Prof. Constantin Cranganu

Final Exam, Fall 2004

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE.  Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1)  The most abundant chemical sedimentary rock is __________.

A) chert

B) dolomite

C) limestone

D) sylvite

E) rock salt

 

2)  The man who pioneered the continental drift hypothesis was __________.

A) Alfred Wegener

B) Harry Hess

C) J. Tuzo Wilson

D) D.H. Matthews

E) Fred Vine

 

3)  The science of geology is traditionally divided into two broad areas-physical geology and __________ geology. 

A) oceanography

B) tectonic

C) historical

D) mineralogy

E) none of the above

 

4)  Hawaiian rocks would be expected to have __________. 4)   _________

A) textures such as aa and pahoehoe

B) dark color

C) high silica content

D) a granitic composition

 

5)  Which one of the following does NOT refer to the texture of an igneous rock? 5)   _________

A) porphyritic

B) clastic

C) aphanitic

D) glassy

E) phaneritic

 

6)  The formation of the Hawaiian Islands is associated with __________. 6)   _________

A) transform fault boundaries

B) convergent boundaries

C) divergent boundaries

D) no plate boundary of any kind

E) both divergent boundaries and convergent boundaries

 

7)  During which type of radioactive decay does the mass number remain unchanged? 7)   _________

A) beta particle emission

B) alpha particle emission

C) electron capture

D) both alpha particle emission and beta particle emission

E) both beta particle emission and electron capture

 

8)  Rocks composed almost entirely of ferromagnesian minerals are often referred to as __________. 8)   _________

A) ultramafic

B) granitic

C) clastic

D) glassy

E) felsic

 

9)  The mass of an atom is concentrated in its __________. 9)   _________

A) nucleus

B) isotope

C) angstrom

D) electron

E) neutron

 

10)  The process of developing more than one rock type from a common magma is called magmatic __________. 10)   _________

A) compounding

B) segregation

C) differentiation

D) isolation

E) streak

 

11)  The igneous activity in the Yellowstone region can be classified as __________ volcanism. 11)   _________

A) subduction zone

B) intraplate

C) spreading center

D) intracrustal

E) geothermal

 

12)  Most strong earthquakes occur in a zone known as the __________. 12)   _________

A) mid-oceanic ridge

B) Mediterranean belt

C) high-intensity seismic belt

D) circum-Pacific belt

E) asthenosphere

 

13)  The mass number of an atom is obtained by totaling the number of __________. 13)   _________

A) electrons and neutrons

B) neutrons and positrons

C) electrons and protons

D) positrons and neutrinos

E) protons and neutrons

 

14)  The thinnest layer of Earth is the __________. 14)   _________

A) inner core

B) low velocity zone

C) outer core

D) mantle

E) crust

 

15)  The thinnest of the three principal units of Earth's interior is the __________. 15)   _________

A) core B)  crust C)  mantle

 

16)  This type of volcano is usually created when andesitic lavas are extruded. 16)   _________

A) shield volcano

B) cinder cone

C) composite cone

D) lava dome

E) volcanic neck

 

17)  Subduction zones are associated with __________. 17)   _________

A) divergent plate boundaries

B) convergent plate boundaries

C) transform fault boundaries

D) all of the above

E) none of the above

 

18)  Which one of the following is credited with formulating the law of superposition? 18)   _________

A) James Hutton

B) Lord Kelvin

C) John W. Powell

D) Nicolaus Steno

E) William Smith

 

19)  All silicate minerals contain the elements __________. 19)   _________

A) silicon and sodium

B) silicon and oxygen

C) silicon and iron

D) silicon and calcium

E) silicon and magnesium

 

20)  Batholiths are typically __________. 20)   _________

A) intrusive

B) phaneritic

C) larger than other plutons

D) associated with major mountain belts

E) all of these

 

21)  The igneous rock __________ is composed of about 25 to 35 percent quartz and over 50 percent potassium feldspar and sodium-rich feldspar. 21)   _________

A) peridotite

B) obsidian

C) basalt

D) granite

E) none of the above

 

22)  The regions where oceanic crust is being consumed into Earth's interior are called __________ zones. 22)   _________

A) subduction

B) end

C) consumption

D) ridge

E) none of the above

 

23)  Vesuvius and Fujiyama are examples of a __________. 23)   _________

A) shield volcano

B) cinder cone

C) composite cone

D) lava dome

E) volcanic neck

 

