Fossil
Geologic Time
Plate Tectonics
Earth's Interior
Volcanoes
Forces in Earth's Crust
100
Which is the first step in the process during the formation of molded fossils?
A. Sediment hardens into rock.
B. Sediment is eroded from rock.
C. Organisms are buried under sediment.
D. Organisms' shapes are preserved in rock.
C. Organisms are buried under sediment.
100
Study the diagram of the geologic time scale.
Which method is most likely used to identify what happened before the start of the Paleozoic era?
A. Scientists study fossils from the Jurassic period.
B. Scientists observe index fossil records of the Mesozoic era.
C. Scientists examine fossil evidence during the Precambrian time.
D. Scientists explore the emergence of mammals and humans in the Cenozoic era.
C. Scientists examine fossil evidence during the Precambrian time.
100
Which statement best describes the theory of plate tectonics?
A. Plates sometimes move closer to one another.
B. Sections of Earth that shift are part of Earth’s asthenosphere.
C. Sections of Earth’s continents are in slow, constant movement.
D. Parts of the ocean floor move as they are carried by rift valleys.
C. Sections of Earth’s continents are in slow, constant movement.
100
Which is one type of evidence that geologists usually study?
A. location of Earth in outer space
B. waves that move through Earth
C. interactions between living things on Earth
D. diversity of life found on Earth
B. waves that move through Earth
100
Which event causes a volcanic eruption?
A. magma turning into lava
B. water being heated by magma
C. explosions occurring in magma chambers
D. magma cutting through older rocks
Which event causes a volcanic eruption?
A. magma turning into lava
B. water being heated by magma
C. explosions occurring in magma chambers
D. magma cutting through older rocks
100
The image shows a type of stress.
Which type of fault occurs when rock is subjected to this type of stress?
A. hanging
B. normal
C. reverse
D. strike-slip
B. normal
200
How might an entire insect be preserved?
A. Soft and hard tissues turn the insect into rock.
B. Tree sap flows over the insect and hardens.
C. Sediment accumulates over the insect and hardens.
D. Carbon from the decaying insect leaves a print on a rock.
B. Tree sap flows over the insect and hardens.
200
Which best describes eras and periods?
A. Eras have a smaller time span than periods.
B. Eras and periods are independent of each other.
C. Eras and periods both appear at the start of the Cambrian period.
D. Eras were more recently established on the time scale than periods.
C. Eras and periods both appear at the start of the Cambrian period.
200
In which layer of the Earth does the motion of the convection currents drive plate movement?
A. mantle
B. outer core
C. inner core
D. lithosphere
A. mantle
200
Which example best illustrates a method to show differences among Earth’s layers?
Carson models how the continental crust varies in thickness.
A. Marisol records atmospheric and oceanic temperatures at several beaches.
B. Eliza analyzes seismic wave activity from an earthquake using a computer model.
D. Oscar determines the pressure at different depths of Earth’s crust.
Eliza analyzes seismic wave activity from an earthquake using a computer model.
200
What causes the force that pushes magma from the magma chamber through the pipe and vent of a volcano?
A. gravity
B. water flow
C. expanding gases
D. convergent boundaries
C. expanding gases
200
Which best describes how wedge basins form?
A. When two plates move apart, the weaker part of Earth’s crust moves down at normal faults where sediments are deposited until a basin forms.
B. At the area where two bent plates slide past each other, a depression forms where sediments are deposited.
C. When two plates collide, the non-subducting plate scrapes the subducting plate and forms a depression where sediments gather.
D. At the area of a depression between two plates, sediments continue to get deposited and become compacted.
C. When two plates collide, the non-subducting plate scrapes the subducting plate and forms a depression where sediments gather.
300
Which is one piece of information that fossils in samples from Earth’s crust reveal about Earth’s history?
A. changes in climate
B. number of species at a specific time
C. composition of Earth’s core
D. age of organisms when they died
A. changes in climate
300
Which best explains a primary reason for the inability of life to exist in Earth’s early atmosphere?
