Geology quiz 4

The vertical distance per given horizontal distance that a river drops is its: a)Channel slope b)Gradient c)Hydrologic cross-section d)Profile

b)Gradient

Which principle relates to the relative age of pebbles and cobbles to the conglomerate that contains them? a)Superposition b)Inclusions c)Lateral continuity d)Baked contacts

b)Inclusions

The gulf stream current that flows along the east coast of North America: a)Is moving cold Arctic water toward the equator b)Is moving warm equatorial water toward the Arctic c)Is responsible for extensive longshore currents and erosion d)All of the above

b)Is moving warm equatorial water toward the Arctic

What was the root cause of the catastrophic and deadly flooding in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina? a)The Mississippi River overflowed its banks b)Multiple ruptures in the city's vast levee system c)Both of these d)Neither of these

b)Multiple ruptures in the city's vast levee system

The age of a sedimentary rock layer, expressed in units of time, is its: a)Relative age b)Numerical age c)Geologic age d)Stratigraphic age

b)Numerical age

The principle of material continuity can be used to argue that: a)Amphibians first appeared on both the African and South American tectonic plates b)Sedimentary layers are initially deposited horizontally c)Rocks on one side of a lateral fault can also be found on the other side d) The Grand Canyon at one time was actually not there but continuous rock layers were

d) The Grand Canyon at one time was actually not there but continuous rock layers were

The age of the Earth is thought to be approximately: a)4,600,000 years old b)46,000,000 years old c)460,000,000 years old d)4,600,000,000 years old

d)4,600,000,000 years old

Which of the following is an "indirect" evidence of previous life? a)Hard bones b)Insects trapped in tree sap c)Fern leaves in thinly bedded shale d)A dinosaur footprint

d)A dinosaur footprint

In order to interpret the geologic history of stratigraphic sequence, one must: a) Examine the state from the bottom up b)Examine the state from the top down c)Examine the thinnest strata first d)Examine the thickest strata first

a) Examine the state from the bottom up

The amount of time required for 50% of a radioactive isotope to decay to its daughter product is its: a) Half-life b)Half-way point c)Half-time d)None of these

a) Half-life

A river system having a rectangular drainage pattern suggests: a)A series of joints in the bedrock b)Uniform subsurface rock layers c)Surface topography consisting of parallel ridges and valleys d)A series of singular mountains like the Cascade volcanoes

a)A series of joints in the bedrock

In a dendritic drainage pattern, the multitude of small streams in the collecting system are analogous to a tree´s a)Branches and limbs b)Trunk c)Roots d)None of these

a)Branches and limbs

The process by which river systems add soluble limestone and gypsum to its sediment load is: a)Dissolution b)Abrasion c)Precipitation d)Evaporation

a)Dissolution

The principal reason we have river system is to: a)Drain the Earth´s surface b)Erode the Earth´s surface to sea level c)Fill up the oceans with sediment d)Create interesting erosional and depositional landforms

a)Drain the Earth´s surface

Catastrophic flooding in the North Carolina coastal plan is typically associated with: a)Excessive rainfall from hurricanes in the fall b)Spring tornadoes in the Piedmont c)Summer thunderstorms in the Raleigh area d)Sudden melting of winter snows in our mountains

a)Excessive rainfall from hurricanes in the fall

The Palezoic Era is known as the age of: a)Fishes and amphibians b)Mammals c)Reptiles d)Birds

a)Fishes and amphibians

The vast majority of ocean waves are caused by. a)Friction between water and air b)Submarine earthquakes c)Typhoons and hurricanes d)Volcanic eruptions

a)Friction between water and air

With time, a rivers sinuosity (tendency to meander): a)Increases b)Stays about the same c)Decreases d)Sinuosity and time are not related

a)Increases

How does flash flooding differ from "major" flooding? a)It occurs with much less warning b)It covers more land with water c)It carries much dirtier water d)It happens throughout all seasons

a)It occurs with much less warning

Correlation is the process of: a)Matching multiple individual stratigraphic columns by rock types and fossils b)Calculating the amount of radioactive parent and daugher isotopes c)Putting the first appearance of major life forms in correct chronological order d)Comparing fossil types to currently living organisms