24)  With which type of radioactive decay does the atomic number remain unchanged? 24)   _________

A) electron capture

B) beta particle emission

C) alpha particle emission

D) both beta particle emission and electron capture

E) none of the above

 

25)  S waves are not transmitted through this Earth layer. 25)   _________

A) continental crust

B) oceanic crust

C) low velocity zone

D) mantle

E) outer core

 

26)  __________ are the spherical or elongated openings seen in many aphanitic rocks left by escaping gas bubbles as magma solidifies. 26)   _________

A) Inclusions

B) Phenocrysts

C) Vesicles

D) Clasts

E) none of the above

 

27)  Stagnant swamp water is __________, therefore the complete decay of plant material is not possible. 27)   _________

A) warm

B) shallow

C) oxygen-deficient

D) muddy

E) chemically-rich

 

28)  Groups of fossil plants and animals succeed each other in a definite and determinable order, and any period of time can be recognized by its respective fossils. The preceding is a statement of the __________. 28)   _________

A) law of superposition

B) law of original horizontality

C) concept of cross-cutting relationships

D) principle of numerical dating

E) none of the above

 

29)  Rocks that consist of unordered atoms are referred to as __________. 29)   _________

A) glass

B) fragmental

C) coarse-grained

D) volatile

E) none of the above

 

30)  According to Bowen's reaction series, the first ferromagnesian mineral to crystallize from a typical magma is __________. 30)   _________

A) orthoclase

B) biotite mica

C) olivine

D) quartz

E) pyroxene

 

31)  Charles Darwin was first to explain how reef-building organisms that require shallow water and sunlight could create reef complexes extending for thousands of meters below sea level. Darwin hypothesized that __________. 31)   _________

A) in contrast to modern forms, ancient reef-building organisms could, in fact, live in deep, cold water

B) as sea level dropped during the onset of the ice age, these organisms built the reef in what is presently much deeper water

C) as volcanic islands with fringing coral reefs began to sink, these organisms kept pace by building the reef complex upward

D) as sea level rose during the Pleistocene, these organisms kept pace by building the reef complex upward

 

32)  The term __________ refers to large-scale deformation of Earth's lithosphere. 32)   _________

A) transform

B) drift

C) tectonics

D) magma

E) lithification

 

33)  Through metamorphic activity __________. 33)   _________

A) sandstone can change to marble

B) limestone can change to quartzite

C) slate can change to shale

D) granite can change to gneiss

E) granite can change to clay minerals

 

34)  On Mohs hardness scale, which is the softest mineral? 34)   _________

A) feldspar

B) quartz

C) calcite

D) talc

E) apatite

 

35)  Which one of the following is NOT a process whereby sediment is lithified into solid sedimentary rock? 35)   _________

A) compaction B)  cementation C)  foliation

 

36)  Many metamorphic rocks __________. 36)   _________

A) have a linear orientation of minerals

B) are extremely fossiliferous

C) are unaltered sedimentary rocks

D) all of the above

E) none of the above

 

37)  A rock which has large crystals embedded in a matrix of smaller crystals is said to have a(n) __________ texture. 37)   _________

A) glassy

B) aphanitic

C) fragmental

D) phaneritic

E) none of the above

 

38)  According to the plate tectonics model, Earth's rigid outer shell is broken into large slabs called __________. 38)   _________

A) convergent zones

B) plates

C) boundaries

D) divergent zones

E) ridges

 

39)  The most abundant mineral group in Earth's crust is __________. 39)   _________

A) sulfides

B) carbonates

C) silicates

D) halides

E) oxides

 

40)  An unconformity is a(n) __________. 40)   _________

A) gap in the rock record

B) layer of sedimentary rock

C) layer of rock with very unusual fossils

D) intrusion

E) none of the above

 

41)  Bulbous masses associated with volcanoes that extrude highly viscous material are called __________. 41)   _________

A) shield volcanoes

B) cinder cones

C) composite cones

D) lava domes

E) volcanic necks

 

42)  Many minerals that contain water within their crystalline structures are said to be __________. 42)   _________

A) wet

B) disassociated

C) desiccated

D) hydrated

E) hydraulic

 

43)  The most common mineral in Earth's crust is __________. 43)   _________

A) quartz

B) olivine

C) feldspar

D) mica

E) hornblende

 

44)  Which of the following changes may occur during metamorphism? 44)   _________

A) Crystals may grow larger.

