Download File - Physical Science

Name __________________
Earth Science
Exam I
1. The study of Earth's atmosphere is known as ________.
A) astronomy
B) oceanography
C) meteorology
D) cosmology
2. The ________ refers to the sum total of all life on Earth.
A) hydrosphere
B) atmosphere
C) biosphere
D) asthenosphere
3. The ________ is the thinnest layer of the Earth.
A) crust
B) outer core C) mantle
D) inner core
4. A(n) ________ system is one in which energy moves freely in and out, but no matter enters or
leaves the system.
A) closed
B) open
C) feedback D) equilibrated
5. What is the source of the energy that powers the Earth system?
A) the Sun B) heat from Earth's interior C) both A and B
D) none of the above
6. Which of the following is NOT a fundamental particle found in atoms?
A) neutron
B) selectron
C) electron
D) protons
7. Atoms of the same element, zinc for example, have the same number of ________.
A) electrons in the nucleus
C) neutrons in the outer nuclear shell
B) protons in the nucleus
D) electrons in the valence bond level
8. What
mineral is the hardest known substance in nature?
A) silicate
B) native gold
C) diamond D) muscovite
11. The resistance of a mineral to abrasion is known as ________.
A) luster
B) cleavage C) streak
D) hardness
9. What
element is the most abundant in the Earth's crust?
A) carbon
B) chlorine C) oxygen
D) sodium
10. The strong tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth, parallel planes is known as_.
A) streak
B) cleavage
C) cracking luster
D) habit
11. Which one of the following is NOT true for minerals?
A) They have a specific, internal, crystalline structure.
B) They can be a liquid, solid, or glass.
C) Many have a specific, predictable chemical composition.
D) They can be identified by characteristic physical properties.
12. Which the following denotes the positively charged particles in an atom's nucleus?
A) protons
B) electrons
C) isotrons
D) neutrons
13. Which of the following describes the light reflecting and transmission characteristics of a
mineral?
A) luster
B) color streak
C) virtual absorption
D) fluorescence
14. A naturally occurring concentration of one or more metallic minerals that can be extracted
economically is a(n) ________.
A) reserve
B) ore
C) resource
D) tailing
15. As the rate of cooling increases, the size of the crystals that form ________.
A) increases
B) decreases
C) is not affected
D) none of these
16. )
Intrusive rocks ________.
A) are generally fine-grained
B) form at Earth's surface
C) are quite often made of fossils
D) none of the above
17. Rocks
that contain crystals that are roughly equal in size and can be identified with the
unaided eye are said to exhibit a ________ texture.
A) fine-grained
B) glassy
C) coarse-grained
D) porphyritic
18. This igneous texture is characterized by two distinctively different crystal sizes. (large and
small crystals).
A) fine-grained
B) glassy
C) coarse-grained
D) porphyritic
19. Igneous rock is formed ________.
A) by the weathering of preexisting rocks
B) by changes in mineral composition
C) by crystallization of magma
20. Chemical weathering would be most effective ________.
A) in a warm, dry climate
B) in a cold, dry climate
C) in a warm, humid climate
21. Which of these factors influence the type and rate of weathering?
A) mineral content B) climate
C) topography
D) all of these
22. Sedimentary rocks ________.
A) may contain fossils
B) hold important clues to Earth's history
C) may be economically important
D) all of the above
23. Detrital sedimentary rocks are classified primarily on the basis of ________.
A) color
B) type of bedding
C) composition
D) particle size
24. Metamorphism may result from ________.
A) heat
B) pressure
C) chemical action
D) all of these
25. ________ is a planar, parallel alignment of different mineral bands in a metamorphic rock.
A) Rock cleavage
B) Foliation C) Stress streaking D) Marbleizing
26. The agents of metamorphism are ________.
A) uplifting and folding
C) contact and regional deformation
B) foliation and deposition
D) heat, pressure, and chemical fluids
27. All of the following are factors that affect rates of weathering except for ________.
A) rock characteristics B) surface area
C) climate
D) geologic age of earth materials
28. Which one of the following is an important, mechanical weathering process for enlarging
fractures and extending them deeper into large boulders and bedrock?
A) oxidation B) eluviation C) hydrologic cycling
D) frost wedging
29. Which one of the following statements best describes erosion?
A) disintegration and decomposition of rocks and minerals at the surface
B) movement of weathered rock and regolith toward the base of a slope
C) the process by which weathered rock and mineral particles are removed from one area and
transported elsewhere
D) the combined processes of leaching, eluviation, and mass wasting
30. Which term best describes those processes that move weathered rock materials and soils
downslope?
A) podzolization
B) slope sheeting
C) mass wasting
D) talus transfer
31. Assume that water filling a crack in a rock undergoes cycles of freezing and melting. Which
of the following statement is true?
A) Water expands as it melts, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart.
B) Water shrinks as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be drawn closer together.
C) Water expands as it freezes, causing the crack walls to be pushed apart.
D) Water shrinks as it melts, causing the crack walls to be pulled closer together.
32. From the land surface downward, which of the following is the correct order of the different
soil horizons?
A) O, A, E, B) A, B, C, C) E, A, O
D) A, E, O
33. The release of water vapor to the atmosphere by plants is called ________.
A) evaporation
B) degassing
C) transpiration
D) infiltration
34. Which of the following is NOT part of the water cycle?
A) water evaporating from a lake
B) water infiltrating into the soil and bedrock
C) calcium carbonate dissolving in soil water and groundwater
D) water moving into creeks and streams following a rainstorm
35. Which one of the following factors does NOT influence stream velocity?
A) channel size and shape
B) discharge C) gradient
36. If you were to examine the profile of a typical river, you would probably find that the
gradient is ________.
A) steepest near the mouth
C) the same at both the head and mouth
B) steepest near the head
D) none of these
37. ________ describes the total sediment load transported by a stream.
A) Capacity B) Discharge
C) Competence
D) Hydro-load factor
38. The suspended
load of a stream ________.
A) is found on the bottom of the stream
C) moves along the bottom
B) is dissolved in the water
D) usually consists of fine particles
39. Which
of the following features characterize meandering streams and valleys?
A) natural levees; broad floodplains
C) waterfalls; entrenched meanders
B) rapids; channel bed potholes
D) V-shaped valley cross sections
40. As
stream discharge increases ________.
A) velocity, width, and depth increase
C) velocity, width, and depth decrease
B) only velocity increases
D) only depth increases
41. The single
most important erosional agent is ________.
A) running water
B) wind
C) ice
D) waves
Name ____________________
Earth Science
Exam I
1. __________
26. __________
2. __________
27. __________
3. __________
28. __________
4. __________
29. __________
5. __________
30. __________
6. __________
31. __________
7. __________
32. __________
8. __________
33. __________
11. __________
34. __________
9. __________
35. __________
10. __________
36. __________
11. __________
37. __________
12. __________
38. __________
13. __________
39. __________
14. __________
40. __________
15. __________
41. __________
16. __________
17. __________
18. __________
19. __________
20. __________
21. __________
22. __________
23. __________
24. __________
25. __________