General Geology Test Questions

8/18/2019 General Geology Test Questions

1/37

GENERAL GEOLOGY - GEOL 1113

EXAM I WITH ANSWERS - Spring 2002

1. Which of the following is not among the 8 most abundant elements on Earth? a) hydrg!n, b)

potassium, c) sodium, d) iron, e) aluminum.

2. The most abundant element on Earth is a) silicon, b) water, c) aluminum, d) iron, !) "yg!n.

3. n! substance where the atoms are arranged in a regular geometric pattern is a) a naturall!

occurring solid, b) a mineral, c) a substance formed through inorganic processes, d) a #ry$%a&&in!

$'($%an#!, e) a compound.

". ll matter in the #ni$erse is composed of a) molecules, () a%$, c) cr!stals, d) minerals, e)substances.

%. Which of the following is not a basic component of an atom? a) electron, b) neutron, c)

proton, d) p$i%rn.

&. Which of the following is a part of the definition of a mineral? a) a li'uid that ma! become

solid, b) man(made, #) d!*ini%! #h!i#a& #p$i%in, d) unorganied structure, e) **+- ll

of these are parts of the definition of a mineral.

. The silica tetrahedron is composed of a) 1 silicon and " aluminum atoms, () 1 $i&i#n and +"yg!n a%$, c) silicon chips, d) silicon onl!, e) silicon, iron and aluminum atoms.

8. The ph!sical characteristic of some minerals whereb! the! fracture along preferred planes

related to the cr!stalline structure of the mineral is /nown as a) #&!a,ag!, b) fracture, c)

brea/age, d) planarit!, e) all of these.

0. Which of the following is a ph!sical propert! of minerals? a) brea/age, b) tint and hue, #)

&'$%!r, d) roughness, e) roundness.

1. n eample of a sheet silicate mineral is a) oli$ine, b) 'uart, c) augite, d) hornblende, !)nn! * %h!$!.

11. n the single(chain silicates, the silica tetrahedra are bound to each other at a) % #rn!r$, b)

three corners, c) four corners, d) one corner, e) not bounded to each other.


2/37

12. The color of a powdered mineral is a) the same as the color of the mineral specimen, () i%$

$%r!a. , c) determined b! the t!pes of impurities in the mineral, d) is not a reliable ph!sical

propert!, e) none of these.

13. Which of the following minerals are arranged in order of increasing hardness? a) %a/

apa%i%!/ #r'nd'/ diand, b) topa, 'uart, fluorite, corundum, c) talc, 'uart, calcite,

diamond, d) 'uart, topa, diamond, fluorite, e) fluorite, calcite, g!psum, talc.

1". What t!pe of silicate is 4usco$ite? a) isolated tetrahedra, b) single chain, c) double chain, d)

$h!!%, e) framewor/.

1%. What t!pe of silicate is 5iotite? a) isolated tetrahedra, b) single chain, c) double chain, d)

$h!!%, e) framewor/.

1&. What t!pe of silicate is ugite? a) isolated tetrahedra, () $ing&! #hain, c) double chain, d)

sheet, e) framewor/.

1. What t!pe of silicate is *li$ine? a) i$&a%!d %!%rah!dra, b) single chain, c) double chain, d)

sheet, e) framewor/.

18. What t!pe of silicate is 6uart? a) isolated tetrahedra, b) single chain, c) double chain, d)

sheet, !) *ra!r. .

10. What t!pe of silicate is 7ornblende? a) isolated tetrahedra, b) single chain, #) d'(&! #hain,

d) sheet, e) framewor/.

2. What t!pe of silicate is eldspar? a) isolated tetrahedra, b) single chain, c) double chain, d)

sheet, !) *ra!r. .

21. 7ow do the cr!stal structures of micas and feldspars differ from each other? a) feldspars are

framewor/ silicates, micas are double chain silicates, b) feldspars are double chain silicates,

micas are sheet silicates, c) micas and feldspars ha$e the same cr!stalline structure, d) feldspars

are single chain silicates, micas are double chain silicates, !) i#a$ ar! $h!!% $i&i#a%!$/ *!&d$par$

ar! *ra!r. $i&i#a%!$

22. 9ubic irconia are s!nthetic stones that are manufactured as inepensi$e substitutes for

diamonds in :ewelr!. re cubic irconia minerals? a) !es, () n, c) ma!be, d) it depends on !our

point of $iew, e) none of these.

23. 7!psometr! is a) the a$erage ele$ation of Earth, b) the highest ele$ation on Earth, c) the

lowest ele$ation on Earth, d) %h! p!r#!n% ar!a a% di**!r!n% !&!,a%in$ n Ear%h , e) none of

these.


3/37

2". Which of the following is not a terrestrial planet? a) Earth, b) 4ars, c) ;enus, d), the 4oon,

!) a&& * %h!$! ar! #n$id!r!d %!rr!$%ria& p&an!%$.

2%. Earth is a general term used to refer to a) r#.$ * %h! #!an (a$in$, b) roc/s of the

continents, c) all roc/s that compose Earthial> is a) *'nd n&y n Ear%h, b) found in the crust of all other terrestrial planets, c)

found onl! in the ocean basins of Earth, d) found onl! in roc/s of the 4oon, e) none of these.