a)Matching multiple individual stratigraphic columns by rock types and fossils

Upwelling and down-welling currents serve to: a)Mix warm and cold ocean water in the vertical dimension b)Mix equatorial and Arctic water in the horizontal dimension c)Both A and B d)Neither A or B

a)Mix warm and cold ocean water in the vertical dimension

The landform resulting from the collapse of a sea arch is a : a)Sea stack b)Sea cave c)Sinkhole d)Sea cliff

a)Sea stack

Which of the following is not a reason why sedimentary rocks are the most likely rock type to contain fossils? a)Sedimentary rocks are the most common rock type b)Sedimentary rocks are formed at surface temperatures and pressures c)Plants and animals typically live in or near depositional environments d)Other rock types form at great depth

a)Sedimentary rocks are the most common rock type

How did the petrified wood in Petrified Forest National Park form? a)The cellular wood in buried logs was filled with silica-rich solutions and turned to stone b)The logs were buried in an ash layer and later discovered via the "mold and cast" fossilization process c)Large amounts of tree sap filled void space in the wood and hardened d)none of these is a plausible answer

a)The cellular wood in buried logs was filled with silica-rich solutions and turned to stone

What causes major ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere to rotate in a clockwise direction? a)The coriolis effect b)The whirlpool effect c)The Circulation effect d)None of the above

a)The coriolis effect

Why are the walls of the Grand Canyon a series of alternating slopes and cliffs? a)The river has cut through a series of hard and soft sedimentary layers b)So that spectacular waterfalls will form c)Because of movement of rock along normal and thrust faults d)All of the above

a)The river has cut through a series of hard and soft sedimentary layers

What is the general pattern of global ocean temperatures? a)Warmest waters near the equator b)Warmest waters near the mid-oceanic ridges c)Warmest water near the edges of continents d)Warmest waters in the centers of major oceans

a)Warmest waters near the equator

Why do we not have wave cut notches along the North Carolina coast? a)We don't have rocky cliffs b)The waves along our coast aren't strong enough to cut them c)The rocks that make up the cliffs are too hard d)All of the above

a)We don't have rocky cliffs

That geologic processes today are assumed to have been throughout geologic time is called: a) Unitarianism b) Uniformitarianism c)Geologic Consistency d)Conformity

b) Uniformitarianism

Radioactive element X has a half-life of 25 my. How old is the igneous rock that contains element X, if three fourths (3/4) of it had decayed to its daughter product? a)25 my b)50 my c)75 my d)100my

b)50 my

Which of the following characterised the Hadeon Eon within the Precambrian Era? a)First appearance of dinosaurs b)A molten Earth differentiating into its four major internal layers c)An explosion of life in the world's oceans d)The formation of an oxygen-rich atmosphere

b)A molten Earth differentiating into its four major internal layers

The type of unconformity that separates overlying from crystalline igneous or metamorphic rocks is: a)A disconformity b)A nonconformity c)A plutonic unconformity d)An angular unconformity

b)A nonconformity

The feature most likely to form directly opposite a channels cut bank is: a)An entrenched meander b)A point bar c)A tributary d)A levee

b)A point bar

The ability of rock fragments and particles in running water to grind or scrape away material from the stream or river bed is called: a)Dissolution b)Abrasion c)Turbulent flow d)Discharge

b)Abrasion

Which of the following is not a true statement a)Age dating of igneous rocks tells you when it crystallised b)Age dating of sedimentary rock tells you when it was deposited c)Age dating of metamorphic tells you when it underwent metamorphism d)These statements are all true

b)Age dating of sedimentary rock tells you when it was deposited

Which animals are "living proof" of the beginning of the ancient transition of life form oceans to dry land? a)Fishes b)Amphibians c)Reptiles d)Mammals

b)Amphibians

The boundary between tilted sedimentary strata and overlying horizontal sedimentary strata is a: a)Disconformity b)Angular Unconformity c)Nonconformity d)Angular Disconformity

b)Angular Unconformity

What is the process by which the majority of fossils form? a)Entrapment b)Burial of hard parts c)Mold and cast d)Carbon films

b)Burial of hard parts

What is the most common and important mens by which fossil ar created? a)Leaving behind a footprint b)Burying an organisms hard parts c)Soaking porous materials-rich waters d)None of thes

