- Sample Exam 1 -


INSTRUCTIONS: Write on your Scantron only with a No. 2 PENCIL. Print your full name & the exam version  (1A or 1B) on the "DATE" line of your Scantron.  When completed, bring your Scantron up front, but keep this exam sheet.  NOTE: Any student caught cheating may receive a course grade of 'F.'

TRUE-FALSE: Please choose the BEST answer for each of the following questions and record the corresponding letter (TRUE = A, FALSE = B) on your SCANTRON.

1. During the 19th century, geologists estimated that the Earth is a few million years old. Today we consider it to be a few billion years old.  Therefore, we can say that 19th century geologists erred by 1 order of magnitude.

2. Earth science and geology are synonymous terms.

3. The fine-grained equivalent of granite is rhyolite.

4. According to plate tectonic theory, lithospheric plates move over a mantle layer called the mesosphere.

5. The volcanic eruptions on the island of Hawaii may be described as relatively quiet when compared to eruptions such as occurred at Mount St. Helens.

6. Due to plate tectonics, Africa's west coast and South America's east coast are moving closer together.

7. Volcanic islands found in the deep ocean basin are generally composed of basaltic rocks.

8. These magma types are listed in order of decreasing viscosity (i.e., the most viscous first): andesitic, granitic, basaltic.


MULTIPLE-CHOICE: Please choose the BEST answer for each of the following questions and record the corresponding letter on your SCANTRON.

9. Which of the following does NOT fit -- Oceanic ridge and: [A] earthquakes  [B] seafloor spreading [C] pressure relief melting [D] peridotite composition [E] transform faulting

10. A mechanism which causes an increase in the rate at which a process occurs is a(n) ___ mechanism.
[A] positive feedback    [B] negative feedback    [C] associative    [D] constructive interference

11. Igneous rock classification is based on:  [A] hardness and fracture [B] crystal size and composition [C] color and banding [D] atomic structure and composition [E] mineralogy and cleavage

12. Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of ____.
[A] sea floor spreading  [B] subduction zone seismicity [C] plate tectonics  [D] continental drift  [E] polar wandering

13. ______ minerals crystallize at a higher temperature than ______ minerals. [A] intrusive, plutonic [B] felsic, mafic  [C] mafic, felsic [D] plutonic, intrusive

14. Magmas of granitic or intermediate composition can be derived from basaltic rocks  because of:  [A] partial melting [B] intrusion  [C] extrusion [D] both intrusion and pressure relief melting [E] pressure relief melting

15. Kilauea is an example of a: [A] lava dome  [B] shield volcano [C] volcanic neck [D] composite cone [E] cinder cone

16. A rock with a vesicular texture is most likely to occur in a: [A] lava flow [B] dike [C] ash fall [D] batholith [E] sill

17. An igneous rock that is vesicular: [A] is fine grained [B] is extrusive [C] contains many small holes [D] all of the above [E] is extrusive and fine grained

18. Minerals that contain the (CO3)2-  _____ are called _____ minerals. [A] cation, dolomaceous [B] anion, carbonate [C] cation, clay [D] cation, carbonate [E] cation, carbonatite

19. An important mechanism for producing widespread (global) transgression is_____.   [A] sea level fall [B] melting of widespread glaciers [C] increased evaporation [D] increased precipitation in polar areas

20. If a rock consists of  small crystals of mafic minerals that are not visible to the unaided eye, the rock is: [A] granite [B] rhyolite [C] gabbro [D] basalt

21. Subdividing rocks into three groups -- igneous, metamorphic, & sedimentary -- is an example of a(n) _____ classification. The method you used in lab to identify minerals is an example of a(n) ______ classification.    [A] empirical, genetic [B] genetic, empirical [C] genetic, genetic [D] empirical, empirical

22. The mineral formula CaCO3 consists of the cation _____ & the anion _____.  [A] sodium, carbonate    [B] potassium, calcium [C] carbonate, calcium       [D] calcium, carbonate     [E] carbonate, oxygen

23. Of the following volcano types, which consists mostly of pyroclastic material?  [A] volcanic plateau   [B] composite volcano  [C] cinder cone      [D] shield volcano

24. Which rock type covers the largest surface area of the U.S.? [A] igneous [B] sedimentary [C] metamorphic

25. If you drilled deep into the seafloor in the approximate center of the Red Sea, you would probably encounter rock of _____ composition, because this area is a ____ plate boundary. [A] granitic; oceanic-oceanic divergent [B] basaltic; oceanic-oceanic convergent [C] granitic; continental-continental divergent [D] basaltic; oceanic-oceanic divergent

26. North America's eastern continental margin is a(n) _______ while the western margin is a(n) _________.  [A] subduction zone; transform boundary  [B] active margin; passive margin  [C] divergent boundary; convergent boundary [D] divergent boundary; transform boundary  [E] passive margin; active margin

27. The most common mineral in the earth's crust is: [A] feldspar [B] mica [C] hornblende [D] olivine [E] quartz

28. Ultramafic rock typical of the mantle: [A] gabbro [B] basalt [C] peridotite  [D] diorite [E] rhyolite

29. A(n) ________ is a positively charged atom or group of atoms; a(n) ______ is a variety of an atom with a particular number of neutrons. [A] element; isotope  [B] anion; element [C] cation; element [D] cation; isotope [E] anion; isotope

30. Compared to felsic silicate minerals, mafic minerals contain more _________ but less ________.   [A] Fe; Mg [B] Fe & Mg; K [C] K; silica [D] silica; Fe & Mg [E] Fe & Mg; silica

31. Which factor most influences whether a volcanic eruption will be violent or relatively quiescent?  [A] amount of dissolved gas in the magma    [B] amount of dissolved gas in the magma and temperature of the magma  [C] composition of the magma [D] temperature of the magma

32. Granite and basalt: [A] are in no way similar [B] have a similar mineral composition  [C] have both a similar mineral composition and a similar texture [D] have a similar texture

33. Deep ocean trenches are associated with:   [A] transform fault off-sets  [B] rifting  [C] submarine extension [D] subduction zones [E] sub-oceanic erosion

34. Mount St. Helens is associated with a: [A] convergent (oceanic-continental) boundary  [B] divergent boundary [C] transform fault boundary [D] convergent (continental-continental) boundary [E] convergent (oceanic-oceanic) boundary

35. The most violent volcanic activity is associated with: [A] cinder cones [B] fissure eruptions [C] composite volcanoes [D] flood basalts [E] shield volcanoes

36. Intrusive rocks: [A] are also termed volcanic [B] are generally fine grained [C] are quite often vesicular [D] all of these  [E] none of these

37. Which of these is the best indicator of the margins of the lithospheric plates?
[A] a map showing the edges of continental shelves  [B] a map showing earthquake distribution   [C] a map showing active volcanoes  [D] a map showing mid-oceanic ridges    [E] a map showing the global distribution of hot spots

38. Volcanic mountain arcs typically produce rocks which are:
[A] ultramafic in composition     [B] granitic (rhyolitic) in composition [C] andesitic in composition
[D] basaltic in composition  [E] andesitic to rhyolitic in composition

39. The age of the Hawaiian islands: [A] is random in relation to the Big Island of Hawaii  [B] decreases northwest from the Big Island of Hawaii  [C] is constant for all the islands   [D] increases northwest from the Big Island of Hawaii  [E] cannot be measured

40. Volcanic necks are typically: [A] associated only with major mountain belts [B] intrusive  [C] coarse grained [D] larger than all other plutons [E] B & C