Geosci 100 Free Exam ?s

The following picture illustrates which type of geologic feature, highlighted by the yellow lines? A. Angular unconformity B. Disconformity C. Nonconformity

a. angular unconformity

The epicenter of an earthquake is always located: a. at the Earth's surface, directly above the focus b. in the mantle c. along the fault plane d. on the fault scarp

a. at the Earth's surface, directly above the focus

At which kind of plate tectonic boundary is the upper part of the mantle rising? a. divergent boundary b. convergent boundary c. transform boundary

a. divergent boundary

Solar radiation absorbed by the Earth's ground surface is reemitted as __________. a. Infrared radiation b. Visible radiation c. Ultraviolet radiation d. X-ray radiation

a. infrared radiation

What do all isotopes of any given element have in common? a. Number of protons b. Number of neutrons c. Combined number of protons and neutrons d. All of the above

a. number of protons

Through which of the different states of matter can S waves travel? a. solid only b. liquid only c. gas only d. solid and liquid only e. solid, liquid and gas

a. solid only

The yellow line in the figure below identifies the _______. a. strike b. dip c. plunge d. compression

a. strike

Considering Bowen's reaction series, how does the process of fractional crystallization affect the composition of a cooling magic magma? a. the magma becomes more silica-rich b. the magma becomes less silica-rich c. the magma becomes ultramafic d. none of the above.

a. the magma becomes more silica rich

The oldest portion of the North American continent is: a. the shield b. the Phanerozoic orogenic belt c. the coastal plain d. the ocean crust

a. the shield

True or False: On average, the depth of the oceans below sea level is greater than the elevation of the continents above sea level. a. true b. false

a. true

What two phenomena have been used to prove the Big Bang Theory? a. Velocity measured with redshift & distance measured with star brightness b. Seafloor spreading & Continental drift c. Evolution & the Modern Synthesis d. Variability & Natural Selection

a. velocity measures with redshift & distance measured with star brightness

From where does the calcium in seawater come? a. Weathering of continental rocks b. Marine biologic activity c. Volcanic eruptions at mid-ocean ridges d. Precipitation onto the sea surface

a. weathering of continental rocks

About how much of Earth's water is freshwater? a. 0.2% b. 4% c. 9% d. 25%

b. 4%

Positive feedbacks tend to ____ changes in the system and negative feedbacks tend to ____ the system against change. a. stabilize, amplify b. amplify, stabilize c. stabilize, protect amplify, destabilize

b. amplify, stabilize

In an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks where do the oldest rock strata occur? a. At the top of the sequence b. At the bottom of the sequence c. It depends on the depositional environment

b. at the bottom of the sequence

True or False: Current surface temperatures are the highest they have been in Earth's history a. true b. false

b. false

True or False: The image below displays "graded bedding". To generate this sedimentary structure, the velocity of water flow must have increased from bottom to top. a. true b. false

b. false

True or false: all minerals exhibit cleavage a. true b. false

b. false

Select the principle of relative dating that is most useful in correlating rock strata among widely separated areas (regionally). a. Superposition b. Faunal succession c. Cross-cutting relationships d. Original horizontality

b. faunal succession

Which rocks reserve a record of ancient climate conditions and climate change? a. metamorphic rocks b. sedimentary rocks c. igneous rocks d. none of the above

b. sedimentary rocks

Which of the following geologic materials makes the best aquiclude? a. sandstone b. shale c. limestone d. gravel

b. shale

Which list places foliation textures in order of increasing metamorphic grade (low grade to high grade)? a. Slate, gneiss, phyllite, schist b. Slate, phyllite, schist, gneiss c. Gneiss, schist, slate, phyllite d. Gneiss, phyllite, schist, slate

b. slate, phyllite, schist, gneiss

Normal faults are caused by _________, and reverse faults are caused by _________. a. compressive forces, tensional forces b. tensional forces, compressive forces c. compressional forces, horizontal shearing forces d. horizontal shearing forces, compressional forces

b. tensional forces, compressive forces

Approximately when was the formation of the Pangaea supercontinent complete? a. 1.1 billion years ago b. 450 million years ago c. 270 million years ago d. 200 million years ago

c. 270 million years ago

How old is our solar system? a. 200,000 years old b. 532 million years old c. 4.54 billion years old d. 13.7 billion years old

c. 4.54 billion years old

About when did the modern-day Atlantic Ocean first begin to form? a. About 750 million years ago b. About 390 million years ago c. About 150 million years ago d. About 50 million years ago

c. about 150 million years ago

According to the reconstructed history of continental movements, about when did the modern-day Atlantic Ocean first begin to form? a. about 750 million years ago b. about 390 million years ago c. about 150 million years ago d. about 50 million years ago

c. about 150 million years ago

What is the approximate amount of elevation change (relief) between the highest (Mt. Everest) and the lowest (Marianas Trench) points on the surface of the earth? a. about 2 km b. about 5 km c. about 20 km d. about 50 km

c. about 20 km

Absolute ages obtained from igneous rocks samples recovered from mid-ocean ridges reveal that: a. rock ages get older with greater distance from the axis of the spreading ridge b. the pattern of rock ages is mirrored on each side of the spreading ridge c. all of the above d. none of these

c. all of the above older the further away AND mirrored

Which of the following locations would you expect to find water saturated sediments being transported down to the upper mantle? a. along the San Andreas fault b. along the mid-Atlantic Ridge c. along the Andean Trench d. along the Hawaii Hot Spot

