Geology 101 - Introduction to Geology » Spring 2022 » Midterm 1
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Question #1
Which of the following is the first step of the scientific method?
A.
theory formation
B.
observation
C.
hypothesis
D.
testing
Question #2
Plate tectonics and evolution, which are held with a high degree of confidence because of rigorous testing and verification, are examples of:
A.
hypotheses
B.
observations
C.
theories
D.
guesses
Question #3
The San Andreas Fault is an example of a
A.
convergent plate boundary
B.
sea level rising
C.
transform plate boundary
D.
divergent plate boundary
Question #4
New crust is being created at _________plate boundaries, while _________ crust is being destroyed at __________ plate boundaries.
A.
divergent; oceanic; convergent
B.
divergent; continental; convergent
C.
convergent; continental; divergent
D.
convergent; oceanic; divergent
Question #5
Tectonic plates move about as fast as:
A.
a human's fingernail grows
B.
a human can walk
C.
a snail crawls
D.
a human can run
Question #6
Tectonic plates are pieces of the ___________ that float on the more fluid ________ below.
A.
asthenosphere; lithosphere
B.
lithosphere; asthenosphere
C.
mantle; crust
D.
lithosphere; mesosphere
Question #7
Alfred Wegener's continental drift hypothesis received much praise and was immediately accepted by the scientific community.
A.
True
B.
False
Question #8
Throughout its existence, Earth has been____________________
A.
stagnant
B.
inhabited by humans
C.
crystalline
D.
changing
Question #9
The principle of ________ states that the physical, chemical, and biological processes at work shaping the Earth today have also operated in the geologic past.
A.
uniformitarianism
B.
plate tectonics
C.
catastrophism
D.
plutonism
Question #10
Using one calendar year as an analogy for the length of the Earth's history, approximately how long have humans existed in this time frame?
A.
1 month
B.
1 hour
C.
10 minutes
D.
1 day
Question #11
What are the two main sources of energy for the Earth system?
A.
the Earth's rotation and the Moon
B.
the Earth's orbit around the sun and its rotation
C.
the sun and Jupiter
D.
the sun and heat inside the Earth
Question #12
The most abundant elements in the Universe are:
A.
carbon and oxygen
B.
hydrogen and helium
C.
oxygen and silicon
D.
iron and nickel
Question #13
The most abundant elements on the Earth's continental crust are:
A.
iron and nickel
B.
hydrogen and helium
C.
silicon and oxygen
D.
carbon and oxygen
Question #14
Which of the following components of the Earth has the highest density?
A.
lower mantle
B.
inner core
C.
crust
D.
upper mantle
E.
outer core
Question #15
Which of the following layers of the Earth's internal structure is the thinnest?
A.
crust
B.
outer core
C.
mantle
D.
inner core
Question #16
Our current understanding of modern-day Mars is that it does not have plate tectonics and lacks flowing water. Mars, however, does have a thin atmosphere with wind and occasional dust storms. Given this information, which of the following processes can occur on modern-day Mars?
A.
Subduction
B.
Volcanic eruptions
C.
Formation of new igneous rocks
D.
Erosion
Question #17
What is the difference between magma and lava?
A.
Magma is located above the surface, lava is located below the surface
B.
Magma has a lower temperature than lava
C.
There is no difference between them
D.
Magma is located below the surface, lava is located above the surface
Question #18
Rocks that form from pre-existing materials compacted and cemented through lithification, or formed by means of precipitation of a solid from a liquid are called___________________
A.
extrusive igneous rocks
B.
sedimentary rocks
C.
intrusive igneous rocks
D.
metamorphic rocks
Question #19
Which of the following was the earliest observation regarding continental drift?
A.
the distribution of coal from tropical swamps of the past among North America, Europe, northern Africa, and Asia
B.
the evidence of past isthmian links which allowed land animals to reach other landmasses across the ocean
C.
the apparent jigsaw-like fit of continents together, as in the case of South America and Africa
D.
the presence of Glossopterison fossils on five different continents
Question #20
Where are tectonic plates located?
A.
at Earth's surface
B.
below Earth's surface, in the upper mantle
C.
below the asthenosphere
D.
below Earth's surface, near the core
Question #21
What is the relationship between the crust and lithosphere?
