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RHP Physical Science Chapter 17 Test

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

1. 
The continental crust is deepest beneath
a.
oceans.
c.
valleys.
b.
mountains.
d.
rivers.
 

2. 
Oceanic crust is
a.
thicker and less dense than continental crust.
b.
thinner and less dense than continental crust.
c.
thicker and more dense than continental crust.
d.
thinner and more dense than continental crust.
 

3. 
About 80 percent of Earth’s volume is made up of
a.
crust.
c.
inner core.
b.
mantle.
d.
outer core.
 

4. 
Earth’s inner core is
a.
hot and solid.
c.
cool and solid.
b.
hot and liquid.
d.
cool and liquid.
 

5. 
Earth’s lithosphere is composed of
a.
the crust only.
b.
the mantle only.
c.
the crust and the upper portion of the mantle.
d.
the mantle and the upper portion of the outer core.
 

6. 
One hypothesis states that plate movement results from convection currents in the
a.
mantle.
c.
lithosphere.
b.
asthenosphere.
d.
outer core.
 

7. 
A divergent boundary occurs where two plates
a.
move toward each other.
c.
move past each other.
b.
move away from each other.
d.
move over each other.
 

8. 
A zone where oceanic crust dives beneath continental crust is called a zone of
a.
subduction.
c.
reduction.
b.
divergence.
d.
rifting.
 

9. 
A convergent boundary occurs where two plates
a.
move toward each other.
c.
move past each other.
b.
move away from each other.
d.
move over each other.
 

10. 
A transform fault boundary occurs where two plates
a.
move toward each other.
c.
move past each other.
b.
move away from each other.
d.
move over each other.
 

11. 
The reversal of Earth's magnetic poles, as indicated by the rock on the ocean floor, occurs on average every
a.
100 000 years.
c.
300 000 years.
b.
200 000 years.
d.
400 000 years.
 

12. 
Earthquakes occur mostly
a.
in the middle of continents.
c.
at plate boundaries.
b.
in the asthenosphere.
d.
at the edges of the continents.
 

13. 
The breakage of rocks along a fault line releases energy in the form of
a.
P waves.
c.
heat.
b.
seismic waves.
d.
light.
 

14. 
Waves that cause the most damage during an earthquake are
a.
surface waves.
c.
S waves.
b.
P waves.
d.
ocean waves.
 

15. 
A seismograph measures
a.
how much the surface of Earth moves during an earthquake.
b.
the speed of S waves.
c.
the force of the earthquake.
d.
the location of the epicenter.
 

16. 
The minimum number of seismograph stations necessary to determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter is
a.
one.
c.
three.
b.
two.
d.
four.
 

17. 
Scientists can calculate the distance from the seismograph station to the focus using
a.
the difference in arrival times of P and surface waves.
b.
the difference in arrival times of P and S waves.
c.
the difference in arrival times of S and surface waves.
d.
none of the above.
 

18. 
The magnitude of earthquakes is expressed using
a.
the Richter scale.
c.
the amplitude of the P waves.
b.
the Mercalli scale.
d.
the Mohs’ scale.
 

19. 
The magma released from volcanoes is
a.
material from the core.
b.
molten rocks from the mantle and crust.
c.
liquid iron and nickel.
d.
radioactive.
 

20. 
The magma of shield volcanoes is rich in
a.
nitrogen and oxygen.
c.
silica.
b.
magnesium and iron.
d.
hydrogen.
 

21. 
Composite volcanoes are made up of
a.
many layers of cinders and lava.
b.
many layers of lava rich in magnesium and iron.
c.
many layers of cinders.
d.
many layers of metamorphic rock.
 

22. 
A mineral
a.
has a chemical formula.
c.
has a characteristic internal structure.
b.
occurs naturally.
d.
all of the above
 

23. 
Which of the following is not among the nine most common rock forming minerals?
a.
calcite
c.
feldspar
b.
gold
d.
quartz
 

24. 
Which of the following is not a rock?
a.
granite
c.
marble
b.
shale
d.
diamond
 

25. 
Which of the following is not a rock type?
a.
igneous
c.
cubic
b.
sedimentary
d.
metamorphic
 

26. 
Igneous rock forms from
a.
weathered rock particles.
c.
magma.
b.
evaporation of water.
d.
none of the above.
 

27. 
Sedimentary rocks are the only rocks that can potentially contain
a.
fossils.
c.
fractures.
b.
minerals.
d.
faults.
 

28. 
Igneous rocks that have mineral crystals easily seen with the unaided eye formed
a.
extrusively.
c.
under water.
b.
intrusively.
d.
through compaction.
 

29. 
Sedimentary rocks are named according to
a.
the type of minerals they contain.
c.
when they were formed.
b.
where they were formed.
d.
the size of the fragments they contain.
 

