Earth Science Lesson 1

The separation of sediments into layers that differ from one another in texture, composition, color, or weathering characteristics is know as _____. a.) bedding. b.) lithification. c.) precipitation. d.) rippling.

bedding

Approximately how many mineral species have scientists identified? a.) 5000 b.) 60 c.) 250 d.) 1500

5000 - Scientists have identified more than 5,000 mineral species. They believe that before Earth formed, approximately 60 mineral species formed from cosmic dust.

The image shows information about the element carbon as it appears in the periodic table. Based on the image, how many protons does carbon have? a.) 2 b.) 3 c.) 6 d.) 12

6

Which food of drink item is homogeneous mixture? a.) A bowl of cereal with milk b.) A cup of black coffee c.) A handful of trail mix d.) A tossed salad

A cup of black coffee

A student conducts an experiment to see how music affects plant growth. The student obtains four identical plants. Each one is potted in the same type of soil and receives the same amount of sunlight and water each day. Plant A listens to classical music for three hours each day. Plant B listens to rock music for three hours a day. Plant C listens to country music for three hours a day. Plant D does not listen to any music at all. Based on the experiment in the scenario, which visual aid would be MOST helpful in showing the change in the plants' heights over time? a.) A bar graph b.) A timeline c.) A pie chart d.) A line graph

A line graph

A group of scientists takes daily measurements of the depth of a pond for one year. Which type of chart or graph would the scientists most likely use to show how the depth of the pond changes over the course of the year? a.) A line graph b.) A dot plot c.) A bar chart d.) A pie chart

A line graph - A line graph is an excellent tool for tracking change over time.

Which of the following can be expressed as a mathematical formula? a.) A scientific theory b.) A hypothesis c.) A scientific law d.) An observation

A scientific law

Where is frost wedging most likely to occur? a.) A desert region that experiences high temperatures and dry conditions b.) A tropical region that experience year-round warmth and heavy rain c.) An arctic region where the ground is permanently frozen d.) A temperate region that experiences multiple freezes and thaws each year

A temperate region that experiences multiple freezes and thaws each year

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between mass and weight? a.) An object with twice the mass of another object will weigh half as much. b.) An object with twice the mass of another object well weigh four times as much. c.) An object with twice the mass of another object will weigh one-fourth as much d.) An object with twice the mass of another object will weigh twice as much.

An object with twice the mass of another object will weigh twice as much.

Which of the following is an example of a chemical change? a.) Boiling water b.) Holding two magnets together c.) Baking a cake d.) Breaking glass

Baking a cake - Baking a cake causes chemical changes, which heat activates the leavening agents such as flour, which produces gas bubbles, causing the cake to rise.

Which of these conditions does NOT contribute to the weathering of rock on Earth's surface? a.) Abundance of water b.) Exposure to air c.) Constant high pressure d.) Variable temperature

Constant high pressure

Based on Mohs Hardness Scale, which mineral could be scratched by a penny but not by a fingernail? a.) Calcite b.) Fluorite c.) Talc d.) Gypsum

Calcite

The minerals graphite and diamond are both made of which element? a.) Carbon b.) Hydrogen c.) Gold d.) Silver

Carbon - Both graphite and diamond are made entirely of carbon. The differences in their physical structures and appearances result from the ways in which their carbon atoms bond.

During which stage of sedimentary rock formation do minerals crystallize at points of contact with other clasts? a.) Cementation b.) Burial c.) Deposition d.) Transprotation

Cementation

Which of the following places the types of sediment in order from smallest to largest? a.) Silt, clay, sand, pebble, boulder, cobble b.) Clay, silt, sand, pebbles, boulder, cobble c.) Silt, sand, clay, cobble, pebble d.) Clay, slit, sand, pebble, cobble, boulder

Clay, slit, sand, pebble, cobble, boulder

Which characteristic of minerals may be described using words such as "bladed," "fibrous," "platy," or "dendritic"? a.) Lattice framework b.) Luster c.) Streak d.) Crystal habit

Crystal habit

What two forces drive the rock cycle on Earth? a.) Earth's distance from the sun and the moon's orbit around Earth b.) Climate change and greenhouse gases c.) Earth's internal heat engine and Earth's hydrological cycle d.) Weathering and erosion

Earth's internal heat engine and Earth's hydrological cycle - The two forces that drive the rock cycle are Earth's internal heat engine and Earth's hydrological cycle. On some other planets, the rock cycle is virtually dead because the core is no longer hot enough to drive mantle convection, and there is no atmosphere or liquid water.

