Physical and Chemical Weathering
Which type of weathering involves the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition?
A. Chemical weathering
B. Physical weathering
C. Oxidation
D. Erosion
E. Deposition
Answer: B. Physical weathering
What process involves the movement of sediment from one place to another by wind, water, or ice?
A. Deposition
B. Erosion
C. Weathering
D. Sedimentation
E. Compaction
Answer: B. Erosion
Which of the following is NOT one of the three main types of rocks in the rock cycle?
A. Sedimentary
B. Igneous
C. Metamorphic
D. Volcanic
E. None of the above
Answer: D. Volcanic
How do igneous rocks form?
A. By compacting and cementing sediments together
B. By melting and cooling of magma or lava
C. By being exposed to heat and pressure without melting
D. By erosion of existing rocks
E. By breaking apart during earthquakes
Answer: B. By melting and cooling of magma or lava
What are tectonic plates made of?
A. Solid rock in the Earth's crust and upper mantle (lithosphere)
B. Layers of liquid magma
C. Compressed gas trapped inside the Earth
D. Layers of fossils and sediments
E. Solidified metal from Earth's core
Answer: A. Solid rock in the Earth's crust and upper mantle (lithosphere)
What is a fault in geology?
A. A break in Earth's crust where movement has occurred
B. A type of volcano formed by tectonic activity
C. A trench formed by erosion
D. A mountain formed by magma rising to the surface
E. A flat area where tectonic plates don't move
Answer: A. A break in Earth's crust where movement has occurred
What happens when water freezes in the cracks of rocks and causes them to break apart over time?
A. Frost wedging
B. Chemical reaction
C. Root wedging
D. Sedimentation
E. Thermal expansion
A. Frost wedging
What happens during deposition?
A. Sediment is transported by wind, water, or ice.
B. Sediment is broken down into smaller pieces.
C. Sediment is laid down in a new location.
D. Rocks are dissolved by chemical reactions.
E. Rocks are compacted into solid layers.
Answer: C. Sediment is laid down in a new location.
Which process forms sedimentary rock?
A. Cooling of magma or lava
B. Heat and pressure on existing rocks
C. Compaction and cementation of sediment
D. Melting of solid rock
E. Erosion and deposition
Answer: C. Compaction and cementation of sediment
What process turns sediments into sedimentary rocks?
A. Heat and pressure
B. Compaction and cementation
C. Cooling of magma
D. Melting and crystallization
E. Erosion and deposition
Answer: B. Compaction and cementation
What type of plate boundary occurs when two plates move away from each other?
A. Convergent boundary
B. Transform boundary
C. Divergent boundary
D. Subduction zone
E. Hot spot
Answer: C. Divergent boundary
Which land feature is most likely to form at a convergent boundary where two continental plates collide?
A. A rift valley
B. A mid-ocean ridge
C. A mountain range
D. An underwater trench
E. A volcanic island
Answer: C. A mountain range
Which of the following causes chemical weathering in rocks?
A. Heat expanding the rock
B. Wind wearing down the surface
C. Water mixing with carbon dioxide to form a weak acid
D. Earthquakes shaking the ground
E. Sediments grinding against the surface
C. Water mixing with carbon dioxide to form a weak acid
How do glaciers contribute to erosion?
A. By depositing sediment as they freeze
B. By carrying large boulders and grinding them against the ground
C. By forming new layers of soil
D. By releasing chemicals that dissolve rock
E. By blocking the flow of rivers
Answer: B. By carrying large boulders and grinding them against the ground
How do minerals help classify rocks in the rock cycle?
A. Minerals determine the size of the rock.
B. Minerals give rocks their texture and color, helping to identify them.
C. Minerals cause rocks to erode faster.
D. Minerals determine how quickly rocks melt.
E. Minerals only exist in igneous rocks.
Answer: B. Minerals give rocks their texture and color, helping to identify them.
How does heat and pressure transform sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock?
