Which of the following steps is not a standard step in the scientific method?

    A. Design an experiment to test your explanation.

    B. Form a hypothesis to explain an observation.

    C. Apply for a patent to protect the rights to your theory.

    D. Submit your research findings to a peer-reviewed journal.

    E. Apply statistical analysis to the results of your experiment.

What kind of natural system experiences inflow of both energy and matter?

     A. Closed system

     B. Open system

     C. Isolated system

     D. Universal system

     E. Social Security System

What kind of feedback is illustrated by continuously worsening wind erosion due to

     dust deposits killing off vegetation?

A.    Positive feedback

B.     Negative feedback

C.     Neutral feedback

D.  

Residual diminishing feedback

A.    Positive feedback

What geologic principle, formulated by James Hutton, assumes that ancient processes

      operated the same way that modern ones do?

    A. Catastrophism

    B. Absolutism

    C. Original horizontality

    D. Jacob’s Ladder principle

    E. Uniformitarianism

What geologic principle enables us to integrate relative ages of sedimentary layers with

     those of intrusive igneous rocks?

   A. Uniformitarianism

   B. Original horizontality

   C. Cross cutting relations

   D. Law of Unconformities

   E. Counting of tree rings

 C. Cross cutting relations

What name is given to a very thick accumulation of marine sedimentary rock layers

    caused by a down-warping of the earth’s crust?

   A. sedimentary basin

   B. structural dome

   C. regional unconformity

   D. mountain range

Which of these characteristics is not part of the definition of a MINERAL?

     A. inorganic chemical

     B. of great commercial value

     C. naturally occurring

     D. has an orderly atomic structure

     E.  has a definite chemical composition 

Most rock forming minerals belong to which chemical family?

     A. Silicates

     B. Oxides

     C. Sulfides

     D. Halides

     E. Borates

In the rock cycle, which rock group forms exclusively in the low temperature &

      pressure environment of the earth’s surface?

     A. magma formation

     B. igneous rocks

     C. sedimentary rocks

     D. metamorphic rocks

    E. None of the above

Most rock-forming minerals are composed of a small number of elements. Which of

      these is not one of them?

    A. aluminum (Al)

    B. krypton (Kr)

    C. silicon (Si)

    D. oxygen (O)

    E. calcium (Ca)

Granite is a classic example of a MaFic type of igneous rock.

      A. True

      B. False

In which of these silicate structural groups do the micas occur ?

     A. separate tetrahedra

     B. single chains of tetrahedra

    C. double chains of tetrahedra

    D. sheets of tetrahedra

    E. 3-dimensional networks of tetrahedra

    D. sheets of tetrahedra

What type of igneous rock texture is composed of both very fine grains and coarse

      grains?

    A. plutonic texture

    B. glassy texture

    C. porphyritic texture

    D. spongy texture

    E. None of the above

    C. porphyritic texture

Basalt is the most common volcanic rock type found in oceanic islands.

     A. True

     B. False

     A. True

In which clastic sedimentary rock would pebbles be found?

     A. shale

     B. siltstone

     C. sandstone

     D. conglomerate

     E. limestone

     D. conglomerate

Which of these rock types is Intermediate in composition, being neither Mafic nor

       Felsic?

     A. granite

     B. andesite

    C. basalt

    D. peridotite

    E. rhyolite

     B. andesite

Which of the following is an agent of metamorphism?

     A. very high heat

     B. very high pressure

     C. chemically active fluids

     D. all of the above

Upon what evidence did Alfred Wegener base his theory of Continental Drift?

     A. the apparent puzzle-like fit of the continental margins

     B. occurrence of similar fossils on widely separated continents

     C. rock in different continents that indicated the same ancient climates

     D. similar mountain trends and rock types on either side of theAtlantic Ocean

     E.  All of the above.

Which of the following is not evidence that supports plate tectonic movement?

     A. alternating patterns of  volcanic sea floor showing magnetic field  reversals

     B. increasing age of rock samples on both sides of the mid-Atlantic ridge

    C.  apparent path of polar wandering as measured from different continents

    D.  modern day location of ice sheets over Greenland andAntarctica

    E.   association of deep sea trenches with volcanic islands and mountain chains

What topographic feature marks the edge of divergent plate boundaries?

       A. submerged oceanic mountain chains

       B. deep sea trenches

       C. series of volcanic islands such as the Hawaiian chain

       D. shallow coral reefs off the coast ofFlorida

       E.  all of the above

       A. submerged oceanic mountain chains

Which of these features does not mark the location of a convergent plate boundary?

