Final exam review Flashcards
Scientists work to avoid bias is by using which of the following? (choose all that apply)
-qualitative measurements whenever possible
-subjective evidence
-objective evidence
-quantitative measurements whenever possible
-objective evidence
-quantitative measurements whenever possible
Science is more than just a body of knowledge. Scientists do which of the following? (choose all that apply)
-evaluate and create new knowledge with bias
-use subjective evidence over objective evidence to reach logical conclusions
-use objective evidence over subjective evidence to reach logical conclusions
-evaluate and create new knowledge without bias
-use objective evidence over subjective evidence to reach logical conclusions
-evaluate and create new knowledge without bias
An explanation that cannot be tested or does not meet scientific standards is considered
-paganism
-pseudoscience
-science
-falsifiable
pseudoscience
Which of the following is an objective statement?
-I observed rain yesterday
-Geology is an important science
-Green cupcakes always taste better
-Everyone should take a geology class
-My father is a good man
I observed rain yesterday
Why is science normally a slow process?
-The process of weeding out misinformation and verifying results takes time.
-Because their work is intense, scientists require lengthy vacations.
-Arguing with pseudoscientists consumes scientists.
-Scientific meetings are usually drawn out arguments.
-All experiments take a long time to complete.
The process of weeding out misinformation and verifying results takes time.
In the scientific method, which of these steps would normally follow experimentation and sharing of results? (choose all that apply)
-Hypothesis creation
-Observation
-Hypothesis development
-Peer review
-Theory development
-Hypothesis creation
-Observation
-Hypothesis development
-Peer review
Which of the following best matches the word theory?
-A concept widely tested and accepted
-An idea whose experimental results agree with the hypothesis
-An idea based on observations
-A conclusion subjected to peer review
-An idea undergoing experimentation
A concept widely tested and accepted
What evidence was found by Galileo that proved the Earth could not be the center of the universe?
-Moons orbiting around Jupiter
-Orbit of Saturn
-Comet return time
-Asteroid belt
-Craters on the moon
Moons orbiting around Jupiter
The idea that the Sun was the center of the Solar System was first proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus in 1543 and is known as the ______.
- Suncentric model
- Heliocentric model
- Geocentric model
- Solar Orbital model
Heliocentric model
What simple scientific technique did geologists like Hutton, Steno, and Lyell use to draw fundamental geologic conclusions?
-Performing experiments to replicate the rock record
-Digging underground to observe three-dimensional structures
-Studying gems and metal deposits to understand their geology
-Comparing ancient rocks/fossils to modern counterparts
-Analyzing the chemistry of the rock record
Comparing ancient rocks/fossils to modern counterparts
Which layer of the Earth is liquid?
-Asthenosphere
-Outer core
-Mantle
-Inner core
-Lithosphere
Outer core
Science deniers commonly use three rhetorical arguments. What is the one they don’t generally use?
-Attack the scientists personally
-Present alternative scientific data to disprove scientific conclusions
-Claim the scientific methods are flawed
-Demand equal time for “balanced” view
Present alternative scientific data to disprove scientific conclusions
What paradigm shift in geology most changed the way geologists look at the world?
-Deep time
-Evolution
-Plate tectonics
-Uniformitarianism
-Extinction
Plate tectonics
How did scientists first figure out plates could sink into the interior of the planet, since no one can see this happening?
-Isostasy states that as mountains move upwards, land must also sink elsewhere
-Lines of progressively-deeper earthquakes near arcs and trenches
-Earthquake waves mapped the liquid interior of Earth and showed movement
-It was an inference based on expansion around mid-ocean ridges
-Measurements via GPS showed ocean basins closing rapidly
Lines of progressively-deeper earthquakes near arcs and trenches
Which layer of the Earth can move internally or flow to allow the plates to move around on it?
-Lithosphere
-Outer core
-Inner core
-Mantle
-Asthenosphere
Asthenosphere
What feature is associated with crustal divergence?
-Volcanic arc
-Largest earthquakes
-Trench
-Mid-ocean ridge
-Tsunamis
Mid-ocean ridge
Why do continents generally not subduct?
-Continents are too low in density to subduct
-Continents are too strongly attached to ocean plates to subduct
-Ocean plates move faster and do not allow continents to subduct
-Continents are too ductile to subduct
-Continents are pushed up by mantle convection, preventing subduction
Continents are too low in density to subduct
Examine the image. It shows ________, a freshwater reptile whose fossils Alfred Wegener cited as evidence of continental drift.