A. It melts the rock completely and forms new minerals.
B. It compacts the sediment into tighter layers.
C. It changes the rock's texture and mineral composition without melting it.
D. It dissolves minerals in the rock.
E. It exposes the rock to water, breaking it apart.
Answer: C. It changes the rock's texture and mineral composition without melting it.
What happens when an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate?
A. The oceanic plate is forced beneath the continental plate because it is denser.
B. The two plates push upward to form mountains.
C. The plates break apart, forming a rift valley.
D. The continental plate slides under the oceanic plate.
E. Both plates remain stationary.
Answer: A. The oceanic plate is forced beneath the continental plate because it is denser.
Which type of tectonic feature is most commonly found at a divergent boundary on the ocean floor?
A. A volcanic island chain
B. A deep trench
C. A mid-ocean ridge
D. A fault line
E. A mountain range
Answer: C. A mid-ocean ridge
How do lichens contribute to chemical weathering?
A. They secrete acids that break down rock minerals.
B. They grow on rocks, protecting them from weathering.
C. They physically scrape the surface of the rock.
D. They trap moisture, causing freezing and cracking.
E. They heat up the rock by absorbing sunlight.
Answer: A. They secrete acids that break down rock minerals.
What is the main factor that determines how much sediment a river can carry?
A. The size of the rocks in the river
B. The river’s speed and energy
C. The type of soil along the riverbank
D. The presence of plants in the water
E. The temperature of the water
Answer: B. The river’s speed and energy
What is magma, and how does it fit into the rock cycle?
A. Magma is molten rock that forms igneous rocks when it cools.
B. Magma is liquid water that dissolves minerals to form sedimentary rocks.
C. Magma is a type of sediment found deep underground.
D. Magma is a gas that turns into solid rock when cooled.
E. Magma is melted metamorphic rock that creates faults.
Answer: A. Magma is molten rock that forms igneous rocks when it cools.
Why are sedimentary rocks more likely to contain fossils than igneous or metamorphic rocks?
A. They form from molten magma, which cools slowly enough to preserve fossils.
B. They form in environments where organisms are buried quickly by sediment.
C. They form deep underground where heat preserves organic material.
D. They are created by high-pressure environments that preserve bones.
E. They dissolve fossils into their structure.
Answer: B. They form in environments where organisms are buried quickly by sediment.
Why are earthquakes common at transform plate boundaries?
A. Plates slide past each other, causing friction and energy to build up.
B. Plates move away from each other, creating space for magma to rise.
C. Plates collide head-on, causing shock waves.
D. Plates fold into mountains, releasing pressure.
E. Plates melt into magma, creating underground explosions.
Answer: A. Plates slide past each other, causing friction and energy to build up.
What is the Great Rift Valley, and how does it form?
A. A large trench caused by a subduction zone in the Pacific Ocean
B. A valley formed by a divergent boundary where tectonic plates are pulling apart
C. A deep canyon formed by erosion from rivers
D. A fault line where two tectonic plates slide past each other
E. A volcanic crater formed by an ancient eruption
Answer: B. A valley formed by a divergent boundary where tectonic plates are pulling apart
What is the primary difference between physical and chemical weathering?
A. Physical weathering forms new minerals, but chemical weathering does not.
B. Physical weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces, while chemical weathering changes the rock's chemical makeup.
C. Physical weathering only occurs under water, while chemical weathering occurs on land.
D. Physical weathering creates acids, but chemical weathering does not.
E. Physical weathering only happens in deserts, while chemical weathering occurs in forests.
Answer: B. Physical weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces, while chemical weathering changes the rock's chemical makeup.
What process causes sediment to be deposited in layers over time?
A. Physical weathering
B. Compaction and cementation
C. Erosion by wind
D. Repeated deposition by water
E. Melting of glaciers
Answer: D. Repeated deposition by water
How does the cooling rate of magma or lava affect the texture of igneous rocks?