      A. Island arcs next to deep sea trenches

      B. Volcanic mountain chains like theAndes paralleling a deep sea trench

     C. Continental rift valleys such as in westKenya.

     D. Highly deformed, compressional mountain chains such as theHimalaya Mountains.

     C. Continental rift valleys such as in west Kenya.

Which type of plate boundary runs through and alongCalifornia?

       A. Divergent boundary

       B. Transform boundary

       C. Convergent boundary

       D. No boundary occurs there.

       B. Transform boundary

What term is used to indicate that one crustal plate is dragged under another?

      A. subduction

      B. convection

      C. volcanic arching

      D. rift valley formation

      A. subduction

What device is used to detect the arrival of earthquake waves at various locations?

      A. Jolt meter

      B. Seismograph

      C. Vibrometer

      D. Elastosizer

      B. Seismograph

Of the various types of earthquake waves, which one travels fastest?

      A. S-waves

      B. P- waves

      C. Surface waves

      D. Microwaves

      B. P- waves

Where is the epicenter of an earthquake located?

      A. It is on the surface directly above the origin of the quake.

      B. It is on the opposite side of the earth from the earthquake origin.

     C. It is at the middle of the first seismic station that receives the waves.

     D. It is the primary equipment supply warehouse where earthquake detectors are sold.

      A. It is on the surface directly above the origin of the quake.

Which earthquake strength measurement system is based on the damage caused?

      A. Richter scale

      B. Moment magnitude scale

      C. Wentworth scale

      D. Mercalli Intensity scale

      E. Chromatic scale

Which of the these is not a factor that causes structural damage during earthquakes?

     A. proximity of the earthquake to the Equator

     B. nature of materials on which structures sit

     C. duration of the earthquake vibrations

     D. intensity of the earthquake

     E. architectural design of structures.

     A. proximity of the earthquake to the Equator

Tsunami used to be called tidal waves.  What causes them?

      A. They are caused by major cyclonic storms.

      B. They are generated by earthquake movements on the sea floor.

      C. Tidal forces during a full moon.

      D. They occur when there is a reversal in the Earth’s magnetic field.

In which internal layer of the Earth does the Asthenosphere occur?

      A. in the crust

      B. in the mantle

      C. in the outer core

      D. in the inner core

      B. in the mantle

Information about the density and rigidity of the earth’s internal layers is gained by

      determining how fast earthquake waves travel through them.

1. True                                        B.False

1. True                                       

What did the S-wave shadow zone indicate about the earth’s interior?

      A. the presence of the Mohorovicic Discontinuity

      B. the presence of the solid inner core

      C. the existence of the liquid  outer core

      D. the boundary between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere

Low viscosity lavas flow more readily.  What factor does not affect viscosity in

      volcanoes?

      A. Temperature

      B. Dissolved gases

      C. Relative age of the rocks through which the lava rises.

      D. Silica content of the lava

      C. Relative age of the rocks through which the lava rises.

Which of these volcano types covers the greatest area?

      A. cinder cones                             

   C. shield volcanoes

      B. composite stratovolcanoes         

D. waffle cones      

Which volcanic material should not be produced by an explosive composite volcano?

      A. Pahoehoe lava

      B. Pumice

     C. Pea-sized cinders

     D. Bombs

What doesDevils Tower,Wyomingor Ship Rock,New Mexicorepresent?

      A. a lahar

      B. a nuee ardente

      C. a caldera

      D. a volcanic neck 

Which of these plutons is discordant, because it cuts across other rock layers?

      A. a sill

      B. a dike

     C. a laccolith

     D. all of the above

      B. a dike

In what type of deformational folds are rock layers inclined away from a central axis?

      A. anticline

      B. syncline

      C. structural basin

      D. Collapsed strata above large caves

      A. anticline

In a plunging syncline exposed by erosion, the central rock band is the oldest one?

      A. True

      B. False

      A. True

In what type of fault does the hanging wall slip down below the footwall?

      A. Reverse fault

      B. Normal fault

      C. Strike-slip fault

      D. Thrust fault

      B. Normal fault

Which of these fractures experiences no significant movement?

      A. Thrust faults

      B. Joints

      C. Transform faults

      D. Normal faults

      B. Joints

Which of these events can form a mountainous region ?

       A. continent to continent convergence

       B. volcanic activity where a continent converges with oceanic crust

       C. erosion of a section of the crust that has risen isostatically

       D. down-dropped fault blocks in a plateau region

       E. all of the above