PRACTICE QUESTIONS CHAPTER 1 1 In the heliocentric model A Earth orbitsaround the Sun B the Sun orbits around Earth C Earth is a stationary planet D Mercury and Venus orbit around the Sun but all other planets orbit around Earth 2 The big bang theory states that A all stars will end their lives explosively as supernovas B Earth formed through a series of violent collisions C meteors were responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs D all matter in the Universe was once confined to a single point 3 Which of the following bodies is the smallest A planet B star C protoplanet D planetesimal 4 All objects in the Solar System are in orbit around A Earth B Jupiter C the Sun D the Kuiper Belt 5 Differentiation of the core from the mantle early in Earth s history was possible because the planet was at the time A very cold B very hot C verysmall D the only planet in the Solar System 6 The shape of Earth s magnetic field is approximately that of a A monopole B dipole such as that produced by a bar magnet C torus a donut shaped ring parallel to Earth s equator 7 The boundary between the crust and mantle is marked by a seismic velocity discontinuity called A the Edsel B the Moho C Lyell s surface D the Crantle 8 The lithosphere lies directly above the A transition zone B crust C asthenosphere D lower mantle 9 The density of mantle is greater than that of core A True B False 10 The two most common elements in the crust of Earth are oxygen and hydrogen A True B False CHAPTER 2 1 Wegner s idea of continental drift was rejected by American geologists because A his English was too poor to be understood by them B he could not conceive of a valid mechanism that would cause continents to Shift positions C he had relatively little evidence supporting the existence of a supercontinent D the apparent fit of continental coastlines is blurred when the margins are Defined by the edges of continental shelves rather than at sea level 2 The magnetic field of Earth in the geologic past is unknown but it is assumed to have been identical to today s A True B False 3 Within the sea floor the rate of heat flow is greatest A along mid ocean ridges B along fracture zones C at the edges of ocean basins2 D in the center of abyssal plains 4 Marine magnetic anomaly belts run parallel A mid ocean ridges B Fracture zones C continental coastlines D continental shelves to 5 The age of oceanic crust decreases with increasing distance from a mid ocean ridge A True B False 6 The deep ocean floor is flat and nearly featureless A True B False 7 Marine magnetic anomalies result from sea floor spreading in conjunction with A global warming B magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun C magnetic polarity reversals D apparent wander ofthe magnetic poles 8 Unlike the lithosphere the asthenosphere A is relatively weak and flows readily B has a density similar to the core C varies in thickness from place to place D is relatively cool 9 An active margin is a continental coastline that coincides with a plate boundary A True B False 10 Tectonic plates might consist of A continental lithosphere only B oceanic lithosphereonly C oceanic or continental lithosphere or a combination of both D either oceanic or continental lithosphere but not both 11 At a divergent plate boundary two opposed plates A move toward one another B move away from one another C slide past one another 12 At a convergent plate boundary two opposed plates A move toward one another B move away from one another C slide past one another 13 At a transform plate boundary two opposed plates A move toward one another B move away from one another C slide past one another 14 Mid ocean ridges are convergent plate boundaries A True B False 15 The youngest sea floor occurs A along passive margins B along active margins C along mid ocean ridges D randomly over the entire ocean basin 16 Subduction zones are convergent plate boundaries A True B False 17 At a subduction zone the downgoing subducting plate A is always composed of continental lithosphere B is always composed of oceanic lithosphere C may be composed or either oceanic or continental lithosphere 18 Hawaii is an example of A hot spot volcanism B mid ocean ridge volcanism C a volcanic island arc D a transform margin 19 When two bodies of continental lithosphere arepushed together at a convergent boundary the result is A subduction B collision and mountain formation 20 Most of the pushing force that drives plate motion is produced A at mid ocean ridges B at subduction zones C at collision zones D in the interiors of continental plates CHAPTER 3 1 Which of the following is NOT a mineral A petroleum oil which is a liquid B cubic zirconia which is a synthetic diamond substitute that is not found in nature C ice which is water in the solid state and water is essential to all organic life on Earth D both A and B are not minerals however C is a mineral 2 Two distinctminerals may have the same chemical formula A True B False 3 Natural glass is not considered a mineral because it A is not produced by geologic processes B is organic C does not have fixed crystalline structure D can be made synthetically as well as being a naturally occurring substance 4 The shininess of a mineral is a helpful diagnostic property termed A color B specific gravity C luster D streak 5 Diamond and graphite are both polymorphs of pure silicon A True B False 6 The most abundant minerals belong to a chemical group termed the A silicates B carbonates C halides D oxides 7 In silicate minerals tetrahedral may be coordinated to form A long one dimensional chains B extensive two dimensional sheets C massive three dimensional frameworks D all of the above 8 The color of a mineral in powdered form is termed A color B specific gravity C luster D streak 9 Minerals are classified into groups primarily on the basis of A chemistry specifically the cations within the chemical formula B chemistry specifically the anions within the chemical formula C hardness hard soft and medium are the three primary classes D the number of cleavage directions present 10 When in contact with hydrochloric acid which mineral gives off bubbles of carbon dioxidegas A quartz B halite C calcite D fluorite CHAPTER 4 1 The difference between lava and magma is that magma flows more quickly than lava A Ture B False 2 Igneous rocks A are formed throughthe freezing of melt B can be produced at the surface of the Earth as well as deep below the surface C are the most common type of rocks within Earth