B) The rock becomes more compact.

C) Certain minerals may recrystallize.

D) all of the above

E) both A and B

 

45)  Earth's __________ includes the crust and part of the upper mantle. 45)   _________

A) core

B) asthenosphere

C) lithosphere

D) mantle

E) none of the above

 

46)  Which one of the following is NOT one of the four "spheres" that constitute our environment? 46)   _________

A) atmosphere

B) hydrosphere

C) biosphere

D) lithosphere

E) exosphere

 

47)  This metamorphic rock is composed of alternating bands of light and dark silicate minerals. 47)   _________

A) gneiss

B) phyllite

C) marble

D) mica schist

E) quartzite

 

48)  Which one of the following is NOT a type of plate boundary? 48)   _________

A) transform fault B)  convergent

C) divergent D)  reverse

 

49)  Island arcs are associated with __________ boundaries. 49)   _________

A) divergent

B) convergent (oceanic-oceanic)

C) convergent (continental-continental)

D) convergent (oceanic-continental)

E) transform fault

 

50)  Which one of the following does NOT take place during the rapid cooling of magma? 50)   _________

A) Small crystals form.

B) Ions readily combine.

C) Ions migrate long distances.

D) Ions quickly lose their motion.

E) Large numbers of crystal nuclei form.

 

51)  Which of the following is associated with mid-ocean ridges? 51)   _________

A) volcanic structures

B) greater heat flow than occurs in other parts of the world

C) mountainous topography

D) rift zones

E) all of the above

 

52)  A lava flow with a surface of rough, jagged blocks and sharp, angular projections is termed __________ lava. 52)   _________

A) pahoehoe

B) lapilli

C) aa

D) pillow

E) none of these

 

53)  The most abundant element in Earth's crust (by weight) is __________. 53)   _________

A) oxygen B)  sodium

C) calcium D)  silicon

 

54)  The building block of the silicate minerals is called the __________. 54)   _________

A) aluminum-silicon octahedron

B) silicon-oxygen octahedron

C) aluminum-silicon tetrahedron

D) silicon-oxygen tetrahedron

E) none of these

 

55)  A black shale is black because it contains abundant __________. 55)   _________

A) sulfur

B) clay

C) carbon

D) silica

E) hematite

 

56)  Igneous rocks are most often classified by their __________ and mineral composition. 56)   _________

A) size

B) color

C) texture

D) formation

E) shape

 

57)  As magma migrates upward it may incorporate some of the surrounding country rock in a process called __________. 57)   _________

A) mixing

B) assimilation

C) acquiring

D) differentiation

E) none of the above

 

58)  The positively charged particles that compose atoms are called __________. 58)   _________

A) neutrons

B) electrons

C) shells

D) nuclei

E) protons

 

59)  Separating sedimentary strata are __________, flat surfaces along which rocks tend to separate or break. 59)   _________

A) inclusions

B) sills

C) surfaces

D) contour planes

E) none of the above

 

60)  Which one of the following is NOT one of the solid Earth's principal units? 60)   _________

A) core B)  mantle

C) crust D)  tropopause

 

61)  Orbiting the central region of an atom are negatively charged __________. 61)   _________

A) nuclei B)  electrons

C) protons D)  neutrons

 

62)  The __________ is a hot, weak zone that is capable of gradual flow located within Earth between the depths of 100 and 350 kilometers. 62)   _________

A) core

B) crust

C) lithosphere

D) mantle

E) asthenosphere

 

63)  Temperatures generally encountered during volcanic eruptions are approximately __________. 63)   _________

A) 1,000,000°C

B) 1000°C

C) 10,000°C

D) 100,000°C

E) 100°C

 

64)  The discovery of the shadow zone __________. 64)   _________

A) identified the location of the asthenosphere

B) was made by the deep-sea drilling ship Glomar Challenger

C) was strong evidence for the existence of a core

D) pointed to the existence of the Moho

E) none of the above

 

65)  A scientific __________ is a well tested and widely accepted view that scientists agree best explains observable facts. 65)   _________

A) estimate

B) theory

C) supposition

D) hypothesis

E) idea

 