c. along the Andean Trench

Why is molten magma rising to the surface at divergent plate boundaries? a. because it is more dense than the hotter rock around it b. because it is affected by anti-gravity c. because it is less dense than the cooler rock surrounding it d. it is pure chance that magma rises at these boundaries

c. because it is less dense than the cooler rock surrounding it

To which class of minerals do calcite and aragonite, the most common minerals that form the rock limestone, belong? a. silicates b. sulfides c. carbonates d. oxides

c. carbonates

Which is a likely environment in which a quartz sandstone could have been deposited? a. A coral reef b. Deep sea c. Coastal Beach d. None of the above

c. coastal beach

Which statement comparing the inner planets to the outer planets is true? a. Inner planets are smaller and of lower density than the outer planets. b. Inner planets are larger and of lower density than the outer planets. c. Inner planets are smaller and of higher density than the outer planets. d. Inner planets are larger and of higher density than the outer planets.

c. inner planets are smaller and of higher density than the outer planets

Which of the following timescales seem most appropriate for the completion of a Wilson Cycle? a. tens of years b. thousands of years c. millions of years d. billions of years

c. millions of years

46% of the continental crust is oxygen, while only 21% of the atmosphere is oxygen. How could this be? a. the crust has a lot of holes filled with oxygen gas b. volcanoes suck oxygen into the Earth's interior c. most of the crust is made up of solid silica tetrahedra

c. most of the crust is made up of solid silica tetrahedra

What is the fundamental building block of the silicate minerals? a. silicon-carbon tetrahedron b. silicon-carbon octahedron c. silicon-oxygen tetrahedron d. silicon-oxygen octahedron

c. silicon-oxygen tetrahedron

Which list places the different kinds of seismic waves in order of increasing velocity of travel (from slowest to fastest)? a. S wave, P wave, surface wave b. P wave, S wave, surface wave c. Surface wave, S wave, P wave d. Surface wave, P wave, S wave

c. surface wave, S wave, p wave

Which of the following statements about synclines is TRUE? A. The oldest rocks occur in the center and the limbs dip toward the center. B. The oldest rocks occur in the center and the limbs dip away from the center. C. The youngest rocks occur in the center and the limbs dip toward the center. D. The youngest rocks occur in the center and the limbs dip away from the center

c. the youngest rocks occur in the center and the limbs dip toward the center

Evolution can be described by the following conceptual equation: a. Genetics + Natural Selection b. Genetics + Variability c. Variability + Natural Selection d. The Modern Synthesis + Genetics

c. variability + natural selection

By the time sediments reach the ocean basins, they have become: a. angular and poorly sorted b. very coarse grained c. well rounded and well sorted d. all of these e. none of these

c. well rounded and well sorted

How old is the universe? a. 200,000 years old b. 532 million years old c. 4.54 billion years old d. 13.7 billion years old

d. 13.7 billion years old

The Theory of Plate Tectonics involves which of the following? a. Continental Drift and Evolution b. Seafloor Spreading and the Modern Synthesis c. Evolution and the Modern Synthesis d. Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading

d. Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading

Continental crust differs from oceanic crust in which of the following characteristics: a. thickness b. density c. composition d. all of the above

d. all of the above

Which kind of plate boundary is associated with earthquake activity? a. divergent boundary b. convergent boundary c. transform-fault boundary d. all of the above

d. all of the above

Which of the following statements is true? a. sometimes textbooks are wrong b. science is in a constant state of revision c. humans make errors d. all of the above

d. all of the above

Which of the following is critical to the growth of coral reefs? a. sunlight b. warm ocean waters c. relatively calm seas d. all of these e. none of these

d. all of these

How do crystal size and foliation change with increasing intensity of metamorphism? a. Grain size increases and foliation becomes less coarse. b. Grain size decreases and foliation becomes coarser. c. Both grain size and foliation coarseness decrease. d. Both grain size and foliation coarseness increase.

d. both grain size and foliation coarseness increase

What triggers the mantle melting that occurs beneath mid-ocean ridges? a. addition of water b. frictional heating c. increase in pressure d. decrease in pressure

d. decrease in pressure

What properties of a geologic material make the best aquifer? a. low porosity, low permeability b. low porosity, high permeability c. high porosity, low permeability d. high porosity, high permeability

d. high porosity, high permeability

The periodic table of elements is arranged in order of the number of __ in a particular atom a. neutrons b. electrons c. nuclei d. protons

d. protons

What is the simplest definition of life that we discussed in class? a. Movement b. Self replication c. Self regulation d. Self replication + Self regulation

d. self replication + self regulation

Brittle fracture of rocks is mostly likely to occur where in the Earth? a. In the Core b. In the Mantle c. Deep Crust d. Shallow Crust

d. shallow crust

Which of the following is a sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide? a. volcanism b. rust (iron oxide) formation c. metamorphism d. silicate weathering

d. silicate weathering

What powers the Earth's climate system? a. Magnetism b. Tidal friction c. Radioactive decay in Earth's interior d. Solar energy

d. solar energy

True or false: the igneous rocks that form sills are considered extrusive igneous rocks a. true b. false

false

In which plate-tectonic environment do earthquakes occur at the greatest depths? a. Transforms b. Mid-ocean ridges c. Subduction zones d. Continent-continent collision zones

C. Subduction Zones