4/37

3. The largest terrestrial planet is a) 4ercur!, b) ;enus, #) Ear%h, d) 4ars, e) Aupiter.

38. The concentration of carbon dioide in Earth


5/37

0. 5asalt and andesite a) ha$e the same minerals, b) formed from magma with the same

temperature, c) formed from magma with the same $iscosit!, d) formed from magma with the

same silica content, !) nn! * %h!$!.

1. n igneous roc/ with minerals that can be seen with the unaided e!e ehibits a) porph!ritic

teture, b) aphanitic teture, c) p!roclastic teture, d) phan!ri%i# %!"%'r!, e) $isible teture.

11. oot wedging a) is a rare weathering phenomenon, b) occurs onl! in rain forests, #) ##'r$h!n!,!r p&an%$ g!rina%! in r#. s, d) is a theoretical weathering phenomenon, e) has ne$er been obser$ed in nature.

12. oot wedging is common in a) polar climates, b) temperate climates, c) tropical climates, d)any #&ia%!, e) none of these.

13. True or alse= @ranite headstones t!picall! weather more rapidl! than limestone headstones.

a) true, () *a&$!, c) ma!be, d) it depends how !ou loo/ at it, e) should


6/37

HIGH 2 21 22

INTERME6IATE 23 2" 2%

LOW 2& 2 28

2. a) gabbro, basalt, granite, b) sodium feldspar, p!roene, musco$ite, #) '$#,i%!/ 7'ar%8/

p%a$$i' *!&d$par, d) oli$ine, p!roene, calcium feldspar, e) none of these.

21. a) gabbro, b) diorite, #) grani%!, d) basalt, e) andesite.

22. a) rhy&i%!, b) gabbro, c) granite, d) basalt, e) diorite.

23. a) oli$ine, calcium feldspar, p!roene, b) calcium feldspar, sodium feldspar, potassium

feldspar, c) 'uart, granite, musco$ite, d) p!roene, amphibole, biotite, !) hrn(&!nd!/ (i%i%!/

$di' *!&d$par.

2". a) andesite, b) rh!olite, c) granite, d) basalt, !) diri%!

2%. a) and!$i%!, b) rh!olite, c) granite, d) basalt, e) diorite.

2&. a) 'uart, biotite, oli$ine, b) oli$ine, 'uart, sodium feldspar, c) 'uart, musco$ite, potassium

feldspar, d) 'uart, p!roene, sodium feldspar, !) nn! * %h!$!

2. a) ga((r, b) rh!olite, c) granite, d) basalt, e) diorite.

28. a) gabbro, b) rh!olite, c) granite, d) (a$a&%, e) diorite.

nswer the 'uestions below regarding 5owen


7/37

3". low temperature sheet silicate= a) biotite, () '$#,i%!, c) 'uart, d) calcium feldspar, e)

oli$ine.

3%. n intermediate temperature sheet silicate= a) (i%i%!, b) musco$ite, c) 'uart, d) calciumfeldspar, e) oli$ine.

3&. low temperature framewor/ silicate= a) hornblende, () p%a$$i' *!&d$par, c) augite, d)

oli$ine, e) none of these.

3. The last mineral to form in 5owen


8/37

. The principal agents of metamorphism are a) heat and chemical composition, b) teture and

composition, c) pressure and teture, d) h!a% and pr!$$'r!, e) $olcanoes and earth'ua/es.

8. 4ud crac/s preser$ed in sedimentar! roc/s a) ar! indi#a%i,! * arid !n,irn!n%$

#hara#%!ri8!d (y ##a$ina& rain, b) occur onl! in rain forests, c) occur whene$er plants

germinate in roc/s, d) ha$e ne$er been obser$ed in nature.

0. edimentar! roc/s pro$ide clues about a) Earth surface conditions at the time the sediment

formed, b) temperate climates, c) tropical climates, d) polar climates, !) a&& * %h!$!

1.9ross(bedding obser$ed in ri$er sand can be used a) % d!%!rin! %h! dir!#%in %h! a%!r

a$ *&ing, b) to determine the speed of the ri$er, c) determine the height of the wa$es in the

ri$er, d) to determine the temperature at the time the ripples formed, e) none of these.

11. s one goes deeper beneath Earth


9/37

2. *n the diagram abo$e, the metamorphic grade increases from a) 2 to 1", () 1+ % 22, c) 1&

to 1", d) all of these, e) metamorphic grade is not represented on this diagram.

21. *n the diagram abo$e, the tra:ector! representing burial metamorphism is a) 1" to 2, () 1+

% 22, c) 1" to 1&, d) 2 to 22, e) 1% to 21.

22. *n the diagram abo$e, the tra:ector! representing tectonic metamorphism is a) 1+ % 20, b)

1" to 22, c) 1" to 1&, d) 2 to 22, e) 1% to 21.

23. *n the diagram abo$e, the tra:ector! representing contact metamorphism is a) 1" to 2, b) 1"

to 22, #) 1+ % 1=, d) 2 to 22, e) 1% to 21.

2". Which of the following lists is arranged in order from lowest to highest grade of

metamorphic roc/? a) gneiss, slate, schist, ph!llite, b) gneiss, schist, ph!llite, slate, c) slate,

gneiss, ph!llite, schist, d) $&a%!/ phy&&i%!/ $#hi$%/ gn!i$$, e) ph!llite, gneiss, slate, schist.

