FIRST QUARTER EXAMINATION IN GRADE 10 SCIENCE
Part I consists of 30 multiple-choice questions. Read each number carefully then write only the letter of the best
answer on the separate answer sheet.
1. You were provided with data showing the arrival time
of the P and S-waves recorded from three seismic
stations. Which of these can you possibly determine?
A. the damage at the focus
B. the distance to the earthquake
C. the intensity of the earthquake
D. the location of the epicenter
2. From the seismogram, the distance to the epicenter
can be determined by measuring
A. the arrival time of surface wave
B. the difference in the arrival times of the P
and S-waves
C. the ratio of the amplitude of the largest P
and S-waves
D. the speed of the surface wave
3. Which of the following plate boundaries can produce
rift valleys?
A.
B.
C.
4. When two tectonic plates collide, the oceanic crust
usually subducts beneath the continental crust because
it is
A. denser than continental crust
B. less dense than continental crust
C. thicker than continental crust
D. thinner than continental crust
5. Why does the oceanic crust sink beneath the
continental crust at the subduction zone?
A. The oceanic crust has a greater density.
B. The oceanic crust is pulled downward by Earth’s
magnetic field.
C. The oceanic crust is pushed from the ridge.
D. The continental crust has a denser composition.
6. What do you expect to find parallel to a trench?
A. hot spot
C. rift valley
B. ocean ridge
D. volcanic arc
7. An oceanographer noticed that there is a portion in
the ocean floor which is relatively much deeper than the
rest. What most likely is that deeper part?
A. linear sea
C. rift valley
B. oceanic ridge
D. trench
8. Which plate boundary is formed between the
Philippine plate and the Eurasian plate?
A. convergent
C. reverse fault
B. divergent
D. transform fault
9. Which of these is false about lithospheric plates:
A. have the same thickness everywhere
B. include the crust and upper mantle
C. thickest in the mountain regions
D. vary in thickness
10. What geologic feature can be formed in this type of
plate boundary?
A. volcanoes
B. volcanic island arcs
C. mountain ranges
D. rift valleys
11. You were asked to locate the epicenter of a recent
earthquake. Which correct sequence of events should
you follow?
I. Determine the difference in the arrival time of S and
P waves recorded from each of the seismological
stations.
II. Use the triangulation method to locate the center.
III. Obtain data from three different seismological
stations.
IV. Determine the distance of the epicenter from the
station.
A. I, III, II, IV
C. IV, II, I, III
B. III, IV, I, II
D. III, I, IV, II
12. If you visit a place in the Pacific known to be along
converging plates, which of these should you NOT
expect to see?
A. active volcanoes C. rift valleys
B. mountain ranges D. volcanic islands
13. Which of the following can we expect to find at a
mid-ocean ridge?
A. relatively young rocks
C. very ancient rocks.
B. reverse fault
D. thick accumulation of sediments
14. The lithospheric plates are believed to be moving
slowly. What is the driving force that facilitates this
movement?
A. gravitational force of the moon
B. magnetic force at the poles
C. convection current in the mantle
D. the force of the atmosphere
15. What kind of plate boundary occurs where two plates
grind past each other without destroying or producing
lithosphere?
A. divergent boundary
B. convergent boundary
C. transitional boundary
D. transform fault boundary
16. This area is both a major earthquake zone and
volcano zone.
A. Pacific Ring of Volcanoes
B. Pacific Ring of Fire
C. Oceanic Ring of Fire
D. Pacific Island Arc
17. What is the epicenter of an earthquake?
A. the location along a fault where the first
motion of an earthquake occurs
B. a seismic wave that travels along the
surface of Earth
C. the point on Earth’s surface directly above
the earthquake’s focus
D. the last place that motion in an earthquake
is detected
18. What is produced in the convergence of two
continental plates?
A. mountain range
C. rift valleys
B. island arcs
D. trenches
19. The movement of the lithospheric plates is facilitated
by a soft, weak and plastic-like layer. Which of the
following layers is described in the statement?