b)Burying an organism's hard parts

People who buy houses on river floodplains are required to make what purchase a)A boat and water skis b)Flood insurance c)Fishing rod, reel, and lures d)Dock furniture

b)Flood insurance

Rock that has been intruded by an igneous dike is: a) Younger than the dike b)Older than the dike c)The same age as the dike d) Not able to be determined based on this information

b)Older than the dike

The long-term erosional and depositional effects on waves and longshore drift are to: a)Make the coastline more irregular b)Straighten the coastline c)Raise the coastline in elevation d)Lower sea level

b)Straighten the coastline

Rocky Mount and nash county are in the watershed for what river system? a)Lumber b)Tar-Pamlico c)Cape fear d)Neuse

b)Tar-Pamlico

Why is the mississippi river delta the largest in the united states? a)The Gulf of Mexico is relatively calm water b)The mississippi and its tributaries drain so much of the US land surface c)The Mississippi river is the deepest North american river d)The delta is made up of unusually coarse sediment

b)The mississippi and its tributaries drain so much of the US land surface

The "mould and cast" method of fossilisation has been critical in: a)Determining the age range of dinosaur bones b)The re-creation of the human deaths associated with the ash eruption of Pompeii, Italy c)Preservation of delicate ferns in shale from swampy environments d)The formation of petrified wood

b)The re-creation of the human deaths associated with the ash eruption of Pompeii, Italy

How do sandy beaches like we have in North Carolina differ structurally in summer then winter? a)They consist of coarser material in the summer b)They are wider in the summer c)They consist of finer material in the summer d)They are narrower in the summer

b)They are wider in the summer

How do oxbow lakes form? a)Oxen cut these feature while plowing floodplains materials b)Two cut banks of a severely meandering river connect, allowing the channel to abandon is old course c)The river flows around an obstacle such as a huge boulder d)A breached levee allows floodwater to fill a natural land surface depression

b)Two cut banks of a severely meandering river connect, allowing the channel to abandon is old course

In a little more than a 24-hour period, any coastal location on Earth experiences: a)Four high tides b)Two high and two low tides c)One thigh and now low tide d)Four low tides

b)Two high and two low tides

About how many different river systems (watersheds) exist in North Carolina? a)6 b)11 c)14 d)23

c)14

Global oceans have approximately what salt content? a)0.35% b)1.35% c)3.5% d)35%

c)3.5%

For most rivers, ultimate base level is: a)Another river b)A major lake c)A major ocean, sea, or gulf d)None of these

c)A major ocean, sea, or gulf

The eastern and western U.S. continental divides are located: a)Along major river valleys b)In desert aras c)Along the length of major mountain ranges d)Near the east and west coasts, respectively

c)Along the length of major mountain ranges

A wave-cut notch forms: a)Because of the erosive capabilities of wave action b)Along cliff-lined coasts c)Both of the above d)Neither of the above

c)Both of the above

An unconformity us a time gap in the rock record caused by. a)Non-deposition b)Erosion c)Both of these d)Neither of these

c)Both of these

The principle of fossil succession states that: a)Species have dates of first appearance and disappearance, and finite lengths of existence b)Fossils succeed one another in a specific order c)Both of these d)Neither of these

c)Both of these

Why do floodplains make such great agricultural land? a)They're accumulations of rich mud and silt b)They´re flat c)Both of these reasons d)Neither of these reasons

c)Both of these reasons

Most depositional landforms formed by a river are located in its: a)Tributaries b)Tributaries and channel c)Channel and distributaries d)Tributaries and distributaries

c)Channel and distributaries

Why are large streams in urban areas so prone to flash flooding? a)Their channels are so small b)Thunderstorms in cities are always worse than those in rural areas c)Extensive paved surface cause huge amounts of runoff d)Higher population is around to notice the event

c)Extensive paved surface cause huge amounts of runoff

What is so unusual about the Bay of Fundy, Newfoundland? a)Its continuously plagued by some of the highest waves in the world b)Longshore drift is causing the harbor to fill with sand c)It experiences a 50-foot tide change d)All of these

c)It experiences a 50-foot tide change

Per the concept of "fossil succession" for what animal will you very commonly find their fossils in Cenozoic strata but rarely in Mesozoic strata and never in Paleozoic strata? a)Fishes b)Amphibians c)Mammals d)Reptiles