2%. Which of the following is n% a mechanical la!er of the Earth? a) lithosphere, () an%&!, c)

inner core, d) outer core, e) asthenosphere.

2&. The outermost mechanical la!er of Earth is a) the mantle, b) the sima, c) the sial, d) the crust,

!) %h! &i%h$ph!r!.

2. Which of the following is n% a class of mechanical beha$ior of Earth materials? a) soft

solids, b) hard solids, c) cold solids, d) hot solids, e) nn! * %h!$! ar! !#hani#a& (!ha,ir$ *

Ear%h a%!ria&$.

28. The asthenosphere is a) that portion of Earth where roc/s beha$e as brittle solids, () %ha%

pr%in * Ear%h h!r! r#.$ (!ha,! a$ p&a$%i# $&id$, c) that portion of Earth where roc/s

beha$e as fluids, d) that portion of Earth where roc/s can be found, e) none of these.

20. The asthenosphere is composed of a) the crust onl!, b) the crust and upper mantle, #) %h!

an%&! n&y, d) the sial onl!, e) the sima onl!.

3. The lithosphere is composed of a) %h! #r'$% and 'pp!r an%&!, b) the mantle onl!, c) the

sima, d) the sial, e) none of these.

31. The lithosphere is nearl! isothermal because a) there is con$ection, b) there is heat produced

e$er!where in the asthenosphere, c) temperature has risen to the maimum that it can in the

asthenosphere, d) Earth is a sphere, !) %h! &i%h$ph!r! i$ n% i$%h!ra&.


10/37

32. arge magnitude damaging earth'ua/es occur a) at transform plate boundaries, b) at ocean(

continent con$ergent boundaries, c) at continent(continent con$ergent boundaries, d) at ocean(

ocean con$ergent boundaries, !) a&& * %h!$!.

33. Which of the following is n% a t!pe of plate boundar! a) transform, b) di$ergent, c)

con$ergent, d) $'(d'#%i,!, e) all of these are t!pes of plate boundaries.

3". ;olcanoes at con$ergent plate boundaries generall! produce a) basalt, b) rh!olite, c) granite,

d) and!$i%!, e) diorite.

3%. Which of the following is associated with continent(continent con$ergent plate boundaries?

a) eplosi$e $olcanism, b) andesite $olcanism, #) &arg!/ daaging !ar%h7'a.!$, d) $olcanic

mountain chain, e) all of these.

3&. Gifferentiation of Earth a) is an ongoing process, b) resulted in compositional la!ering of

Earth


11/37

3. The stri/e of a la!er is a) the angle at which that la!er intercepts a horiontal surface, b) the

degree to which the la!er has compressed during mountain building, #) a &in! *r!d (y %h!

in%!r$!#%in * %h! &ay!r i%h %h! Ear%h?$ $'r*a#!, d) usuall! horiontal, e) all of these.

". n a s!ncline, the oldest roc/s will be found a) on top of the structure, b) in the middle of the

structure, c) dipping within of the structure, d) along the ais of the structure, !) nn! * %h!$!.

%. re$erse fault is one where a) %h! hanging a&& i$ di$p&a#!d 'pard r!&a%i,! % %h!*%a&&, b) the footwall is displaced upward relati$e to the hanging wall, c) the dip of the fault plane is $ertical, d) there is no relati$e displacement of the hanging wall and footwall, e) the

footwall mo$es to the right of the hanging wall.

&. n anticline is a structure in which a) the oldest roc/ la!ers are located at the top of the

structure, () %h! r#. &ay!r$ dip aay *r %h! a"i$ * %h! $%r'#%'r! , c) roc/ la!ers aredownwarped, d) all of the abo$e are correct, e) none of these are correct.

. or roc/s to be folded, the! must a) beha$e as brittle solids, b) beha$e as fluids, #) (!ha,! a$p&a$%i# $&id$, d) be metamorphic, e) be $olcanic.

8. olding of roc/s is usuall! associated with a) di$ergent plate boundaries, b) transform plate boundaries, #) #n,!rg!n% p&a%! ('ndari!$, d) old plate boundaries, e) the middle of plates.

0. tri/e(slip faults are a) %h! $a! a$ %ran$*r *a'&%$, b) the same as normal faults, c) the

same as re$erse faults, d) the same as thrust faults, e) all of these.

1. When etreme forces are applied to brittle roc/s, a) folds form, b) anticlines form, #) *a'&%$

*r, d) s!nclines form, e) none of these form.

11. plunging s!ncline is one that a) has the oldest roc/s near the ais, b) is upwarped, #) ha$ an

in#&in!d a"i$, d) is the same as an anticline, e) plunges into a magma chamber.

12. The ;(shaped outcrop pattern of a plunging s!ncline will a) be tilted, b) close in the direction

of plunge, #) p!n in %h! dir!#%in * p&'ng!, d) not be obser$ed, e) point toward the ais.

13. n a simple anticline, all roc/ la!ers a) dip aay *r %h! a"i$, b) are horiontal, c) diptoward the ais, d) are downwarped, e) are faulted.

1". n a simple anticline, the oldest roc/ la!ers occur a) on the flan/s of the fold, () n!ar %h!

a"i$ * %h! *&d, c) where the ais plunges, d) anticlines contain onl! !oung roc/s, e) none ofthese.

