Prelude: And Just What is Geology?

Question 1

Rivers are part of which component of the Earth System?

A) geosphere
B) hydrosphere
C) biosphere
D) atmosphere

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The __________ is a semi-rigid shell surrounding the Earth's interior,and is divided into pieces called plates that move relative to each other.

A) mantle
B) asthenosphere
C) lithosphere
D) cryosphere

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The concept that describes how processes on and inside the Earth are connected and interact with each other is called the _________ concept.

A) plate tectonics
B) earth resources
C) external and internal processes
D) Earth System

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The positions of the Earth's continents and oceans

A) have been the same since the formation of our planet.
B) changed drastically during the Precambrian,but remained constant since then.
C) have changed substantially over geologic time,and continue to slowly do so.
D) have changed over time,but only slightly.

Question 5

Over the Earth's history,landscapes have grown and been eroded,life forms have evolved and become extinct,and the locations of continents and oceans have moved,all because __________

A) there is an immense amount of geologic time available for these slow changes.
B) these types of changes occurred more rapidly in the past compared with today.
C) these types of changes require very little time to accomplish.
D) as the Earth gets older,there are fewer changes that can occur.

Question 6

Earthquakes,volcanoes,and mountains are the result of

A) movement of tectonic plates within the lithosphere.
B) convection within the mantle.
C) the hydrologic cycle.
D) movement of glaciers over the landscape.

Question 7

What is the study of the Earth called?

A) biology
B) chemistry
C) geology
D) physics

Question 8

Glaciers are part of which component of the Earth System?

A) geosphere
B) cryosphere
C) biosphere
D) atmosphere

Question 9

What does the statement "geology is a synthesis of many sciences" mean?

A) Geology is a stand-alone science with little connection with other sciences.
B) Students must learn geology before they learn other sciences.
C) Geology applies many of the basic concepts of the physical sciences.
D) Geology requires very different skills than other sciences.

Question 10

Which of the following demonstrates geology's relevance as a practical science to study?

A) It investigates real-world hazards such as landslides,floods,and earthquakes.
B) It helps people with decision-making about Earth-related issues such as sea-level rise and climate change.
C) It addresses nonrenewable energy and mineral resources.
D) All of these.

Question 11

The Earth is approximately how old?

A) 4.6 million years
B) 460 million years
C) 4.6 billion years
D) 460 billion years

Question 12

Which is an example of an external process acting on the Earth System?

A) earthquakes
B) wind
C) mountain building
D) plate movement

Question 13

The theory that describes the movement of the Earth's crust and the consequences of that movement is called

A) plate tectonics.
B) geophysical flux.
C) expanding Earth theory.
D) geologic time.

Question 14

Which is an example of one of the Earth's internal processes?

A) photosynthesis
B) ocean currents
C) volcanism
D) thunderstorms

Question 15

Groundwater is part of which realm of the Earth System?

A) geosphere
B) hydrosphere
C) biosphere
D) atmosphere

Question 16

Resources such as oil,metal,concrete,and clay derive from

A) geological materials.
B) biological materials.
C) atmospheric materials.
D) solar materials.

Question 17

The ___________ is a softer portion of the Earth's mantle that lies underneath tectonic plates.

A) core
B) asthenosphere
C) lithosphere
D) hydrosphere

Question 18

The geosphere includes which of the following?

A) lakes,oceans,and groundwater
B) glaciers,snow,and ice caps
C) crust,mantle,and core
D) trees,whales,and bacteria

Question 19

The condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere and subsequent transfer to the ocean via precipitation is an example of a(n)

A) cycle.
B) system.
C) method.
D) hypothesis

Question 20

In what kinds of settings do geologists work?

A) in laboratories
B) using computers
C) outdoors "in the field"
D) All of these.

Question 21

Scientists guide their work using a sequence of steps for systematically analyzing scientific problems in a way that leads to verifiable results.This sequence is called the

A) elemental method.
B) hypothesis.
C) scientific method.
D) theory.

Question 22

Scientists use the scientific method to guide their work.List the steps used in the scientific method.

Question 23

In what kinds of settings does geologic discovery take place,and in what kind of careers do geologists typically work?

Question 24

Which of the following is MOST true of hypotheses in science?

A) A hypothesis is a possible natural explanation that can explain a set of data.
B) A hypothesis must be described before the start of any scientific endeavor.
C) A hypothesis is a scientific idea supported by an abundance of evidence.
D) It is important that hypotheses are proved correct.

Question 25

From center to surface,our planet has the following layers:

A) core - crust - mantle
B) core - mantle - crust
C) crust - core - mantle
D) mantle - crust - core

Question 26

Approximately how thick is the semi-rigid outermost layer of the Earth comprising the crust and uppermost mantle?

A) 2-5 km thick
B) 25-60 km thick
C) 100-150 km thick
D) 400-650 km thick

Question 27

The geosphere encompasses the solid Earth.Explain how the Earth System consists of more than just the geosphere.

Question 28

Which of the following statements is MOST true of a scientific theory?

A) Theory is a scientific word for a hypothesis.
B) A scientific theory is a new idea,yet to be tested.
C) Scientific theories are truths that are too theoretical to be tested directly.
D) A theory is a scientific idea supported by an abundance of evidence.

Question 29

Geology is a synthesis of many sciences.Explain why this is true.

Question 30

Describe some of the reasons a person might want to study geology.