Question 1

What is the study of Earth materials and the processes operating within Earth and on its surface?
A)physical geography
B)meteorology
C)geomorphology
D)historical geology
E)physical geology

Accepted Answer

The study of Earth materials and the processes operating within Earth and on its surface is the focus of physical geology, which is the subject of choice E. A, B, C, and D all focus on different aspects of Earth sciences, but only physical geology specifically addresses the study of Earth's materials and processes.

Question 2

Tentative explanations that are formulated to explain observed phenomena are known as ____.
A)tautologies
B)theories
C)conjectures
D)perspectives
E)hypotheses

Accepted Answer

Tentative explanations are called hypotheses. Theories are explanations that have been extensively tested and are generally accepted within the scientific community, while conjectures and perspectives are more informal ideas or opinions. Tautologies are statements that are always true and do not provide any new information.

Question 3

What technique injects fluids under very high pressure into organic-rich shales to recover trapped natural gas?
A)mechanical fracturing
B)hydraulic fracturing
C)pressurized mining
D)stress mining
E)hydraulic drilling

Accepted Answer

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is the technique that injects fluids under very high pressure into organic-rich shales to recover trapped natural gas.

Question 4

What are the subdivisions of the geologic time scale, listed in order from longest to shortest time intervals?
A)eon, era, period, and epoch
B)epoch, eon, era, and period
C)eon, epoch, period, and era
D)era, eon, period, and epoch
E)eon, era, epoch, and period

Accepted Answer

The geologic time scale is divided into four subdivisions in order from longest to shortest time intervals: eon, era, period, and epoch.

Question 5

What are the two types of crust?
A)oceanic and continental
B)inner crust and outer crust
C)lower crust and upper crust
D)terrestrial and aquatic
E)metamorphic and sedimentary

Accepted Answer

The two types of crust are oceanic and continental. The oceanic crust is thinner and denser than the continental crust, while the continental crust is thicker and less dense.

Question 6

Which basic force is responsible for the breakdown of an atom's nucleus, thereby producing radioactive decay?
A)electromagnetic
B)weak nuclear
C)strong nuclear
D)molecular affinity
E)interstitial

Accepted Answer

The weak nuclear force is responsible for the process of radioactive decay, including beta decay, in an atom's nucleus. This force causes the transformation of a neutron into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino, leading to the change in the identity of the atom.

Question 7

What are the three types of plate boundaries?
A)mid-ocean ridge, trench, and divergent
B)mid-ocean ridge, divergent, and convergent
C)divergent, convergent, and transform
D)convergent, transform, and trench
E)mid-ocean ridge, convergent, and trench

Accepted Answer

The three types of plate boundaries are divergent (where plates move away from each other), convergent (where plates move towards each other), and transform (where plates slide past each other). The other options listed do not include all three types of plate boundaries.

Question 8

What unifying theory of geology holds that large segments of Earth's outer part move relative to one another?
A)lithospheric zone theory
B)convection cell theory
C)subduction zone theory
D)plate cycle theory
E)plate tectonic theory

Accepted Answer

The plate tectonic theory is the unifying theory of geology that holds that large segments of Earth's outer part move relative to one another. This theory describes the movement of lithospheric plates, which are composed of the Earth's outermost layer and are in constant motion due to convection currents in the mantle. It explains phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and the formation of mountain ranges.

Question 9

Sudden or catastrophic events, such as volcanic eruptions and tsunami, can be explained by ____.
A)big bang theory
B)theory of natural selection
C)third law of thermodynamics
D)principle of uniformitarianism
E)scientific method

Accepted Answer

The principle of uniformitarianism suggests that present geological processes and events are the key to understanding past events. Sudden or catastrophic events like volcanic eruptions and tsunamis can be explained by this principle, as they can be seen as extreme examples of natural geologic processes.

Question 10

What theory proposes that all living organisms are descendants of different life forms that existed in the past?
A)organic evolution
B)astrology
C)paleontology
D)plate tectonics
E)natural selection

Accepted Answer

The theory of organic evolution proposes that all living organisms are descendants of different life forms that existed in the past, and that over time they have undergone changes through natural selection and other mechanisms.

Question 11

In the 1800s, what provided a means for dating rocks and allowed for a relative geologic time scale to be constructed?
A)seismic measurements
B)carbon dating
C)climate change studies
D)magma studies
E)succession of fossils in the rock record

Accepted Answer

The succession of fossils in the rock record provided a means for dating rocks and allowed for the construction of a relative geologic time scale in the 1800s. This was done through the observations of changes in the fossil record as rocks were examined in different locations.

Question 12

Which subsystem of Earth supplies heat for convection in the mantle?
A)atmosphere
B)hydrosphere
C)biosphere
D)core
E)lithosphere

Accepted Answer

The core is the subsystem that supplies heat for convection in the mantle through radioactive decay and residual heat from Earth's formation.