A. Asthenosphere C. Lithosphere
B. Atmosphere
D. Mantle
20. Scientists disagreed with Wegener's idea because
he could not explain:
A. similar fossils' in different continents
B. forces necessary to move continents.
C. identical rock formations.
D. climate changes
21. If you are a cartographer, what will give you an idea
that the continents were once joined?
A. Ocean depth
B. Position of the south pole
C. Shape of the continents
D. Size of the Atlantic Ocean
22. During the 1960’s, scientists were already equipped
with gadgets needed to explore the deep ocean. What
discovery about the ocean floor is associated with the
sea floor spreading?
A. Mountains are denser than the mantle.
B. The rotational poles of the Earth have
migrated.
C. The crust of the continents is denser than
the crust of the ocean.
D. The crust of the ocean is very young
relative to the age of the crust of the continents.
23. Which observation was NOT instrumental in
formulating the hypothesis of seafloor spreading?
A. Depth of the ocean
B. Identifying the location of glacial deposits
C. Magnetization of the oceanic crust
D. Thickness of seafloor sediments
24. Use the diagram of the Earth’s layers to select the
best answer.
Layer ____ is solid because of the extreme ____.
A. A; temperature
C. C; temperature
B. B; pressure
D. D; pressure
25. Which of the following can you infer from the
continuous movement of the lithospheric plates over the
asthenosphere?
A. All the continents will cease to exist.
B. All the volcanoes in the Philippines will
become inactive.
C. The continents will not be located in the
same place as they are now.
D. The islands of the Philippines will become
scattered all over the world.
For numbers 26-27, what features of a plate determine
whether a plate will subduct under another plate? Pick
the two correct features:
A. How much ocean water is on top of the
plate
B. The age of the plate
C. Whether the plate is made of basalt or
granite
D. How fast the plate is traveling
E. Whether the plate is in the northern or
southern hemisphere
F. Whether the plate is traveling east or west
For numbers 28-30, choose the letter that will describe the processes in each number.
A.
Mid-ocean ridge forms whenever diverging plates continue to separate, creating a new ocean
basin. As the rising magma cools, it forms new ocean crust.
B. When an oceanic plate converges with a less dense continental plate, the denser oceanic plate sinks
under the continental plate.
C. When two oceanic plates converge, the denser plate is forced beneath the other plate and volcanic
islands form above the sinking plate.
28. _________
30. _________
29. _________
Part II. Study the following illustrations and answer the following questions. Write your answers in your answer
sheet.
Answer the following questions based on the map.
31. Give an example of convergent plate boundary.
32. Give an example of divergent plate boundary.
33. Give an example of transform fault plate boundary.
34-35. Where do most earthquakes and volcanoes are
located?
36-39. Study the following diagram of the seafloor.
Then match the letters to the statements
below.
_____36. Molten rock flows onto the seafloor and hardens as it cools.
_____37. Hot, molten rock is forced upward toward the seafloor at a mid-ocean ridge.
_____38. New sea floor moves away from the ridge, cools denser, and sinks.
_____39. Molten rock pushes sideways in both directions as it rises, moving the mantle with it.
40. The heat process caused by the uneven distribution of thermal energy in Earth’s interior is called
A. Ridge push
B. slab pull
C. Seafloor spreading
D. mantle convection
41-45. Identify the words that will best describe the letters in the diagram. Use the words in the word bank.
41.convection current
42.moving toward
44.expands and rises
43.moving apart
45.cools and sinks
C
B
A
D
E
46-50. Match the pictures and text below to arrange the movement of the continents into chronological order (oldest to
newest).Write the letter of your answer.
46.
47.
49.
48.
50.
A. About 225 million years ago, all of the world’s landmass were joined together in the supercontinent Pangaea. Pangaea
was surrounded by a vast sea called Panthalassa.
B. Approximately 200 million years ago, the Tethys Sea formed as Pangaea began to split. The two continents that
formed were called Laurasia and Gondwana. Laurasia included the landmasses that are now North America, Europe,
Greenland and Asia. Gondwana included South America, Africa, Antarctica, India, Madagascar and Australia.
C. Gondwana began to break up about 135 million years ago. The South Atlantic Ocean formed between Africa and
South America.
D. About 65 million years ago, Australia separated from Antarctica.
E. The continents today