Earth Science
Final Review – Semester 1
Chapter 1: The Nature of Science
1. Brachiopods are shelled animals that lived 400 million years ago. Their remains are preserved in rocks. Which area of earth science is most likely to study brachiopods?
a. astronomy
b. geology
c. meteorology
d. oceanography
2. The solar winds are streams of charged particles that are blown in all directions from the sun. Which area of earth science is most likely to study the solar winds?
a. astronomy
b. geology
c. meteorology
d. oceanography
3. What branch of earth science would most likely measure the ocean depths and draw maps of the ocean floor?
a. astronomy
b. geology
c. meteorology
d. oceanography
4. Which branch of earth science would make weather forecasts?
a. astronomy
b. geology
c. meteorology
d. oceanography
5. Which branch of earth science will we be studying when we study the planets, moons, and stars?
a. astronomy
b. geology
c. meteorology
d. oceanography
6. An informed guess that uses known facts is called a
a. factual statement
b. scientific method
c. theory
d. hypothesis
7. An observation can best be described as an
a. informed guess
b. uninformed guess
c. act of seeing or recording something
d. drawn conclusion from reasoning or evidence
8. The earth system that includes the area from the surface of Earth down to its center is the
a. atmosphere
b. geosphere
c. hydrosphere
d. biosphere
Use Diagram #1 to answer questions 9-13.
9. Which letter represents the outer core?
a. A
b. B
c. C.
d. D
10. Which layer is composed of solid iron and nickel?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
11. Which layer is the mantle?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
12. Which layer has the heaviest material?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
13. Which layer has material that is the lowest in density?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
Chapter 2: Mapping Our World
14. A V-shape that crosses contour lines indicates
a. where the stream begins.
b. where the stream ends.
c. the direction of stream flow.
d. the elevation of the mountain.
15. Depression contours represent
a. level land.
b. craters.
c. riverbeds.
d. ridges.
16. When examining a contour map, one may conclude that widely spaced lines indicate
a. a steep slope
b. a stream
c. a gentle slope
d. a benchmark
Use Diagram #2 to answer questions 17-18.
17. What is the elevation where Oak Tree Road meets North Road?
a. 40 ft
b. 20 ft
c. 60 ft
d. 0 ft
18. Between which two houses would you find the steepest slope?
a. 1 and 2
b. 2 and 3
c. 3 and 4
d. 5 and 6
Chapters 3 & 4: Atoms & Minerals
19. The smallest part of an element that has all the properties of that element is
a. atom
b. element
c. molecule
d. nucleus
20. This part of the atom does not have an electric charge.
a. neutron
b. proton
c. electron
d. nucleus
21. One requirement for a substance to be a mineral is that the substance must be
a. a compound
b. formed naturally
c. an isotope
d. an element
22. A mineral property that can not be determined by looking at it is
a. color
b. hardness
c. luster
d. crystal shape
23. The mineral talc has a hardness of ______on Moh’s hardness scale because it can be scratched by ______.
a. 5, a knife only
b. 3, a copper penny only
c. 1, a fingernail
d. 6, glass
24. A mineral like pyrite has a ______luster.
a. shiny
b. pearly
c. non-metallic
d. metallic
25. The only mineral we experimented with that reacted to hydrochloric acid was
a. talc
b. limestone
c. calcite
d. hematite
26. ______is the least reliable method for classifying minerals.
a. Color
b. Luster
c. Crystal shape
d. Hardness
27. Luster refers to
a. the way the mineral shines.
b. how the mineral reacts to hydrochloric acid.
c. how the mineral breaks.
d. the color of the powder of the mineral.
28. The streak of a mineral refers to
a. the way the mineral shines.
b. how the mineral reacts to hydrochloric acid.
c. how the mineral breaks.
d. the color of the powder of the mineral.
29. Cleavage refers to
a. the way the mineral shines.
b. how the mineral reacts to hydrochloric acid.
c. how the mineral breaks.
d. the color of the powder of the mineral.
30. Fracture can refer to
a. the way the mineral shines.
b. how the mineral reacts to hydrochloric acid.
c. how the mineral breaks.
d. the color of the powder of the mineral.
31. An interesting fact that we learned about fluorite is
a. that it is the only mineral to come in purple.
b. that it has one directional cleavage.
c. that it is the state mineral of Illinois.
d. that it is a rare mineral.
Chapters 5 & 6: Rocks
32. The cooling and hardening of magma deep underground results in rocks classified as
a. plutonic.
b. volcanic.
c. sedimentary.
d. metamorphic.
33. An example of a plutonic rock is
a. pumice.
b. granite.
c. obsidian.
d. andesite.
34. All rocks contain
a. fossils.
b. interlocking crystals.
c. minerals.
d. microscopic cleavage.
35. A rock that has large crystals would be classified as
a. igneous.
b. sedimentary.
c. metamorphic.
d. none of the above.