Question 13

What are naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solids that have definite physical and chemical properties?
A)rocks
B)minerals
C)stalactites
D)stalagmites
E)lithified deposits

Accepted Answer

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solids that have definite physical and chemical properties. Rocks and lithified deposits may contain minerals, but they are not minerals themselves. Stalactites and stalagmites are mineral formations found in caves, but they are not minerals because they are not naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solids.

Question 14

Compared with their overall size, the ____ planets have small rocky cores.
A)Descartes
B)terrestrial
C)Jovian
D)nebular
E)dwarf

Accepted Answer

Jovian planets, which include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are known for having small rocky cores relative to their overall size, which is predominantly composed of gases and liquids.

Question 15

____ is known to be a dwarf planet.
A)Neptune
B)Pluto
C)Uranus
D)Mars
E)Titan

Accepted Answer

Pluto is known to be a dwarf planet as it does not meet the criteria to be classified as a full-sized planet.

Question 16

What theory has the central thesis that all present-day organisms are related and that they have descended with modifications from organisms that lived in the past?
A)theory of relativism
B)best-fit theory
C)theory of organic evolution
D)unifying theory
E)theory of uniformitarianism

Accepted Answer

The central thesis of the theory of organic evolution is that all present-day organisms are related and have descended with modifications from organisms that lived in the past. The other choices (A, B, D, and E) do not relate to this specific theory.

Question 17

Which basic force binds atoms into molecules?
A)gravity
B)molecular affinity
C)strong nuclear
D)electromagnetic
E)weak nuclear

Accepted Answer

The basic force that binds atoms into molecules is the electromagnetic force. This force is responsible for the attraction between positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons within atoms, as well as the attraction between different atoms that share electrons to form stable molecules.

Question 18

What parallel alignment of minerals is caused by the application of pressure, and gives a rock a layered or banded appearance?
A)striation
B)foliation
C)marbling
D)metamorphism
E)crystallization

Accepted Answer

Foliation is the parallel alignment of minerals caused by the application of pressure, giving a rock a layered or banded appearance. Striation refers to scratches or grooves on a surface, marbling refers to a pattern of swirling veins in a rock, metamorphism is the process by which a rock undergoes changes in mineral composition and texture due to high pressure and/or temperature, and crystallization is the formation of crystals from a liquid or gas.

Question 19

Which process results in the formation of sedimentary rocks?
A)precipitation of mineral matter from solution
B)chemical activity of fluids
C)crystallization of lava flow
D)accumulation of magma
E)heat compression of other rocks

Accepted Answer

Sedimentary rocks form from the precipitation of mineral matter from solution, usually from bodies of water like lakes or oceans. The minerals settle out and accumulate to form layers of sediment that eventually become compacted and cemented together to form rock.

Question 20

What is a characteristic of the greenhouse effect?
A)Short wavelength radiation from the sun is reflected back into space.
B)Most of Earth's radiant energy escapes into space.
C)Industrialization plays an exclusive role in the process.
D)Gases trap heat reflected back from Earth's surface.
E)Transpiration significantly increases levels of greenhouse gases.

Accepted Answer

The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon in which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat reflected back from Earth's surface, thereby causing the planet's temperature to warm up. This process is caused by natural factors like volcanic activity as well as human activities like the burning of fossil fuels. Therefore, option C is incorrect. Option A is describing albedo effect rather than greenhouse effect. Option B is incorrect because if most of Earth's radiant energy escaped into space, the planet would be too cold to support life. Option E might be a confounding factor in the overall climate system, but it is not a characteristic of the greenhouse effect itself.

Quiz 1: Understanding Earth: a Dynamic and Evolving Planet

What is the study of Earth materials and the processes operating within Earth and on its surface?

Tentative explanations that are formulated to explain observed phenomena are known as ____.

What technique injects fluids under very high pressure into organic-rich shales to recover trapped natural gas?

What are the subdivisions of the geologic time scale, listed in order from longest to shortest time intervals?

What are the two types of crust?

Which basic force is responsible for the breakdown of an atom's nucleus, thereby producing radioactive decay?

What are the three types of plate boundaries?

What unifying theory of geology holds that large segments of Earth's outer part move relative to one another?

Sudden or catastrophic events, such as volcanic eruptions and tsunami, can be explained by ____.

What theory proposes that all living organisms are descendants of different life forms that existed in the past?

In the 1800s, what provided a means for dating rocks and allowed for a relative geologic time scale to be constructed?

Which subsystem of Earth supplies heat for convection in the mantle?

What are naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solids that have definite physical and chemical properties?

Compared with their overall size, the ____ planets have small rocky cores.

____ is known to be a dwarf planet.

What theory has the central thesis that all present-day organisms are related and that they have descended with modifications from organisms that lived in the past?

Which basic force binds atoms into molecules?

What parallel alignment of minerals is caused by the application of pressure, and gives a rock a layered or banded appearance?

Which process results in the formation of sedimentary rocks?

What is a characteristic of the greenhouse effect?