Earth Science Mid-Term Exam

  1. How does the theory of plate tectonics explain the motion of continents?
  1. It states that continents are on several plates floating on the ocean
  2. It states that continents are being moved apart by the powerful force of the ocean water
  3. It states that Earth’s crust is breaking apart due to gravitational forces
  4. It states that Earth’s crust is broken into plates that move because of convection currents in the mantle
  1. According to the theory of plate tectonics why is the Earth not expanding in size if new crust is being created due to seafloor spreading?
  1. Volcanoes near the ocean ridge melt the older rock
  2. The older oceanic crust is being weathered by ocean water
  3. Ocean crust is being pushed under the continental crust where it melts back into the mantle
  4. Underwater earthquakes break rock apart into smaller pieces and currents carry it away
  1. According to the U.S.G.S earthquakes happen frequently in North Carolina. Why are North Carolina residents unaware of these events?
  1. The Blue Ridge Mountains act as a buffer, absorbing seismic waves
  2. The energy released is so minor it can only be picked up by seismographs
  3. North Carolina bedrock includes granite through which seismic waves cannot pass
  4. Seismographs are so sensitive that storm activity is sometimes erroneously recorded
  1. Where were most of the volcanoes that make up the Ring of Fire formed?
  1. Near hot spots
  2. Near normal faults
  3. Near convergent plate boundaries
  4. Near divergent plate boundaries
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  1. What happened to the mountains that once existed across the Piedmont plateau region of North Carolina?
  1. Massive earthquakes caused the mountains to collapse
  2. The mountains have been eroded away by wind and water
  3. Volcanic eruptions blew the tops of the mountains off, leaving behind smaller hills
  4. The mountains were stretched apart as continents separated, leaving behind smaller hills
  1. The map shows earthquakes that occurred in North Carolina from 1990 to 2006:

Which statement regarding the seismic activity in North Carolina is correct?
  1. Earthquakes occur mostly near major cities
  2. Earthquakes occur mostly along the Eastern coastline
  3. Earthquakes occur mostly along the Western border of North Carolina
  4. More deep earthquakes occur than shallow earthquakes

  1. The cross-section below shows the anatomy of an earthquake:

Which point shows the location of the epicenter?
  1. Point A
  2. Point B
  3. Point C
  4. Point D
  1. Which process transforms sediment into sedimentary rock?
  1. Heat and pressure
  2. Cooling and solidification
  3. Cementation and compaction
  4. Weathering and erosion
  1. What provides the necessary energy for creating igneous and metamorphic rocks?
  1. The Sun
  2. Gravity
  3. Erosion
  4. Earth’s interior
  1. In which way does a P-wave differ from an S-Wave?
  1. P-Waves travel faster than S-Waves
  2. S-Waves travel faster than P-Waves
  3. S-Waves travel through liquids while P-Waves travel through solids
  4. P-Waves travel through Earth’s interior while S-Waves travel along Earth’s surface
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  1. What caused mountain ranges to form in the Western part of North Carolina?
  1. The opening of the Atlantic Ocean
  2. The collision of the African and North American plates
  3. The separation of the African and North American plates
  4. The rifting of Pangaea in the early Triassic
  1. Cracks in rocks widen as water in them freezes and thaws. How does this affect the surface of the Earth?
  1. It reduces the rate of soil formation
  2. It changes the chemical composition of the rocks
  3. It exposes rocks to increased rates of erosion and weathering
  4. It limits the exposure of rocks to acid rain
  1. Which event is an example of chemical weathering?
  1. Rocks falling off a steep cliff
  2. Feldspar in granite being crushed into clay-sized particles
  3. Water freezing in the cracks in a roadside outcrop
  4. Acid rain reacting with limestone
  1. How do metamorphic and igneous rocks, exposed in mountains become sedimentary rocks over time?
  1. Buried rocks melt and erupt from volcanoes as lava
  2. Magma erupts from volcanoes and cools while flowing downward
  3. Water erodes landforms and deposits small pieces of rock in oceans
  4. Once tectonic plate converges with another plate, forcing it downward and forming new rock

  1. The map below shows the volcanic hazard zones around Mt. St. Helens:

Which volcanic hazard appears the farthest from the center of Mt. St. Helens?
  1. Lahar
  2. Lava flow
  3. Pyroclastic flow
  4. Pyroclastic surge
  1. Which of these states has the greatest seismic risk?
  1. California
  2. Florida
  3. Michigan
  4. Nebraska
  1. Which of the following would best mitigate the potential destruction from a sinkhole?
  1. Build seawalls to block incoming waves
  2. Plant more vegetation to stabilize the soil
  3. Inspect underlying bedrock and pump out water to decrease the risk of weathering
  4. Monitor seismic activity and design an advanced warning system
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  1. A map of the Atlantic Basin is shown. The black dots indicate the locations of volcanic activity:

What seafloor feature in the Atlantic Ocean basin produces the most frequent volcanic activity?
  1. The abyssal plain
  2. The mid-ocean ridge
  3. The continental shelf
  4. The continental slope