c)Mammals

Through Earth history, life has in general become: a)More complex but less diverse b)More diverse but less complex c)More complex and more diverse d)Less complex and less diverse

c)More complex and more diverse

A rock that has a burn zone or bake zone immediately adjacent to an igneous dike is: a)Younger than the dike b)The same age as the dike c)Older than the dike d)The age relationship between two cannot be determined with this information

c)Older than the dike

The drainage pattern associated with a singular, large mountain like Mount Rainier is: a)Trellis b)Dendritic c)Radial d)Rectangular

c)Radial

Incoming ocean waves bend as they encounter protruding land masses in a process called: a)Reflection b)Reaction c)Refraction d)Deflection

c)Refraction

What is the major difference between sediment that is in salvation versus that which is in traction? a)Saltation only salt, whereas traction involves all mineral and rock types b)Saltation occurs in the tributaries while traction occurs in the distributaries c)Saltation involves sediment that sometimes leaves the riverbed, traction does not d)All of the above are correct statements

c)Saltation involves sediment that sometimes leaves the riverbed, traction does not

What sediment size is most likely to make up a rivers natural levees? a)Clay b)Silt c)Sand d)Gravel

c)Sand

Which of the following is true about a "100-year" flood? a)Water in the channel will rise 100 feet vertically b)The amount of river discharge will become 100 time higher than normal c)Statistics predict that it will occur once every 100 years d)Statistics predict that approximately 100 of these will occur any given year

c)Statistics predict that it will occur once every 100 years

Why are the "beach experiences" on the California coast and North Carolina coast so different? a)The winds are blowing from opposite directions b)The pacific Ocean is much deeper than the Atlantic Ocean c)The characteristic of the offshore currents are very different d)The Pacific Ocean has more kelp in it than does the Atlantic Ocean?

c)The characteristic of the offshore currents are very different

Which of the following is not true about the unconformity in the bottom of the Grand Canyon? a)Its an angular unconformity b)There´s a half-billion year gap in the age of rocks above and below the unconformity c)The strata above the unconformity are tilted d)The sedimentary layers below the unconformity have been slightly folded

c)The strata above the unconformity are tilted

Pebbles and gravel are typically found, most specifically, in a rivers. a)Dissolved load b)Bed load c)Traction load d)Saltation load

c)Traction load

The diagram used to depict the sequence of sedimentary strata at a specific location is: a)A sequential graphic b)A geologic sketch c)A cross-sectional view d)A stratigraphic column

d)A stratigraphic column

At the mouth of a river, some sediment: a)Is deposited and extends the land surface seaward in a delta b)Moves beyond the end of the delta and onto the ocean bottom c)Is picked up by coastal waves and carried elsewhere along the coast d)All of the above

d)All of the above

Which of the following determines how big waves get? a)How hard the winds been blowing b)How long the winds been blowing c)How far the waves been traveling d)All of the above

d)All of the above

Which of the following is true about North Carolina river systems such as the Tar and Cape Fear rivers? a)The discharge rate varies seasonally b)Summer discharge is low but with spikes from large thunderstorms, tropical storms etc. c)Winter and spring discharges are high because these are our rainy seasons d)All of the above

d)All of the above

Which of the following is true about human dependence on river systems? a)Providing industrial uses and energy generation b)Providing for drinking needs and land irrigation c)Providing for transportation and recreation d)All of the above

d)All of the above

Which of the following might test an animal's ability to be fit enough to survive? a)The ability to tolerate significant changes in climate b)In times of food shortage, whether it is eaten or the eater c)The ability to sustain itself through effective reproduction d)All of the above

d)All of the above

For the protection that man-made levees provide, why are they usually not a good idea to build? a)They're very expensive to build b)They worsen the flood potential for points downstream c)They're subject to failure and over-washing d)All of these

d)All of these

In order to calculate a rivers discharge in cubic feet per second, one must know: a)The rate of water flow b)The width of the channel c)The depth of the channel d)All of these

d)All of these

The two massive global extinctions that have occurred over geologic time had what in common? a)The introduction of massive amounts of dust into the earth's atmosphere b)The eventual disruption of food chains c)Neither of these d)Both of these

d)Both of these

What causes "breakers" (surf) to form? a)The bottom of each wave is slowed by friction with the bottom b)The top of each wave continues to move without resistance c)Neither of these d)Both of these