-Lystrosaurus
-Glossopteris
-Tyrannosaurus
-Mesosaurus
Mesosaurus
Other than midocean ridges, where on Earth can a person view the best example of current (active) rifting?
-Mariana Trench
-East Africa
-Japan
-Andes
-Central Australia
East Africa
What famous transform fault is known for being the boundary between the Pacific Plate and North American Plate in California?
-Garlock fault
-Altyn Tagh fault
-Alpine fault
-Denali fault
-San Andreas fault
San Andreas fault
The ________ is a layer in Earth’s interior that is in a liquid state.
-crust
-mantle
-outer core
-inner core
outer core
What makes the Hawaiian hot spot different than the Yellowstone hot spot?
-Yellowstone’s higher elevation
-Different types of tectonic plates
-Different type of mantle below
-Yellowstone is colder
-Hawaii has more places for magma to come up
Different types of tectonic plates
What features or processes are common in hot spots?
-Volcanism
-Earthquakes
-Trenches
-Rifts
-Arcs
Volcanism
Which plate boundary has the largest and deepest earthquakes?
-Divergent rift
-Subduction
-Mid-ocean ridge
-Transform
-Collisional
Subduction
Why did Alfred Wegener never get the support of the scientific community for his hypothesis of continental drift during his lifetime?
-He could not provide a mechanism for how continents moved is a measure of how much energy is released by the earthquake, but magnitude is a rough measure of local shaking.
-GPS had not been invented yet to show movement
-He could not disprove the idea of land bridges
-He had no evidence for his idea
-He had an abrasive personality which made people not support him
He could not provide a mechanism for how continents moved is a measure of how much energy is released by the earthquake, but magnitude is a rough measure of local shaking.
We are not able to get rocks from deep within the Earth. What is the most direct source of information that allows us to draw conclusions about the interior?
-Volcanic eruptions
-Seismic waves
-Gas measurements
-Diamond inclusions
-Drilling
Seismic waves
Which the following are the positively charged particles in an atom’s nucleus?
-electrons
-protons
-neutrons
-ions
protons
Atoms that have an electrical charge due to a gain or loss of electrons are called ________.
-isotopes
-isochrons
-neutrons
-ions
ions
All of the atoms making up any given element have the same number of ________.
-electrons in the nucleus
-neutrons in the outer nuclear shell
-protons in the nucleus
-electrons in the outermost valence shell
protons in the nucleus
Minerals have a crystalline structure. What does this mean?
-That the atoms are arranged in random order but definite chemical composition.
-That the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repetitive manner.
-That the minerals are generally inorganic and not made from life.
-That the minerals have a definite chemical composition and are made of the same elements.
-That all minerals form beautiful, visible crystals in the right conditions.
That the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repetitive manner.
Which of the following is considered to make up a mineral or minerals?
-A lab-grown diamond
-A fossil baby tooth
-Your baby tooth
-A lump of coal
-Glass
A fossil baby tooth
When a positively-charged sodium ion is chemically bonded with a negatively-charged chlorine ion to make sodium chloride (i.e. the mineral halite), this is an example of _____.
-ionic bonding
-covalent bonding
-isotopic annealing
-metallic bonds
-isotopic annealing
ionic bonding
What is the most common mineral formed by life?
-Quartz
-Apatite
-Dolomite
-Calcite
-None - Animals can’t make minerals
Calcite
When a mineral precipitates from solution, it ____________.
-shrinks in size
-evaporates from a lake
-crystallizes into a crystal
-breaks into pieces
-seeps into the ground
crystallizes into a crystal
Why are only some minerals found as native minerals? For example, iron and aluminum are almost never found as native elements in nature.
-Earth is too hot for aluminum/iron to occur as natives
-Most elements are too reactive to occur in native form
-Native aluminum/iron only forms in the core
-Earth is too cold for most elements to form natives
-The native minerals formed at the birth of the Earth
Most elements are too reactive to occur in native form
Regarding the Mohs Hardness Scale table, if a mineral scratches the copper penny but NOT the glass plate, then the hardness is around ____.
-7.5
-3
-4.5
-6
-1
4.5
What are the two (2) most abundant elements in Earth’s crust?
