Earth and Space Science Flashcards
Earth and Space science bowl questions
1) What is the name of the preserved remains, traces, or evidence of organisms that were formerly alive, often found in rocks and other geologic deposits?
Fossil
2) Fossils are most often found in what type of rock?
W) Igneous (read as: IG-nee-us)
X) Metamorphic
Y) Sedimentary
Z) Granitic
Y: Sedimentary
3) The three components required for an oil reservoir to form are a source rock, a porous and permeable reservoir rock, and…
Seal and trap
4) Deposition of primarily which compound leads to the formation of stalactites and stalagmites in caves?
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Limestone caves, where most stalactites and stalagmites are found, are mainly composed of calcite, a common mineral found in sedimentary rocks. Calcite molecules are made of calcium and carbonate ions, and are referred to as CaCO3, or calcium carbonate.
5) What type of boundary is described as two lithospheric plates moving toward one another and colliding?
Convergent
6) The largest volcano on Mars is about 15 miles above the surrounding planes. What is the name of this volcano?
Olympus Mons
7) Which of the following is NOT something a river can do to rock?
W) Cut down through hundreds of meters of rock
X) Polish rock
Y) Transport rock hundreds of miles
Z) Melt rock
Z: Melt rock
8) Thousands of rivers drain the continental United States. These rivers primarily drain into which three bodies of water?
Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico
9) Which of the following describes how sea ice is different from continental ice?
W) Continental ice is denser than sea ice
X) Sea ice is saline while continental ice is fresh
Y) Sea ice floats on the water while continental ice sits on land
Z) Sea ice is constantly changing while continental ice remains the same
Y: Sea ice floats on the water while continental ice sits on land
10) Which of the following characteristics is the least reliable when identifying minerals?
W) Color
X) Steak
Y) Cleavage
Z) Hardness
W: Color
11) What mineral characteristic is defined as a mineral’s ability to break along preexisting planes of weakness?
Cleavage
A cleavage plane is a plane of structural weakness along which a mineral is likely to split smoothly. Cleavage thus refers to the splitting of a crystal between two parallel atomic planes.
12) Which of the following is NOT true about groundwater?
W) It never freezes
X) It ultimately flows to the ocean
Y) It is replenished by surface water from streams, precipitation and rivers
Z) It can be depleted by humans in a particular region
W: It never freezes
13) In some regions of the U.S., sinkholes form in the bedrock when rocks are naturally dissolved by circulating ground water. Name a rock type which can dissolve, collapsing to form spaces and caverns deep underground.
Carbonate
14) What is the term used to describe someone who draws maps?
W) Graphic designer
X) Meteorologist
Y) Geoscientist
Z) Cartographer
Z: Cartographer
15) What type of igneous rock forms underground, cools slowly, and can be identified by its large grain sizes and phaneritic texture?
Plutonic
16) Meteorology is the study of:
W) Meteors
X) Weather
Y) Space
Z) Rocks
X: Weather
17) Along with tectonic forces, weathering and erosion, which of the following process also helped to shape landforms on Earth today?
W) Condensation
X) Upwelling
Y) Deposition
Z) Transpiration
Y: Deposition
18) What is the name given to the supercontinent believed to have existed around 250 million years ago, before the continents split apart and drifted to where they are today?
Pangaea
19) Rank the seven continents in order from largest to smallest area.
Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia
20) Which of the following is the approximate age of the Universe in years?
W) 3 million
X) 1 billion
Y) 5 billion
Z) 14 billion
Z: 14 billion
21) Name the current geologic era.
Cenozoic
22) Where on Earth would sunrise and sunset occur at approximately the same times all year round?
Equator
23) If you see part of the moon one night, then three nights later you can see more of it, you know that the moon is:
W) Waning
X) Waxing
Y) Gibbous
Z) Full
X: Waxing
24) Which of the following best describes what drives plate tectonics?
W) Energy from the Sun driving ocean currents and plates
X) Heat from the Earth’s interior driving convection in the mantle
Y) Scientists have not yet developed a robust theory but some leading researchers are linking it to ocean currents
Z) Earthquakes drive plate tectonics, volcanism, and global wind systems
X: Heat from the Earth’s interior driving convection in the mantle
25) Which of the following best describes what kinds of rocks are formed because of plate tectonics?
W) Volcanic rocks only
X) Igneous (read as: IG-nee-ehs), metamorphic, and sedimentary
Y) Sandstones and marble
Z) Coal and fossil fuels
X: Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary
26) What is the SI unit for pressure?
Pascal
27) Why is it winter in the northern hemisphere when it is summer in the southern hemisphere?
W) The manner in which the Earth rotates regulates the seasons on Earth
X) The northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun when the southern hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun
Y) Because of the Earth’s revolution, each hemisphere experiences summer when it is closest to the Sun and winter when it is further away
Z) Because of the Earth’s rotation, seasons are regulated by photoperiods
X: The northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun when the southern hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun
28) Rocks vary greatly in density. Which well-known rock is less dense than water?
Pumice
29) What type of front forms when a cold front overtakes a warm front?
Occluded front
30) On which day does daylight last for 24 hours at the Arctic Circle?
X: Summer solstice
31) What acid is formed when carbon dioxide is dissolved into water?
Carbonic acid
32) Through what medium can all kinds of earthquake waves travel?
W) Plasma
X) Liquids
Y) Gases
Z) Solids
Z: Solids
33) When the Earth’s interior finally cools, which of the following will stop?
W) Water cycle
X) Weathering and erosion
Y) Plate tectonics
Z) Solar energy reaching Earth
Y: Plate tectonics
34) What greenhouse gas has the greatest impact on Earth’s climate?
CFC (Chloro Floro Carbon)
35) Without a greenhouse effect, what would be Earth’s approximate average temperature in degrees Celsius?
W) -18
X) -8
Y) 8
Z) 18
W: -18
36) There are two groups of planets, terrestrial and Jovian, in our Solar System. Terrestrial planets have which of the following characteristics?
W) Few moons, located near the asteroid belt, no solid surfaces, extremely cold
X) Located relatively far from the Sun, gaseous, largest planets in the Solar System
Y) Rich in rock, relatively very large in size, many moons, extremely high temperature at the surface
Z) Located relatively close to the Sun, relatively small in size, iron-rich, solid, few or no moons
Z: Located relatively close to the Sun, relatively small in size, iron-rich, solid, few or no moons
37) Consider the following facts: Neptune is greater than 17 times more massive than Earth and orbits the Sun at less than 20% of the speed that Earth travels in its orbit. Also, Neptune is spinning almost 6 times faster than Earth. How does Neptune’s day length compare to Earth’s?
