key to Lecture Exam Review Test 1
Wherever possible, I took note of things not generally covered.
Note: This is a practice test and is the equivalent of a “rough draft”. I am not
responsible for errors in the questions or answer keys. This is a guide for your test
only. If you find errors, please send email to: hornj@sunysuffolk.edu
These questions basically represent topics from Chapters 1-3 They do not cover
everything that is covered in class so this practice test is not all-inclusive of topics to
be tested.
Check the review sheet (separate link) for a more complete list!
Note: there may be formatting gaps in the practice quiz below. Ignore question
numbers – and check back for the answer key at a later date.
KEY: PRACTICE QUIZ -- sample type questions
In order from the inside outward, the earth’s physical layers are best described as
a
b
c
d
core, mantle, lithosphere, asthenosphere
lithosphere, mantle, outer core, crust
inner core, outer core, lower mantle, asthenosphere, lithosphere
inner mantle, outer mantle, asthenosphere, crust
The core of the earth is believed to contain iron and nickel because of
a
b
c
d
the iron–nickel decay series
meteorite analyses showing the presence of fused iron–nickel alloys
Kelvin’s model of internal heat and cooling
similar iron and nickel in the continental crust
What two observations led scientists to conclude that the Big Bang occurred
approximately 14 billion years ago?
a
an expanding universe and background radiation of 2.7 degrees above
absolute
zero
b
a shrinking universe and zero background radiation
c
a shrinking universe and background radiation of 2.7 degrees above absolute zero
d
an expanding universe and zero background radiation
An atom of sodium (Na) has an atomic number of 11 and an atomic mass of 23. How
many neutrons does this atom contain?
a
b
c
11
34
22
d
12
An atom of carbon (C) has an atomic number of 6 and an atomic weight of 18. Another
atom of carbon has an atomic weight of 20. What are these atoms of carbon called?
a
b
c
d
isotopes
compounds
molecules
polymorphs
The basic building block of silicate minerals is the
a
b
c
d
carbonate ion
feldspar group
silicon oxygen tetrahedron
silly con atom
If calcite is crushed with a hammer into tiny pieces, even the smallest particles will
exhibit rhombohedral cleavage.
a
b
true
false
The streak of a mineral shows it’s __________ in a powdered form.
a
b
c
d
cleavage
luster
hardness
color
A neutral (no charge) atom will have an equal number of positive and negative ions.
a
b
true
false
Ionic bonds are a result of atoms seeking to fill the outer valence shell with six electrons.
a
b
true
false
Alfred Wegener proposed
a
b
c
d
theory of plate tectonics
hypothesis of continental drift
the theory of polar wandering
sea-floor spreading
The north and south poles have wandered across the face of the earth over millions of
years leaving a magnetic trail.
a
b
true
false
Match the location on Earth with the type of plate boundary that best describes this area.
A
C
E
Divergent
Transform
Hot Spot
a ___E_____
b____F_____
c____A_____
d____B_____
e____C_____
f____D_____
B
D
F
Convergent (ocean-continent)
Convergent (continent-continent)
Convergent (ocean-ocean)
Hawaii
Japan
Mid Atlantic Ridge
Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon)
Southern California (Pacific coast)
Himalayan Mountains (India/Asia)
____ The concept that states that “the physical, chemical and biological laws that operate
today have also operated in the geologic past” is described by
a.
Archbishop Ussher’s doctrine of catastrophism
b.
Alfred Wegener’s theory of continental drift
c.
James Hutton’s principle of uniformitarianism
d.
The nebular theory of the Earth
2____ Which of the following is one of the most important fundamental discoveries
about the
Earth?
a.
The Earth is unchanging, and what we see today has always looked that
way
throughout history.
b.
The Earth is constantly changing over time.
c.
The Earth is a dead planet
d.
The Earth’s continents are today as they have been for the last 3.5 billion
years of
Earth’s history.
3____ Catastrophism is the idea that
a.
Earth’s landscapes have been shaped by sudden worldwide disasters
b.
Earth’s landscapes have been shaped suddenly by unknown forces not in
operation
today
c.
physical, chemical and biological laws that operate today have also
operated in the
past
d.
Earth’s landscapes have been shaped by the influence of the Moon,
planets, stars
and the Sun
4____ The age of the Earth is now estimated to be approximately
a.
6,000 years
b.
4.5 million years
c.
13 billion years
d.
