Student Pre/Post Test
8th Grade, Geology
This test consists of multiple choice and short answer questions (20 total
questions). Place your answers on the answer sheet provided.
Use the following picture to answer questions 1 and 2:
A
B
C
1. The picture above shows the three main compositional layers of Earth. Where is it the
hottest?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Layer A
Layer B
Layer C
All three layers are the same temperature.
2. Using the picture above, which of the following correctly labels the layers of Earth (A,
B, C)?
a.
b.
c.
d.
mantle, core, crust
atmosphere, crust, equator
crust, mantle, core
nucleus, continent, core
3. Which BEST describes the surface of Earth over millions of years?
a. A flat surface is gradually pushed up into higher and higher mountains until Earth is
covered with mountains.
b. High mountains gradually wear down until most of Earth is at sea level.
c. High mountains and flat plains stay side by side for billions of years with little
change.
d. High mountains gradually wear down as new mountains are formed over and over
again.
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4. If the locations of earthquakes over the past ten years were plotted on a world map,
which of the following would be observed?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Earthquakes occur with the same frequency everywhere on Earth.
Earthquakes generally occur along the edges of tectonic plates.
Earthquakes most frequently occur near the middle of continents.
Earthquakes do not seem to occur in any consistent pattern.
Questions 5 and 6 refer to the topographic map below, which shows Willow Hill
(elevation 312 feet) and Hobbes Creek. On the map, each contour line represents
20 feet of elevation.
5. What is the elevation at point X?
a.
b.
c.
d.
300 feet
280 feet
250 feet
240 feet
6. Which side of Willow Hill has the most gradual slope?
a.
b.
c.
d.
North side
West side
South side
East side
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7. Which diagram BEST shows what usually happens when an ocean plate and a
continental plate move towards each other?
OCEANIC
PLATE
CONTINENTAL
PLATE
OCEANIC
PLATE
a.
OCEANIC
PLATE
b.
CONTINENTAL
PLATE
c.
CONTINENTAL
PLATE
OCEANIC
PLATE
CONTINENTAL
PLATE
d.
8. Which BEST describes the movement of the plates that make up Earth’s surface over
millions of years?
a.
b.
c.
d.
They have been continually moving.
They moved for millions of years but have now stopped.
They stayed the same for millions of years but are now moving.
They have never moved.
9. Which model shows the lithosphere and asthenosphere motions (arrows) most
typically associated with the crustal features shown in the diagram?
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Island Arc
Island Arc
Mid-ocean ridge
Volcano
OCEAN PLATE
Mid-ocean ridge
Volcano
OCEAN
PLATE
OCEAN PLATE
OCEAN PLATE
OCEAN
PLATE
OCEAN
PLATE
b.
a.
Island Arc
Island Arc
Mid-ocean ridge
Volcano
OCEAN PLATE
Mid-ocean ridge
Volcano
OCEAN
PLATE
OCEAN PLATE
OCEAN PLATE
OCEAN PLATE
OCEAN
PLATE
d.
c.
10. According to the diagram above, the arrows shown in the asthenosphere represent
the slow circulation of the mantle by a process called _____________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
insolation
conduction
convection
radiation
11. The map shows the African and South American
continents, the South Atlantic Ocean between them,
and the mid-ocean ridge and transform faults
associated with this ocean. Locations A and D are
on the continents. Locations B and C are on the
ocean floor.
Which table BEST shows the relative densities of
the crustal bedrock at locations A, B, C, and D?
Relative Densities of Crust
More Dense Less Dense
A, B
C, D
Relative Densities of Crust
More Dense Less Dense
B, C
A, D
Relative Densities of Crust
More Dense Less Dense
C, D
A, B
Relative Densities of Crust
More Dense Less Dense
A, D
B, C
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12. The map shows Iceland, an island country
located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Four
locations are represented by the letters A
through D.
The youngest volcanic rock is most likely found
at which location?
a.
b.
c.
d.
A
B
C
D
13. The diagram below shows land features that have been disrupted by an earthquake.
Which type of crustal deformation most likely caused the displacement of surface
features in this area?
a.
b.
c.
d.
vertical displacement of rock along a normal fault
folding of rock
subduction of oceanic crust
lateral displacement of rock along a transform fault
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14. The map below shows the Atlantic Ocean divided into zones A, B, C, and D. The
Mid-Atlantic Ridge is located between zones B and C.
Which graph best represents the geologic age of the surface bedrock on the ocean
bottom?
a.
b.
c.
d.
15. Intraplate oceanic volcanoes such as the Hawaiian Islands form as a result of
_____.
a.
b.
c.
d.
a divergent boundary between two lithospheric plates
a convergent boundary between two lithospheric plates
the movement of an oceanic lithospheric plate over a hot spot
a transform boundary along a mid-ocean ridge.
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16. The map to the right depicts the distances
from three seismic stations (X, Y, Z) to the
epicenter of an earthquake. A coordinate
system has been placed on the map to
describe locations.
On the map, which location is closest to
the epicenter of the earthquake?
a.
b.
c.
d.
E–5
G–1
H–3
H–8
17. The seismogram below shows a 26-minute long record of the seismic waves
created by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that were recorded by a
seismograph station in Germany, over 14,000 km away. Approximately how much
time elapsed between the first arrival of P waves and the first arrival of S waves?
a.
b.
c.
d.
60 seconds
4 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
18. Three locations (A, B, and C) record earthquake intensity and earthquake
magnitude for the same earthquake. Location A is located closest to the epicenter
and Location C is farthest away. The intensity values are greatest at _____ and the
earthquake magnitude (calculated using seismograms from each location)
___________________.
a. Location A; is the same at each location.
b. Location C; is the same for each location.
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c. Location A; decreases with distance from the epicenter.
d. Location C; decreases with distance from the epicenter.
19. Changes in pressure and/or temperature can cause rocks and minerals to change
their composition and/or state. High temperature changes that involve melting of rocks
is called __________, and high temperature changes that do not involve melting of
rocks is called __________.
a. sedimentation, magmatism
b. metamorphism, magmatism
c. magmatism, metamorphism
d. metamorphism, sedimentation
20. Which of the following materials is NOT primarily derived from rocks?
a. plastic
b. steel
c. timber
d. brass
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