Geology Introduction Assessment
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Give questions at beginning of semester and at end of every semester

Give to every student in Gel/Esc 1300G
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Report each student’s before and after grade. Any student who does not take both before and
after quizzes will be dropped from the assessment.
1.
Theories in geology are developed through a process known as
A. plate tectonics
B. uniformitarianism
C. scientific method
D. systems approach
2.
Coal deposits are formed from plants that have grown in swampy areas. Antarctica, near the South Pole,
contains coal deposits.
A. True
B. False
3.
Geologists study the earth predominantly through observation. They assume that the geologic processes have
been basically the same through time. This principal is called:
A. crystal morphography
B. quantum mechanics
C. uniformitarianism
D. geologic stationarity
4.
A granite would form under conditions that included a(n)
A. mafic magma cooling near the Earth's surface.
B. felsic magma cooling near the Earth's surface.
C. mafic magma cooling deep in the subsurface.
D. felsic magma cooling deep in the subsurface.
5.
An example of a carbonate sedimentary rock is:
A. gypsum
B. sandstone
C. limestone
D. halite
6.
An alluvial fan may be found:
A. In a delta where a stream enters the ocean
B. On a ridge top in the mountains
C. In a limestone cave
D. At a mountain’s base in the desert
7.
With reference to the figure of the top of a glacier, after three years, which
stake has moved farther toward the terminus?
A. A
B. B
C. They have moved the same amount
D. Neither has moved relative to the terminus
8.
The figure indicates a(n)
A. Syncline
B. Basin
C. Anticline
D. Dome
9.
Normal faulting results from compressional stress.
A. True
B. False
10. The circum-Pacific belt of volcanoes is related to plate boundaries.
A. True
B. False
11. Evidence shows the age of the Atlantic Ocean floor is youngest in the middle, at the spreading ridge.
A. True
B. False
12. Carbonic acid produces dissolution weathering of
A. sandstone.
B. limestone.
C. granite.
D. rhyolite.
13. Oil tends to rise to the earth's surface or to a trap because it is
A. pushed up by rising magma
B. an atmospheric gas
C. less dense than water or rock
D. pulled by the moon's tidal forces
14. In the figure, the sequence in which geology was formed (starting with the oldest)
is
A. B, A , erosion, C, D, erosion
B. A, B, erosion, C, D, erosion
C. C, D, erosion, A, B, erosion
D. Cannot tell from the information given
15. The map shows the position of the Earth’s continents and oceans today. Which of
the following best explains why the ocean basins look the way they do?
A. Meteor impacts caused the ocean basins to form this way
B. The ocean basins formed in cracks that were created as the whole Earth
heated after its formation
C. Ocean basins form as continents move
D. The ocean basins formed in cracks that were created as the whole Earth cooled after its formation
16. It is thought that there was once a single continent on earth. Which of the following statements best describes
what happened to this continent?
A. The Earth lost heat over time and cracked, causing the continent to break into smaller pieces
B. Meteors hit the Earth causing the continent to break into smaller pieces
C. Only a small number of people believe there was once a single continent, and it is more likely that the
continents have always been in roughly the same place as they are today
D. Material beneath the continent moved, causing the continent to break into smaller pieces
17. Scientists have discovered fossils of four-legged creatures called dinosaurs. How much time passed between the
first appearance and the extinction of these creatures?
A. Some large dinosaurs still exist
B. Billions of years
C. Thousands of years
D. Millions of years
18. Where are igneous rocks found?
A. Mostly on islands or in the ocean
B. Mostly near the equator
C. Mostly on the edges of continents
D. Almost anywhere
19. What is the connection between clouds and rain?
A. Clouds are made up of water, and when the temperature gets low enough in the cloud it rains
B. Clouds are empty, and fill up with water. When the clouds are full, it rains
C. Clouds are empty, and fill up with water. When the clouds get too heavy, it rains
D. Clouds are made up of water, and when the temperature gets high enough in the cloud, it rains
20. A scientist collects all of the fossils ever discovered into one room. This room now contains:
A. Fossils of most of the plants and animals that ever lived
B. Fossils of all of the plants and animals that ever lived
C. Fossils of all of the species of plants and animals that ever lived
D. Fossils of a few of the species of plants and animals that ever lived
21. On continents, where does most volcanic material come from?
A. Material comes from pockets of molten material beneath the Earth's surface
B. Material travels from the Earth's center to a molten layer just beneath the surface, mixes with this
molten layer and then travels to the volcano.
C. Material comes from a molten layer very close to the Earth's center
D. Material comes from the Earth's center, which is completely molten.
22. Which of the figures do you think
most closely represents changes in
life on Earth over time?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
23. Where do you think glaciers can
be found today?
A. at the South pole
B. in the mountains
C. at sea level
D. all the answers are correct
24. The following maps show the position of the Earth’s continents and oceans. The o‘s on each map mark the
locations where volcanic eruptions occur. Which map do you think most closely represents the places where
these volcanoes are typically observed?
A. Mostly along the margins of the Pacific and
Atlantic Oceans
B. Mostly along the margins of the Pacific Ocean
C. Mostly in warm climates
D. Mostly on continents