4.5 billion years
_____ The ____?____proposes that the bodies of our solar system formed at essentially
the same
time from a rotating cloud of gases and dust.
a.
Heliocentric theory
b.
Plasma hypothesis
c.
Plate tectonics theory
d.
Nebular hypothesis
_____ The principle of superposition and the practice of relative dating of rocks allows
geologists
to assume that
a.
the moon has to be older than the earth
b.
in undisturbed sedimentary rock layers younger rocks form on top of
older rocks
c.
the seafloor near the ridge is older crust
d.
natural catastrophes formed most of the features on earth’s surface
_____ A ____?___ is a well-tested and widely accepted view that best explains certain
scientific
observation.
a.
hypothesis
b.
generalization
c.
law
d.
theory
_____ According to the text (Tarbuck), Earth’s natural processes such as earthquakes
and
volcanic eruptions become natural hazards only when
a.
the magnitude of an event is greater than 6.0
b.
people try to live where these processes occur
c.
the economic losses exceed $1,000,000
d.
the natural equilibrium on earth’s is disturbed
_____ Which best describes Earth’s lithosphere and asthenosphere?
a.
The lithosphere contains rock that is relatively cool and rigid while
the asthenosphere contains rock that is warm and weak.
b.
The lithosphere contains rock that is relatively warm and weak while the
asthenosphere contains rock that is cool and rigid.
c.
The lithosphere represents ocean crust while the asthenosphere represents
continental crust.
_____ The lithospheric plates on Earth’s surface generally move
a.
slowly, averaging 5 cm per year
b.
moderately, averaging about 10 meters per year
c.
rapidly, averaging 1 km per year
d.
very slowly, averaging about 5 cm per hundred years
____ There were many arguments against both the “continental drift” and “seafloor
spreading”
hypotheses. One important criticism was that the shorelines of the
continents do not fit together perfectly. What information was discovered that helped
to solve this problem?
a.
Exploration of the ocean floors revealed that continents extend into
the ocean for some distance and actually end at the edge of the continental shelf.
b.
Earth’s magnetic fields have changed through time, making the current
coastline
information incorrect for Earth’s history.
c.
Exploration of the continents revealed that the continents are actually
smaller than shown by their coastlines, allowing a better fit between continents.
____ The Red Sea is believed to be the site of a recently formed
a.
hot spot
b.
convergent boundary
c.
ocean trench
d.
divergent boundary
Use the diagram below to match the letters of Earth’s geologic features with the correct
phrase by writing the letter in the blank. (there is no letter “G)
___H____oceanic crust
___F____continental crust ___C____mantle
___A____inner core
___D____asthenosphere
__E_____lithosphere
____B___outercore
Note: Letter B Lithosphere contains crust and a part of upper mantle. Letter
Letter D Asthenosphere is part of the upper mantle.
Letter C is actually better described as the “lower mantle”
_____ Linear magnetic patterns associated with mid-ocean ridges are configured as
a.
concentric circles about a rising plume of hot mantle rocks.
b.
normal and reversed magnetized stripes roughly perpendicular to the
ridge.
c.
normal and reversed magnetized stripes roughly parallel to the ridge
_____ Plate boundaries usually construct, destruct or conserve the rocky material of the
Earth’s crust as follows:
a.
Divergent boundaries construct, convergent boundaries destruct, and
transform
boundaries conserve the crust.
b.
Divergent boundaries destruct, convergent boundaries construct, and
transform boundaries conserve the crust.
c.
Divergent boundaries construct, and convergent and transform boundaries
destruct the crust.
d.
Divergent boundaries conserve, and convergent and transform boundaries
destruct the crust.
Explanation: Divergent boundaries always create new crust between the plates
Convergent boundaries always consume large amounts of ocean crust.
(Volcanoes along convergent boundaries do create small
amounts
of new crust during eruptions.)
Transform boundaries: no new crust is created as two plates scrape
past
each other.
_____ Convergent boundaries called subduction zones are associated with:
a.
continental rifting.
b.
hot spots and shield volcanoes.
c.
deep ocean trenches and linear mountain belts.
d.
a mid-ocean ridge that circles the globe.
_____ An example of a divergent boundary where continental rifting occurs is:
a.
the Indian-Eurasian plate boundary and Himalayas
b.
the African rift valley and Red Sea
c.
the mid-Atlantic Ridge between North American plate and Eurasian plate
d.
the San Andreas fault in southern California
_____ The oceans cover approximately _________% of Earth’s surface:
a.
