Science 20 Unit C Final Unit Test
NAME:_____________________
DATE: _____________________
MARK:
/
%
GLO1: describe the challenges in investigating the changes that take place over hundreds of millions of
years to Earth’s crustal plates, to past climates and to life forms
1. Which of the following describes why it is difficult to investigate Earth’s past?
a. Because the changes that have occurred have been so small
b. Because the changes that have occurred have been so large
c. Because the changes have taken a long time to occur
d. Because the changes have taken such a short time to occur
2. What is the main way that we investigate the changes that have occurred to life forms on the
Earth?
a. Analyzing seismic data
b. Analyzing volcanic data
c. Analyzing fossils and strata information
d. Analyzing fossils and comparing them to current organisms
GLO2: describe, in general terms, how the theories of geologic processes have changed over time.
3. The first theory to explain geological processes was known as
a. Catastrophism
b. Uniformitarianism
c. Planetarium
d. Terestrialism
4. Our current theory of geological processes states that
a. The geological processes in action today have always fundamentally operated in the same
way throughout Earth’s history
b. The geological processes in action today have never operated in the same way throughout
Earth’s history
c. The geological processes seen today have been a result of violent catastrophes
d. The geological processes seen today have been a result of nonviolent catastrophes
Use the following diagram to answer the next three questions
5. Which of the following letter indicates the youngest formation?
a. A
b. C
c. E
d. F
6. What is the proper term for F and what was likely to cause it?
a. Unconformity caused by erosion
b. Unconformity caused by volcanic activity
c. Nonconformed caused by erosion
d. Nonconformed caused by volcanic activity
Numerical Response .
1. place the numbers 1-4 in the spaces below indicating which letter is the youngest (1) to oldest (4)
_____ _____ _____ _____
B
C
E
F
GLO3: describe how energy from earthquakes is transmitted by seismic waves
Use the following diagram to answer the next two questions.
7. In the diagram shown above, the earthquake’s focus is labeled
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. V
8. The area that would most likely suffer the greatest damage as a result of ground vibrations caused
by the earthquake is labeled
a. II
b. III
c. IV
d. V
9. Seismic waves travel out from the focus
a. Straight down into the Earth
b. Horizontally out over the surface
c. Out in all directions like a sphere
d. None of the above
GLO4: describe the relationship between the Richter scale and an earthquake’s ground motion and
energy
Numerical Response .
2. The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale; based on this information I know that a 5.0 Earthquake is
_______ times more severe than a 3.0.
_____ _____ _____ _____
Use the following image to answer the next question
10. If the Seismograph was 400 km from the epicenter, and the amplitude there was 5 mm what
would be the strength of the Earthquake?
a. 5.8
b. 5.4
c. 5.1
d. 4.6
GLO5: identify primary and secondary seismic waves (P- and S-waves, respectively) and longitudinal
and transverse surface waves on the basis of vibration and direction of propagation and potential for
destruction
Use the following picture to answer the next question
11. Which wave type does the picture above represent?
a. Primary waves which are longitudinal waves
b. Primary waves which are transverse waves
c. Secondary waves which are longitudinal waves
d. Secondary waves which are transverse waves
12. Which order do the waves arrive at the seismic station
a. S waves, P waves, Surface waves
b. P waves, S waves, Surface waves
c. Surface waves, P waves, S waves
d. Surface waves, S waves, P waves
13. A P wave can be described as
a. A series of compressions and expansion
b. A series of compressions and troughs
c. A series of crests and expansions
d. A series of crests and troughs
GLO6: explain how seismic waves are used to better understand the internal structure of Earth
14. P-waves are able to travel through
a. Solids, liquids and gases
b. Solids and liquids
c. Solids only
d. Liquids only
Use the following picture to answer the next 2 questions
15. Which of the areas above indicates where I would only find S-waves?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
16. What is the reason why I find only S waves in the area indicated above?
a. Because the outer core is liquid
b. Because the outer core is solid
c. Because the inner core is liquid
d. Because the inner core is solid
17. P- waves are not found in area
a. C because of reflection
b. C because of refraction
c. B because of reflection
d. B because of refraction
GLO7: identify and describe the layers of Earth as classified by the physical properties of density,
rigidity and thickness
Use the following information to answer following two questions
Layers of the Earth
1.
2.
3.
4.
Asthenosphere
Inner Core
Lithosphere
Mesosphere
Numerical Response .
3. Using the Layers of the Earth provided above record the layers from the most dense to the least
dense.
_____ _____ _____ _____
Most
Least
(Record all four digits of your answer in the numerical-response section on the answer sheet.)