-Silicon (Si) & Oxygen (O)
-Carbon (C) & Hydrogen (H)
-Iron (Fe) & Aluminum (Al)
-Silver (Ag) & Gold (Au)
-Carbon (C) & Oxygen
Silicon (Si) & Oxygen (O)
Where do igneous rocks with a coarse-grained (phaneritic) texture form?
-deep under the surface.
-on top of the surface.
-close to the surface but also just below it.
-Submarine lava flows.
-on top of the surface after being ejected into the air.
deep under the surface.
A basaltic intrusion that cuts across layers of sedimentary rocks is called a _______.
-laccolith
-stock
-batholith
-sill
-dike
dike
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents (black smokers) are most commonly located at what plate boundary?
-convergent boundaries with subduction zones
-divergent boundaries of the East African Rift
-divergent boundaries of the mid-ocean ridge
-convergent boundaries with oceanic to oceanic plate subduction
divergent boundaries of the mid-ocean ridge
The largest type of volcano is called a _______ volcano and is characterized by broad, low-angle flanks, a small vent or groups of vents at the top, and basaltic magma.
-lava dome
-stratovolcano (composite cone)
-shield volcano
-caldera
-cinder cone
shield volcano
A _______ volcano has steep flanks, symmetrical cone shapes, distinct crater at the top, and a silica-rich magma that results in an explosive eruption style.
-flood basalt
-cinder cone
-caldera
-shield volcano
-stratovolcano (or composite volcano)
stratovolcano (or composite volcano)
What kind of volcanoes make up the Hawaiian Island Chain?
-cinder cones
-calderas
-lava domes
-stratovolcanoes
-shield volcanoes
shield volcanoes
Most volcanoes on the sea floor erupt ________.
-Quietly with basaltic magma
-Explosively with basaltic magma
-Quietly with felsic magma
-Explosively with felsic magma
-As cinder cones
Quietly with basaltic magma
What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
-Weathering describes how rocks breakdown into smaller pieces, while erosion is the physical removal of those pieces to another location.
-Weathering describes the physical removal of sediments from one place to another, while erosion is the chemical breakdown that forms those sediments.
-Weathering describes the physical removal of sediments from one place to another, while erosion is the physical breakdown that forms those sediments.
-Weathering describes how weather (such as rain and temperature) affects the rocks, while erosion is the physical deposition of sediment into a river.
-Weathering is when oxygen attacks the rock, while erosion is when water freezes in the cracks causing the rocks to break apart into smaller pieces.
Weathering describes how rocks breakdown into smaller pieces, while erosion is the physical removal of those pieces to another location.
How do chemical and mechanical weathering work together to create sediment?
-Chemical weathering adds strength to mechanical weathering
-Chemical weathering creates surfaces for mechanical weathering to take place
-Mechanical weathering adds strength to chemical weathering
-Mechanical weathering creates surfaces for chemical weathering to take place
-Chemical weathering adds speed to mechanical weathering
Mechanical weathering creates surfaces for chemical weathering to take place
Which of the following is a biochemical sedimentary rock?
-Shale
-Fossiliferous sandstone
-Banded iron formation
-Coquina
-Coal
Coquina
What story does a sedimentary rock tell you?
-Number of organisms present
-Ideas about temperature in the past
-Types of volcanoes present
-Ideas about ancient landscapes
-Volume of the river that made them
Ideas about ancient landscapes
Which of the following is NOT part of the process of diagenesis and lithification of sediment into sedimentary rock?
-Crystallization
-Cementation
-Compaction
-Deposition
-Melting
Melting
What are the three agents of metamorphism?
-differential pressure, deep-sea smokers, and hydrothermal vents
-temperature, magma, and sediments
-differential pressure, confining pressure, and lithostatic pressure
-differential pressure, heat, and temperature
-temperature, pressure, and chemically active fluids
temperature, pressure, and chemically active fluids
Which sequence list shows metamorphic rocks in order from from low-grade to high-grade?
-schist→slate→gneiss→phyllite
-gneiss→schist→phyllite→slate
-phyllite→slate→schist→gneiss
-slate→phyllite→gneiss→schist
-slate→phyllite→schist→gneiss
slate→phyllite→schist→gneiss
What is the difference between heat and temperature?
-Heat is a constant quantity; temperature depends on the age of the rock
-Heat is produced by solar energy; temperature is produced by radioactivity
-Heat is produced by radioactivity; temperature is produced by solar energy
-Heat is measured by a thermometer; temperature is measured by a heat meter
-Heat is thermal energy; temperature is vibrational (kinetic) energy of atoms
Heat is thermal energy; temperature is vibrational (kinetic) energy of atoms
What is metamorphism?
