. The faster plate is subducted B. The slower plate is subducted C. The younger plate is subducted D. The older plate is subducted

D. The older plate is subducted

How old is the Earth according to radiometric age dating? A. about 4600 years old B. about 4.6 million years old C. about 46 million years old D. about 4.6 billion years old E. about 46 billion years old

D. about 4.6 billion years old

Which of the following hazards is not commonly associated with volcanic eruptions? A. poisonous or otherwise deadly gases B. pyroclastic flows C. lava flows D. lahars E. all of these hazards are associated with volcanoes

E. all of these hazards are associated with volcanoes

The amount of damage caused by an earthquake depends on A. its magnitude B. how long the shaking form seismic waves last C. the ground conditions (soft sediment vs consolidates sediment vs rock) D. the types of buildings and construction in the area E. how many people live close to the epicenter F. all of the above are correct

F. all of the above are correct