Which two forces drive the rock cycle? a.) Transportation and deposition b.) Mineral composition of existing rock and time c.) Earth's internal heat engine and water cycle d.) Weathering and erosion

Earth's internal heat engine and water cycle

What are the two classes of pure substances? a.) Liquids and gasses b.) Solutions and mixtures c.) Elements and compounds d.) Atoms and molecules

Elements and compounds

The rock in the picture is rhyolite, an extrusive igneous rock. Based on its appearance, how would you classify this rock? a.) Intermediate b.) Ultramafic c.) Mafic d.) Felsic

Felsic

Which of the following lists igneous rock in order from least to most ferromagnesian silicates? a.) Ultramafic, mafic, intermediate, felsic b.) Intermediate, ultramafic, mafic, felsic c.) Felsic, intermediate, mafic, ultramafic d.) Felsic, mafic, ultramafic, intermediate

Felsic, intermediate, mafic, ultramafic - In terms of mineral composition, felsic rock contains nonferromagnesian silicates, or silicates with very low concentrations of iron and magnesium. Ultramafic rock has the highest concentration of ferromagnesian silicates.

Which word best describes an igneous rock with large crystals and a coarse-grained texture? a.) Volcanic b.) Metamorphic c.) Extrusive d.) Intrusive

Intrusive - Intrusive igneous rocks form from the slow cooling of magma within Earth's crust, which generally creates larger crystals and a coarse-grained texture.

How does water affect metamorphic processes? a.) It can have elevated concentrations of dissolved substances b.) It prevents the transfer of ions between and within minerals. (WRONG - During metamorphic processes, water facilitates the transfer of ions between and within minerals, which can INCREASE the rate at which metamorphic reactions take place.) c.) It stops elements from moving around within Earth's crust. d.) It decreases the rate at which metamorphic reaction take place. (WRONG)

It can have elevated concentrations of dissolved substances - Because water facilitates the transfer of ions between minerals and within minerals, it can increase the rate at which metamorphic reactions take place. In addition, water, especially hot water, can have elevated concentrations of dissolved substances, so it's an important medium for moving certain elements around within the crust.

A geologist discovers a sample of fine-grained rock made up of very small crystals. Based on its physical appearance, what can the geologist conclude about the rock? a.) It formed from materials produced by living organisms. b.) It formed from the remains of living organisms. c.) It formed from magma that cooled quickly. d.) It formed from magma that cooled slowly.

It formed from magma that cooled quickly

To which layer can geologists apply the principle of faunal succession to determine the age of the layer a.) Layer D b.) Layer C c.) Layer A d.) Layer B

Layer C

When using the scientific method, which step does a scientist usually perform right after forming a hypothesis? a.) Making an observation b.) Making a prediction c.) Performing an experiment d.) Reporting experimental results

Making a prediction - The steps of the scientific method go in the following order: making an observation, asking a question, forming a hypothesis, making a prediction, conducting an experiment, analyzing the data, and reporting the results.

Which branch of Earth science focuses more specifically on Earth's atmosphere? a.) Astronomy b.) Geology c.) Meteorology d.) Oceanography

Meteorology - Meteorology focuses on Earth's atmosphere and, especially, how changes in the atmosphere affect weather and climate on Earth's surface.

The mineral copper (Cu) is composed entirely of copper atoms. To which mineral group does copper belong? a.) Halides b.) Carbonates c.) Native elements d.) Oxides

Native elements

The image shows the mineral kaolinite. Which of the following best describes the luster of the mineral? a.) Nonmetallic glassy b.) Metallic c.) Nonmetallic dull d.) Nonmetallic pearly

Nonmetallic dull

What is the most abundant element in magma? a.) Silicon b.) Oxygen c.) Magnesium d.) Iron

Oxygen - Oxygen is the most abundant element in magma. It makes up slightly less than half the total.

A geology student finds a sample of sediment that is approximately 5 millimeters in diameter and is easy to throw. In which category would the student most likely classify this sediment? a.) Boulder b.) Pebble c.) Cobble d.) Sand

Pebble - Sediments that range in diameter from 2 to 64 millimeters and that are easy to throw are classified as pebbles. Boulders and cobbles are larger than pebbles, and sand is smaller.

A student conducts an experiment to see how music affects plant growth. The student obtains four identical plants. Each one is potted in the same type of soil and receives the same amount of sunlight and water each day. Plant A listens to classical music for three hours each day. Plant B listens to rock music for three hours a day. Plant C listens to country music for three hours a day. Plant D does not listen to any music at all. In the experiment described in the scenario, which group represents the control group? a.) Plant C b.) Plant D c.) Plant B d.) Plant A

Plant D

Which factor affecting metamorphic process is MOST LIKELY to cause foliation in a rock? a.) Presents of water b.) Temperature c.) Pressure d.) Time

Pressure

Geologists conclude that the clasts in layer A are older than the layer itself. Which geologic principle do the geologists use to draw this conclusion? a.) Principle of original horizontality b.) Principle of superposition c.) Principle of inclusion d.) Principle of faunal succession

Principle of inclusion

Which of the following is a chemical property of pure water? a.) Pure water has a boiling point of 212 degrees (100 degrees Celsius). b.) Pure water is a colorless liquid. c.) Pure water has a density of about 1 g/cm cubed. (WRONG) d.) Pure water has an acidity of about 7 on the pH scale.