-Previously existing rock changes in composition and texture
-Mineral grains are cemented into solid rock
-Dissolution or melting of low temperature minerals
-Layering of mineral grains
-Changing from a larva to a full-grown adult
Previously existing rock changes in composition and texture
Which type of unconformity is usually easy to spot, since sedimentary layers were deposited on top of non-layered crystalline rock?
-Nonconformity
-Disconformity
-Angular unconformity
-Paraconformity
Nonconformity
Which kind of unconformity is probably the hardest to recognize among layered rocks because the rock strata above and below the erosional surface are parallel to each other?
-Paraconformity
-Disconformity
-Non-conformity
-Angular unconformity
Disconformity
What materials were used to determine the age of the Earth?
-Gneisses from the continental shields
-Meteorites
-Samples of the oceanic crust from the Northwest Pacific sea floor
-Zircons from Australia
-Rock samples from the outer core
Meteorites
Which best describes half life?
-Half of the time from the end of a radioactive sample being destroyed
-Half of the time between decay events
-Time for half of a radioactive isotope to decay
-Time for half of a single radioactive atom to decay
-Half of the time for an atom to decay
Time for half of a radioactive isotope to decay
Which mineral among those listed is most commonly used for dating very old rocks?
-Diamond
-Amphibole
-Zircon
-Quartz
Zircon
Which of these divisions of geologic time is the longest?
-Age
-Era
-Eon
-Epoch
-Period
Eon
Which of the following is the best way of correlating sedimentary rocks over wide distances even intercontinentally?
-Radiometric age
-Topographic expression
-Index fossils and fossil assemblages
-Rock descriptions
-Magmatic characteristics
Index fossils and fossil assemblages
The Precambrian represents what fraction of earth history?
-1%
-12%
-50%
-88%
-99%
88%
When mineral “X” originally formed in a granite, there was 100% of the unstable radiometric parent material and 0% of the stable daughter material.
The mineral is tested in a lab and there is only 25% of the parent radiometric isotope still remaining.
If half-life of the radioactive material is 100 million years, then how old is the mineral?
-Can’t be determined from the information given
-50 million years
-400 million years
-200 million years
-100 million years
200 million years
The passage of time represented by the Geologic Time Scale is continuous. What do we call it when rocks that could represent some geologic activity in an area are missing in that area?
-non-deposition
-regional faulting
-subduction
-regional metamorphism
-unconformity
unconformity
Folds (anticlines and synclines) are produced by______.
-Volcanism
-Erosion
-Tectonic shear
-Tectonic compression
-Tectonic extension
Tectonic compression
Which type of fold would be the most likely to trap oil and gas at its axis? (Oil and gas rise and float on groundwater.)
-Monocline
-Basin
-Anticline
-Syncline
Anticline
Which seismic wave type is most damaging?
-P
-Love
-Body
-S
Love
Which seismic wave type travels the fastest?
-Surface
-S
-P
-Love
P
What is the focus of an earthquake?
-Where the seismic energy of the earthquake is concentrated
-The spot on the earth’s surface directly above where the rock rupture occurs
-Where the direct seismic waves combine with the waves reflecting from the earth’s core
-Where the actual rupture of rock occurs in the subsurface producing the earthquake
-The place with the most damage and/or highest toll of human injury
Where the actual rupture of rock occurs in the subsurface producing the earthquake
In the video demonstrating the tsunami from the 9.5 magnitude Valdivia, Chile 1960 earthquake, how long did it take for the tsunami wave to reach the Japanese Islands (western Pacific coastlines).
-15 hours
-50 hours
-25 hours
-30 hours
30 hours
Where was the largest earthquake ever recorded?
-2010 Haiti
-1964 Alaska
-1989 Loma Prieta
-1868 Charleston
-1960 Valdivia Chile
1960 Valdivia Chile
Which earthquake killed over 200,000 people as a result of the subsequent tsunami?
-2011 Tohoku
-1876 Lone Pine
-2004 Indian Ocean
-1989 Loma Prieta
-1964 Good Friday
2004 Indian Ocean
Where on earth are strike-slip faults most common?
-Inside collision zones like the Himalaya
-The Wasatch Mountains of Utah and the Basin and Range Province
-Fracture zones adjacent to midocean ridges
-Southern California
Fracture zones adjacent to midocean ridges
What drives the water cycle?
