EARTH SCIENCE PRACTICE
OGT QUESTIONS
By studying folds and faults in rocks,
scientists can determine the…
A.
B.
C.
D.
Absolute age of the rocks
Order of past geologic events
Depth of the ocean when the rocks
formed
Life forms that lived when the rocks
formed
Question 1
The geologic timetable is divided into
three large time units called eras. What
factor were these time divisions based
upon?
Volcanic and earthquake activity
B. Locations were rocks are found
C. Equal units of geologic time
D. Major changes in life forms
A.
Question 2
What type of rock are most fossils
found in?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Igneous rock
Sedimentary rock
Metamorphic rock
Volcanic rock
Question 3
What is the name of the theory that
states Earth’s crust is broken up into
large pieces that move and interact?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Natural selection
Mountain building
The rock cycle
Plate tectonics
Question 4
Examine the diagram of the sun.
Which part of the sun has the
greatest thickness?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The core
Chromosphere
Corona
Photosphere
Question 5
What is the main process taking
place inside of a star in order for the
star to produce and release energy?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Radioactive implosion
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fission
Combustion
Question 6
Stars are born, go through a life
cycle, and then eventually die.
Where are the stars formed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
From the planets in a solar system
In comets
In asteroids
In nebulae
Question 7
Our solar system belongs to the
Milky Way galaxy. Which of the
following terms describes the Milky
Way’s classification?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Irregular galaxy
Spiral galaxy
Elliptical galaxy
Spherical galaxy
Question 8
What is the big bang theory?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A theory that states that particles in the
universe are constantly imploding
A theory that states that the universe has
no beginning and no end
A theory that states the universe began
with a tremendous explosion
A theory that states the universe is
currently nothing more than a small ball of
matter
Question 9
Prokaryotes were the first organisms
known to have appeared on Earth.
Around 1.5 billion years ago, another
form of life, known as eukaryotes
evolved. Which of the following
kingdoms did the first eukaryotes
most likely belong?
Fungi
B. Archaebacteria
C. Protista
D. Eubacteria
A.
Question 10
Which of the following types of
radiometric dating is most useful for
dating an object that is around
20,000 years old?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Potassium – Argon method
Uranium – Lead method
There is no radiometric dating method
available for an object that age
Carbon – 14 method
Question 11
The outermost layer of the earth is
called the…
A.
B.
C.
D.
Surface
Mantle
Crust
Ocean
Question 12
A fracture in the earth’s crust is
called a __________
A.
B.
C.
D.
Crack
Canyon
Plate
Fault
Question 13
Which of the following occurs when
the Earth’s crust shifts?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Eclipse
Earthquake
Volcano
Ocean tides
Question 14
Why do volcanoes often form along
the edge of tectonic plates?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Magma is formed when the pressure of a
plate’s edge increases as it is pushed upward
Materials from Earth’s core are able to escape
through faults around a plate’s edge
Magma is formed when the temperature of a
plate’s edge increases as it is pushed
downward
Materials that are denser rise up at the plate’s
edge and turn into magma
Question 15
Which of the following is an example
of erosion?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Cold temperatures freeze the surface of a
pond
In fall, leaves change colors from green to
orange
During a drought, a pond dries up and all
the fish die
The wind is blowing the topsoil form a
freshly plowed piece of land
Question 16
_______ is the driving force behind
erosion
A.
B.
C.
D.
Gravity
Deposition
Human activity
Earthquake activity
Question 17
Which of the following shoreline
processes is an example of
deposition?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Breakdown of gravel into sand
Carving of sea cliffs by waves
Wave removal of sand from beaches
Accumulation of mud in bays
Question 18
Stars appear to have life spans of
billions of years. During that time
they…
A.
B.
C.
D.
Never change in size
Constantly become larger
Constantly become smaller
Change in size and temperature
Question 19
Major mountain ranges are formed
when crustal plates…
A.
B.
C.
D.
Push into each other
Slide past each other
Move away from each other
Break into smaller plates
Question 20
If the Earth’s axis were NOT tilted,
the amount of daylight in Ohio would
probably be…
A.
B.
C.
D.
About 12 hours every day
About 24 hours every day
Shorter in the winter
Longer in the summer
Question 21
The movement of large plates on
Earth’s surface is responsible for
producing…
A.
B.
C.
D.
Rivers and lakes
Glaciers and deserts
Hurricanes and tornadoes
Trenches and mountains
Question 22
If two climates were very similar, you
would expect them to have similar…
A.
B.
C.
D.
Geography
Temperature ranges
Populations
Latitudes
Question 23
Convection cells in earth’s mantle are
caused by heat being released fro
the decay of radioactive materials
deep in the ground. The slowflowing movement of the mantle
causes
A.
B.
C.
D.
The continents to drift
Rotation of the earth
Wind belts in the atmosphere
Expansion of the earth’s surface
Question 24
Which of the following is the largest?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The sun
A galaxy
The solar system
Our planet
Question 25