1%. The an ndreas ault in 9alifornia is a) a stri/e(slip fault, b) a transform plate boundar!, c)

a right(lateral stri/e slip fault, d) a fault that generates man! earth'ua/es, !) a&& * %h!$!.


12/37

1&. The angle of inclination formed b! a roc/ la!er and the EarthHs surface is a) %h! dip * %h!&ay!r, b) the aimuth of the la!er, c) the stri/e of the la!er, d) the orientation of the la!er, e) the

line of the la!er.

1. n anticline is a) a downwarped fold, () an 'parp!d *&d/ c) donHt /now what an

anticline is.

18. s!ncline is a) a dnarp!d *&d, b) an upwarped fold, c) donHt /now what an anticline

is.

10. nticlines and !nclines can be obser$ed in r/ansas. a) %r'!, b) false, c) ma!be, d) donHt/now, e) did we co$er this in class?

2. aults characteried b! $ertical displacement are /nown as a) left(lateral stri/e slip faults, b)

right lateral stri/e slip faults, c) stri/e slip faults, d) dip $&ip *a'&%$, e) none of these.

21. aults characteried b! horiontal displacement are /nown as a) normal faults, b) re$ersefaults, #) $%ri.! $&ip *a'&%$, d) dip slip faults, e) none of these.

22. Which of the following is I*T a feature of an anticline? a) !oungest roc/s on the flan/s, b)

oldest roc/s near the ais, #) &ay!r$ dip %ard %h! a"i$, d) upwarped roc/ la!ers, e) all of these

are features of an anticline.

23. Which of the following is a feature of a s!ncline? a) !oungest roc/s on the flan/s, b) oldestroc/s near the ais, #) &ay!r$ dip %ard %h! a"i$, d) upwarped roc/ la!ers, e) all of these are

features of an anticline.

2". The a!ette$ille ault on the corner of Gic/son treet and r/ansas $enue is a) a nra&*a'&%, b) a re$erse fault, c) an anticline , d) a s!nclines, e) none of these.

2%. n central r/ansas, there are a) anticlines, b) s!nclines, c) plunging anticlines, d) plunging

s!nclines, !) a&& * %h!$!.

2&. This picture shows a fence offset b! a fault. This is an eample of

a) a normal fault, b) a re$erse fault, c) a right(lateral stri/e slip fault,

d) a &!*%-&a%!ra& $%ri.! $&ip *a'&%, e) m! fault.

2. The displacement on this fault is a) north(south, b) east(west, c)up(down, d) o$er(under, !) #ann% d!%!rin! i%h'% addi%ina&in*ra%in

28. a) >i&& in &!%%!r @A@ n y'r an$!r $h!!%, b) if !ou donHt fill in>>, !ou wonHt get credit for D28, c) so fill in letter >> d) no, reall!,

fill in >>, e) !ou can fill in a letter other than >> if !ou wish, but it


13/37

will be the wrong answer-

20. f the oldest roc/s are near the ais of the structure on the right, it is

a) a s!ncline, b) an anticline, c) a plunging s!ncline, d) a p&'ngingan%i#&in!, e) none of these.

3. f the !oungest roc/s are near the ais of this structure, it is a) an

anticline, () a p&'nging $yn#&in!, c) an anticline, d) a plunging anticline,e) none of these.

31. f this is a s!ncline, a) i% p&'ng!$ %ard %h! %p, b) it plunges

toward the bottom, c) it does not plunge, d) none of these.

32. f this is an anticline, a) i% p&'ng!$ %ard %h! (%%, b) it plunges

toward the top, c) it does not plunge, d) none of these.

33. f this is an anticline, a) the la!ers dip toward the ais, () %h! &ay!r$dip aay *r %h! a"i$, c) the la!ers do not dip, d) the la!ers are upside

down, e) none of these.

3". f this is a s!ncline, a) %h! &ay!r$ dip %ard %h! a"i$, b) the la!ers

dip awa! from the ais, c) the la!ers do not dip, d) the la!ers are upside

down, e) none of these.

3%. This is a s!ncline. a) the la!ers dip toward the ais, b) the !oungest

roc/s are near the ais, c) the oldest roc/s are on the flan/s, d) it plungesto the top, !) a&& * %h!$!.

3&. This is an anticline. a) the la!ers dip toward the ais, b) the !oungest

roc/s are near the ais, c) the oldest roc/s are on the flan/s, d) i%

p&'ng!$ % %h! (%%, e) none of these.

EXAM WITH ANSWERS - SRING 2002

1. @eologists ha$e recentl! determined the oldest roc/ on Earth to be about a) ++ (i&&in y!ar$,

b) "" billion !ears, c) "" million !ears, d) "." million !ears, e) 3.8 billion !ears.

2. Which of the following is not a principle used in relati$e dating? a) the +rinciple of

uperposition, b) the +rinciple of *riginal 7oriontalit!, c) the +rinciple of aunal uccession,

d) the +rinciple of 9ross(9utting elationships, !) Th! Th!ry * E,&'%in.


14/37

3. 9harles Garwin thought the +rinciple of aunal uccession wor/ed because a) rgani$$ had

!,&,!d %hr'gh %i!, b) @od had placed the organisms in their proper order in the roc/s , c) it

was a luc/! coincidence, d) e$er!one else thought it wor/ed, too, e) William mith said so.

