Multiple Choice
1. What
are the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical
geology?
a.
physical geology is the study of fossils and sequences of rock strata;
historical geology is the study of how rocks and minerals were used in the past
b.
historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and geologic
events, utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference; physical geology
includes the study of how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface
c.
physical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and deposition in
relation to plate movements in the geologic past; historical geology charts how
and where the plates were moving in the past
d.
none of the above – physical geology and historical geology are essentially the
same
level:
1 answer: b
2. The
study of Earth’s atmosphere is known as __________.
a. astronomy b. oceanography c. meteorology d. cosmology
level: 1
answer: c
3. A
__________ is a well-tested and widely accepted view that best explains certain
scientific observations.
a. hypothesis b. generalization c. law d. theory
level: 1
answer: d
4. All
of the following are possible steps of scientific investigation except for
__________.
a. the collection
of scientific facts through observation and measurement
b. assumption of
conclusions without prior experimentation or observation
c. the development of one or more working hypotheses or
models to explain facts
d. development of observations and experiments to test
the hypotheses
level: 1
answer: b
5. The ____________ explains how our solar system
probably formed from a giant cloud of gases and dispersed solid particles.
a. protogalactic theory b.
nebular hypothesis
c. extrastellar solar hypothesis d. planetary compression theory
level: 1 answer:
b
6. The __________ refers to the sum total of all
life on Earth.
a.
hydrosphere
b.
atmosphere
c.
biosphere
d.
asthenosphere
level: 1 answer: c
7. In
correct order from the center outward, Earth includes which units?
a.
core, inner mantle, outer mantle, crust b.
inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
c.
inner core, crust, mantle, hydrosphere d.
core, crust, mantle, hydrosphere
level:
1 answer: b
8. The
composition of the core of Earth is thought to be __________.
a. basalt b. granite c.
peridotite d. solid
iron-nickel alloy
level: 1 answer: d
9. The
asthenosphere is actually a part of the ____________ of the Earth.
a. outer core b. crust c. inner core d. mantle
level: 1 answer: d
10. The ____________ is thought to be a liquid,
metallic region in the Earth’s interior.
a. inner core b. lithosphere c. mantle d. outer core
level: 1 answer: d
11. The ____________ is the thinnest layer of the
Earth.
a. crust b. outer core c. mantle d. inner core
level 1
answer: a
12. The ____________ forms the relatively cool,
brittle plates of plate tectonics.
a. asthenosphere b. lithosphere c. astrosphere d.
eosphere
level: 1
answer: b
13. Which of
the following energy sources is thought to drive the lateral motions of Earth’s
lithospheric plates?
a. gravitational attractive forces of the Sun and Moon
b. electrical and magnetic fields localized in the inner
core
c. export of heat from deep in the mantle to the top of
the asthenosphere
d. swirling movements of the molten iron particles in the
outer core
level: 1
answer: c
14. The relatively stable
interior portion of a continent is known as a __________.
a. craton b. shield c. platform d. belt
level: 1 answer: a
15. Active mountain belts are most likely to be
found __________.
a. along the margins
of continents b. in
the interior regions of continents
c. scattered
throughout continents d.
along only the eastern margins of continents
level: 1 answer: a
16. The continental shelf is located __________.
a. between the
continental slope and continental rise
b. between the
continental rise and the abyssal plains
c. seaward of the
continental slope
d. landward of the
continental slope
level: 1 answer: d
17. The most prominent feature on
the ocean floor are the __________.
a. deep-ocean trenches
b. oceanic ridges
c. seamounts
d. lava plateaus
level: 1
answer: b
18. A __________ system is one in which energy
moves freely in and out, but no matter enters or leaves the system.
a. closed b. open c.
feedback d. equilibrated
level: 1 answer: a
19. Mechanisms that enhance or
drive change are known as __________.
a.
negative feedback mechanisms
b.
positive feedback mechanisms
c. closed feedback mechanisms
d. open feedback mechanisms
level: 1
answer: b
20. What is the source of the energy that powers the Earth system?
a. the Sun
b. heat from Earth’s
interior
c. both a and b
d. none of the above
level: 1 answer: c
Answers:
1. level: 1
answer: b
2. level: 1
answer: c
3. level:
1 answer: d
4. level: 1 answer: b
5. level:
1 answer:
b
6. level: 1 answer: c
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question
below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases.
Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
21.
a. hypothesis b. theory c. fact d. observation
level: 1 answer: c
22. a. hydrosphere b. biosphere c. atmosphere d. solid Earth
level: 1 answer: b
23. a. protosun b. Oort cloud c. protoplanets d. meteorites
level: 2 answer: b
24. a. crust b. mantle c. lithosphere d. core
level: 1 answer: c
25. a. mountain belt b. shield c. craton d. stable platform
level: 1 answer: a
26. a. abyssal plain b. seamount c. oceanic ridge d. continental slope
level: 1 answer: d
True –
False
27. Internally, the Earth consists of spherical shells with different
compositions and densities.
level: 1 answer: True
28. The asthenosphere is a relatively cool and rigid shell that
overlies the lithosphere.
level: 1 answer: False
29. The
formation of the solar system from a huge cloud of gases and dispersed
particles is known as the solar galactic hypothesis.
level: 1 answer: False
30. A scientific theory is a tentative or untested explanation that is
proposed to explain scientific observations.
level: 1 answer: False
31. Oceans cover slightly less than half of the Earth's surface.
level: 1 answer: False
32. In an open system both energy and matter flow into and out of the
system.
level: 1 answer: True
33. According to the nebular hypothesis, all of the bodies in the
universe evolved from a rotating cloud of gases and dust about 5 billion years
ago.
level: 1 answer: False
34. The lithosphere, asthenosphere, and mesosphere are all layers of
Earth defined by their composition.
level: 1 answer: False
35. Continental shields and stable platforms are part of the interior
region known as a craton.
level: 1 answer: True
36. The currently accepted age of Earth is approximately 4.5 million
years.
level: 1 answer: False
Short Answer
37. List the two, broad, traditional subject areas of geologic study.
level: 1 answer: physical and historical geology
38. The word __________ refers to everything that surrounds and
influences an organism.
level: 1 answer: environment
39. A __________ resource is one which can be replenished over a
relatively short time span.
level: 1 answer: renewable
40. In natural systems, mechanisms that drive or enhance change are
called ____________.
level: 1 answer: positive feedback mechanisms
41. The thin, outer layer of Earth, from 7 to 40 km in thickness, is
called the ____________.
level: 1 answer: crust
42. The ____________ is the relatively rigid zone above the asthenosphere
that includes the crust and upper mantle.
level: 1 answer: lithosphere
43. The ____________ is the solid, rocky shell between the crust and
outer core.
level: 1 answer: mantle
44. The convective flow of liquid, metallic iron in the ____________ is
thought to generate Earth’s magnetic field.
level: 1 answer: outer core
45. Moving from the shoreline towards the deep-ocean basin, the
continental margin includes the ____________ and the ____________.
level: 1 answer: continental shelf, continental
slope, continental rise
46. The __________ is the most prominent feature on the ocean floor.
level: 1
answer: oceanic or mid-ocean ridge
47. Theories that are extensively documented and
comprehensive in their scope are called __________.
level:
1 answer: paradigms
Critical Thinking and Discussion Questions. Use complete sentences, correct spelling, and the
information presented in Chapter 1 to answer the questions below.
48. A good scientific theory is one which has
survived extensive scrutiny by the scientific community and also best explains
observable facts. What are some observations regarding our solar system that
are explained by the nebular hypothesis? Are there any observations which are
not easily explained by the nebular hypothesis?
level:
2
49. Earth’s physical environment is traditionally
divided in the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and the solid Earth. Remembering the
scientific method, why do you think that scientists tend to categorize and
classify various features, phenomena, and characteristics of the natural world
into groups or subdivisions? Also, are there potential pitfalls or problems if
we only consider the natural world as individual groups or categories rather
than as a whole?
level:
3
Visualization Questions
50. What is the
relationship of the dense oceanic crust that is produced at a divergent plate
boundary to the convergence or collision of an oceanic plate and a continental
plate, such as the western margin of
level: 1 answer: The dense oceanic crust sinks
underneath the more buoyant continental crust at this type of convergent plate
boundary.
51. How specifically do the hydrologic and rock cycles interact with one another at the interface illustrated on the diagram below?
level: 1 answer: Water at and just below the
Earth’s surface from the hydrologic cycle is involved in chemical weathering
and erosion of earth materials in the rock cycle.