-Solar energy
-Evaporation
-Precipitation
-Atmospheric pressure
-Tides
Solar energy
Which process is not a part of the water cycle?
-precipitation
-infiltration
-freezing
-runoff
-evaporation
freezing
What are ephemeral streams?
-do not form deltas
-are dry much of the year
-end in closed (endorheic) basins
-freeze during the wintertime
-carry especially salty water
are dry much of the year
The areas from which streams collect water are separated into ______________, the borders of which are defined by local topographic highs.
-Stream mouths
-Tributary streams
-Dry washes
-Drainage basins
-Discharge segments
Drainage basins
What percentage of freshwater is groundwater?
-About 30.1%
-About 0.002%
-About 1.2%
-About 3.5%
-About 60.5%
About 30.1%
In the United States, what does the 100th meridian do?
-The 100th meridian separates regions where wells flow without pumping from those that require expensive pumps.
-The 100th meridian is the main drainage divide.
-The 100th meridian runs down the Mississippi River valley.
-The 100th meridian is where the compass points to true north.
-The 100th meridian divides the more humid east from the drier west.
The 100th meridian divides the more humid east from the drier west.
What percentage of Earth’s surface water is fresh water?
-About 3.5%
-About 1.2%
-About 50%
-About 50%
-About 10.2%
About 1.2%
Entrenched meanders on streams like the Colorado or San Juan flowing on the Colorado Plateau in Utah are a result of _______________?
-Sinuous faulting patterns in sandstone formations
-Lower discharge in dry climates
-Tectonic elevation of the Colorado Plateau
-Higher steam velocity because of high mountains
Tectonic elevation of the Colorado Plateau
When a stream enters a lake or ocean, the stream velocity slows. What would you expect to happen to the bedload and suspended load? What landform would this create?
-The stream would gain energy to form an alluvial fan.
-The stream would lose energy and drop its sediments forming a delta.
-The stream would lose energy and actively erode as a delta.
-The stream would dry up and form a playa.
-The stream would gain energy and actively erode as a cut bank.
The stream would lose energy and drop its sediments forming a delta.
Carbonic acid is present in all precipitation. It forms there because:
-a reaction occurs with sulfuric acid dissolves in clouds producing acid rain.
-there are many sources of carbon, from all sorts of industrial operations that cause pollution.
-water which dissolved and then evaporated from caverns reacts with the limestone to produce a weak acid.
-CO2 from the atmosphere dissolves in water droplets in clouds from which precipitation falls.
-car exhaust interacts with atmospheric moisture to produce it.
CO2 from the atmosphere dissolves in water droplets in clouds from which precipitation falls.
Why do travertine deposits form on cave walls?
-Water entering a cave loses its CO2 and becomes nonacidic.
-The empty space in the chamber gives the calcite a -The lack of light allows calcite reactions to precipitate extra minerals.
-The water carrying the calcite stops in the cave and calcite precipitates there.
-Changes in gas or temperature in the water lead to the precipitation of calcite.
Changes in gas or temperature in the water lead to the precipitation of calcite.
The level of the water table is primarily determined by _________?
-Human population growth
-Presence of springs
-Abundance and nature of vegetation
-Permeability of surface rocks
-Average annual precipitation in the area
Average annual precipitation in the area
The layer of the ocean that is closest to the surface and experiences the greatest variation in temperature.
-Mesopelagic Zone
-Epipelagic Zone
-Bathypelagic Zone
-Abyssopelagic Zone
-Hadalpelagic Zone
Epipelagic Zone
The deepest spot in the Earth’s oceans is
-Mariana Trench
-Puerto Rico Trench
-Sigsbee Deep
-Hawaiian Trench
Mariana Trench
The world ocean with the highest salinity
-Atlantic Ocean
-Indian Ocean
-Pacific Ocean
-Southern Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The area of all oceans that cross the area defined by 30 degrees N to 30 degrees S latitudes have a region of very low salinity. This region is known as
-the Persian Gulf
-the Red Sea
-the equator
-the Dead Sea
the equator
Growlers and Bergy Bits are
-small icebergs
-types of animals typically found in sea floor trenches
-waves that fall between tsunamis and regular waves
blocks of rock and sediment from seaside cliffs
small icebergs
According to the text, what human activities contribute to desertification in vulnerable areas?