It is shorter than an Earth day
38) What is the SI unit for temperature?
Kelvin
39) Which of the following is NOT an SI unit?
W) Meter
X) Kilogram
Y) Liter
Z) Ampere
Y: Liter
40) Which of the following minerals is the softest?
W) Quartz
X) Diamond
Y) Talc
Z) Iron
Y: Talc
41) Greenhouse gases heat the atmosphere by allowing sunlight to pass through while trapping heat. Which of the following planets does NOT have an atmosphere that contains greenhouse gases?
W) Earth
X) Venus
Y) Mars
Z) Mercury
Z: Mercury
42) Which of the following statements is NOT true about Mercury?
W) Mercury is the second densest planet in the solar system
X) Mercury travels around the Sun faster than any other planet
Y) Mercury has no magnetic field
Z) Mercury has been visited by spacecraft
Y: Mercury has no magnetic field
43) Which of the following is NOT a moon of Jupiter?
W) Titan
X) Io
Y) Europa
Z) Callisto
W: Titan
44) Which of the following statements is NOT true about Jupiter’s moon Europa?
W) It was discovered by Galileo
X) Its atmosphere is primarily composed of methane
Y) It orbits Jupiter every 3 and a half days
Z) It has a deep salty ocean which is frozen over
X: Its atmosphere is primarily composed of methane
45) The general paths of storm systems that travel across the continental United States are primarily driven by:
W) Ocean currents
X) Local winds
Y) Mountains
Z) The jet stream
Z: The jet stream
46) The jet stream separates major air masses over the central continental U.S. The high pressure air mass to the north of the jet stream has which of the following characteristics in winter?
W) Warm and humid
X) Warm and dry
Y) Cold and humid
Z) Cold and dry
Z: Cold and dry
47) What is a meteorite?
W) An asteroid
X) A kind of comet
Y) A natural particle from space that vaporizes upon entering Earth’s atmosphere
Z) A natural particle from space that survives impact with the Earth’s surface
Z: A natural particle from space that survives impact with the Earth’s surface
48) Sea ice is formed by frozen seawater, which contains salt. At what temperature, in Celsius, will sea ice freeze?
W) -11.20
X) -1.8
Y) 0
Z) +0.001
X: -1.8
49) Which of the following is the term for the swampy area where a river valley meets the sea?
W) Playa
X) Trench
Y) Spit
Z) Estuary
Z: Estuary
50) When fresh water streams meet the salty ocean, water of intermediate salinity forms. What term is used to describe this type of water?
Brackish
51) Which of the following sedimentary rocks is often formed in a tropical ocean?
W) Sandstone
X) Limestone
Y) Breccia
Z) Shale
X: Limestone
52) Which of the following types of physical weathering is referred to as onion skin weathering, where concentric shells of weathered material form around a rock?
W) Freeze/thaw
X) Exfoliation
Y) Unloading
Z) Thermal expansion
X: Exfoliation
53) Which of the following statements about heating air is true?
W) Air over land is heated faster than air over water at the same location
X) Air over a light colored sandy beach is heated to a higher temperature than air over the black asphalted parking lot
Y) Air over water is heated faster than air over land at the same location
Z) Air over ice is heated faster than air over water at the same location
W: Air over land is heated faster than air over water at the same location
54) You experience an ocean breeze when you stand on the beach on a summer afternoon because:
W) Wind always comes into land off the water because air moves more over the ocean
X) Air currents are stronger over land
Y) Air over land is heated more, causing it to rise and make room for the cooler ocean air
Z) Air over water is heated during the day, rises, and then flows inland to the land, where the air is cooler
Y: Air over land is heated more, causing it to rise and make room for the cooler ocean air
55) Glaciers can have quite an effect on Earth’s surface. They can:
W) Stop volcanoes from erupting
X) Carve away rock from mountains
Y) Sink to the bottom of the ocean then grow until they reach the surface
Z) Create new mountain ranges
X: Carve rock away from mountains
56) Which of the following statements is true about glaciers?
W) Glaciers are generally full of rocks and sediments and can move these objects far from their sources
X) When a glacier retreats, it moves backwards
Y) Humans did not exist when glaciers were covering much of North America
Z) There is more glacial ice today than there has been in the past 100 years
W: Glaciers are generally full of rocks and sediments and can move these objects far from their sources
57) Two planets of the same mass are orbiting around the same star. Planet A is three times as far away from the star as Planet B. How does the star’s gravitational force on Planet A compare to the gravitational force on Planet B?
1/9
58) The radius of Planet C is close to half that of Earth, and both have the same average density. Compared to Earth’s gravitational acceleration at the surface, approximately what will Planet C’s gravity be at its surface?
W) 4 g
X) g/4
Y) g
Z) g/2
Z: g/2
59) As water freezes it often supercools, which means that it:
W) Remains liquid below the freezing point
X) Cools very quickly
Y) Rapidly cools the surrounding environment
Z) Becomes a solid above the freezing point
W: Remains liquid below the freezing point
60) As water begins changing phase from liquid to solid, what is happening with the energy of the system, including the ice and the surrounding water?
W) No energy is being exchanged
X) Energy from the forming ice is given off to the surrounding water
Y) Energy from the surrounding water is given off to the forming ice
Z) The whole system loses energy rapidly, becoming supercooled
X: Energy from the forming ice is given off to the surrounding water
61) What is the term for the structural geologic feature in which there is an increased dip in otherwise gently dipping strata?
Monocline
62) What most likely constitutes the majority of the Earth’s center, also known as the inner core?
W) Hydrogen gas
X) Molten rock
Y) Molten iron
Z) Solid iron
Z: Solid iron
63) Which of the following is an index mineral?
W) Chalcopyrite
X) Andalusite
Y) Azurite
Z) Sphene
X: Andalusite
64) What is the original energy source that drives the transfer of water in the ocean to water vapor in the atmosphere?
W) The Sun
X) Nuclear energy
Y) Wind power
Z) Tidal power
W: The Sun
65) A cubic meter of H2O has the greatest amount of energy in which of the following situations?
W) Ice in a Rocky Mountain glacier
X) Water vapor in an air mass over Kansas
Y) Water in the Gulf of Mexico
Z) Water in Lake Michigan
X: Water vapor in an air mass over Kansas
66) Although a number of environmental factors help shape land features, identify the one factor that typically produces valleys with a U-shape.
Valley glaciers
67) Sixteen thousand years ago, the landscape of the Midwest was very different than it is today. Glaciers were retreating, but much of the Midwestern United States was under ice. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Midwest 16,000 years ago?