66)  Many of the most important metamorphic ore deposits are produced by __________ metamorphism. 66)   _________

A) thermal

B) contact

C) regional

D) all of the above

E) none of the above

 

67)  The definition of a mineral includes words such as __________. 67)   _________

A) foliated and amorphous

B) clastic and mafic

C) organic and solution

D) naturally occurring and crystalline

E) none of the above

 

68)  The law of __________ states that in layers of undisturbed sedimentary rocks or lava flows, the youngest layer is on top and the oldest on bottom. 68)   _________

A) uniformity

B) catastrophism

C) layering

D) succession

E) superposition

 

69)  The constructive processes that alter Earth's surface depend upon Earth's internal __________ as their source of energy. 69)   _________

A) tectonics

B) magnetism

C) pressure

D) heat

E) minerals

 

70)  A scientific __________ is a preliminary, untested explanation of a natural phenomenon. 70)   _________

A) observation

B) guess

C) supposition

D) theory

E) hypothesis

 

71)  Isotopes of the same element differ in the number of __________. 71)   _________

A) neutrons

B) nuclei

C) ions

D) electrons

E) protons

 

72)  When a beta particle is emitted during radioactive decay __________. 72)   _________

A) the atomic number decreases by 1

B) the mass number drops by 1 and the atomic number remains unchanged

C) the atomic number increases by 1

D) the atomic number remains the same

E) none of the above

 

73)  Sedimentary rocks __________. 73)   _________

A) may contain fossils

B) are layered

C) hold important clues to Earth's history

D) may be economically important

E) all of the above

 

74)  The best-known and most important ore deposits are those that are produced from __________ solutions. 74)   _________

A) brine

B) hydrothermal

C) carbonate

D) secondary

E) potassium

 

75)  Concerning the distribution of land and water, which of the following statements is true? 75)   _________

A) The Northern Hemisphere has much more water surface than the Southern Hemisphere.

B) The percentage of land and water is about the same in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

C) The Southern Hemispheres has much more water surface than the Northern Hemisphere.

 

76)  Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of minerals? 76)   _________

A) either liquid or solid

B) possess a crystalline structure

C) a unique set of physical properties

D) formed by inorganic processes

E) definite chemical composition

 

77)  When muddy currents emerge from the mouth of a submarine canyon onto the flat ocean floor, they deposit sediment that forms a(n) __________. 77)   _________

A) slope fan

B) deep-sea fan

C) alluvial fan

D) atoll

E) none of the above

 

78)  Which origin of limestone is by far the most common? 78)   _________

A) evaporite

B) detrital

C) inorganic

D) marine biochemical

E) none of the above

 

79)  Sedimentary rocks compose approximately __________ (by volume) of Earth's outermost 10 miles. 79)   _________

A) 20%

B) 30%

C) 50%

D) 75%

E) none of the above

 

80)  What type of metamorphic rock will shale normally become following low-grade metamorphism? 80)   _________

A) slate

B) marble

C) gneiss

D) mica schist

E) none of the above

 

81)  The tendency of minerals to break along smooth flat surfaces is called __________. 81)   _________

A) fracture

B) cleavage

C) conchoidal

D) polyhedral

E) streak

 

82)  A typical rate of sea-floor spreading is estimated to be approximately __________ centimeters per year. 82)   _________

A) 2 B)  8 C)  15 D)  5 E)  10

 

83)  Iceland is located along a __________ boundary. 83)   _________

A) divergent

B) convergent (oceanic-oceanic)

C) convergent (continental-continental)

D) convergent (oceanic-continental)

E) transform fault

 

84)  The gently sloping submerged surface extending from the shoreline toward the deep ocean is termed the __________. 84)   _________

A) submarine canyon

B) continental shelf

C) continental rise

D) ocean basin

E) continental slope

 

85)  The most important factor affecting the texture of an igneous rock is the __________ of the magma. 85)   _________

A) composition

B) final temperature

C) starting temperature

D) location

E) rate of cooling

 

86)  Which one of the following is NOT one of the eight most common elements in Earth's crust? 86)   _________

A) aluminum

B) sodium

C) potassium

D) carbon

E) calcium

 

87)  When certain minerals recrystallize with a preferred orientation that is perpendicular to the direction of the compressional force, the rock is said to exhibit __________. 87)   _________

A) aureole

B) foliation

C) shear

D) all of the above

E) none of the above

 