A. There was insufficient energy from material collisions to change their density.
B. High temperatures during Precambrian time caused surface water evaporation.
C. Volcanic eruptions and comet collisions added different gases to the atmosphere.
D. Available oxygen was used to help create an ozone layer within Earth’s atmosphere.
C. Volcanic eruptions and comet collisions added different gases to the atmosphere
300
Study the map.
Which plate forms a boundary with the African Plate?
A. Pacific
B. South American
C. Nazca
D. Philippine
B. South American
300
How do geologists study direct evidence of Earth’s interior?
A. by collecting core rock samples
B. by measuring seismic wave activity
C. by analyzing how living things survive
D. by recording changes in climate patterns
A. by collecting core rock samples
300
Which occurs just before a volcanic eruption?
A. Lava flows onto the sides of the volcano.
B. The expanding gases push magma through the pipe.
C. A pocket of magma forms beneath the volcano.
D. New rocks are formed as lava hardens.
B. The expanding gases push magma through the pipe.
300
A scientist observes a feature where the hanging wall moved downward relative to the footwall. Which feature does the scientist observe?
A. anticline
B. syncline
C. normal fault
D. strike-slip fault
C. normal fault
400
Which evidence suggests that several mass extinctions have occurred during Earth's history?
A. Fossils provide information about water level and temperature.
B. Many fossils demonstrate that organisms have changed over time.
C. Fossils of the same species have been found on distant continents.
D. Many fossils of organisms that are no longer living have been discovered.
D. Many fossils of organisms that are no longer living have been discovered.
400
Which period is older than the Triassic period?
A. Cambrian
B. Cretaceous
C. Jurassic
A. Cambrian
400
At which point is crust neither created nor destroyed?
A. island chain
B. mid-ocean ridge
C. divergent boundary
D. transform boundary
D. transform boundary
400
Which phrases describe S waves?
A. behave like a ripple
B. move through liquids only
C. are classified as primary waves
D. are known as a type of direct evidence
A. behave like a ripple
400
The image shows the Great Rift Valley in Africa, an example of a rift valley.
Which statement best describes how the Great Rift Valley in Africa formed?
A. The rift valley formed when the crust pulled apart.
B. The rift valley formed due to subduction.
C. The rift valley formed similarly to an island arc.
D. The rift valley formed at a convergent
A. The rift valley formed when the crust pulled apart.
400
In which type of fault is the hanging wall above the footwall?
A. normal
B. reverse
C. strike-slip
D. horizontal
B. reverse
500
Which fossils are formed by sediments and found in sedimentary rock?
A. a mold of a fish skeleton and a cast of a clamshell
B. a cast of a clamshell and a frozen animal
C. a frozen animal and a piece of petrified wood
D. a piece of petrified wood and a preserved insect
A. a mold of a fish skeleton and a cast of a clamshell
500
What information does the geologic time scale provide?
A. explanation of how organisms interact with one another
B. places where dinosaurs roamed on Earth
C. reasons why organisms evolve into different species
D. information about when plants first appeared
D. information about when plants first appeared
500
Which event is associated with convergent boundaries?
A. formation of island chains
B. creation of mid-ocean ridges
C. creation of convection currents
D. formation of rift valleys
A. formation of island chains
500
Which best explains how heat plays a role in the movement of materials within Earth’s interior?
A. Hot material near Earth’s surface is more dense and sinks, and when it cools, it becomes less dense and rises.
B. Hot material near the core is more dense and rises, and when it cools, it becomes less dense and sinks.
C. Hot material near Earth’s surface is less dense and sinks, and when it cools, it becomes more dense and rises.
D. Hot material near the core is less dense and rises, and when it cools, it becomes more dense and sinks.
D. Hot material near the core is less dense and rises, and when it cools, it becomes more dense and sinks.
500
The image shows the locations of volcanoes around the world.
Which statement is supported by the information in the image?
A. Many volcanoes are on the eastern coast of Asia.
B. Most volcanoes are in the center of continents.
C. No volcanoes are found in the middle of the ocean.
D. Many volcanoes are on the eastern coasts of North and South America.
A. Many volcanoes are on the eastern coast of Asia.
500
Which feature is most likely found at a divergent boundary?
