U1: Rocks
What does the rock cycle describe?
A) How rocks move in rivers and streams
B) The natural process that recycles and transforms rocks into igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic types
C) How rocks break into smaller pieces through weathering
D) The way fossils are formed in sedimentary rocks
B) The natural process that recycles and transforms rocks into igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic types
Energy for the water cycle primarily comes from:
A) Earths core
B) Solar radiation
C) Ocean currents
D) Wind
B) Solar radiation
Overuse of fossil fuels can indirectly harm human health by—
A) Increasing air pollutants linked to respiratory disease
B) Reducing biodiversity loss
C) Increasing renewable energy use
D) Increasing food production
A) Increasing air pollutants linked to respiratory disease
What is the primary source of Earth’s internal energy?
A) Radioactive decay of unstable isotopes
B) Friction between tectonic plates
C) Chemical reactions at Earth’s surface
D) Solar radiation
A) Radioactive decay of unstable isotopes
Which of the following is an abiotic factor?
A) Deer population
B) Temperature
C) Grass in a field
D) Bacteria in soil
B) Temperature
What characterizes a foliated metamorphic rock?
A) Random arrangement of mineral grains
B) Layers or bands formed by pressure aligning minerals
C) Presence of fossils
D) Glassy texture with no crystals
B) Layers or bands formed by pressure aligning minerals
Erosion is best defined as:
A) The freezing of water in rock
B) The movement of sediment to new locations
C) The formation of soil
D) The breaking of rock into smaller pieces
B) The movement of sediment to new locations
Why does water heat up more slowly than land?
A) Water absorbs less solar radiation
B) Water reflects more sunlight
C) Water has a higher heat capacity
D) Water absorbs less solar radiation
C) Water has a higher heat capacity
Which layer of Earth contains convection currents that drive plate motion?
A) Crust
B) Mantle
C) Inner core
D) Outer core
B) Mantle
Which term describes a group of the same species living in the same area at the same time?
A) Ecosystem
B) Community
C) Population
D) Biome
C) Population
Deep beneath Earth’s surface, a rock is buried as tectonic plates slowly move. Over time, the rock is exposed to intense heat and pressure. The minerals inside the rock begin to realign into visible bands, but the rock never melts.
Which conclusion is best supported by the information in the passage?
A) The rock became igneous after cooling from magma
B) The rock became sedimentary after compaction and cementation
C) The rock changed into a foliated metamorphic rock
D) The rock broke down into sediments through weathering
C) The rock changed into a foliated metamorphic rock
Water’s high specific heat means it:
A) Evaporates rapidly
B) Changes temperature quickly
C) Stores heat energy
D) Freezes easily
C) Stores heat energy
A city replaces grass and trees with pavement and buildings. Which outcome is most likely?
A) Increased albedo and cooler temperatures
B) Urban heat island effect
C) Decreased heat absorption
D) Increased convection currents over oceans
B) Urban heat island effect
Plate tectonics is best defined as the theory that explains —
A) Earth’s magnetic field
B) weather and climate patterns
C) movement and interaction of lithospheric plates
D) erosion and weathering processes
C) movement and interaction of lithospheric plates
According to the Rule of 10, if producers contain 1,000 units of energy, how much energy is available to primary consumers?
A) 900 units
B) 100 units
C) 10 units
D) 1 unit
B) 100 units
What does lithification refer to in the rock cycle?
A) The breakdown of rock by weathering
B) The transport of sediment by water or wind
C) The process of sediments becoming solid rock
D) The melting of rocks into magma
C) The process of sediments becoming solid rock
Which statement best describes mechanical weathering?
A) It only occurs in warm climates
B) It changes a rock’s chemical composition
C) It forms new minerals in rock
D) It breaks rock into smaller pieces without changing what it is made of
D) It breaks rock into smaller pieces without changing what it is made of
A rise in atmospheric CO₂ would most directly cause—
A) Thinning of the troposphere
B) Increased reflection of sunlight
C) Decreased evaporation rates
D) Increased heat retention in the troposphere
D) Increased heat retention in the troposphere
What causes mantle convection currents?
A) Earth’s rotation
B) Changes in atmospheric pressure
C) Differences in salinity
D) Temperature and density differences
D) Temperature and density differences
Which food chain correctly shows energy flow?
A) Sun → Grass → Rabbit → Fox
B) Hawk → Snake → Grass → Sun
C) Rabbit → Grass → Fox → Sun
D) Grass → Sun → Rabbit → Fox
A) Sun → Grass → Rabbit → Fox
Which sequence correctly describes how an igneous rock could become a sedimentary rock?
A) Weathering → erosion → deposition → compaction
B) Heat and pressure → folding → faulting
C) Melting → cooling → crystallization
D) Erosion → melting → cooling
A) Weathering → erosion → deposition → compaction
The movement of water driven by temperature and salinity differences is called:
A) Thermohaline circulation
B) Surface runoff
C) Capillary action
D) The water cycle
A) Thermohaline circulation
In many coastal regions, scientists observe a predictable daily pattern in wind and temperature. During the afternoon, land temperatures rise quickly under direct sunlight, while nearby ocean waters warm more slowly. As the land heats up, the air above it becomes warmer and less dense, causing it to rise. At the same time, the air above the cooler ocean remains denser and sinks. This difference in air pressure causes air to move horizontally from one area to another, creating consistent wind patterns that influence local weather and climate near coastlines.
Which process causes the warm air over land to rise?
A) Reflection
B) Radiation
C) Convection
D) Conduction
C) Convection
Which geologic feature most commonly forms at a continental–continental convergent boundary?
A) Mountain ranges
B) Mid-ocean ridges
C) Trenches
D) Volcanoes
A) Mountain ranges
A forest ecosystem experiences a large wildfire after an extended drought. Many mature trees are destroyed, and animal populations temporarily decrease as food and shelter are lost. However, the soil remains intact and still contains nutrients and seeds. Within the first year, grasses and small plants begin to grow. Over time, shrubs appear, followed by young trees that slowly rebuild the forest structure.
This is an example of:
A) Population growth
B) Habitat fragmentation
C) Primary succession
D) Secondary succession
D) Secondary succession