W) Spruce grew throughout much of the Midwest south of the glaciers
X) Summers were significantly cooler than they are today
Y) Winter temperatures were dramatically cooler than they are today
Z) Ground sloths browsed on trees and shrubs
Y: Winter temperatures were dramatically cooler than they are today
68) Why couldn’t sailing explorers from Europe and Asia sail directly along the latitude that cuts across the middle of the North Atlantic or North Pacific to get to America?
W) Wind and water currents do not flow directly along the latitude that cuts across the middle of these oceans
X) Winds blow so hard near the middle of the ocean that it is impossible to maintain a straight course
Y) Near the center of the oceans, the winds often blow in one direction, while the water currents flow in the opposite direction, making it difficult to traverse
Z) The currents are so strong in the middle of the gyres that it is difficult to sail through them
W: Wind and water currents do not flow directly along the latitude that cuts across the middle of these oceans
69) What is the source of the northeast trade winds in the North Atlantic?
W) Florida
X) North Africa
Y) Brazil
Z) Canada
X: North Africa
70) In which of the three spheres of Earth does life exist throughout much of the sphere?
Hydrosphere
71) Which of the following lists the four upper spheres of Earth in the correct order of their chronological development?
W) Atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere
X) Hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere
Y) Lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere
Z) Biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere
Y: Lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere
72) Which of the following was a storm observed on Saturn – a large, bright, convective storm that appeared in Saturn’s southern hemisphere?
W) Dust storms
X) Great Dark Spot
Y) Dragon Storm
Z) Great Red Spot
Y: Dragon storm
73) The Dragon Storm on Saturn emitted radiation similar to that generated by lightning on Earth. In what part of the electromagnetic spectrum are these emissions found?
Radio
74) What is the name for the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid or comet where it is nearest to the Sun?
Perihelion
75) If the Earth’s axis lost its tilt, which of the following would least likely occur?
W) Changes in ocean surface currents
X) Increased amount of seasonal changes across the planet
Y) Cooler temperatures in winter and hotter temperatures in summer
Z) Days and nights which are equal throughout the entire year across the planet
Y: Cooler temperatures in winter and hotter temperatures in summer
76) What does a barometer measure?
Atmospheric pressure
77) Which of the following is NOT evidence that supports the notion of Snowball Earth?
W) Stable concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide
X) Dropstones in tropical waters
Y) Large clay deposits
Z) Cap carbonates
W: Stable concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide
78) Of the following locations, where on the Earth’s surface are you closest to the center of the Earth?
W) The geographic North Pole
X) The equator
Y) Costa Rica
Z) Saudi Arabia
W: The geographic North Pole
79) Which of the following describes the temperature and productivity of surface ocean water in an upwelling zone?
W) High temperature and low productivity
X) High temperature and high productivity
Y) Low temperature and high productivity
Z) Low temperature and low productivity
Y: low temperature and high productivity
80) Which of the following choices is NOT a condition required for the formation of a thunderstorm?
W) Humid air in low- to mid-troposphere
X) Atmospheric instability
Y) Relatively low temperatures
Z) A source of uplift
Y: relatively low temperatures
81) What is the name for an elongated cluster of thunderstorm cells that is accompanied by a continuous gust front at the line’s leading edge?
Squall line
82) About what percentage of worldwide rainfall occurs in the tropics? W) 14% X) 45% Y) 66% Z) 85%
Y: 66%
83) The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite was launched in 1997 with the primary mission of measuring rainfall from space using passive microwave and active radar sensors. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of TRMM?
W) Increased understanding of the water cycle
X) Increased understanding of the heat release associated with rainfall
Y) Increased understanding of contrails
Z) Better likelihood of accurate climate models
Y: Increased understanding if contrails
84) If Jupiter is approximately 5 times further from the Sun than the Earth, what fraction of the intensity of light does it receive relative to the Earth?
1/25
85) If you see the Moon in the western sky just above the setting Sun, what is the Moon’s phase?
W) New moon
X) Full moon
Y) Gibbous
Z) Waxing crescent
Z: waxing crescent
86) Which north or south latitude experiences the greatest variation in sun exposure over the course of the year?
W) 0°
X) 30°
Y) 60°
Z) 90°
Z: 90°
87) What geological feature is responsible for the dark spots on the moon?
Solid pools of lava
88) Marcellus shale occurs in the subsurface under several states. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
W) Indiana
X) Ohio
Y) Pennsylvania
Z) West Virginia
W: Indiana
89) Is the radius of Mars 1/4, 1/2, 2, or 4 times the size of Earth’s radius?
1/2
90) Name the two moons which orbit Mars.
Deimos and Phobos
91) Extrusions from a volcano produce what types of rock?
Igneous
92) Which of the following is not a form of metamorphic rock: slate, marble, gypsum, or gneiss (read as: NYS)?
Gypsum
93) Which of the three main rock types contains most of the fossil fuels we use as energy resources today?
Sedimentary rock
94) What fossil fuel is responsible for most of the acid rain in the United States?
W) Oil
X) Natural Gas
Y) Coal
Z) Oil Shale
Y: Coal
95) Which of the following natural disasters is NOT commonly caused by the movement of tectonic plates?
W) Volcanoes
X) Earthquakes
Y) Hurricanes
Z) Tsunamis
Y: Hurricanes
96) Which of the following environmental conditions is NOT commonly associated with hurricanes?
W) Warm ocean waters
X) Further than 300 miles from the equator
Y) Greater than 25 miles per hour change in wind speed between the surface and upper troposphere
Z) Moist air near the mid-level of the troposphere
Y: Greater than 25 miles per hour change in wind speed between the surface and upper troposphere
97) What atmospheric trace gas is a product of aerobic respiration?
Carbon dioxide
98) Which of the following activities will increase your carbon footprint?
W) Eating a more beef-rich diet
X) Eating a more local vegetarian diet
Y) Keeping your family’s car tires inflated to the correct level
Z) Using public transportation like buses and trains
W: Eating a more beef-rich diet
99) Which of the following is least likely to be impacted by climate change?
W) Atmosphere
X) Hydrosphere
Y) Cryosphere
Z) Mantle
Z: mantle
100) What is the name of a fracture or zone of fractures in the Earth that allows large masses of rocks to move relative to each other?
Fault
101) Which of the following is used to describe a thrust fault?
W) Divergent
X) Transverse
Y) Spreading
Z) Convergent
Z: Convergent
102) Which of the following well types is used to determine whether oil or gas is present: exploration, confirmation, or development?
Exploration
103) What is the purpose of a confirmation well?
