Earth Science Flashcards
Which theory suggests that the Earth
formed from a nebula, a cloud of gas and
dust in space?
A. Big Bang Theory
B. Nebular Hypothesis
C. Steady State Theory
D. Plate Tectonics Theory
B. Nebular Hypothesis
Approximately how old is the earth?
A. 4.5 billion years
B. 2024 years
C. 13.7 billion years
D. 100 years
A. 4.5 billion years
What is the name of the supercontinent
proposed by Alfred Wegener in his theory
of continental drift?
A. Pangaea
B. Gondwana
C. Laurasia
D. Guo Hua Ping
A. Pangaea
What geological phenomenon is primarily
responsible for the movement of the
earth’s lithospheric plates?
A. Earthquake
B. Volcanic eruptions
C. Plate tectonics
D. Meteorite impacts
C. Plate tectonics
What is the primary driving force behind
the movement of tectonic plates?
A) Wind currents
B) Solar radiation
C) Mantle convection
D) Ocean tides
C) Mantle convection
Scientists once thought that the continents had formed
in their current locations. Alfred Wegener first published this theory of continental drift in 1915. Which of the
following provides evidence for continental drift?
A. Africa and South America fit together like puzzle pieces.
B. Africa and South America have the same type of climate.
C. Plants and animals found in Africa differ from those found
in Australia
D. Movement of the Australian continent was observed.
A. Africa and South America fit together like puzzle pieces.
Which type of boundary occurs where two
tectonic plates are moving away from
each other?
A) Convergent boundary
B) Divergent boundary
C) Transform boundary
D) Subduction zone
B) Divergent boundary
What term describes the process by
which oceanic crust is forced beneath
continental crust at a convergent plate
boundary?
A. Seafloor spreading
B. Rifting
C. Subduction
D. Transform faulting
C. Subduction
Which era is characterized by the recent
evolution of humans and the dominance of
mammals on Earth?
A) Paleozoic
B) Mesozoic
C) Cenozoic
D) Precambrian
C) Cenozoic
Which mass extinction event is known for
causing the demise of the dinosaurs?
A) Permian-Triassic extinction
B) Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction
C) Triassic-Jurassic extinction
D) Ordovician-Silurian extinction
B) Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction
Which of the following is considered the largest
mass extinction event in Earth’s history, wiping
out approximately 90-96% of marine species?
A) Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction
B) Permian-Triassic extinction
C) Triassic-Jurassic extinction
D) Devonian extinction
B) Permian-Triassic extinction
Which energy source relies on the heat
generated from within the Earth’s crust?
A) Geothermal
B) Wind
C) Biomass
D) Hydroelectric
A) Geothermal
A coastal city with consistent strong winds is
looking to expand its renewable energy portfolio.
Which energy source would be most suitable for
harnessing the city’s wind resources ?
A) Solar power
B) Geothermal power
C) Hydroelectric power
D) Wind power
D) Wind power
Which layer of the Earth is liquid and creates the Earth’s
magnetic field?
A) Crust
B) Mantle
C) Outer core
D) Inner core
C) Outer core
What is the boundary between the Earth’s crust and mantle
called?
A) Lithosphere
B) Asthenosphere
C) Moho (Mohorovičić discontinuity)
D) Core-mantle boundary
C) Moho (Mohorovičić discontinuity)
What is the Earth’s crust primarily composed of?
A) Iron and nickel
B) Silicon and aluminum
C) Magnesium and sulfur
D) Hydrogen and helium
B) Silicon and aluminum
Which layer of Earth has the GREATEST density
and is solid?
A. Outer core
B. Crust
C. Mantle
D. Inner core
D. Inner core
Different wavs pass through the earth’s inner layers.
Through this information, we can understand the
characteristics of each layer. Thus, we know that the inner
core is solid because_______
A. P- waves pass though it
B. S waves pass through it
C. P waves cannot pass through it
D. S waves cannot pass through it
D. S waves cannot pass through it
During which part of the water cycle does
water return to the atmosphere from plant
leaves through the tiny openings called stomata?
A. Evaporation
B. Transpiration
C. Condensation
D. Precipitation
B. Transpiration
What is the process called where water
vapor cools and changes back into liquid
droplets?
A) Evaporation
B) Condensation
C) Precipitation
D) Transpiration
B) Condensation
In the context of global climate change, how might
increased atmospheric temperatures impact the
hydrological cycle and lead to changes in weather
patterns?