A. Rapid cooling forms fine-grained rocks, while slow cooling forms coarse-grained rocks.
B. Slow cooling forms fine-grained rocks, while rapid cooling forms coarse-grained rocks.
C. Cooling rate does not affect rock texture.
D. Faster cooling forms rocks with no crystals at all.
E. Slow cooling only forms sedimentary rocks.
Answer: A. Rapid cooling forms fine-grained rocks, while slow cooling forms coarse-grained rocks.
Which factor determines whether igneous rock will form with large crystals or small crystals?
A. The mineral composition of the rock
B. The amount of heat applied to the rock
C. The speed at which the magma or lava cools
D. The amount of sediment mixed into the magma
E. The pressure applied during cooling
Answer: C. The speed at which the magma or lava cools
Why do tectonic plates float on the mantle?
A. They are less dense than the mantle material beneath them.
B. They are pushed up by pressure from Earth's core.
C. They are supported by the gravitational pull of the Moon.
D. They are composed of lighter materials like gas and water.
E. They are constantly being pulled apart by magnetic forces.
Answer: A. They are less dense than the mantle material beneath them.
Which of the following best describes how fold mountains form?
A. They form when two continental plates collide, causing layers of rock to buckle and fold upward.
B. They form when magma rises to the surface and cools into layers.
C. They form when one plate sinks beneath another, creating a deep trench.
D. They form when plates pull apart, allowing sediment to pile up.
E. They form when rocks are eroded by wind and water.
Answer: A. They form when two continental plates collide, causing layers of rock to buckle and fold upward.
Why is chemical weathering faster in tropical regions than in deserts?
A. Tropical regions have stronger winds.
B. Tropical regions have more moisture and higher temperatures, which speed up chemical reactions.
C. Deserts are too hot for weathering to occur.
D. Deserts have fewer plants to cause weathering.
E. Tropical regions experience more physical abrasion from animals.
Answer: B. Tropical regions have more moisture and higher temperatures, which speed up chemical reactions.
Why do alluvial fans form at the base of mountains?
A. Water loses energy as it flows out of steep mountain slopes and spreads sediment in a fan shape.
B. Wind carries sand up the mountain and deposits it at the base.
C. Glaciers transport rocks downhill and drop them in piles.
D. Earthquakes break apart rock, creating debris fields.
E. Lava flows create ridges that trap sediment.
Answer: A. Water loses energy as it flows out of steep mountain slopes and spreads sediment in a fan shape.
Why is the rock cycle considered a "cycle" rather than a straight process?
A. Rocks can only form in one direction through the cycle.
B. Rocks continuously change from one type to another without a specific start or end.
C. Rocks only follow a straight path from magma to sedimentary rock.
D. Rocks remain unchanged once they form.
E. Rocks in the cycle only exist for a short time before disappearing.
Answer: B. Rocks continuously change from one type to another without a specific start or end.
What conditions are required for the formation of metamorphic rock?
A. Cooling of molten rock on Earth's surface
B. Compaction of loose sediment underwater
C. Extreme heat and pressure deep within Earth's crust
D. Weathering of rocks by wind and rain
E. Erosion and deposition in rivers
Answer: C. Extreme heat and pressure deep within Earth's crust
How does the process of slab pull help move tectonic plates?
A. The sinking of a dense plate into the mantle pulls the rest of the plate with it.
B. The rising of magma at mid-ocean ridges pushes plates apart.
C. The friction between two plates sliding past each other generates energy.
D. The heat of the Earth's core lifts plates upward.
E. The gravity of mountain ranges pulls plates downward.
Answer: A. The sinking of a dense plate into the mantle pulls the rest of the plate with it.
What is the Ring of Fire, and why is it significant?
A. A chain of volcanoes in Africa caused by hot spot activity.
B. A circular fault zone in the Atlantic Ocean where plates diverge.
C. A mountain range in Asia caused by plate collisions.
D. A region of high volcanic and earthquake activity encircling the Pacific Ocean due to numerous subduction zones.
E. A group of underwater ridges created by transform boundaries.
Answer: D. A region of high volcanic and earthquake activity encircling the Pacific Ocean due to numerous subduction zones.