". The first geologist to suggest that Earth was $er! ancient was a) 9harles Garwin, b) William

mith, c) rchbishop #ssher, d) a!$ H'%%n, e) Thomas 7ule!.

%. Eons are a) millions of !ears long, b) tens of millions of !ears long, c) hundreds of millions of

!ears long, d) (i&&in$ * y!ar$ &ng, e) none of these.

&. Epochs are a) i&&in$ * y!ar$ &ng, b) tens of millions of !ears long, c) hundreds of millions

of !ears long, d) billions of !ears long, e) none of these.

. +eriods are a) millions of !ears long, () %!n$ * i&&in$ * y!ar$ &ng, c) hundreds of

millions of !ears long, d) billions of !ears long, e) none of these.

8. Eras are a) millions of !ears long, b) tens of millions of !ears long, #) h'ndr!d$ * i&&in$ *

y!ar$ &ng, d) billions of !ears long, e) none of these.

0. The oldest geological e$idence of life on Earth is a) %"% million !ears old, () 3 (i&&in y!ar$

&d, c) &, !ears old, d) 2 billion !ears old, e) 8 billion !ears old.

1. The oldest /nown human fossils are a) &, !ears old, b) &, !ears old, c) " billion

!ears old, d) + i&&in y!ar$ &d, e) ha$e ne$er been found.

11. 4easurement of radioacti$e elements in roc/s a) pro$ides the relati$e age of the roc/, b) isno longer feasible because of contamination due to nuclear testing, #) pr,id!$ %h! a($&'%! ag!

* %h! r#. , d) ne$er wor/s because roc/s contain onl! trace 'uantities of radioacti$it!, e) none

of these.

12. What is the half(life of a radioacti$e element? a) %h! %i! r!7'ir!d *r n!-ha&* * a gi,!n

7'an%i%y * %h! !&!!n% % d!#ay % i%$ da'gh%!r !&!!n%, b) the time re'uired for all of the

radioacti$e element to deca! to its daughter element, c) half of the time re'uired for a gi$en

'uantit! of the element to deca! to its daughter element, d) the time re'uired for the radioacti$e

element to deca! half of the time, e) if !ou obser$e a radioacti$e element, half the time it deca!s,

half the time it doesnHt.

13. ometime in the geologic past, a roc/ formed which contained 1& grams of a radioacti$e

element. +resentl!, onl! 2 grams of that element remain. The other 1" grams ha$e deca!ed to the

daughter element. 7ow man! half(li$es of the original element ha$e passed since the roc/

formed? a) %, b) ", #) 3, d) 2, e) 1.


15/37

1". uppose the radioacti$e element abo$e has a half(life of % million !ears. 7ow old is the

roc/? a) half as old as a roc/ that contains 32 grams of the radioacti$e element, b) 2.% million

!ears, c) 1 million !ears, d) 2 million !ears, !) 1< i&&in y!ar$

1%. +lants introduced o!gen into EarthHs atmosphere a) ".% billion !ears ago, b) 3.8 billion !ears

ago, #) 2 (i&&in y!ar$ ag, d) "" million !ears ago, e) && million !ears ago.

1&. @eologicall!, which came first= a) the >ge of 4ammals>, () din$a'r !"%in#%in.

1. +lants first colonied land a) about 2 billion !ears ago, b) about 3.8 billion !ears ago, #)

a('% ++0 i&&in y!ar$ ag, d) about 2"% million !ears ago.

18. What percentage of EarthHs histor! had elapsed before plants colonied land? a) :0B, b)

1B, c) %B, d) 2%B, e) %B.

10. pproimatel! what percentage of EarthHs histor! elapsed before the first humans wal/ed? a)0B, b) 0%B, c) 0.%B, d) 00B, !) :::B

2. #nconformities in the geologic record represent a) gaps in the geologic record, b) an inter$al

when no sediment was deposited, c) an inter$al where erosion remo$ed a portion of the geologic

record, d) an inter$al of mountain building, !) a&& * %h!$!

21. 7ow much time can be represented b! unconformities? a) a few !ears, b) thousands of !ears,

c) millions of !ears, d) billions of !ears, !) a&& * %h!$! ar! p$$i(&!

22. elati$e dating methods are used to determine a) the age in !ears of a geologic e$ent, () %h!

#hrn&gi#a& $!7'!n#! * g!&gi#a& !,!n%$, c) the age in millions of !ears of a geological

e$ent, d) the age in billions of !ears of a geological e$ent, e) none of these.

23. Which of the following phenomena will affect the half(life of a radioacti$e element? a) high

temperatures deep within Earth, b) high pressures deep within the Earth, c) changes in climate, d)

increase in cosmic ra!s in EarthHs atmosphere, !) nn! * %h!$! a**!#% %h! ha&*-&i*! - i% i$

#n$%an%

2". The +rinciple of aunal uccession states that a) *$$i&$ pr!$!r,!d in r#. &ay!r$ ar! &!$$

#p&!" in &d!r r#.$, b) the Theor! of E$olution is pro$en b! the succession of fossils

obser$ed in roc/s, c) the fossil record of life pro$es that life has succeeded on Earth, d) it is

unli/el! that life could ha$e succeeded on other planets, e) none of these.