18. Using the information above, which numbers correctly identifies the layers of the Earth that are
solid?
a. 1 and 2
b. 1 and 3
c. 2 and 3
d. 3 and 4
19. Which of the following layers is the thinnest?
a. Asthenosphere
b. Core
c. Lithosphere
d. Mesosphere
GLO8: list and describe the evidence that supports the theory of plate tectonics
20. Which of the following is not evidence for plate tectonics?
a. Mountains
b. Paleomagnetism
c. Volcanoes and earthquakes
d. All of the above are evidence for plate tectonics
Use the following picture to answer the next two questions
21. Which of the following bands of rock would be considered the youngest?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
22. Which of the following pairs would indicate rock bands with the same age?
a. A and B
b. C and D
c. C and F
d. A and G
GLO9: explain how convection of molten material provides the driving force of plate tectonics
23. Convection is the driving force for plate tectonics. Convection occurs because
a. Warmer material has a higher density
b. Warmer material has a lower density
c. Colder material has a higher density
d. Density has nothing to do with convection
24. What is currently believe to be the driving force for convection inside the Earth?
a. Radioactivity
b. The spinning inner core
c. The spinning outer core
d. The increase in pressure
GLO10: explain how knowledge of radioisotopes, radioactive decay and half-lives are used to estimate
the age of minerals and fossils
Use the following information to answer the next three questions
25. The percentages of radioisotopes shown above indicate that the number of half-lives
elapsed by uranium-235 is
a. 0.25
b. 0.50
c. 1.0
d. 2.5
Use your recorded answer from Multiple Choice 23 to answer Multiple Choice 24.*
26. Based on the data obtained in the analysis, the age of the rock layer containing the fossil
is
a. 1.76 × 108 years
b. 3.52 × 108 years
c. 7.04 × 108 years
d. 1.76 × 109 years
*You can receive marks for this question even if the previous question was answered incorrectly.
Use your recorded answer from Multiple Choice 24 to answer Multiple Choice 25.*
27. Based on the age of the rock layer, during which era of geologic time was the fossil
formed?
a. Precambrian
b. Paleozoic
c. Mesozoic
d. Cenozoic
Numerical Response .
4. You discover a fossil which contains 90% of its original concentration of uranium 238. Using this
information how old is this specimen? Record your answer in the format a.bc x 10d
_____ _____ _____ _____
a
b
c
d
(Record all four digits of your answer in the numerical-response section on the answer sheet.)
GLO11: describe common types of fossilization as direct evidence of evolution and describe the
significance of the fossil record in Canada’s Burgess Shale
Use the following diagram to answer the next question
28. The diagram above depicts the fossilization of a snail. The process depicted would result
in the formation of which of the following types of fossil?
a. Mold
b. Track
c. Burrow
d. Actual remains
29. Fossils of footprints and poop are examples of which type of fossil?
a. Trace
b. Mold
c. Tract
d. Actual remains
GLO12: explain how sedimentary rock layers along with fossils can provide evidence of chronology,
paleoclimate, evolution and mass extinctions
Use the following diagram to answer the next question
30. Using the information above which of the following letters represents the oldest fossil?
a. E
b. G
c. H
d. I
31. Evidence of mass extinctions is available in rock layers when
a. A new species appears in the fossil record
b. When a species disappears and never returns to the fossil record
c. When a species disappears and reappears some time later in the fossil record
d. When there is an unconformity
GLO13: describe, in general terms, the major characteristics and life forms of the four eras: Precambrian,
Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic
Use the following information to answer the next two questions
Eras
1.
2.
3.
4.
Precambrian
Paleozoic
Mesozoic
Cenozoic
Numerical Response .
5. Using the information above place the Eras in order from longest to shortest
_____ _____ _____ _____
Longest
Shortest
(Record all four digits of your answer in the numerical-response section on the answer sheet.)
Use the following image to answer the next question
32. If I was looking at the rock strata above which dominant type of fossils would I expect to find in
them?
a. Single cell organisms
b. Trilobites
c. Dinosaurs
d. Mammals
33. If I was looking for dinosaurs which Era should I look in?
a. Precambrian
b. Paleozoic
c. Mesozoic
d. Cenozoic
GLO14: explain why oxygen became a significant component of Earth’s atmosphere after the evolution
of plants and chlorophyll.
34. During which Era was there an explosion due to the increase of oxygen in the environment?
a. Precambrian
b. Paleozoic
c. Mesozoic
d. Cenozoic
35. Why did the explosion referred to in question 29 occur?
a. Because oxygen is needed to create energy
b. Because oxygen allows animals to create more energy
c. Because life cannot live without high concentrations of oxygen
d. None of the above
GLO15: describe the geologic evidence for repeated glaciation over large areas of Canada and in their
local area
36. A drumlin is
a. A tear drop shaped hill and is formed when a glacier advances over a moraine
b. A tear drop shaped hill and is formed at the edge of a glacier
c. A “reverse river” and is formed when ice melts and its water runs under a glacier
d. A “reverse river” and is formed when a chunk of ice breaks off the glacier
Use the following diagram to answer the next two questions
37. Which of the following numbers indicates the location of an esker?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
38. According to the information above the glacier is
a. Advancing therefor the temperature must be increasing
b. Advancing therefor the temperature must be decreasing
c. Receding therefor the temperature must be increasing
d. Receding therefor the temperature must be decreasing
GLO16: explain how ice cores from polar icecaps provide evidence of warming and cooling in the past
hundred thousand years
39. Inside an ice core a high oxygen content would indicate that
a. The temperature was warmer
b. The temperature was colder
c. There was more rainfall
d. There was less rainfall
GLO17: explain, in general terms, how changes to Earth’s climate and how mass extinctions could be
caused by changes
40. Which of the following is not a possible cause for a mass extinction event?
a. Lunar energy output
b. Earth’s orbit around the sun
c. The inclination of Earth’s axis
d. Earth’s geography due to crustal movement