W) To verify that the site will physically support a drilling platform
X) To verify that the oil is accessible
Y) To verify that a formation has enough hydrocarbons to make it worth developing
Z) To verify that the cost of extricating the oil will not be too high
Y
104) Which of the following is NOT a mineral?
W) Quartz
X) Marble
Y) Feldspar
Z) Calcite
X
105) Which of the following is a type of metamorphic rock that is created from sandstone?
W) Andesite
X) Schist
Y) Gneiss
Z) Quartzite
Z
106) Which of the following is an inevitable consequence of the global climate change we are facing today?
W) Extinction of humans
X) Rise in sea level
Y) World war
Z) Closing down of Arctic waterways
X
107) Which part of Earth’s atmosphere is farthest from Earth’s surface?
W) Stratosphere
X) Exosphere
Y) Thermosphere
Z) Troposphere
X
108) Lake Vostok, thought to be a good analogue for an under-ice ocean environment on Europa, can be found underneath glacial ice on which continent?
Antarctica
109) Approximately what percent of Earth’s water is in the form of ice?
W) 1.6 %
X) 6.6 %
Y) 11.6 %
Z) 16.6 %
W
110) The Mohorovičić (read as: mōe-HOH-rōe-vi-tsik) discontinuity, commonly referred to as the Moho discontinuity, defines a contrast in seismic velocity that is widely accepted to be the boundary between the mantle and what layer?
Crust
111) The Earth’s core is believed to be composed primarily of what element?
Iron
112) Due to the construction of the Hoover Dam, the delta of what river has been affected by changes in water flow?
Colorado River
113) What are the ecosystems called that are located around rivers and streams, linking water to dry land?
Riparian zones
114) Which of the following oceanic currents prevents the climate of Northern Europe from being much colder?
W) Circumpolar Current
X) Kuroshio Current
Y) North Pacific Current
Z) Gulf Stream
Z
115) Which of the following statements is NOT true about weather or climate?
W) The terms weather is used to describe atmospheric conditions over a short period of time in a particular area
X) Climate is the average weather pattern over many years in a particular area
Y) Climate causes weather
Z) Climate variability can be related to periodic changes such as El Niño or La Niña
Y
116) Which of the following is true about the Moon?
W) It crosses our sky along the same path every night
X) It always rises in the west
Y) It changes size in our sky as it passes from horizon to zenith to the other horizon
Z) It gives off no light of its own
Z
117) A large portion of the bottom of the Great Salt Lake is covered by smooth, soft and rounded sand, often used in home aquaria. What kind of sand is it?
Oolitic
118) What is the name of the climate phenomena ?
La niña
119) El Niño and La Niña conditions are a result of surface temperature anomalies in which ocean basin?
Pacific ocean
120) In the Appalachian Mountains, canaries were historically used to assess air quality while people extracted a commonly found energy-producing mineral resource. Name this resource.
Coal
121) The Appalachian Mountains stretch from Newfoundland in the north to which two states in the south?
Alabama and Georgia
122) What type of feature would you least expect to find in an arid environment?
W) Dunes
X) Evaporites
Y) Point bar
Z) Alluvial fan
Y
123) What is the general term for the alteration of land to desert-like conditions as the result of human activities?
Desertification
124) What geologic feature gives the Ring of Fire its name?
Volcanoes
125) What is the primary component of Saturn’s rings?
Water ice
126) Marble is the metamorphic product of which sedimentary rock?
Limestone
127) Chemically, what is the difference between limestone and dolomite?
W) Limestone is a carbonate rock containing only calcium, while dolomite contains both calcium and magnesium
X) Limestone is a carbonate rock containing only magnesium, while dolomite contains only calcium
Y) Limestone is a carbonate rock containing both calcium and magnesium, while dolomite contains only calcium
Z) Limestone is a carbonate rock containing only calcium, while dolomite contains only magnesium
W
128) In which direction do winds circulate during a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere?
Counter clockwise
129) Hurricane winds rotate in the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere due to:
W) The cyclonic force
X) The Coriolis effect
Y) Ocean temperature differences
Z) The presence of less land in the Southern Hemisphere
X
130) Which of the following is NOT true about carbon dioxide?
W) It has been present in Earth’s atmosphere for billions of years
X) The present amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is completely due to natural causes
Y) Increased emissions of carbon dioxide from human industrial activities are causing global climate change
Z) On Earth, it is emitted by humans, most other animals and plants
X
131) What gas makes up the majority of our atmosphere?
Nitrogen
132) In which of the following locations are you most likely to find sandstone rock formations?
W) Areas with a long history of earthquakes
X) Ancient beaches or deserts
Y) Swamps formed within the last thousand years
Z) Areas with a history of lava deposition
X
133) Name the insoluble siliceous nodules that can form within limestone.
Chert
134) What is the approximate salinity of the ocean in parts per thousand?
W) 15
X) 25
Y) 35
Z) 45
Y
135) The salinity of the ocean is rarely measured directly. What characteristic of the water is measured as a proxy for salinity?
Conductivity
136) Pikes Peak in the Rockies, Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills, Stone Mountain in Georgia, and Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada are all areas where large quantities of what kind of rock are exposed at the surface?
Granite
137) Which of the following minerals is present in the highest concentrations in granite?
W) Pyroxene
X) Hornblende
Y) Quartz
Z) Plagioclase feldspar
Y
138) If convection currents in the mantle stopped, which of the following would likely happen?
W) The number of earthquakes would increase
X) The number of earthquakes would stay the same
Y) Earthquakes would get stronger
Z) The number of earthquakes would decrease
Z
139) In what state of matter are convection currents unable to transfer heat?
Solid
140) Shortly after its formation, Earth’s moon was:
W) Closer to Earth than it is now
X) Farther from Earth than it is now
Y) The same distance from Earth as it is now
Z) Oscillating between further from and closer to Earth
W
141) What rock type would you not expect to find on the Moon?
W) Rock similar in composition to Earth’s mantle
X) Layered sedimentary rock
Y) Igneous rock
Z) Rock similar in composition to a metallic meteor
X
142) Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?
W) Oil
X) Hydrogen gas
Y) Natural gas
Z) Coal
X
143) Fossil fuels form through the decomposition of organic materials. You’re studying a map that shows ancient environments. If you went hunting tomorrow for fossil fuels, which of these ancient habitats would you avoid?
W) Desert
X) Swamp
Y) Forest
Z) Coral reef
W
144) Which of the following statements is true about primary producers in the ocean?
W) They are responsible for bringing energy from the physical world into the biological world
X) They are found primarily in tropical coral reef environments in equatorial waters
Y) They are also referred to as primary consumers in an ecosystem model
Z) They include sharks and large bony fishes
W
145) Which of the following is true about deep mid-ocean ridge ecosystems?