Pure water has a boiling point of 212 degrees (100 degrees Celsius)

Which of the following is an example of water in a liquid state? a.) Snow b.) Rain c.) Steam d.) Ice

Rain - Rain is an example of liquid water. Ice and snow are both examples of frozen water, which is a solid. Steam is another name for water vapor, which is a gas.

Who is credited with first documenting the use of the scientific method? a.) Dmitri Mendeleev b.) Sir Isaac Newton c.) Sir Francis Bacon d.) Charles Darwin

Sir Francis Bacon

If a mineral isn't scratched by a fingernail, what can you conclude about the mineral's hardness? a.) The hardness is less than 2.5. b.) It is at least a hardness of 4.0 c.) A mineral can't be tested by a fingernail. d.) The hardness is more than 2.5.

The hardness is more than 2.5 - If a fingernail does not scratch the mineral, then its hardness has to be more than 2.5.

What's erosion? a.) The breakdown of rock into smaller pieces b.) A chemical change in rock that weakens it c.) The removal of weathered products from rock d.) A change in rock resulting from exposure to water

The removal of weathered products from rock

A geologist concludes that a rock sample is an extrusive igneous rock. Based on this information, which statement about the rock is accurate? a.) The rock cooled slowly over millions of years. b.) The rock formed within Earth's crust. c.) The rock likely came from a pluton. d.) The rock formed from cooling lava.

The rock formed from cooling lava.

A student conducts an experiment to see how music affects plant growth. The student obtains four identical plants. Each one is potted in the same type of soil and receives the same amount of sunlight and water each day. Plant A listens to classical music for three hours each day. Plant B listens to rock music for three hours a day. Plant C listens to country music for three hours a day. Plant D does not listen to any music at all. In the experiment described in the scenario, what's the variable? a.) The type of soil in which each plant is potted (controlled) b.) The type of music each plant listens to (manipulated or independent) c.) The amount of sunlight each plant gets (controlled) d.) The amount of water each plant receives (controlled)

The type of music each plant listens to

If a mineral contains only atoms of oxygen and a metal, it is MOST likely _____. a.) a phosphate. b.) a silicate. c.) a sulfate. d.) an oxide.

an oxide - If a mineral contains oxygen atoms bonded directly to atoms of a metal, it's an oxide. Other minerals, such as carbonates, silicates, phosphates, and sulfates, contain oxygen as part of a molecule that bonds to metals.

The branch of earth science that focuses on objects beyond Earth's atmosphere is _____. a.) meteorology. b.) astronomy. c.) geology. d.) oceanography.

astronomy

A zone of metamorphism around a source of heat, such as a body of magma, is known as a/an ______. a.) aureole. b.) parent rock. c.) ripple. d.) foliation.

aureole - An aureole is a zone of metamorphism around a source of heat. Aureoles results from contact metamorphism.

Water seeps into cracks in a rock, expands on freezing, and enlarges the cracks in a process called _____. a.) exfoliation. b.) frost wedging. c.) frost heaving. d.) hydrolysis.

frost wedging - Frost wedging is when water seeps into cracks in a rock, expands on freezing, and enlarges the cracks. It is a form of mechanical weathering.

Claystone and shale are examples of _____. a.) conglomerate. b.) breccia. c.) sandstone. d.) mudrock.

mudrock

The honeycomb-like appearance of this sandstone is a result of _____. a.) hydrolysis. b.) frost wedging. c.) salt weathering. d.) oxidation.

salt weathering

An observation of how elements in nature will behave under certain conditions is known as a _____. a.) scientific theory. b.) scientific law. c.) prediction. d.) hypothesis.

scientific law - A scientific law is an observation, often expressed as a mathematical formula. It differs from a scientific theory, which is a thoroughly tested and widely accepted explanation.

A geology student finds a rock formation composed of sedimentary rock. Based on the principle of _______, the student concludes that the layers on the bottom are older than the layers on the top. a.) superposition b.) inclusion c.) faunal succession d.) original horizontality

superposition - The principle of superposition suggests that older layers are on the bottom and younger layers are on the top. The only time this principle would not apply is if tectonic processes had caused the entire sequence to be turned over.

A polar covalent bond is a bond between _____. a.) two atoms that share electrons equally. b.) two oppositely charged ions. c.) two polar molecules. d.) two atoms that share electrons unequally.

two atoms that share electrons unequally - A polar covalent bond results when two atoms share atoms unequally. Polar covalent bonds occur when one of the atoms in the bond more strongly attracts electrons. When an atom more strongly attracts electrons, it is more electronegative.

If magma takes hundreds of years to cool into rock, the mineral crystals within the rock MOST likely _____. a.) will have irregular structures. b.) will be large. c.) will be fine-grained. d.) won't form.

will be large - Time is an important factor in the formation of crystals. Slower cooling, from decades to millions of years, means the degree of ordering within the individual crystals will be higher, and as a result, the crystals will be larger.