A) Decrease the rate of evaporation–> more stable weather patterns.
B) Increase the rate of evaporation—> potentially intensifying the
water cycle and leading to more extreme weather events such as
storms and droughts.
C) No significant impact on the hydrological cycle
D) Reduce precipitation leading to uniform dryness
B) Increase the rate of evaporation—> potentially intensifying the
water cycle and leading to more extreme weather events such as
storms and droughts.
Which organism plays a crucial role in the
nitrogen cycle by converting nitrogen gas
into ammonia?
A) Bacteria
B) Plants
C) Fungi
D) Algae
A) Bacteria
Which process in the nitrogen cycle involves
the conversion of nitrogen gas (N2) from the
atmosphere into forms that plants can use?
A) Nitrification
B) Denitrification
C) Ammonification
D) Nitrogen fixation
D) Nitrogen fixation
Human activities, such as industrial processes and
agricultural practices, contribute significantly to
nitrogen pollution in ecosystems. How does excessive
nitrogen input affect aquatic environments?
A) It promotes oxygenation of water bodies, enhancing aquatic biodiversity.
B) It stimulates primary productivity, leading to increased fish populations.
C) It can cause eutrophication, leading to oxygen depletion and fish kills.
D) It accelerates denitrification, reducing nitrogen levels in water.
C) It can cause eutrophication, leading to oxygen depletion and fish kills.
In which form is carbon dioxide primarily
stored in the Earth’s crust for millions of
years?
A) Fossil fuels
B) Methane hydrates
C) Limestone
D) Volcanic ash
A) Fossil fuels
Which process releases carbon dioxide back
into the atmosphere when organic matter is
broken down by bacteria and fungi?
A) Photosynthesis
B) Decomposition
C) Combustion
D) Nitrogen fixation
B) Decomposition
Which gas makes up the majority of Earth’s
atmosphere by volume?
A) Oxygen
B) Carbon dioxide
C) Nitrogen
D) Argon
C) Nitrogen
In what specific region of the Earth’s
atmosphere is the ozone layer located?
A. Troposphere
B. Mesosphere
C. Stratosphere
D. Thermosphere
C. Stratosphere
What is the coldest layer of the
atmosphere?
A. Troposphere
B. Mesosphere
C. Stratosphere
D. Thermosphere
B. Mesosphere
While studying weather patterns, you observe
that a warm, moist air mass is moving into an
area dominated by a cold, dry air mass. What
type of weather can you expect?
A) Clear skies and calm weather
B) Stormy weather with possible thunderstorms
C) Gradual warming with light showers
D) Prolonged droug
B) Stormy weather with possible thunderstorms
Which type of volcano is known for its steep, conical
shape and consists of layers of lava flows, tephra, and
volcanic ash?
A. Shield Volcano
B. Stratovolcano (Composite Volcano)
C. Cinder Cone Volcano
D. Lava Dome
B. Stratovolcano (Composite Volcano)
What term is used for a volcano that has not erupted
in a long time but has the potential to erupt again?
A. Active Volcano
B. Dormant Volcano
C. Extinct Volcano
D. Cinder Cone Volcano
B. Dormant Volcano
Which of type of volcanic eruption is the calmest of all
characterized by emission of lava flows with low
viscosity, resulting in gentle, non- explosive eruptions?
A. Plinian eruption
B. Pelean eruption
C. Strombolian eruption
D. Hawaiian eruption
D. Hawaiian eruption
What is the name of the instrument used to detect and
record earthquakes?
A. Barometer
B. Anemometer
C. Seismograph
D. Thermometer
C. Seismograph
What scale is commonly used to measure the
magnitude of an earthquake?
A. Richter Scale
B. Mercalli Scale
C. Mohs Scale
D. Beaufort Scale
A. Richter Scale
What is the term for the place where an earthquake
originates underground?
A) Epicenter
B) Focus (Hypocenter)
C) Fault line
D) Rift zone
B) Focus (Hypocenter)
What is the primary difference
between weathering and soil erosion?
A. Weathering involves the physical breakdown of rocks,
while erosion involves the transport of soil particles
B. Weathering is caused by chemical processes, while erosion
is caused by physical processes
C. Weathering alters the chemical composition of rocks while
erosion only alters the surface soil
D. Weathering occurs on land while erosion occurs in aquatic
environment
A. Weathering involves the physical breakdown of rocks,
while erosion involves the transport of soil particles
Which soil particle size offers the best
balance of drainage and nutrient
retention for plant growth?