88)  The mechanism by which rocks store and eventually release energy in the form of an earthquake is referred to as __________. 88)   _________

A) stress fracture

B) deformation

C) seismic rebound

D) elastic rebound

E) fault displacement

 

89)  The resistance of a mineral to abrasion is known as __________. 89)   _________

A) cleavage

B) hardness

C) conchoidal

D) fracture

E) resistance

 

90)  An imminent volcanic eruption on Hawaii can be forecast by __________. 90)   _________

A) increase in hot spot activity

B) a sudden increase in temperature of surface rocks

C) tsunami activity

D) rapid subsidence in the caldera region

E) swelling of the summit area

 

91)  Major earthquakes are often followed by smaller events known as __________. 91)   _________

A) foreshocks

B) hyposhocks

C) tremors

D) aftershocks

E) tsunami

 

92)  The left branch of Bowen's reaction series is called a(n) __________ reaction series because each mineral has a different crystalline structure. 92)   _________

A) discontinuous

B) alternate

C) changing

D) intermediate

E) continuous

 

93)  Graded bedding is characterized by __________. 93)   _________

A) being found only on the continental slope off the Newfoundland coast

B) an increase in sediment size from bottom to top

C) a decrease in sediment size from bottom to top

D) an unsorted mixture of many different sediment sizes

 

94)  Most often the directional stresses that occur during mountain building are __________ forces. 94)   _________

A) compressional

B) extensional

C) expansional

D) magnetic

E) none of the above

 

95)  The most unreliable (variable) diagnostic property of minerals such as quartz is __________. 95)   _________

A) hardness

B) crystal form

C) color

D) specific gravity

E) luster

 

96)  The intrusive equivalent of basalt is __________. 96)   _________

A) andesite

B) granite

C) obsidian

D) gabbro

E) diorite

 

97)  The accepted age of Earth is about __________ years. 97)   _________

A) 4.5 billion

B) 3.6 billion

C) 895 million

D) 6.4 million

E) 300 million

 

98)  The doctrine of __________ is commonly stated as "the present is the key to the past." 98)   _________

A) uniformitarianism

B) succession

C) exospherism

D) catastrophism

E) continuity

 

99)  Insects are sometimes preserved in the hardened resin of ancient trees. This material is called __________. 99)   _________

A) gastrolith

B) carbonization

C) amber

D) caprolite

E) none of the above

 

100)  Lithospheric plates are about __________ km thick. 100)   ________

A) 1

B) 10

C) 100

D) 1000

E) 10,000

 


 

1)  C

 

2)  A

 

3)  C

 

4)  B

 

5)  B

 

6)  D

 

7)  E

 

8)  A

 

9)  A

 

10)  C

 

11)  B

 

12)  D

 

13)  E

 

14)  E

 

15)  B

 

16)  C

 

17)  B

 

18)  D

 

19)  B

 

20)  E

 

21)  D

 

22)  A

 

23)  C

 

24)  E

 

25)  E

 

26)  C

 

27)  C

 

28)  E

 

29)  A

 

30)  C

 

31)  C

 

32)  C

 

33)  D

 

34)  D

 

35)  C

 

36)  A

 

37)  E

 

38)  B

 

39)  C

 

40)  A

 

41)  D

 

42)  D

 

43)  C

 

44)  D

 

45)  C

 

46)  E

 

47)  A

 

48)  D

 

49)  B

 

50)  C

 

51)  E

 

52)  C

 

53)  A

 

54)  D

 

55)  C

 

56)  C

 

57)  B

 

58)  E

 

59)  E

 

60)  D

 

61)  B

 

62)  E

 

63)  B

 

64)  C

 

65)  B

 

66)  B

 

67)  D

 

68)  E

 

69)  D

 

70)  E

 

71)  A

 

72)  C

 

73)  E

 

74)  B

 

75)  C

 

76)  A

 

77)  B

 

78)  D

 

79)  E

 

80)  A

 

81)  B

 

82)  D

 

83)  A

 

84)  B

 

85)  E

 

86)  D

 

87)  B

 

88)  D

 

89)  B

 

90)  E

 

91)  D

 

92)  A

 

93)  C

 

94)  A

 

95)  C

 

96)  D

 

97)  A

 

98)  A

 

99)  C

 

100)  C