d)Both of these

What has caused the catastrophic flooding in the Midwest over the last six weeks? a)Excessively high spring rains b)Sudden warming and snow/ice melting c)Neither of these d)Both of these

d)Both of these

Why will river flooding always be a problem for towns and cities on the North Carolina coastal plain? a)We will always be subject to tropical storms and hurricanes b)We continues to rebuild homes and towns that sit on floodplains c)Neither of these reasons d)Both of these reasons

d)Both of these reasons

The era known for the rise in prominence of mammals, including earliest humans, is the: a)Precambrian b)Paleozoic c)Mesozoic d)Cenozoic

d)Cenozoic

The four major eras of geologic time, in the Phanerozoic Eon, from most recent to furthest back in time, are: a)Precambrian, Paleozoic, Cenozoic, Mesozoic b)Cenozoic, Precambrian, Mesozoic, Paleozoic c)Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic d)Cenozoic, mesozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian

d)Cenozoic, mesozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian

The author of the definitive principle on evolution through natural selection and survival of the fittest was: a)Nicholas Steno b)James Hutton c)Bishop Ussher d)Charles Darwin

d)Charles Darwin

What sediment sizes are found in a rivers suspended load? a)Sand and gravel b)Cobbles and pebbles c)Gravel d)Clay and silt

d)Clay and silt

Which of the following are in the correct order, as you move downstream? a)Collecting system-dispersing system-transporting system b)Dispersing system-transporting system-collecting system c)Transporting system-collecting system-dispersing system d)Collecting system-transporting system-dispersing system

d)Collecting system-transporting system-dispersing system

How long have humans lived on Earth? a)The vast majority of Earth history b)Less time than reptiles but more than fishes c)Longer than fishes, amphibians and reptiles d)Hardly any of Earth history

d)Hardly any of Earth history

What type of fossil might be captured in amber (hardened tree sap)? a) Fish b)Fern leaves c)Small reptiles d)Insects

d)Insects

What geologic term describes the Gulf of Mexico's relationship to the Mississippi river? a)Its distribution system b)Its hydrologic destination c)Its discharge d)Its base level

d)Its base level

Most geologic accomplishments require ____ amounts of time and occur at ____ rates a)Short-rapid b)Short-slow c)Long-rapid d)Long-slow

d)Long-slow

Per the concept of "fossil succession" for what animal group will you very commonly find their fossils in Mesozoic strata but rarely in Paleozoic strata? a)Fishes b)Amphibians c)Mammals d)Reptiles

d)Reptiles

Which of these lists of landforms is in the correct order of their formation? a)Sea arch, sea cave, sea stack b)Sea cave, sea stack, sea arch c)Sea stack, sea arch, sea cave d)Sea cave, sea arch, sea stack

d)Sea cave, sea arch, sea stack

Which of the following does not influence the characteristics of a beach? a)The kind of nearby bedrock b)The typical wave size and direction c)The recent history of coastal storms d)The amount of construction and man-made structures

d)The amount of construction and man-made structures

Our tides are caused by: a)Major ocean currents like the Gulf stream b)Strong winds blowing across the ocean surface c)Tsunamis and underwater volcanic eruptions d)The gravitational pull of the Moon

d)The gravitational pull of the Moon

Which of the following is not true about typical rivers, as one moves downstream? a)The channel with and depth increase b)The total sediment load increases c)The total discharge increases d)The maximum sediment grain size increases

d)The maximum sediment grain size increases

What did Hurricanes Harvey and Florence have in common? a)They occurred in the same state b)They both impacted cities of a million or more popultion c)They both caused major damage to man-made levee systems d)They both stalled when they came ashore and dropped historic-level rains

d)They both stalled when they came ashore and dropped historic-level rains

Per "fossil succession", which of the following series of species is in the correct order from oldest to youngest? a. Fishes-reptiles-amphibians b)Amphibians-fishes-reptiles c)Mammals-fishes-reptiles d)fishes-amphibians-reptiles

d. Fishes - amphibians - reptiles

What causes rivers to eventually deposit their sediment load? a)The water gets tired of carrying the material b)The water runs into an obstruction like a dam c)The water evaporates and the river dries up d)The water slows down to the point that everything settles out

point that everything settles out