  1. All active stratovolcanoes in the lower 48 states of the United States are concentrated in the area shown:

What kind of plate boundary created these volcanoes in this particular geographic region?
  1. Convergent
  2. Convolute
  3. Divergent
  4. Transform
  1. When granite melts and solidifies it becomes:
  1. Sedimentary rock
  2. Igneous rock
  3. Metamorphic rock
  4. Sediments
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  1. The diagram below represents geological processes that act continuously on Earth to form different rock types:

Which answer choice correctly classifies each rock type?
  1. Rock Type 1 → Sedimentary
Rock Type 2 → Metamorphic
Rock Type 3 → Igneous
B. Rock Type 1 → Sedimentary
Rock Type 2 → Igneous
Rock Type 3 → Metamorphic
C. Rock Type 1 → Metamorphic
Rock Type 2 → Igneous
Rock Type 3 → Sedimentary
D. Rock Type 1 → Igneous
Rock Type 2 → Metamorphic
Rock Type 3 → Sedimentary
  1. Which climate conditions normally produce the greatest amount of chemical weathering?
  1. Cool and dry
  2. Cool and moist
  3. Warm and dry
  4. Warm and moist
  1. The cross section below shows a soil profile:

The soil was primarily formed by:
  1. Erosion by glaciers
  2. Erosion by running water
  3. Capillarity and human activity
  4. Weathering and biological activity
  1. Humus, which is formed by the decay of plant and animal matter is important for the formation of most:
  1. Soil
  2. Minerals
  3. Sediment
  4. Surface bedrock
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  1. Which of the following is TRUE about how wind and water can change the Earth’s surface over time?
  1. Wind and water can wear away mountains but can’t make valleys deepers
  2. Wind and water can make valleys deeper but cannot wear away mountains
  3. Wind and water can wear away mountains and make valleys deeper
  4. Wind and water change the Earth’s surface but not by wearing away mountains or making valleys deeper
  1. Which of the following can be described using the Richter Scale or the Moment Magnitude Scale?
  1. The location of the epicenter
  2. The magnitude of the earthquake
  3. The amount of movement in the lithosphere
  4. The amount of time until another earthquake occurs
  1. Which of the following locations has the greatest risk for landslide damage?
  1. The mountains
  2. The coastal plains
  3. The Piedmont
  4. Charlotte, NC
  1. At what type of plate boundary is crust not created or destroyed?
  1. Divergent
  2. Uniform
  3. Convergent
  4. Transform
  1. What can be determined from the location of an earthquake’s focus?
  1. The epicenter
  2. The velocity of P and S waves
  3. The amount of energy released
  4. The lag time between P and S waves

  1. Which of the following is true about Earth’s lithospheric plates?
  1. They are separated by oceans
  2. The are piled on top of one another within the Earth
  3. They fit closely together with each plate touching all of the plates that are next to it
  4. They are surrounded by melted rock and do not touch each other
  1. Two of Earth’s lithospheric plates are pressed together for millions of years. What happens if they press together in places where oceanic plate meets a continental plate?
  1. The continental plate is pushed downward
  2. The oceanic plate is pushed downward
  3. The plates are not able to move when they are pressed together
  4. The edges of the plates are broken into smaller pieces
  1. What landform will most likely form when two oceanic plates collide?
  1. A volcanic island arc
  2. A large watershed area
  3. A smooth continental shelf
  4. A chain of continental mountains
  1. A rift valley is evidence of what type of plate boundary?
  1. Convergent
  2. Transform
  3. Divergent
  4. Uniform
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  1. Which of the following is NOT a mechanism for plate motion?
  1. Convection
  2. Ridge Push
  3. Slab Pull
  4. Subduction
  1. Which of the following is a potential environmental effect following a volcanic eruption?
  1. Volcanic ash blocks out sunlight which causes a disruption of ecosystems
  2. Breaks in the Earth’s crust creates new rift valleys
  3. Additional oxygen from the volcano makes the air easier to breathe
  4. The biotic index of nearby streams and rivers is improved
  1. What is the primary difference between magma and lava?
  1. Location
  2. Chemical composition
  3. Age
  4. Parent rock material
  1. What factor has the most influence on the development of soil?
  1. Climate
  2. Longitude
  3. Amount of rounded sediment
  4. Slope of the landscape
  1. Tsunamis are deadly natural hazards that are commonly generated by:
  1. Earthquakes generated at transform boundaries
  2. Underwater seismic activity
  3. Tides produced by gravitational attraction between the moon and Earth
  4. Hurricanes

  1. Which layer of the Earth is most affected by an earthquake?
  1. Outer core
  2. Lower mantle
  3. Asthenosphere
  4. Lithosphere
  1. The line that separates the Piedmont from the Coastal Plains on the below map is known as what?

  1. The Ring of Fire
  2. The Fall Zone
  3. The Subduction Line
  4. The Zone of Saturation