A. fold
B. plateau
C. fault-block mountain
D. anticline or syncline
C. fault-block mountain
600
Which statement explains what similar fossils found on distant continents suggest about Earth’s history?
A. Animals have evolved over time.
B. The continents have moved over time.
C. Earth’s oceans had varying salt content through time.
D. There have been many animals on Earth that are now extinct.
B. The continents have moved over time.
600
In which era did mammals emerge?
A. Cenozoic
B. Mesozoic
C. Paleozoic
D. Precambrian
A. Cenozoic
600
In which two places do divergent boundaries occur?
A. land and oceans
B. oceans and volcanoes
C. volcanoes and lower mantle
D. lower mantle and land
A. land and oceans
600
Sophia was studying with Maalik about the layers of the Earth. They were given several different statements about the layers.
Which statement about the layers would they identify as correct?
A. The outer core is less than 70 km in thickness.
B. The crust assists in forming Earth’s magnetic field.
C. The mantle is denser than the crust.
D. Pressure increases when moving from the core to the crust.
C. The mantle is denser than the crust
600
Which feature is created on the exterior of a volcano when it erupts?
A. magma chamber
B. crater
C. hot spot
D. boundary
B. crater
600
At which type of boundary does tension often occur?
A. convergent
B. divergent
C. subduction
D. transform
B. divergent
700
Which part of an organism is preserved in cast and mold fossils?
A. skin
B. bone
C. muscle
D. soft tissue
B. bone
700
Which evidence supports the claim that Earth’s continents formed during Precambrian time?
A. Compaction caused rock to cool and rise to form pieces of crust.
B. Earth collided with a large object and threw material onto Earth’s surface.
C. Collisions with comets added land masses to Earth’s surface.
D. Earth’s surface cooled, causing rocks to cool and harden.
D. Earth’s surface cooled, causing rocks to cool and harden.
700
Study the image.
At which point is subduction occurring?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
D. 4
700
Which statement describes a characteristic of the asthenosphere?
A.Temperatures are cool.
B. Consistency is solid.
C. Thickness is less than crust.
D. Pressure is higher than crust.
D. Pressure is higher than crust.
700
This image shows a volcanic eruption in Hawaii with lava flowing into the sea.
Which statement best describes this eruption?
A. Its magma is high in silica.
B. Its magma has low viscosity.
C. Its gases are released in rapid bursts.
D. Its lava came from an explosive eruption.
B. Its magma has low viscosity.
700
Which explanation provides support for continental drift theory?
A. Dinosaurs lived on many continents.
B. Coal fields match up across continents.
C. Tropical plant fossils were found in warm areas.
D. Mountains formed where Earth cooled and shrank.
B. Coal fields match up across continents.
800
Which correctly lists three materials that preserve soft tissues in fossils?
A. amber, minerals, and sediment
B. minerals, permafrost, and amber
C. permafrost, amber, and tar
D. sediment, minerals, and tar
C. permafrost, amber, and tar
800
Which evidence is most likely used to indicate the beginning of solar system formation?
A. Materials combined to form a mass.
B. Materials were pulled together by gravity.
C. Water condensed and collected to form oceans.
D. Different species of microorganisms lived on Earth.
B. Materials were pulled together by gravity.
800
Many earthquakes occur near mid-ocean ridges but do not destroy or form new crust. Instead, plates slip past each other. Which kind of boundary is found at these earthquake locations?
A. transform boundary between two ocean plates
B. transform boundary between two continental plates
C. convergent boundary between two ocean plates
D. convergent boundary between two continental plates
A. transform boundary between two ocean plates
800
Which example is indirect evidence used to study Earth’s interior?
A. composition of minerals in a rock
B. age of a rock from within Earth
C. location of an earthquake’s epicenter
D. texture of different core rock samples
C. location of an earthquake’s epicenter
800
he image shows Osorno in Chile, which last erupted in 1869.
Which phrase best describes Osorno?
