Geol 102 - Environmental Geology » Spring 2020 » Exam 1

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Question #1
Magma typically rises to the surface at divergent plate boundaries.
A.   TRUE
B.   FALSE
Question #2
Once the Earth's carrying capacity is exceeded, population reduction will occur whether we want it to or not.
A.   TRUE
B.   FALSE
Question #3
With a population growth rate of 0.7%, it would take 100 years for the population to double.
A.   TRUE
B.   FALSE
Question #4
Rapid cooling of molten rock produces large crystals.
A.   TRUE
B.   FALSE
Question #5
A single seismograph can determine the location of an earthquake.
A.   FALSE
B.   TRUE
Question #6
We can credit volcanoes for our oceans and atmosphere.
A.   FALSE
B.   TRUE
Question #7
Relative age dating enables scientists to determine the age in years of a rock mass, whereas absolute age dating can only determine the sequence of events.
A.   FALSE
B.   TRUE
Question #8
People living along a passive margin have a low probability of experiencing volcanoes and earthquakes.
A.   TRUE
B.   FALSE
Question #9
An environmental geologist could be expected to apply the scientific method to all of the following questions EXCEPT:
A.   Which regions in the United States have the lowest seismic risk?
B.   Which public policy can best lower population growth rate?
C.   Are the soils in a sub-development safe to build on?
D.   What is the landslide potential of building a shopping mall outside a city?
E.   How did the water supply to a community get contaminated?
Question #10
The number of people or animals that can be supported indefinitely by a given area of land is called ____.
A.   critical mass
B.   carrying capacity
C.   growth rate
D.   population dynamics
Question #11
Which item listed below has NOT helped to increase the carrying capacity of the Earth?
A.   the development of nitrogen-based fertilizers
B.   genetic modification of grains and other crops
C.   the development of a vaccine for polio
D.   the development and application of chemical herbicides
E.   the development and application of chemical pesticides
Question #12
Which of the following is not true of environmental geology?
A.   It is concerned with developing methods to prevent natural disasters from occurring.
B.   It is concerned largely with surface geologic processes.
C.   It is concerned with how natural geological processes affect man.
D.   It seeks ways for the Earth's inhabitants to interact safely with their geological surroundings.
E.   It applies the science of geology to problems arising from the complex interactions of water, soil, air, solid earth, and life.
Question #13
Secondary waves (S-waves) are able to pass through which layer of Earth?​
A.   Mantle and liquid outer core
B.   Crust and mantle
C.   Mantle, liquid outer core, and solid inner core
D.   Liquid outer core and solid inner core
E.   Crust only
Question #14
The compressional movement of plate boundaries, such as observed at the Juan De Fuca plate, is representative of which type of boundary?​
A.   Divergent
B.   Subduction
C.   Spreading center
D.   Transform
E.   Convergent
Question #15
Which geological processes explains why the ocean floors are so young?
A.   mountain formation
B.   erosion
C.   transform faulting
D.   subduction
E.   rift formation
Question #16
What type of plate boundary is the San Andreas Fault?
A.   transform
B.   convergent
C.   passive
D.   divergent
Question #17
What force is thought to be an important cause of plate tectonic motion?
A.   earthquakes
B.   Earth tides
C.   shear strain
D.   volcanic eruptions
E.   thermal convection currents
Question #18
What is a common distinguishing characteristic of sedimentary rock masses?
A.   They are formed by solidification from a melt.
B.   They tend to be layered.
C.   They are always very colorful.
D.   They tend to be extremely hard.
Question #19
Granite is a type of:
A.   metamorphic rock.
B.   sedimentary rock.
C.   volcanic rock.
D.   intrusive igneous rock.
E.   extrusive igneous rock.
Question #20
Which property of minerals is variable and therefore the least reliable as a clue in identifying a mineral type?
A.   crystal form
B.   luster
C.   hardness
D.   color
E.   cleavage
Question #21
An atom having either a positive or negative electrical charge is called a(n):
A.   electron.
B.   ion.
C.   plasma.
D.   isotope.
E.   molecule.
Question #22
How much more energy does a magnitude 8 earthquake release than a magnitude 6 earthquake?
A.   10 times more
B.   2 times more
C.   30 times more
D.   27,000 times more
E.   900 times more
Question #23
What is the point of subsurface origin of an earthquake called?
A.   scarp
B.   epicenter
C.   nexus
D.   ground zero
E.   focus
Question #24
Which type of fault would you expect if the rocks are subjected to extensional stress?
A.   Reverse Fault
B.   Stress Fault
C.   Strike-slip Fault
D.   Normal Fault
E.   Thrust Fault
Question #25
Which type of earthquake wave moves the fastest?
A.   permanent waves
B.   Love waves
C.   Rayleigh waves
D.   S-waves
E.   P-waves
Question #26
Which type of seismic wave is most responsible for damage?
A.   surface waves
B.   S-waves
C.   sonar
D.   P-waves
E.   body waves
Question #27
Which of the following methods is NOT useful in forecasting the probability of a volcanic eruption?
A.   swelling measured by tilt-meters or satellite interferometry
B.   reversals in the local magnetic field measure by magnetometers
C.   changes in the composition of fumarole gas measured by a gas chromatograph
D.   earthquakes measured by seismometers
E.   changes in Earth's gravity field measured by gravimeters
Question #28
What is a volcano called that has not erupted in living memory but shows evidence of having erupted within the past few thousand years?
A.   dormant
B.   inactive
C.   a high risk volcano
D.   active
E.   extinct
Question #29
The majestic snow-covered peaks on the landward side of a subduction zone are usually what type of volcano?
A.   domes
B.   composite volcanoes
C.   shield volcanoes
D.   cinder cones
E.   basaltic plateaus
Question #30
What does viscosity mean?
A.   It is a measure of the volume of pore space in a volcanic rock
B.   It refers to a temperature gradient in a liquid.
C.   It has to do with the resistance of a fluid to flow.
D.   It refers to how brittle a solid substance is.
E.   It is a measure of flexibility of a solid.
Question #31
What is a large circular or elliptical depression at the summit of a volcano resulting from collapse called?
A.   a blow hole
B.   a volcanic vent
C.   a caldera
D.   a rift valley
E.   a crater

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