-Planting more trees
-Implementing sustainable agricultural practices
-Overgrazing by livestock
-Drought-resistant farming techniques
Overgrazing by livestock
According to the text, why does warm air have lower density compared to cooler air?
-The gas molecules in warm air have a greater velocity and are more spread out.
-Warm air contains more molecules than cooler air.
-Cool air is lighter than warm air.
-Warm air exerts less pressure on surfaces
The gas molecules in warm air have a greater velocity and are more spread out.
How are erosional landforms created by glaciers formed?
-By the addition of material
-By volcanic eruptions
-By the melting of ice
-By the removal of material
By the removal of material
How do cool summers affect a glacier’s budget?
-Promote glacial retreat
-Promote glacial advance
-Do not impact the glacier
-Cause the glacier to stagnate
Promote glacial advance
How do desert animals survive harsh conditions according to the video?
-By swimming in the scarce water sources
-By staying above ground during the day
-By burrowing into the cool ground
-By migrating to cooler regions
By burrowing into the cool ground
How does convection contribute to the transfer of heat energy in the atmosphere?
-By transferring heat energy through electromagnetic waves
-By forming bubbles of warmer air that rise into the atmosphere
-By conducting heat efficiently in metals
-By absorbing radiant energy faster than lighter colored objects
By forming bubbles of warmer air that rise into the atmosphere
How does the Coriolis effect affect the rotation of ocean gyres on Earth?
-Causes them to be stationary
-None-to-minimal impact on ocean gyres
-Turns them clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
-Causes them to rotate uniformly in both hemispheres
Turns them clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
How fast is the Sun drifting forward towards the galactic center as per the video?
-2.1 miles per second
-4.4 miles per second
-3.1 miles per second
-5.2 miles per second
3.1 miles per second
How many known solar systems are there in the Milky Way galaxy?
-100
-500
-1000
-1500
500
In desert valleys that do not drain out, what is the term for the dry lake bed formed by water evaporation?
-Alluvial fan
-Bajada
-Playa
-Inselberg
Playa
What are the primary causal factors of deserts, according to the text?
-Ocean currents and the Earth’s rotation
-Solar energy, atmospheric circulation, and the Earth’s rotation
-Latitude and prevailing winds
-The Coriolis effect and the Equator
Solar energy, atmospheric circulation, and the Earth’s rotation
What are the primary moisture sources in the U.S. that contribute to the formation of precipitation over a large area?
-Indian Ocean and Arctic Ocean
-Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and Gulf of Mexico
-Great Lakes and Mediterranean Sea
-Caribbean Sea and South China Sea
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and Gulf of Mexico
What are the three orbital changes that affect short-term cycles of warming and cooling, leading to glaciations?
-Drumlins, kames, eskers
-Precession, obliquity, eccentricity
-Moraines, till, outwash plains
-Tarns, cols, horns
Precession, obliquity, eccentricity
What area of a glacier is called the zone of accumulation?
-Where ice is melting
-Where snow accumulation exceeds melting
-Where ice is breaking off
-Where ice is sliding downhill
Where snow accumulation exceeds melting
What causes the dry air to sink back to the Earth at approximately 30° latitude?
-Prevailing winds
-Polar vortex
-Coriolis effect
-Combination of global circulation effects
Combination of global circulation effects
What does a glacier’s budget show when there is more income (snow accumulating in winter) than expense (melting snow and ice in summer)?
-Glacial growth
-Glacial retreat
-Glacial stagnation
-Glacial deformation
Glacial growth
What geological process caused the lithosphere of the Great Basin to stretch over the past 30 million years?
-Subsidence
-Compression
-Crustal extension
-Plate tectonics
Crustal extension
What human activities can lead to desertification?
-Planting more trees
-Responsible agriculture
-Excessive water usage
-Implementing sustainable irrigation methods
Excessive water usage
What is a glacier?
-A huge mass of hot lava
-A huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land
-A big pile of sand
-A type of mountain
A huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land
What is the Oort Cloud considered as in relation to the solar system?
-The innermost part
-The edge
-The center
-The core
The edge
What is the composition of Terrestrial planets?
-Mainly composed of gas
-Made of ice and rock
-Primarily made of rocky material
-Consist of mainly liquid
Primarily made of rocky material
What is the concept that can force stars and gas in and out of the Spiral arms?
-Cosmic Radiation
-Galactic Waves
-Dark Matter
-Density Waves
Density Waves
What is the largest type of glacier?