36. Fossils are most likely to be found in rocks that are
a. volcanic.
b. plutonic.
c. sedimentary.
d. metamorphic.
37. Igneous rocks are classified first by
a. what they are made of.
b. if they react to hydrochloric acid.
c. how quickly they cool.
d. if they have bands or layers.
38. Sedimentary rocks are classified first by
a. what they are made of.
b. if they react to hydrochloric acid.
c. how quickly they cool.
d. if they have bands or layers.
39. Metamorphic rocks are classified first by
a. what they are made of.
b. if they react to hydrochloric acid.
c. how quickly they cool.
d. if they have bands or layers.
40. Metamorphism involves the addition of ______and ______to pre-existing rocks.
a. temperature, chemicals
b. pressure, time
c. pressure, temperature
d. pressure, sediments
Use Diagram #3 to answer questions 41-42.
41. B would represent
a. igneous rock
b. magma
c. crystallization
d. weathering and erosion
42. C would represent
a. sedimentary rock
b. igneous rock
c. weathering and erosion
d. compaction and cementation
Chapter 7: Weathering and Erosion
43. Carbonic acid is created when
a. hydrogen dissolves in water
b. sulfur mixes with hydrogen
c. carbon dioxide dissolves in water
d. carbon dioxide mixes with hydrogen
44. Which of the following is NOT an agent of physical weathering?
a. temperature
b. frost action
c. wind
d. root action
Choose the appropriate letter to answer questions 45-50.
A – chemical weatheringB – physical weatheringC – erosion
45. tree roots splitting rocks
46. water combining with minerals to form clay
47. mounds built up by wind
48. animals burrow in the ground
49. oxygen reacts with iron to form rust
50. running water carries away sediments
Chapter 17: Plate Tectonics
51. The plates on the earth’s surface are
a. moving apart.
b. moving together.
c. sliding past one another.
d. all of the above.
52. What causes lithospheric plates to move?
a. convection currents in the atmosphere
b. convection currents in the mantle
c. energy produced at the moving boundaries
d. energy produced by nuclear power
53. Certain rock formations on the east coast of North America closely match formations on the west coast of Europe. This observation suggests that
a. North America and Europe are moving closer together.
b. a mountain range once extended across the Atlantic Ocean.
c. North America and Europe are on the same lithospheric plate.
d. North America and Europewere once joined together.
54. Which evidence for continental drift was NOT one of Wegener’s arguments?
a. distribution of Mesosaurus, a fossil reptile
b. jig saw fit of South America and Africa
c. distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes
d. similar distinctive rocks found on different continents
55. Some land areas that show evidence of glaciationare now found near the equator. What piece of evidence does this information support?
a. rock types
b. ancient climate
c. continental puzzle
d. matching fossils
Use Diagram #4 to answer questions 56-62.
56. Boundary A shows a
a. convergence with subduction
b. convergence with collision
c. divergence
d. sliding
57. The scientist credited with discovering Boundary B and in turn using it to support sea floor spreading was
a. Wegener
b. Hess
c. Vine
d. Mathews
58. At Boundary D
a. crust is only being created
b. crust is being destroyed
c. crust is changing position but not shape
d. sedimentary rocks are being formed
59. The most well known example of Boundary C is the
a. Mid Atlantic Ridge
b. San Andreas Fault
c. New Madrid Fault
d. Hot spots of Hawaii
60. Boundary C produces
a. earthquakes
b. volcanic eruptions
c. mountain building
d. all of the above
61. What is causing the mountain building at Boundary D?
a. two plates are pulling apart
b. two plates are sliding past each other
c. continental crust is being forced under oceanic crust
d. oceanic crust is being forced under continental crust
62. This boundary is significant in Iceland because it is above sea level.
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
Chapter 18: Volcanism
63. As the silica content of magma decreases, molten rocks tend to become
a. thinner and lighter in color.
b. thinner and darker in color.
c. thicker and lighter in color.
d. thicker and darker in color.
64. Mount Pelee, the Caribbean volcano that destroyed and buried people in ash in the city of St. Pierre in 1902, must have erupted lava that was
a. felsic with a high gas content.
b. felsic with a low gas content.
c. mafic with a high gas content.
d. mafic with a low gas content.
65. The lava associated with cinder volcanoes would be
a. felsic with a high gas content.
b. felsic with a low gas content.
c. mafic with a high gas content.
d. mafic with a low gas content.
66. Mauna Loa is an active volcano on Hawaii. The lava erupted by Mauna Loa would be expected to erupt
a. explosively with abundant tephra.
b. explosively with little tephra.
c. quietly with abundant tephra.
d. quietly with little tephra.