W) There are no primary producers, only consumers and decomposers
X) The organisms are highly mobile, ascending daily to the ocean surface to feed
Y) The source of energy is chemical energy from hydrothermal vents of the seafloor
Z) The organisms have the most dynamic and complex coloring on their bodies so they can be visible at depth
Y
146) Most of the photons emitted by our sun fall in which pair of ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum?
W) Visible light and infrared
X) Radio and X-ray
Y) Gamma and infrared
Z) Ultraviolet and visible
W
147) Which of the following is true about divergent plate boundaries where the lithosphere is being pushed and pulled apart?
W) They only occur along the seafloor
X) They are sites of the most explosive volcanism known on earth
Y) They are no longer active but there is evidence of volcanism from millions of years ago
Z) Magma from the mantle is exposed at the surface and cools to form new crust
Z
148) Why are there no deep-sea trenches off the east coast of the United States?
W) There are no trenches in the Atlantic Ocean; trenches exist only in the Pacific Ocean
X) The Appalachian Mountains are volcanic mountains and trenches are not associated with volcanism
Y) The eastern coast of the United States is in the middle of the North American Plate, not at a plate margin where trenches can occur
Z) The deep ocean trenches have been filled with sediments from the many rivers that drain the U.S.
Y
149) Which of the following processes increases salinity in surface waters of the ocean?
W) High levels of evaporation
X) Melting sea ice
Y) High levels of precipitation
Z) Abundance of ocean life
W
150) In which of the following regions of the world will you likely find surface ocean water that is high in salinity and temperature but low in productivity?
W) Middle of the Atlantic, north of the equatorial waters
X) North Pacific Ocean, near the shoreline
Y) Indian Ocean, between India and Africa (Arabian Sea)
Z) Coral reefs, off the northeast coast of Australia
W
151) Which of the following is true about a full lunar eclipse?
W) They occur every month
X) They tend to occur in the same months as solar eclipses
Y) They only occur when the Moon is at perigee, closest to Earth
Z) Everyone on the night side of Earth with a clear sky can see the lunar eclipse
Z
152) What is primarily responsible for the blue clouds of Neptune?
Methane
153) Which of the following is true about constellations?
W) They are made up of stars that not only appear close together but that are actually physically close together in space
X) They are all visible throughout the year from all points on Earth’s surface
Y) They may serve as reference points in the night sky
Z) The locations of the stars in the constellations have changed significantly since the times of ancient Greeks
Y
154) Our Solar System orbits the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. One full revolution takes about 200-250 million years. The last time our solar system was where it is now, what was occurring here on Earth?
W) Humans were trying to survive with dinosaurs
X) Pangaea was just breaking up into the continents we know today
Y) There were no living organisms on Earth yet
Z) There were no animals living on land but the seas were full of life
X
155) What happens to the wastewater in a septic tank?
W) It is removed weekly by solid waste management companies along with curbside trash pickup
X) It is piped into the town’s sewer system
Y) It stays in the septic tank until it is full and it then pumped out about every 50 years
Z) It is released into a pond or leach field where it can either evaporate or join groundwater
Z
156) What is the name of the tide that has the lowest high tide and highest low tide?
Neap tide
157) The San Andreas Fault, which runs along most of the coast of California, is an example of what type of fault: normal, thrust, or strike-slip?
Strike-slip
158) Most of the mass of Earth’s atmosphere is located in which of the following layers?
W) Troposphere
X) Mesosphere
Y) Thermosphere
Z) Stratosphere
W
159) Which of the following is true about air over the north and south poles?
W) It evaporates at a much faster rate than air found elsewhere
X) It rises, creating a region of high snowfall
Y) It freezes and falls to earth as ice, forming the ice sheets
Z) It sinks, creating a high pressure system near the surface
Z
160) Limestone is largely composed of which two minerals?
Calcite and Aragonite
161) Diamonds are formed when carbon-based material is exposed to high pressures and comparatively low temperatures. Where are these two types of environments found on Earth?
Lithospheric mantle
162) What is the name for the two times of year when the nighttime and daylight portions of a day are of approximately equal lengths?
Equinox
163) What is the approximate air pressure at the surface of the Earth in pascals?
W) 5,000
X) 10,000
Y) 100,000
Z) 500,000
Y
164) Which of the following depicts an accurate relationship between river water and groundwater within one watershed area?
W) River water may be polluted but groundwater lacks pollutants
X) They are the same, though the water may pick up slightly different chemicals and minerals as it moves through the ground
Y) Groundwater can be contaminated by septic tanks but rivers cannot
Z) Rivers flow into the ocean but groundwater cannot
X
165) Which of the following determines the size of the image formed by a telescope?
W) The focal length of the main lens or mirror
X) The thickness of the lens
Y) The size of the aperture
Z) The size of the mirror
W
166) By name or number, identify all of the following four moon phases in which a neap tide can occur: 1) first quarter, 2) last quarter, 3) new moon, 4) full moon.
First and last quarter
167) In which geologic period did reptiles first appear in Earth’s history?
Carboniferous
168) The stratopause is the boundary between which two atmospheric layers?
Stratosphere and Mesosphere
169) Which of the following is a depositional feature formed by a glacier?
W) Arête
X) Horn
Y) Cirque
Z) Kame
Z
170) Iceland is very tectonically active; which of the following does NOT contribute to its interesting geologic and tectonic past and present?
W) Location atop a divergent boundary
X) Location adjacent to a subduction zone
Y) Location atop a hot spot
Z) Abundant transform faults
X
171) Which of the following events are associated with the highest tides?
W) Spring tides
X) Neap tides
Y) Slack tides
Z) Ebb tides
W
172) By name or number, rank the following sedimentary rocks in order of increasing grain size: 1) conglomerate, 2) sandstone, 3) shale.
Shale, sandstone, conglomerate
173) Which of the following minerals has the highest density?
W) Chromite
X) Galena
Y) Platinum
Z) Pyrite
Y
174) Kyanite is a metamorphic mineral that forms at temperatures greater than 600° Celsius. Assuming a geothermal gradient of 20° Celsius per kilometer, what is the minimum depth, in kilometers, at which kyanite will form?
30
175) Which of the following is NOT a present-day lithospheric plate?
W) Philippine
X) Scotia
Y) Arabian
Z) Arctic
Z
176) During the month of January, the Earth moves along its orbit at a rate that is which of the following?
W) Faster than during July
X) The same rate as any other month of the year
Y) Slower than during March or September
Z) The same rate as it is in June
W
177) Which of the following is associated with Karst topography?