A. shield volcano
B. active volcano
C. dormant volcano
D. explosive volcano
C. dormant volcano
800
What name did Wegener give to the single large landmass composed of all continents?
A. Eurasia
B. Gondwanaland
C. Laurasia
D. Pangaea
D. Pangaea
900
How do organisms form carbon films?
A. Organisms turn into rock.
B. Residue is left on rocks when organisms decay.
C. Hollow forms are left in sediment by decaying organisms.
D. Organisms leave evidence of their activities, such as footprints.
B. Residue is left on rocks when organisms decay.
900
Which event in Earth’s history most directly allowed life to exist on land?
A. Earth’s temperatures increased, causing widespread evaporation.
B. Earth collided with a large object, forming the moon.
C. Single-celled organisms released oxygen into the air when they photosynthesized.
D. Single-celled organisms absorbed harmful gases from the air when they first formed.
C. Single-celled organisms released oxygen into the air when they photosynthesized.
900
Many more earthquakes occur along the San Andreas Fault in California than in other parts of the United States. Scientists claim that these earthquakes are caused by activity along a transform plate boundary.
Which evidence would best support this claim?
A. Subduction causes new crust to form.
B. Subduction causes old crust to be destroyed.
C. Plates slip past each other at the boundary.
D. Plates collide with each other at the boundary
C. Plates slip past each other at the boundary.
900
About how far does the S wave travel through Earth in 13 minutes?
A. 2,000 km
B. 4,000 km
C. 6,000 km
D. 8,000 km
B. 4,000 km
900
The image shows a volcano erupting at night in Russia.
Which label best describes this image?
A. Explosive eruption—beware of ash!
B. Gases push out magma with great force!
C. Volcano quietly erupts due to low-viscosity magma!
D. High silica content of magma results in lava reaching sea level by morning!
C. Volcano quietly erupts due to low-viscosity magma!
900
What is the name of the theory that explains why mountain ranges in Africa and South America line up?
A. Pangaea theory
B. landmass theory
C. continental drift theory
D. plate movement theory
C. continental drift theory
1000
The image shows a fossil that is hard like rock but that resembles a tree.
Which statement explains how this type of fossil differs from a trace fossil?
A. This fossil reveals the activities of an organism.
B. This fossil was created in solidifying sediment.
C. This fossil is an impression left by an organism.
D. This fossil was an organism that has been turned into rock.
D. This fossil was an organism that has been turned into rock.
1000
Which is a difference between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic era?
A. Animals lived in the water during the Mesozoic and on land in the Paleozoic.
B. The first birds emerged in the Paleozoic era while mammals first emerged in the Mesozoic.
C. Many different species of dinosaurs lived in the Mesozoic, but they all died off in the Paleozoic.
D. Animal complexity increased during the Paleozoic while the first flowering plants appeared in the Mesozoic era.
D. Animal complexity increased during the Paleozoic while the first flowering plants appeared in the Mesozoic era.
1000
Sometimes earthquakes occur at a boundary between the Indian and Eurasian Plates. The collisions of these two continental plates formed the Himalayan mountain range.
Based on this information, which type of boundary exists between the Indian and Eurasian Plates?
A. continental-continental convergent
B. continental-continental divergent
C. oceanic-continental divergent
D. oceanic-continental convergent
A. continental-continental convergent
1000
Study the diagram showing the range of temperature in the Earth’s layers.
What does the diagram show about Earth’s interior?
A. The outer core is the hottest region.
B. The mantle is hotter than the outer core.
C. The continental crust is the coolest region.
D. The inner core is cooler than the lithosphere.
C. The continental crust is the coolest region.
1000
This is a map that shows hot spots around the world.
Which phrase describes the formation of the Hawaiian Islands?
A. formed due to subduction
B. formed in the middle of a plate
C. formed at a divergent boundary
D. formed at a convergent boundary
B. formed in the middle of a plate
1000
Which coastlines most closely match each other and are, therefore, used as evidence to support Wegener’s theory?
A. India and Eurasia
B. Australia and Africa
C. Africa and South America
D. Australia and North America
C. Africa and South America