67. Areas of volcanic activity in the middle of lithospheric plates often create island chains. This is a result of
a. hot spots
b. rift valleys
c. trenches
d. plutons
68. Felsic and mafic magmas look and flow differently because of
a. the amount of tephra
b. the depth at which they form
c. their silica content
d. their volume
69. Dikes are oriented ______, while sills are oriented ______.
a. horizontally, vertically
b. vertically, horizontally
c. East/West, North/South
d. Northeast, Southwest
70. Which of the following would NOT be considered a pluton?
a. lava flow
b. laccolith
c. stock
d. dike
Use Diagram #5 to answer questions 71-76.
71. Which type of volcano is built almost completely of mafic lava flows?
a. A
b. B
c. C
72. Which type of volcano is made of both violently erupted tephra and lava flows?
a. A
b. B
c. C
73. Which type of volcano only has violent eruptions with a lot of tephra?
a. A
b. B
c. C
74. Which type of volcano is usually found at oceanic hot spots?
a. A
b. B
c. C
75. Volcano B is usually located at which type of boundary?
a. divergent
b. hot spots
c. convergent with subduction
d. transform fault
76. Which volcano is most like Mt.St. Helens?
a. A
b. B
c. C
Chapter 19: Earthquakes & Faults
77. In general, most earthquakes are
a. strong and destructive
b. too small to be noticed
c. confined to mountain ranges
d. rare and unusual events
78. Deep earthquakes that cause damage over larger areas are most likely to have occurred at
a. collision boundaries
b. diverging boundaries
c. sliding boundaries
d. subduction boundaries
79. The point on the surface at which motion occurs is called the
a. focus
b. plate boundary
c. epicenter
d. hypotenuse
80. At seismic station A, S waves arrived 4 minutes after the P waves. At seismic station B, S waves for the same earthquake arrived 6 minutes after the P waves. Which of the following best explains this difference?
a. Station A is at a lower latitude than station B.
b. Station A is above large underground water reservoirs.
c. Station B is closer to the epicenter than station A.
d. Station A is closer to the epicenter than station B.
81. The Richter scale
a. predicts earthquake location.
b. determines earthquake damage.
c. measures earthquake magnitude.
d. locates the earthquake epicenter.
82. The Mercalli scale provides a different value from the Richter scale because it takes into account
a. P wave velocities.
b. the distance to the epicenter.
c. the intensity of the quake and eyewitness reports.
d. the size of the fault plane.
Use Diagram #6 to answer questions 83-86.
83. Approximately how many minutes does it take the S wave to arrive at station 1?
a. 3 minutes
b. 10 minutes
c. 12 minutes
d. 20 minutes
84. An earthquake occurred at 3 p.m. If the S waves arrived at a seismograph station at 3:13 p.m., which station would that be?
a. station 1
b. station 2
c. station 3
d. none of the above
85. From these seismographs, you can conclude that station 3
a. is furthest from the epicenter.
b. is closest to the epicenter.
c. is closer to the epicenter than station 2, but further away than station 1.
d. had the most amount of damage.
86. What information from these seismographs is used to determine that station 2 was closest to the earthquake?
a. The P wave starts at station 2 first.
b. The P and S wave arrival times are the closest.
c. The height of the reading is the tallest.
d. All of these are used to determine station 2 was the closest.
87. The difference between the arrival time of P waves and S waves at a seismograph station is used to determine the
a. magnitude of the earthquake
b. distance from the epicenter
c. depth of the focus
d. intensity of the earthquake
Use Diagram #7 to answer questions 88-90.
88. Approximately how many minutes does it take a P wave to travel 8000 km?
a. 3
b. 5
c. 12
d. 20
89. An earthquake occurs at 3:00 p.m. If the S wave arrived at a seismograph station at 3:10, how far was the earthquake from the seismograph station?
a. 3000 km
b. 6000 km
c. 9000 km
d. 10,000 km
90. How far away is the epicenter if the difference in arrival times between the P and S waves is 5 minutes, 30 seconds?
a. 2000 km
b. 4000 km
c. 6000 km
d. 8000 km
91. Rocks that are above the fault plane moving downward is called
a. fracture
b. normal fault
c. reverse fault
d. uplifting
92. A fault in which the rocks on opposite sides of the fault plane are moving horizontally past each other is called
a. normal fault
b. reverse fault
c. strike-slip fault
d. fracture
93. A break in the rock where no movement occurs is called
a. normal fault
b. reverse fault
c. strike-slip fault
d. fracture
94. A fault resulting from compression is called
a. normal fault
b. reverse fault
c. strike-slip fault
d. fracture
Chapter 20: MountainBuilding
95. Plutonic dome mountains are formed by
a. igneous intrusions
b. plate collisions
c. fractures
d. uplifting
Use Diagram #8 to answer questions 96-100.
96. An example of the San Andreas fault in California
a. D
b. E
c. F
d. G
97. The mountains at letter E were created by
a. compression fault
b. tensional fault
c. uplifting
d. igneous intrusion
98. A syncline is found at
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
99. The mountains at letter B were created by
a. compression
b. tension
c. folding
d. igneous intrusion
100. A single mountain formed by an igneous intrusion
a. E
b. B
c. F
d. G