Assessor: James Riley
Spring 2012 Assessment Summary
ESC/GEL 1300G 002
Introduction to Earth Sciences
Students are expected to gain an understanding of Earth’s physical properties – namely the
atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and Earth’s subsurface – and how these integrated systems
influence one another.
Students were assessed by administering a pre-test at the beginning of the semester and a posttest at the end of the semester. The questions, included below with the percentage of students
who answered the question correctly on the pre- and post-tests, draw on key concepts that are
discussed throughout the semester.
1. Lines of _________ encircle the Earth and describe how far north or south a location is from
the equator.
A. latitude B. longitude C. prime meridians D. base lines
Pre-test: 53.57%
Post-test: 75.86%
2. Rocks that solidify and crystallize from molten material such as magma and lava are called
________________.
A. metamorphic B. igneous C. sedimentary D. stratified
Pre-test: 28.57%
Post-test: 62.07%
3. Deposition in a meandering river typically occurs at the _________, which is located along
the _________ bank of the bend.
A. point bar; outer B. point bar; inner C. cut bank; outer D. cut bank; inner
Pre-test: 17.86%
Post-test: 68.97%
4. In the northern hemisphere, areas of low atmospheric pressure spin _________.
A. clockwise B. counter-clockwise C. neither – low pressure does not spin
Pre-test: 46.43%
Post-test: 37.93%
5. The part of the Earth south of __________ will never receive direct (perpendicular)
insolation.
A. the Equator B. 23.5° N C. 66.5° N D. 23.5° S E. the Arctic Circle
Pre-test: 17.86%
Post-test: 41.38%
6. The transfer of heat energy from one molecule to another is referred to as _________.
A. convection B. conduction C. albedo D. erosion
Pre-test: 60.71%
Post-test: 79.31%
7. The Hawaiian Islands were formed by a series of _________ volcanoes.
A. composite B. shield C. cinder cone D. all of these
Pre-test: 10.71%
Post-test: 44.83%
Assessor: James Riley
8. __________ is one of the most abundant greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere.
A. Nitrogen B. Neon C. Chlorine D. Carbon dioxide E. Helium
Pre-test: 75.00%
Post-test: 82.76%
9. Earth materials (soil, rock, boulders) deposited across a landscape following the retreat of a
continental glacier are known as _________.
A. drift B. mass wasting C. discharge D. aquifers
Pre-test: 46.43%
Post-test: 48.28%
10. A map with a scale of 1:24,000 would be considered to have a _________ when compared to
a map with a scale of 1:100,000.
A. large scale B. small scale C. planar projection
Pre-test: 46.43%
Post-test: 72.41%
11. _________ precipitation is a result of air being lifted over a highland area.
A. Convective B. Orographic C. Convergence D. Frontal
Pre-test: 25.00%
Post-test: 41.38%
12. The process in which one tectonic plate is carried beneath another plate is called _________.
A. the Coriolis effect B. liquefaction C. conduction D. subduction
Pre-test: 64.29%
Post-test: 79.31%
13. A warming atmosphere begins to melt glacial ice, revealing more of the underlying Earth.
This changes the albedo, which further warms the atmosphere. This scenario is an example of
_________ feedback in a system.
A. negative B. positive C. dynamic D. steady-state
Pre-test: 25.00%
Post-test: 55.17%
14. The breakdown of large rocks to smaller particles in place at or near the Earth’s surface is
known as _________.
A. weathering B. erosion C. metamorphism D. convection
Pre-test: 25.00%
Post-test: 17.24%
15. Rock falls, rotational and translational slides, and soil creep are examples of _________.
A. faulting B. anticlines C. mass movements D. weathering
Pre-test: 50.00%
Post-test: 48.28%
16. Normal faulting results from compressional stress.
A. true B. false
Pre-test: 17.86%
Post-test: 24.14%
17. Evidence shows the age of the Atlantic Ocean floor is youngest in the middle, at the
spreading ridge.
A. true B. false
Pre-test: 50.00%
Post-test: 48.28%
Assessor: James Riley
18. 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
Pre-test: 39.29%
Post-test: 58.62%
19. 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 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.
Pre-test: 67.86%
Post-test: 72.41%
20. The figure at right indicates a(n) _________.
A. syncline B. basin C. anticline D. dome
Pre-test: 25.00%
Post-test: 68.97%
21. 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
Pre-test: 0.00%
Post-test: 10.34%
22. Where do you think glaciers can be found today?
A. At the South pole B. In the mountains C. At sea level
Pre-test: 71.43%
Post-test: 41.38%
D. All answers are correct
In ESC/GEL 1300G 002, 3 of the 32 students originally enrolled were Geography majors. All of
the other students were majors from outside the department. Of the 28 students who completed
the pre-test, the average total score was 8.21 (out of 22). The average total score on the post-test,
taken by 29 students, was 11.79 for a percentage improvement of nearly 44%.