40
b.
71
c.
97
_____ The mechanism for plate tectonics is best explained by
a.
Earth, sun and moon gravitational attraction.
b.
Earth’s magnetic forces.
c.
convection currents in the Earth’s mantle.
d.
long term changes in the atmosphere and hydrosphere.
_____ The atomic number of an atom is determined by which of the following?
a.
number of protons
b.
number of protons plus neutrons
c.
number of electrons, protons and neutrons
d.
number of valence electrons
_____ An atom of Carbon has 6 protons, 6 electrons and an atomic weight of 12. How
many neutrons are in this atom?
a.
6
b.
12
c.
18
d.
0
_____ Polymorphs such as diamond and graphite are two minerals that have the same
___?___
but different ___?____.
a.
crystal structure, chemical composition
b.
chemical structure, crystal composition (bad terminology!)
c.
color, chemical composition
d.
chemical composition, atomic structure
_____ The silicon-oxygen tetrahedron contains:
a.
b.
c.
d.
a single silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms
a single oxygen atom surrounded by four silicon atoms
chains of oxygen attracted to chains of silicon atoms
sheet-like layers of oxygen alternating with silicon
_____ Which is the least reliable property for identification of a mineral?
a.
Reaction with hydrochloric acid
b.
hardness
c.
color
d.
cleavage
_____ The difference between ionic and covalent bonds is
a.
covalent bonds involve atoms that are attracted due to positive and
negative charges, whereas ionic bonds involve atoms sharing electrons
b.
ionic bonds involve atoms that are attracted due to positive and
negative charges,
whereas covalent bonds involve atoms sharing electrons
c.
ionic bonds involve atoms that are attracted due to like charges, whereas
covalent
bonds involve atoms sharing a nucleus
_____ All atoms of the same element must have the same number of
a.
electrons in the nucleus
b.
protons in the nucleus
c.
neutrons in the outer shell
d.
protons plus neutrons
____ Which is true about Pangaea?
a.
million to
b.
c.
d.
It was a supercontinent that eventually broke up from about 200
50 million years ago
It was the ocean that covered most of the earth 200 million years ago
It is the layer of Earth that generates plate motion
It was the plague that most likely killed the dinosaurs
_____ The paleomagnetism in ancient rocks is proof that the north and south poles
“wandered” across the continents over millions of years.
a.
true
b.
false
_____ Which one of the following statements is true?
a.
oceanic plates are more dense than continental plates
b.
continental plates are more dense than oceanic plates
c.
transform boundaries are associated with explosive volcanoes
d.
hot spot volcanoes are always found at plate boundaries
Match by writing “O” or “C” on the line in front of each term to describe association with
Oceanic or Continental crust.
Ocean Crust
Continental Crust
___C____Granite
center
___O____Basalt
___O____thinner
___C____thicker
___O____Formed at spreading
___C____comprises plutons
___C____less dense ___O____more dense _
___O___contains more ferromagnesian minerals (i know, i know, we did not cover these)
___C____formed by higher viscosity lavas ___O___formed by lower viscosity lavas
THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF ESSAYS REQUIRED. EACH
CAN BE ANSWERED IN A SHORT PARAGRAPH OR TWO.
Short Essays: DO 3 OF THE FOLLOWING. Write answers in the blue book
provided.
ANSWER ALL PARTS of the question AND give specific details and examples for full
credit!!!
1.
Describe the properties of the minerals diamond and graphite. What do they have
in common? Explain how the internal structure of each mineral determines the physical
properties. Refer to the diagram.
2.
Sketch, label and describe the three types of plate boundaries. Give one actual
example for each type of boundary (geographical location, names of plates, continents,
islands or
surface features). (Three sketches, three examples)
3.
Explain the steps in identifying a mineral. Be very specific and give an example
of a mineral you have identified and describe at least five properties of that mineral.
(do not
use diamond or graphite)
5.
Describe three pieces of evidence used for the continental drift hypothesis.
Explain at why these observations that led to this idea. What was missing from the
hypothesis?
6.
What technology in the 2nd half of the 20th century has contributed to support for
the theory
of plate tectonics?
Can the plate movement proposed in the 1960s be observed?
7.
Describe the doctrines of catastrophism and uniformiatarianism. How did the
advocates of each view the age of the earth? On what was the age based?