30. 
Limestone can be metamorphosed into
a.
gneiss.
c.
marble.
b.
shale.
d.
slate.
 

31. 
Which type of rock is formed from weathering, erosion and deposition?
a.
sedimentary rock
c.
igneous rock
b.
magma
d.
minerals
 

32. 
Rocks that are changed by heat and pressure will form
a.
sedimentary rocks.
c.
igneous rocks.
b.
metamorphic rocks.
d.
magma.
 
 
chap17onlinetest_files/i0340000.jpg
 

33. 
The rock labeled "B" is
a.
igneous.
c.
sedimentary.
b.
metamorphic.
d.
magma.
 

34. 
The rock labeled "A" is
a.
igneous.
c.
sedimentary.
b.
metamorphic.
d.
magma.
 

35. 
The principle of superposition is used to
a.
determine the absolute age of rocks.
c.
determine the relative age of rocks.
b.
determine how rocks are formed.
d.
determine how rocks are changed.
 

36. 
Radioactive isotopes are used to
a.
determine the absolute age of rocks.
c.
determine how rocks are formed.
b.
determine the relative age of rocks.
d.
determine how rocks are changed.
 

37. 
Weathering that does not alter the chemical composition of the rock is called
a.
chemical weathering.
c.
biological weathering.
b.
physical weathering.
d.
acid weathering.
 

38. 
The most effective agent of physical weathering and erosion is
a.
water.
c.
gravity.
b.
wind.
d.
plant roots.
 

39. 
The process in which sediment is laid down is called
a.
erosion.
c.
weathering.
b.
deposition.
d.
cementation.
 
 
chap17onlinetest_files/i0420000.jpg
 

40. 
Which of the following valley shapes would glaciers produce?
a.
A
c.
C
b.
B
d.
D
 

41. 
Carbonic acid dissolved in water is a
a.
physical weathering agent.
c.
biological weathering agent.
b.
chemical weathering agent.
d.
mechanical weathering agent.
 

42. 
Underground limestone caves form
a.
from cooling and solidification of magma below the surface.
b.
from the compacting and cementing of weathered rock fragments.
c.
oxidation decomposes the minerals in the rock.
d.
when the calcite is dissolved by carbonic acid in rainwater.
 

43. 
Using the diagram below, which feature is the youngest (most recent)?
chap17onlinetest_files/i0460000.jpg
a.
Bed A
c.
Bed C
b.
Bed B
d.
Dike D
 

44. 
Using the diagram below, select the answer that proposes a possible order for the events from oldest to youngest (none of the answers are perfect solutions. Pick the answer that comes the closest to predicting the correct relative order of events).

chap17onlinetest_files/i0470000.jpg
a.
Batholith, Fault A, Fault B, Dike B, Dike A
c.
Fault A, Fault B, Dike B, Batholith, Dike A
b.
Fault B, Fault A, DIke B, Dike A, batholith
d.
Fault A, Dike B, Batholith, Fault B, Dike A
 

45. 
The graph below represents the half life of an isotope used for measuring the age of rocks. What percentage of parent atoms remain after 3 half lives?

chap17onlinetest_files/i0480000.jpg
a.
50%
c.
12.5%
b.
25%
d.
16.7%
 

46. 
Using the diagram below, which geologic process cannot be easily detected during the period of a human lifetime?
chap17onlinetest_files/i0490000.jpg
a.
mountain range uplifted
c.
erosion of rivers and shorelines
b.
flood
d.
earthquake waves travel around Earth
 

47. 
This black, dense rock was found near a dormant cinder cone. It has numerous holes in it. What is the probable name of this rock?

chap17onlinetest_files/i0500000.jpg

a.
granite
c.
coal
b.
pumice
d.
basalt
 

48. 
This rock was found in a stream bend. Looking up, you see a cliff made out of the same rock - it has black and white interlocking crystals. What is one possibility for the name of this rock?

chap17onlinetest_files/i0510000.jpg
a.
basalt
c.
diorite
b.
pumice
d.
sandstone
 

49. 
This rock can be found in the Grand Canyon (and many other places). It is composed of sand sized grains. There are no visible crystals in the rock. There is apparent cross-bedding. You determine that the rock is sandstone. Where might this cross-bedded sandstone have originally been deposited?

chap17onlinetest_files/i0520000.jpg
a.
deep sea trench
c.
Atop a high mountain peak
b.
coastal sand dunes
d.
In a swamp
 

50. 
This molten rock will eventually form what type of rock?

chap17onlinetest_files/i0530000.jpg
a.
Metamorphic
c.
Extrusive Igneous
b.
Intrusive Igneous
d.
Sedimentary
 



 
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