-Mountain glaciers
-Valley glaciers
-Continental glaciers
-Plains glaciers
Continental glaciers
What is the main agent of weathering in desert climates?
-Wind
-Ice
-Water
-Gravity
Water
What is the main purpose of the Earth-atmosphere energy balance?
-To make the Earth hotter than the Sun
-To reflect all energy back into space
-To balance incoming energy from the Sun with outgoing energy from the Earth
-To absorb all energy at the Earth’s surface
To balance incoming energy from the Sun with outgoing energy from the Earth
What is the most important resource provided by glaciers?
-Sand and gravel
-Fish
-Freshwater
-Concrete
Freshwater
What is the primary reason for the observed air pressure exerted on a surface by atoms and molecules in the atmosphere?
-Their small size
-Their random movement
-Their velocity
-Their density
Their random movement
What is the term for large moving boulders along flat surfaces in deserts that leave trails behind them?
-Inselbergs
-Yardangs
-Sliding stones
-Ventifacts
Sliding stones
What is the term for a long ridge of till located at the end or terminus of a glacier?
-Ground moraine
-Terminal moraine
-Recessional moraine
-Lateral moraine
Terminal moraine
What is unique about Uranus among the ice giants?
-Its large size
-Rotates on its side
-Closest to the sun
-Has extensive lava flows
Rotates on its side
What lies much further out beyond the planets and orbits the Jovian planets?
-Kuiper Belt
-Asteroid Belt
-Oort Cloud
-Solar Nebula
Kuiper Belt
What process moves sand grains by lifting them into the moving air and carrying them a short distance before dropping them onto the surface dislodging other sand grains?
-Creep
-Saltation
-Bedload
-Suspended load
Saltation
What process occurs when the edges of ice sheets break off and fall into the ocean?
-Ice melting
-Ice formation
-Calving
-Deflation
Calving
What triggers condensation in the atmosphere?
-Rise in air temperature
-Decrease in humidity
-Excess energy released from water vapor
-Difference between air temperature and dewpoint temperature
Difference between air temperature and dewpoint temperature
What unique weathering product is found in deserts, characterized by thin dark brown layers of clay minerals and iron and manganese oxides?
-Loess
-Desert varnish
-Haboob
-Yardang
Desert varnish
Where are alpine glaciers found?
-Only in Australia
-On every continent except Australia
-Only in Antarctica
-Under the sea
On every continent except Australia
Which depositional landform consists of poorly sorted sediment left behind by a retreating glacier?
-Till
-Esker
-Kettle lake
-Medial moraine
Till
Which layer of the atmosphere is responsible for absorbing high energy ultraviolet and x-ray radiation from the sun, leading to a significant temperature increase?
-Troposphere
-Exosphere
-Thermosphere
-Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Which of the following best describes conduction as a method of heat transfer?
-The transfer of heat energy through a fluid
-The movement of heat energy through electromagnetic waves
-The transfer of heat energy from one substance to another or within a substance
-The circulation of air that develops in a boiling liquid
The transfer of heat energy from one substance to another or within a substance
Which part of a plant is responsible for the process of transpiration?
-Roots
-Stem
-Leaves
-Flowers
Leaves
Which planet is known as the hottest in our solar system?
-Earth
-Venus
-Mars
-Mercury
Venus
Which process for cloud water, or ice, to grow large enough to fall as precipitation occurs in colder clouds when both ice crystals and water droplets are present?
-Precipitation and evaporation process
-Condensation and freezing process
-Collision and coalescence process
-Ice crystal process
Ice crystal process
Which subregion is mentioned as an extension of the Great Basin from Utah to California?
-Sonoran Desert
-Mojave Desert
-Basin and Range
-Chihuahua Desert
Basin and Range
Which type of desert is located in the Arctic and Antarctic?
-Subtropical
-Semiarid
-Coastal
-Polar
Polar
Why does the Atacama Desert receive very little precipitation?
-Due to its proximity to the Equator
-Because of the westerly winds from the Pacific
-The presence of the Andes Mountains
-The cool, dry air descending onto the desert
The cool, dry air descending onto the desert
Why is the absorption of infrared radiation trying to escape from the Earth back to space crucial?
-It causes the Earth to cool rapidly
-It contributes to the greenhouse effect
-It stores more energy near the Earth’s surface
-It prevents the Sun’s energy from reaching the Earth
It stores more energy near the Earth’s surface