W) Fossiliferous sandstones
X) Hydrothermal activity
Y) Large granitic boulders
Z) Sinkholes
Z
178) What is the gradient, in feet per mile, of a stream slope whose highest elevation is 1600 feet to a point with an elevation of 400 feet over a distance of 5 miles?
240
179) What is the term for fractures that result in smooth curved surfaces, such as broken glass?
Conchoidal
180) Give the name of the soft, porous, calcium carbonate spires found in places like Mono Lake in eastern California that formed long ago when calcium-bearing fresh water bubbled up into the alkaline lake rich in carbonates.
Tufa
181) Which of the following represents the rate at which atmospheric gases and particles are moved across a surface?
W) Vertical dispersion
X) Turbulence
Y) Flux
Z) Stratospheric transport
Y
182) By name or number, what is the order, from thinnest to thickest, of the Earth’s: 1) crust, 2) mantle, 3) outer core, and 4) inner core?
Crust, inner core, outer core, mantle
183) What is the name of the large oceanic circulation system that moves cold salty water from the surface to the bottom of the ocean near Greenland?
North Atlantic deep ocean current
184) Unlike algae in lakes, marine algae are more likely to grow rapidly after what element is added to their natural environment?
Iron
185) Which of the following is at the base of the hydrothermal vent community food chain?
W) Symbiotic phytoplankton
X) Chemosynthetic archaea
Y) Marine snow
Z) Photosynthetic bacteria
X
186) What is the term for the sequences of rocks that make up the ocean floor and are composed from top to bottom of pillow basalts, sheeted dikes, gabbro, and peridotite
Ophiolite
187) What is the name for the layer of the ocean in which temperature changes rapidly with depth?
Thermocline
188) What is the process by which physical and chemical changes occur in a sediment after it has been deposited and buried?
Diagenesis
189) A crystal’s habit that is plant-like in shape is called which of the following?
W) Dendritic
X) Bladed
Y) Massive
Z) Reniform
W
190) By name or number, identify all of the following four choices that can appear as silicate mineral structures: 1) single chain, 2) double chain, 3) sheet, 4) three-dimensional framework.
Single chain, double chain, sheet, three dimensional framework
191) Which of the following minerals can create metamorphic structures known as snowball structures?
W) Kyanite
X) Muscovite mica
Y) Garnet
Z) Talc
Y
192) Earth’s most severe extinction event, also called the Great Dying, resulted in the extinction of 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species. This event marks the boundary between what two geological periods?
Permian and Triassic
193) Which of the following is the coldest and densest water in Earth’s oceans?
W) Antarctic bottom water
X) North Atlantic deep water
Y) Atlantic intermediate water
Z) Arctic water
W
194) An igneous rock has a porphyritic texture. Which of the following does this indicate about the cooling history?
W) It cooled in stages, at different levels within the crust
X) It cooled rapidly near the surface
Y) It cooled on the surface and was quenched
Z) It cooled slowly, at one time, at depth
W
195) Bauxite is primarily mined to attain what natural resource?
Aluminum
196) Which of the following is NOT true about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter?
W) The transit time from Earth to Mars was about seven months
X) It has a camera that can spot Martian objects that are as small as a dinner table
Y) It discovered carbon dioxide snow falling on Mars
Z) When it is at its closest range to Earth, it can send data to Earth faster than a cable or DSL home internet connection
Y
197) Both 30° north and 30° south latitude are characterized by zones of which of the following?
W) Surface convergence
X) High pressure
Y) Low pressure
Z) Jet streams
X
198) As ancient seas evaporate, thick layers of which of the following minerals can be formed and later mined for economic use?
W) Galena
X) Halite
Y) Quartz
Z) Diamonds
X
199) Which of the following is NOT one of the six main crystal systems?
W) Monoclinic
X) Cubic
Y) Orthorhombic
Z) Prismatic
Z
200) What are the primary metals associated with the ores hematite and cinnabar, respectively?
Iron and Mercury
201) Which of the following silicate mineral groups has a single-chain silicate structure?
W) Feldspars
X) Micas
Y) Pyroxenes
Z) Amphiboles
Y
202) Correctly match the intrusive rock types, granite, gabbro, and diorite, respectively, with the following extrusive rock types, basalt, andesite, and rhyolite
Granite-Rhyolite, Gabbro-Basalt, Diorite-Andesite
203) Thermohaline circulation is driven by what two seawater traits?
Salinity and temperature
204) Quenching of molten materials is an important step in the formation of which of the following kinds of igneous rock?
W) Pegmatite
X) Obsidian
Y) Chert
Z) Granite
X
205) Isotopes of which of the following elements would allow you to determine the age of the oldest rocks on Earth?
W) Carbon
X) Lead
Y) Iron
Z) Uranium
Z
206) Which of the following is NOT a common mafic silicate mineral?
W) Potassium feldspar
X) Olivine
Y) Pyroxene
Z) Amphibole
W
207) Give the name of the most frequently occurring iron-bearing oxide mineral in soil that has a characteristic yellowish brown color and often forms under cool temperatures, moist soil conditions, and in the presence of comparatively large amounts of organic matter.
Geothite
208) Stromatolites were once very common but are now quite rare. Which of the following is a plausible explanation?
W) Light conditions are no longer favorable for the photosynthetic organisms that form stromatolites
X) Ocean acidification makes the formation of stromatolites difficult
Y) Few places are warm enough for the organisms that form stromatolites
Z) The organisms that produce stromatolites were not able to compete effectively enough with other organisms
Z
209) As sea ice melts, the Earth reflects less sunlight back into space, resulting in further warming and more loss of ice. What kind of feedback relationship is this?
Positive
210) Which of the following rocks likely formed from the lowest temperature melt?
W) Granite
X) Basalt
Y) Diorite
Z) Andesite
W
211) Which of the following types of geologic folds are pointed, not curved, around the axial plane?
W) Recumbent
X) Chevron
Y) Isoclinal
Z) Symmetrical
X
212) On a topographic map, a river runs from east to west. If a north-south-trending contour line crosses the river and forms a V that points to the right, in which direction is the river likely flowing?
West
213) What is the name of the common point around which both the Earth and the Moon revolve?
Barycenter
214) Earth is nearest the Sun around January 3rd. What is the term for this point in Earth’s orbit?
Perihelion
215) In 1849, bones of a beluga whale were discovered in Vermont buried nearly 10 feet below the surface and over 150 miles from the nearest ocean. During which of the following time frames would the whale most likely have died?