2%. The +rinciple of aunal uccession a) was first stated b! 9harles Garwin, b) was de$eloped

for the first time in GarwinHs >*rigin of pecies>, #) a$ '%&in!d prir % 6arin?$ hyp%h!$i$

* E,&'%in, d) has been dispro$ed b! modern geological research, e) none of these.


16/37

2&. What percentage of Earth histor! do some geologists estimate is actuall! preser$ed b! the

sedimentar! roc/ record? a) 0B, b) %B, c) 2%B, d) 10B, e) %B.

2. With respect to the 'uestion abo$e, what is the remainder of Earth histor! composed of? a)

'n#n*ri%i!$, b) igneous roc/s, c) metamorphic roc/s, d) magma, e) none of these.

28. ten asteroids are those a) which will not stri/e Earth, () h$! r(i%$ ha,! dia!%!r$

$a&&!r %han Ear%h?$ and hi#h #r$$ 'r pa%h, c) whose orbits ha$e diameters greater than

EarthHs and which cross our path, d) the largest asteroids in our solar s!stem, e) the smallest

asteroids in our solar s!stem.

20. pollo asteroids are those a) which will not stri/e Earth, b) whose orbits ha$e diameters

smaller than EarthHs and which cross our path, #) h$! r(i%$ ha,! dia!%!r$ gr!a%!r %han

Ear%h?$ and hi#h #r$$ 'r pa%h, d) the largest asteroids in our solar s!stem, e) the smallest

asteroids in our solar s!stem.

3. steroids and other space debris in the $icinit! of Earth are called a) Trouble, b) Thunder

tones, #) N!ar Ear%h O(C!#%$, d) 4agic 5ullets, e) none of these.

31. The minimum diameter asteroid which can cause a world(wide catastrophe is belie$ed to be

a) 1-2 .i&!%!r$, b) &( meters, c) two tons, d) about the sie of *ar/ 7all, e) none of these.

32. The energ! released from an asteroid impact causing a global catastrophe must be at least a)

1 megatons of TIT, b) 1, megatons of TIT, c) 1, megatons of TIT, d) 1,

megatons of TIT, !) 1 i&&in !ga%n$ * TNT.

33. 9ompared to being /illed b! a tornado, !ou are a) 100 %i!$ r! &i.!&y % (! .i&&!d (y an

a$%!rid, b) 2 times more li/el! to be /illed b! an asteroid, c) 1 million times more li/el! to be

/illed b! an asteroid, d) 1 times more li/el! to be /illed b! an asteroid, e) much more li/el!

to be /illed b! a tornado than an asteroid.

3". ince 100%, how man! asteroids ha$e astronomers identified? a) fewer the two doen, b)

about 1, c) 1,, d) 1,, !) ,!r 3;/000.

3%. True or alse= 7umans ha$e ne$er witnessed an impact of a comet or asteroid with Earth. a)

True, () >a&$!, c) ma!be, d) it depends on how !ou loo/ at it, e) 7umans ha$e ne$er seen this,

but we do see craters around the world.

3&. True or alse= n asteroid or comet struc/ a remote area of iberia in 108. a) Tr'!, b) alse,

c) ma!be, d) it depends on how !ou loo/ at it, e) this e$ent has been pro$en to be a hoa.


17/37

3. The geologist highlighted in the one of the $ideos on asteroid impacts was a) Aames 7utton,

b) tephen 5oss, c) lfred Wegener, d) rchbishop #ssher, !) E'g!n! Sh!a.!r

38. The etraterrestrial ob:ect responsible for the etinction of dinosaurs struc/ Earth a) in

northern 9anada, b) in tal!, #) in M!"i#, d) in iberia, e) in celand.

30. The asteroid impact responsible for dinosaur etinction occurred approimatel! a) == i&&in

y!ar$ ag, b) 1 billion !ears ago, c) " thousand !ears ago, d) 2 million !ears ago, e) ne$er

happened.

6".Guring which era did the initial opening of the present(da! tlantic *cean most li/el!occur?

1. 9enooic

2. 4esooic

3. +aleooic

". ate +roterooic

6 "1.The absolute age of a roc/ is the approimate number of !ears ago that the roc/ formed.The absolute age of an igneous roc/ can best be determined b!

%. comparing the amounts of deca!ed and undeca!ed radioacti$e isotopes in the roc/

&. comparing the sies of the cr!stals found in the upper and lower parts of the roc/

. eamining the roc/


18/37

3 fossils in the sedimentar! roc/s

" minerals in the igneous roc/s

6"" Which feature is represented b! the s!mbol along the edges of the di/e and sills?

1 contact metamorphic roc/ 2 an unconformit! 3 a glacial moraine " inde fossils

6"% Which radioacti$e isotope is most useful for determining the age of mastodont bones found

in late +leistocene sediments?1 uranium(238 2 carbon(1" 3 potassium(" " rubidium(8

6"& What does the presence of the fossils suggest about the 7amilton area during the Ge$onian?

2 t had a terrestrial en$ironment sometime between ""3 and "18 million !ears ago.

2 t had a terrestrial en$ironment sometime between "18 and 3&2 million !ears ago.3 t had a marine en$ironment sometime between ""3 and "18 million !ears ago.

" t had a marine en$ironment sometime between "18 and 3&2 million !ears ago.

M'&%ip&! 4hi#! D'!$%in$ In%rd'#%in % G!&gy -

4hap%!r 1

In%rd'#%in % %h! Ear%h

Which of the following statements regarding the scientic

methods is true?