A) Sand
B) Silt
C) Clay
D) Loam
D) Loam
Which of the following four crop rotation
programs would be most desirable to
increase soil fertility?
A) Corn-Munggo-Corn-Munggo-Corn-Munggo
B) Corn-Munggo- Corn- Tomato- Corn-Tomato
C) Rice- Munggo- Munggo- Corn-Munggo
D) Munggo- Corn-Munggo-Munggo- CornMunggo
D) Munggo- Corn-Munggo-Munggo- CornMunggo
What is the term for a naturally occurring,
solid aggregate of one or more minerals or
mineraloids?
A) Rock
B) Mineral
C) Crystal
D) Gemstone
A) Rock
What type of rock is formed from the
cooling and solidification of magma or
lava?
A) Sedimentary
B) Metamorphic
C) Igneous
D) Organic
C) Igneous
Which process involves transformation of
existing rock into new rock type due to
heat, pressure and/ or chemical reactions?
A. Deposition
B. Metamorphism
C. Erosion
D. Weathering
B. Metamorphism
While hiking in a mountainous region, you come
across a rock with distinct bands and layers that
appear to have been deformed. What type of
rock are you most likely observing?
A) Igneous rock
B) Sedimentary rock
C) Metamorphic rock
D) Volcanic rock
C) Metamorphic rock
Which of the following is the hardest
mineral on the Mohs hardness scale?
A) Quartz
B) Corundum
C) Diamond
D) Topaz
C) Diamond
Which property of minerals describes how
they reflect light?
A) Hardness
B) Streak
C) Luster
D) Cleavage
C) Luster
Which mineral has a metallic luster and is
commonly known as “fool’s gold”?
A) Hematite
B) Pyrite
C) Galena
D) Chalcopyrite
B) Pyrite
Which mineral is the most abundant in the Earth’s crust?
A) Quartz
B) Feldspar
C) Mica
D) Calcite
B) Feldspar
Which of the following is an example of a metamorphic rock?
A) Limestone
B) Granite
C) Basalt
D) Marble
D) Marble
Which of the following best explains why soil is thicker above
the limestone than above quartzite?
A) Quartzite is formed from molten magma
B) Quartzite is older than the limestone
C) Liomestone is thicker than the quartzite
D) Limestone is less resistant to weathering than the quartzite
D) Limestone is less resistant to weathering than the quartzite
Which biome is characterized by very low
temperatures, little precipitation, and
permafrost?
A) Desert
B) Tundra
C) Tropical rainforest
D) Savanna
B) Tundra
Which biome is known for its large coniferous
forests, long cold winters, and short mild
summers?
A) Taiga (Boreal Forest)
B) Temperate forest
C) Tropical rainforest
D) Savanna
A) Taiga (Boreal Forest)
What is the name of the phenomenon that
causes the accumulation of heat in the lower
atmosphere because of the absorption of
longwave radiation from the Earth’s surface?
A) Climate change
B) Global warming
C) Greenhouse effect
D) Solar heat
C) Greenhouse effect
What causes the unequal heating of the
earth’s crust?
A) Differences in solar radiation
B) Ocean currents
C) Geothermal activity
D) Wind patterns
A) Differences in solar radiation
Which of the following pollutants
affect land, air and water
environments?
A. Fluorocarbons
B. Smog
C. Acid rain
D. Ozone
C. Acid rain
It refers to the extreme warming of the
central and eastern pacific.
A. Summer
B. El Niño
C. La Niña
D. Global warming
B. El Niño
first and longitudinal waves to arrive at the seismograph situation that can move through solid, liquid or gas
p-waves
layer of the Earth that is highly vicious, mechanically weak and ductile region of the upper mantle. also responsible for creating new Earth crust, w/c occurs in ocean ridges, where convection pushes the asthenosphere to the surface.
Asthenosphere
conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity
Solar Power
conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity
Solar Power
form or renewable energy that generates electricity by using power of water in motion
Hydroelectric power
usual process at work at divergent plate boundaries, leading to the creation of new ocean floor
seafloor spreading
the splitting apart of a single tectonic plate into two or more tectonic plates separated by divergent plate boundaries
rifting
type of fault in which two tectonic plates slide past one another
Transform faulting
white, ice like solids that consist of methane and water
methane hydrates
type of carbonate sedimentary rock w/c is the main source of the material lime
limestone
process in which a water body becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to the plentiful growth of simple plant life
eutrophication
plants use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar
photosynthesis