W) 6,000 to 7,000 years ago
X) 11,000 to 12,000 years ago
Y) 17,000 to 18,000 years ago
Z) 23,000 to 24,000 years ago
X
216) By name or number, list the following four fossils in chronological order from earliest to most recent according to their first occurrence in geological history: 1) bird, 2) trilobite, 3) dinosaur, 4) eurypterid
Trilobite, Eurypterid, dinosaur, bird
217) Which of the following seas of the Arctic Ocean has observed the greatest loss of ice since 1990?
W) Greenland
X) Laptev
Y) Labrador
Z) Chukchi
Z
218) Which of the following sets of two locations have the most similar latitudes?
W) New York City, New York and London, England
X) Tampa, Florida and Kathmandu, Nepal
Y) Death Valley, California and Boston, Massachusetts
Z) Sydney, Australia and Lima, Peru
Z
219) What product of airplane travel cools Earth’s climate by reflecting incoming solar radiation?
Contrails
220) By name or number, identify all of the following three clay minerals that are important in brick making: 1) kaolinite 2) illite, 3)Montmorillonite
Kaolinite, Illite, Montmorillonite
221) The salinity of ocean water is often determined from its conductivity, measured against the conductivity of which of the following substances dissolved in water?
W) Potassium chloride
X) Sodium chloride
Y) Sodium sulfate
Z) Magnesium sulfate
W
222) What are the three primary ions that contribute to seawater’s salinity?
Chloride, Sodium, and Sulfate
223) What convection-related weather phenomenon results in poleward transport of air from lower latitudes?
Polar vortex
224) Of what mineral are the oldest crystals on Earth composed?
Zirconium Silicate
225) The crew of a fishing vessel on the equator notices that their nets, hanging several meters below the ship, are drifting in the opposite direction of their boat. This is a result of which of the following currents?
W) Equatorial counter current
X) Equatorial undercurrent
Y) Meridional transport current
Z) Atlantic subcurrent
X
226) What is the name of the climatic event that occurred between 12,800 and 11,500 years ago due to the cessation of the North Atlantic Deep Ocean Current?
The younger dryas
227) Kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite, and smectite are all examples of what kind of mineral?
Clay
228) The gradational series that includes the formation of garnet as an intermediate grade metamorphism in pelites is known as what type of metamorphism?
Barrovian
229) High salinities, high oxygen, low silica, and near-freezing temperatures allow seawater to sink, driving global circulation. In which of the following seas would you expect to find this occurring?
W) Weddell Sea
X) Catalan Sea
Y) Sea of Japan
Z) Mediterranean Sea
W
230) What is the name of the failed continental rift zone that began the formation of the Mississippi?
Reelfoot rift
231) Which of the following is NOT a carbonate?
W) Dolomite
X) Aragonite
Y) Malachite
Z) Labradorite
Z
232) Which of the following moons has the highest surface albedo?
W) Phobos
X) Europa
Y) Io
Z) Enceladus
Z
233) Which of the following is NOT a type of fine-grained igneous rock?
W) Rhyolite
X) Peridotite
Y) Komatite
Z) Basalt
X
234) What type of geomorphic feature forms on the outside of a river bend?
Cut bank
235) Which of the following objects is likely to have the lowest albedo?
W) Weathered granite
X) Sea ice
Y) Fresh basalt
Z) Rainforest canopy
Y
236) Which of the following describes when flooding is most likely to occur as the result of a slow moving, relatively long term, moderate rain event?
W) After the rain has ended
X) After it has been raining for about an hour
Y) After it has been raining for a few hours
Z) At the beginning of the rainstorm
W
237) The aurora borealis, or northern lights, would not be observed if Earth lacked which of the following?
W) Oxygen in its atmosphere
X) A moon
Y) A magnetic field
Z) High altitude clouds
Y
238) A convergent fault, such as the large one at the front of the Himalayan Mountains, forms in which type of stress environment?
Compression
239) Mars is observed to have a very thin atmosphere compared to Earth. Which of the following statements does NOT help explain this difference?
W) Mars is further from the Sun than Earth
X) Mars is smaller than Earth
Y) Mars has less geothermal activity than Earth
Z) Mars is cooler than Earth
W
240) What do hatchured lines on a topographic map indicate?
A depression
241) In order for a star to enter a supernova phase, it must be which of the following?
W) Very massive
X) Very young
Y) Very cool
Z) Very distant
W
242) The Sun is now transitioning from a “quiet” portion of the solar cycle to an “active” portion. Which of the following indicates this is occurring?
W) There are much stronger aurora australis than aurora borealis
X) Summer temperatures are higher
Y) There are more sunspots
Z) The speed of the solar wind has increased significantly
Y
243) All except which of the following indicate that glaciers modified a landscape?
W) Arêtes (read as: ah-RATES), cirques, and horns
X) Moraines, drumlins, and kettle lakes
Y) Glacial flour and glacial striations
Z) Permanent rock folding
Z
244) What are the two most abundant elements in Earth’s continental crust?
Oxygen and Silicon
245) A rock is described as a bioclastic sedimentary rock. Of which of following could it be composed?
W) Shell fragments
X) Quartz grains
Y) Peat moss
Z) Massive gypsum
W
246) What are the bulbous cyanobacteria colonies called that are thought to be the oldest fossilized structures known on Earth?
Stromatolites
247) Gamma rays released during the Sun’s fusion would take thousands of years to reach the Sun’s surface from which of the following solar layers?
W) Core
X) Radiative zone
Y) Convective zone
Z) Photosphere
W
248) A pair of binoculars is labeled 7 x 50; the 7 specifies the magnification. What precisely is indicated by the 50?
An aperture of 50 millimeters
249) During what era in the geologic time scale did the majority of life exist in the Earth’s oceans?
Paleozoic
250) Providing your answer in degrees to the nearest tenth, what is the most northerly latitude at which the Sun can be seen directly overhead?
23.5
251) As Earth rotates, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and other constellations in the northern sky appear to circle around what star?
Polaris
252) With regard to the existence of life, which of the following ocean zones is the harshest?
W) Hadal
X) Neritic
Y) Pelagic
Z) Bathyal
W
253) The spectrum of electromagnetic energy emitted by a black body is determined by which of the following?
W) Material
X) Temperature
Y) Size
Z) A combination of material and size
X
254) Early 1800’s scientist Luke Howard first classified what natural atmospheric phenomenon?
Clouds
255) Which of the following rock types is most likely to preserve fossils?
W) Sandstone
X) Shale
Y) Marble
Z) Slate
X
256) What two planets in our solar system do NOT have a moon?
Mercury and Venus
257) Given a parcel of air that is saturated with water, which of the following statements is NOT correct?