A hypothesis must be agreed upon by more than one scientist

A theory is a hypothesis that has withstood many

scientifc tests

A theory is proven to be true, and therefore may not be

discarded

A hypothesis cannot predict the outcome of scientic

experiments

100

100

100

100


19/37

1 ccording to the principle of uniformatarianism,

geologic processes we obser$e toda! ha$e operated in the past

geologic process in the past operated at the same rate as the! do toda!

all of the planets formed from a uniform solar nebula

earl! Earth was co$ered b! a uniform magma ocean

2 pproimatel! how long ago did the 5ig 5ang ta/e place?

1(1% thousand !ears ago

1(1% million !ears ago

1(1% million !ears ago

1(1% billion !ears ago

3 #nder intense pressure and high temperature, h!drogen atoms combine to formhelium. This process is called=

nuclear fusion

nuclear fission

metamorphism

con$ection

" eferring to the diagram what factorJs) are responsible for path 9?

melting

cr!stalliation

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


20/37

heat and pressure

burial and lithification

% What are the two most abundant elements in nebula Jgas clouds) in the uni$erse?

nitrogen and o!gen

o!gen and silicon

h!drogen and helium

iron and nic/el

& What are the two most abundant elements in nebula Jgas clouds) in the uni$erse?

nitrogen and o!gen

o!gen and silicon

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


21/37

h!drogen and helium

iron and nic/el

The process b! which an originall! homogeneous Earth de$eloped a dense core and a

light crust is called=

metamorphism

differentiation

accretion

compression

8 The heat that caused melting in the EarthHs earl! histor! was supplied from which ofthe following e$ents or causes?

$olcanic acti$it! and radioacti$it!

solar heating and $olcanic acti$it!

a large impact e$ent and radioacti$it!

a large impact e$ent and solar heating

0 7ow thic/ is the crust of the Earth?

about " miles

about " /m

about " /m

about " /m

1 The la!er that separates crust from core is the?

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


22/37

magma la!er

lithosphere

mantle

continent

11 What dri$es the EarthHs internal heat engine?

radioacti$it!

solar energ!

$olcanoes

ocean tides

12 n general, igneous roc/s=

form at relati$el! high temperatures

form b! cr!stalliation of solids from a li'uid

form at high and low pressures

all of the abo$e

13 4inerals=

can form b! life(processes (( organic

are cr!stalline solids

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


23/37

ha$e a uni'ue chemical composition

can be an! state Jsolid, li'uid, or gas) as long as that state occurs naturall!

1" 4etamorphic roc/s are changed roc/s. Which of the following roc/ t!pes could bethe >parent> of a metamorphic roc/?

sedimentar!

igneous

metamorphic

all of the abo$e

1% KKKKKKKin$ol$es transfer of heat b! the ph!sical mo$ement of the material=

conduction

con$ection

metamorphism

radiation

1& KKKKKKKKKKis called the >father> of geolog!.

Aohn 5utler

rt mith

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


24/37

Aames 7utton

lfred Wegner

1 Iew seafloor is created at a KKKKKKKKKKKK?

deep(sea trench

mid(ocean ridge

subduction one

transform fault

18 The descent of oceanic lithosphere into the mantle is the process of KKKKKKK?

accretion

subduction

di$ergence one

contraction fault

10 Which of the following features is not associated with a con$ergent plate boundar!?

a mid(ocean ridge

earth'ua/es

a deep(sea trench one

$olcanic acti$it!

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


25/37

2 The greatest threat to our en$ironment is KKKKKKKKKKK?

$olcanoes

earth'ua/es

humans

bacteria

21 Earth materials alwa!s trace the complete roc/ c!cle from sediment through igneous

roc/s.

True

alse

22 The terms #r'$% and &i%h$ph!r! are s!non!mous.

True

alse

23 The terms an%&! and a$%h!n$ph!r! are s!non!mous.

True

alse

2" 5ecause we rarel! witness dramatic changes in the Earth, we can conclude that the

Earth is not changing $er! much.

True

alse

2% The motions of the three t!pes of plate boundaries would be described as di$ergent,

con$ergent, and static.

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


26/37

True

alse

2& The crust of the Earth is static and stable.

True

alse

2 eatures useful in defining plate boundaries include all ecept=

shorelines between continents and oceans

distribution of $olcanoes

distribution of earth'ua/es

distribution of mountain ranges

all are correct

28 The age of the Earth is currentl! thought to be

about &, !ears old

about & billion !ears old

about ",%,, !ears old

20 The contribution made to geolog! b! Aames 7utton was=

the recognition that processes still acti$e toda! could produce almost an!