A.
The crust is a special type of lithosphere.
B.
The lithosphere is a special type of crust.
C.
The crust is part of the lithosphere.
D.
The lithosphere is part of the crust.
Question #22
What would happen to Earth if ocean floor were created at divergent boundaries at a faster rate than it is destroyed at convergent boundaries?
A.
The Earth would decrease in volume.
B.
The Earth would increase in mass.
C.
The Earth would decrease in mass.
D.
The Earth would increase in volume.
Question #23
Oceanic crust is mainly composed of _________________ , whereas continental crust is mainly composed of ____________.
A.
basalt; granite
B.
granite; basalt
C.
limestone; olivine
D.
olivine; gabbro
Question #24
________ is the name of the process by which new seafloor is generated at mid-ocean ridges.
A.
Melting
B.
Seafloor spreading
C.
Subduction
D.
Convection
Question #25
At which of the following sites does volcanic activity occur?
A.
convergent plate boundary
B.
divergent plate boundary
C.
all three of the answers
D.
hot spot
Question #26
Most of the oxygen atoms on Earth are located in_____________
A.
silicate minerals
B.
oxygen gas
C.
living organisms
D.
water
Question #27
What was Panthalassa?
A.
the ocean that formed as Pangaea began to break apart
B.
the single ocean that existed after the Pangaean supercontinent formed
C.
the northern half of Pangaea that formed after Pangaea began to break apart
D.
the supercontinent that existed after the Pangaean ocean formed
Question #28
How often does the Earth's magnetic field switch polarity?
A.
every 10,000 to 50,000 years
B.
every 100,000 to several million years
C.
every 1,000 to 10,000 years
D.
every 50,000 to 100,000 years
Question #29
Which of the following is responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field?
A.
The Earth's core
B.
The Sun
C.
The Moon
D.
The Earth's crust
Question #30
The motion of plates is driven by the convection occurring in the_______________
A.
ocean water
B.
mantle
C.
core
D.
crust
Question #31
Plates A and B are converging oceanic plates that are colliding with each other. Plate B is older and more dense than plate A. Which plate will be subducted as they collide, and why?
A.
Plate B will subduct because it is more dense
B.
Plate B will subduct because it is warmer
C.
Plate A will subduct because it is less dense
D.
Plate A will subduct because it is warmer
Question #32
Which of the following is true about minerals?
A.
They are only present in igneous rocks
B.
They must have high economic value
C.
They have to be naturally occuring
D.
They can be liquid
Question #33
Which of the following is a mineral?
A.
Glass
B.
Basalt
C.
Granite
D.
Ice
Question #34
Which of the following is considered a rock?
A.
magma
B.
lava
C.
quartz
D.
basalt
Question #35
Which of the following is NOT a very useful way to identify a mineral?
A.
hardness on the Mohs scale
B.
color
C.
luster
D.
streak
Question #36
Non-silicate minerals are the most common type of minerals on the Earth's crust.
A.
False
B.
True
Question #37
Which of the following elements has the lowest abundance on Earth?
A.
Iron
B.
Aluminum
C.
Carbon
D.
Silicon
Question #38
A.
silicon
B.
sodium
C.
calcium
D.
iron
E.
carbon
Question #39
What is viscosity? Under what conditions does magma have high viscosity?
A.
The ease of flow. Magma has a higher viscosity if it has a higher temperature, is poor in silica, and contains a high amount dissolved gases.
B.
The ease of flow. Magma has a higher viscosity if it has a lower temperature, is rich in silica, and contains a high abundance of dissolved gases.
C.
Resistance to flow. Magma has a higher viscosity if it has a lower temperature, is rich in silica, and contains very few dissolved gases.
D.
Resistance to flow. Magma has a higher viscosity if it has a higher temperature, is rich in silica, and contains very few dissolved gases.
Question #40
Material ejected from a volcano during an explosive and violent eruption is called__________
A.
pyroclastic material
B.
lava tube
C.
pillow lava
D.
pahoehoe flow
Question #41
Which type of volcanoes is dominant in the Ring of Fire?
A.
composite cone
B.
pillow lava
C.
cinder cone
D.
shield volcano
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