W) Its relative humidity is 100%
X) Its dew point is equal to the current temperature
Y) If you raised the temperature, its relative humidity would decrease
Z) If you lowered the temperature, its relative humidity would decrease
Z
258) By name or number, put the following three Earth eons in order from most ancient to most recent: 1) Phanerozoic, 2) Archean, 3) Proterozoic.
Archean, Proterozoic, Phanerozoic
259) If you walked the full extent of each of the following lines, which would be the shortest in length?
W) 0° Latitude
X) 0° Longitude
Y) 45°N Latitude
Z) 45°E Longitude
Y
260) Which of the following pairs of rocks are formed by volcanic froth creating a vesicular texture?
W) Obsidian (read as: ohb-SI-dee-ahn) and pumice
X) Pumice and scoria
Y) Scoria and shale
Z) Feldspar and quartz
X
261) Which of the following is the name of the glacial deposit that is formed as a stream flows underneath a glacier?
W) Drumlin
X) Kame (read as: CAME)
Y) Esker
Z) Erratic
Y
262) Which of the following best represents why two igneous rocks may have the same minerals but different names?
W) Found in different places
X) Different sizes
Y) Different colors
Z) Different textures
Z
263) Where is the water along a stream’s meander expected to move most quickly?
W) Along the bottom waters
X) Along the surface waters
Y) Along the outside bank
Z) Along the inside bank
Y
264) Igneous rocks that contain the last minerals to crystallize from magma, and consist mainly of sodium and potassium feldspars and quartz are said to have which of the following compositions?
W) Lithic
X) Mafic
Y) Felsic
Z) Gneissic
Y
265) Soils that have an abundance of which of the following generally have the greatest rate of permeability?
W) Sand
X) Silt
Y) Clay
Z) Humus
W
266) Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, has an average temperature far below the triple point of water. Instead, it has solid, liquid, and vapor phases of what compound?
Methane
267) What occurs when air is rapidly superheated by lightning and expands, cools, and then contracts?
Thunder
268) Due to the presence of folds in the Appalachian Mountains, what type of drainage would you expect to find there?
Trellis
269) The presence of clays on the surface of Mars strongly suggests the past presence of what substance?
Liquid water
270) You look at a thin section of a sedimentary rock composed of quartz, plagioclase (read as: PLAY-jee-oh-klays), and amphibole (read as: AHM(P)-fi-bōel) grains surrounded by calcite cement. Which of those minerals formed last?
Calcite cement
271) Which of the following nutrients is most likely to benefit photosynthesizers in an upwelling region?
W) Iron
X) Oxygen
Y) Nitrate
Z) Magnesium
Y
272) Which of the following structures weakens rock, sometimes causing landslides?
W) Bedding plane
X) Concretions
Y) Inselburg
Z) Mudcracks
W
273) Which of the following types of drainage is formed as streams flow toward a central depression?
W) Rectangular
X) Dendritic
Y) Centripetal
Z) Radial
Y
274) What modern scientific instrument is typically used to measure wind direction and speed?
Anemometer
275) Which of the following minerals has a cubic, or isometric, crystal system?
W) Quartz
X) Pyrite
Y) Gypsum
Z) Muscovite
X
276) Which of the following materials has a Moh’s hardness between 3 and 4?
W) Apatite
X) Wire nail
Y) Fingernail
Z) Copper penny
Z
277) On a topographic map, you see a feature represented by a set of concentric circles. The outermost circle is labeled 1,000, and the innermost circle is labeled 1,300. You are most likely looking at which of the following features?
W) Cliff
X) River
Y) Basin
Z) Hill
Z
278) Which of the following is NOT a reasonable line of evidence for a global cooling event?
W) Glacial tills at low latitudes
X) Heightened sea levels
Y) Reduced photosynthesis
Z) Reduced hydrologic cycle
X
279) At which of the following internal Earth boundaries do mantle plumes occur?
W) Inner core/outer core boundary
X) Athenosphere/lithosphere boundary
Y) Mantle/outer core boundary
Z) Mantle/crust boundary
Y
280) Which of the following sets of states are included as a part of “tornado alley”?
W) Texas, Kansas, and Missouri
X) Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia
Y) Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona
Z) Mississippi, Georgia, and Kansas
W
281) Hadley and Ferrel atmospheric cells are the result of what kind of heat transport?
Convection
282) What is the term for breakage along planes of weak bonding that produces distinctive, smooth, flat surfaces?
Cleavage
283) What are the three gases that primarily compose Uranus’s atmosphere?
Hydrogen, Helium, and Methane
284) The Solar System is believed to have formed following the collapse of which of the following?
W) A galactic core
X) A globular cluster
Y) A neutron star
Z) A molecular cloud
Z
285) Name the three types of tectonic plate boundaries.
Convergent, divergent, and transform
286) What kind of rock fragments are produced when magma is torn apart by volcanic eruptions?
Pyroclasts
287) What was the name of the space probe, launched in 2001, that orbited Mars to measure elements in its crust and search for signs of water?
Mars oddyssey
288) Which of the following types of sediments came from shells and skeletons of animals?
W) Terrigenous
X) Sulfurous
Y) Hydrogenous
Z) Calcareous
Z
289) What are the names of the two irregularly shaped moons of Mars?
Phobos and Deimos
290) Which of the following is an example of a well-known group of extinct marine arthropods that existed in abundance during the lower Paleozoic?
W) Brachiopods
X) Ammonites
Y) Trilobites
Z) Nautiluses
Y
291) If due north is 0°, what degree is the intercardinal direction southwest?
225°
292) Which of the following characteristics is generally NOT used for classification of ocean waves?
W) Disturbing force
X) Wavelength
Y) Wave height
Z) Restoring force
Y
293) Which of the following is a characteristic of a turbidite?
W) Graded bedding
X) Lived during the Cambrian
Y) Found in alkaline bodies of water
Z) Often found in caves
W
294) What is the prevailing wind direction between 9 and 25 degrees north in the trade wind belt of the Pacific Ocean?
East northeast
295) A rock contains a radioactive substance with a half life of 15,000 years. After 87.5% has decayed, how many years have passed?
45,000
296) Water ice is NOT thought to be present on which of the following celestial bodies?
W) Mars
X) Venus
Y) Earth’s moon
Z) Europa
X
297) In what geologic eras, respectively, were the following three geologic periods: 1) Siderian, 2) Jurassic, 3) Paleogene?
Paloproterozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
298) What major nonsilicate rock-forming mineral is the primary constituent of limestone?
Calcite
299) What is the main mineral component of Gabbro?
Plagioclase feldspar
300) The Yellowstone Volcano is created by what type of anomalously hot volcanic center?
Mantle plume