/nown roc/ t!pe.

the description of plausible processes for con$erting one roc/ t!pe to

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


27/37

another.

a change in outloo/ on Earth processes from a catastrophic to a

uniformitarian one.

all of the abo$e

none of the abo$e

3 *ne of geolog!Hs greatest contributions to human thought is=

the realiation that the world is round

the realiation that the sun not the Earth is the center of the solar s!stem

the recognition of the long span of time in$ol$ed in Earth histor!

the recognition that the Earth is the center of the solar s!stem

31 E$idence of uniformitarian change includes=

glacial deposits in areas where no glaciers are presentl! found.

fossils of marine animals found at high ele$ation

continents co$ered b! sediments deposited in an ocean

wide can!ons cut b! small streams

all of the abo$e

none of the abo$e

32 i$ing organisms ha$e been on Earth for KKKKKK of EarthHs histor!?less than 1B

about 2B

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


28/37

about %B

about 8B

33 7umans ha$e been on Earth for KKKKKKKKK of EarthLs histor!?

less than 1B

about 2B

about %B

about 8B

3" What caused dust and condensing material to accrete into planetesimals?

heating of gases

gra$itational attraction and collisions

nuclear fusion

rotation of the proto(sun

3% Which of the following is not one of the four inner planets?

4ars

Earth

Ieptune

4ars

3& The outer planets are composed mostl! of ?

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


29/37

roc/s and ice

o!gen and nitrogen

h!drogen and helium

helium and /r!pton

3 The moon is ?

older than the sun

older than most meteorites

older than the Earth

none of these

38 The name of the la!er of the Earth that separates the crust from the core is the KKK?

magma

lithosphere

asthenosphere

mantle

30 What powers the EarthHs internal heat engine?

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


30/37

radioacti$it!

solar energ!

$olcanoes

ocean tides

" The EarthHs eternal heat engine is not responsible for which of the following=

climate

erosion

tides

winds

"1 *!gen built up in the EarthHs atmosphere because=

the oceans separated from the crust

roc/s weathered and released their o!gen

algae and other organisms emplo!ed photos!nthesis

o!gen settled on Earth from planets further from the sun

"2 Which of the planets is not geologicall! acti$e?

4ars

4ercur!

;enus

Earth

"3 When did geologists de$elop the theor! of plate tectonics

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


31/37

in the mid 18s

in the earl! 10s

in the 10%s

in the 10&s

"" The lithosphere is approimatel! KKKKKK /ilometers thic/.

1(2

%(1

%(1

1(2

"% The asthenosphere is KKKKKKKKK.

cool and strong

cool and wea/

hot and strong

hot and wea/

"& The EarthHs lithosphere is bro/en into approimatel! KKKKKK large, rigid plates.

2

12

%

1

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


32/37

" KKKKKKKKKK plate boundar! is illustrated in the figure show abo$e.

transform fault

di$ergent

con$ergent ( subduction

con$ergent ( continentMcontinent collision

"8 Which of the following statements about con$ection is true?

heat is transferred from hot material to cool material without inducing a

flow.

cool material flows upward and displaces hot material

hot material flows upward and displaces cool material

random circulation occurs

"0 pproimatel! how fast does an Earth lithospheric plate mo$e?

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


33/37

$!,!ra& #!n%i!%!r$ p!r y!ar

se$eral centimeters per da!

se$eral centimeters per hour

se$eral centimeters per second

% Which of the following is not a t!pe of plate boundar!?

con$ergent

di$ergent

transform fault

all of these are plate boundaries

%1 Iew seafloor is created at a KKKKKKKK.

deep sea trench

mid(ocean ridge

subduction one

transform fault

%2 The descent of oceanic lithosphere into the mantle is the process of KKKKKK.

subduction

accretion

di$ergence

contraction

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


34/37

%3 pproimatel! how deep Jbelow sea le$el) are deep(sea trenches?

1 /m

1 /m

1 /m

1 /m

%" Which of the following features is not associated with a transform plate boundar!?

a mid(ocean ridge

earth'ua/es

a deep sea(trench

$olcanic acti$it!

%% ;olcanism is associated with which of the following t!pes of plate boundaries?

con$ergent plate boundaries

di$ergent plate boundaries

transform fault plate boundaries

di$ergent and con$ergent plate boundaries

%& The ndes 4ountains of outh merica are a result of which t!pe of plate

boundar!?

con$ergent

di$ergent

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


35/37

transform

the! are not related to a plate boundar!

% 4ount t. 7elenHs. a part of the 9ascade ange of $olcanoes, result from thesubduction of which plate?

+acific

9ocos

Auan de uca

Iorth merican

%8 What is the name of the large supercontinent that eisted 2 million !ears ago whenall of the continents were together?

an ndreas

2 ndian 3 ndian " pangea

%0 Wh! is our $ulnerabilit! to natural disasters growing?

because the fre'uenc! of $olcanic eruptions is increasing

because the human population is increasing

because the number of earth'ua/es each !ear is increasing

because the number of floods each !ear is increasing

& The theor! of plate tectonics was not initiall! widel! accepted because KKKKKK..

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


36/37

land bridges would ha$e bloc/ed plate mo$ement

roc/s of the EarthHs crust were considered too stiff for continents to mo$e

through themfossils on outh merica and frica did not match

ocean floor mapping showed that older roc/s occur awa! from mid(ocean

ridges

&1 eferring to the diagram abo$e, path is KKKKKKK

cooling and cr!stalliation


weathering and deposition

cooling and uplift

&2 eferring to the diagram abo$e, path 5 is KKKKKKK

uplift, weathering and erosion, deposition

deposition, heat and pressure, weathering

melting, cr!stalliation, heat and pressure

deposition, lithification and cr!stalliation

&3 eferring to the diagram what factorJs) are responsible for path 9?

melting

cr!stalliation

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100


37/37

heat and pressure


100

100

Documents

General Geology Test Questions