Layers of the Earth
Plate Tectonics
Rock Cycle
100
Which of Earth's layers would be described as being rocky and having the lowest density?
A. crust
B. mantle
C. inner core
D. outer core
A. crust
100
Heat generated by the core is passed to the mantle by conduction. Which option below best describes how the flow of heat through the mantle affects the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates?
A. Heated material in the mantle rises towards the crust through convection which causes plate motion.
B. Heat conducted from the Earth's mantle moves tectonic plates due to the gravitational pull from the Earth's core.
C. Heat is transferred from the mantle to the crust by radiation, which then causes the plates to move on the surface.
D. Heated material in the mantle rises to the surface by radiation, which causes the crust to harden and move the plates.
A. Heated material in the mantle rises towards the crust through convection which causes plate motion.
100
What are sedimentary rocks made of?
A. molten rock that has cooled
B. pieces of other rocks (sediments) that have collected and segmented together
C. petrified trees
B. pieces of other rocks (sediments) that have collected and segmented together
200
Which of the following statements best describes the outer core?
A. It is the outermost layer of Earth, made of solid rock.
B. It is the liquid inner layer of Earth, made of metals at extremely high temperatures.
C. It is the solid inner layer of Earth, made of metals at extremely high temperatures.
D. It is the middle layer of Earth, made of rock which varies in temperature and thickness.
B. It is the liquid inner layer of Earth, made of metals at extremely high temperatures.
200
The Andes Mountains are the world's longest range of mountains and runs north to south along the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is known for its several volcanoes including the world’s highest active volcano, Nevados Ojos del Salado. How are volcanoes like this formed?
A. Divergent plate boundaries cause mountains to separate, leaving room for the convecting magma below to enter.
B. Divergent plate boundaries cause plates to collide, causing subduction where convection in the mantle forces magma to the surface.
C. Convergent plate boundaries carve out an opening at the top of the mountains, which allows convecting magma in the ground to rise.
D. Convergent plate boundaries cause plates to collide. Oftentimes, this collision forces the denser plate to subduct while convection in the mantle forces magma to the surface.
D. Convergent plate boundaries cause plates to collide. Oftentimes, this collision forces the denser plate to subduct while convection in the mantle forces magma to the surface.
200
What are the 3 types of rocks involved in the rock cycle?
A. sandstone, basalt, shale
B. dactylic, iambic, spondaic
C. sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous
C. sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous
300
Which of the following correctly compares Earth’s inner core and mantle?
A. The inner core is thinner than the mantle.
B. The inner core is less dense than the mantle.
C. The inner core is a liquid and the mantle is a solid.
D. The inner core is closer to the crust than the mantle.
A. The inner core is thinner than the mantle.
300
Each year the California area has about 10,000 earthquakes. Which of the following describes why earthquakes are a common occurrence in California?
A. The two plates form a transform boundary because earthquakes are caused by plates sliding past each other.
B. The two plates form a convergent boundary because earthquakes are caused by plates sliding past each other.
C. The two plates form a transform boundary because earthquakes are caused by the Pacific plate subducting under the North American plate.
D. The two plates form a convergent boundary because earthquakes are caused by the Pacific plate subducting under the North American plate.
A. The two plates form a transform boundary because earthquakes are caused by plates sliding past each other.
300
What are igneous rocks made from?
A. Molten rock that has cooled
B. Pieces of other rock that have collected and segmented together
C. Mountain that have weathered away
A. Molten rock that has cooled
400
Faults are
A. cracks where pieces of the Earth's crust move past each other due to tectonic forces.
B. cracks that prevent tectonic forces from moving pieces of the Earth's crust.
C. found only in the center of the Earth's continents.
D. found only in the center of the Earth's oceans.
A. cracks where pieces of the Earth's crust move past each other due to tectonic forces.
400
A group of scientists is studying two tectonic plates. When they analyzed the data, they noticed that the two plates have been pushing against each other over the past ten years. What option below describes what will most likely occur between the two plates?
A. The plates will slowly subduct causing an earthquake.
B. The plates will quickly diverge forming an ocean basin.
C. The plates will slowly converge causing a mountain to form.
D. The plates will quickly transform causing the formation of a canyon.
C. The plates will slowly converge causing a mountain to form.
400
Use the following rock cycle model to answer the following question.
Which of the following events must occur at point 6 in order to transform sedimentary rock into igneous rock?
A. Shifting tectonic plates push the sedimentary rock toward the poles, where it freezes and hardens into igneous rock.
B. Extreme winds and storms weather the sedimentary rock into particles, which collect in rivers and are compacted into igneous rock.
C. Rising oceans erode mountains of sedimentary rock into particles, which sink and get compacted into layers that form igneous rock.
D. Tectonic plates push against each other, driving sedimentary rock under Earth's surface, where it melts into magma and turns into igneous rock as it cools.
D. Tectonic plates push against each other, driving sedimentary rock under Earth's surface, where it melts into magma and turns into igneous rock as it cools.
500
Alisha's science teacher asked each student to create a model of the Earth's tectonic plates. Alisha decided to use a hard-boiled egg, like the one pictured below.
Part of the assignment required her to describe the benefit of the model they chose. Which description below accurately describes the benefit of her model?
A. The egg white under the shell represents the mantle.
B. The shape of the egg matches the shape of the Earth.
C. The cracks on the shell represent the tectonic plate boundaries.
D. The eggshell “plates” are able to move like the Earth’s tectonic plates.
C. The cracks on the shell represent the tectonic plate boundaries.
500
The map below shows some of Earth’s plate tectonic boundaries.
Based on the map, volcanic activity would most likely be found at which location?
A. Location W
B. Location X
C. Location Y
D. Location Z
D. Location Z
Along the Convergent Boundary
500
Below is a model of the rock cycle.
Which of the following options best identifies a limitation of the model?
A. The model does not show an image of the rocks.
B. The model includes a path of formation of the rocks.
C. The model does not include what is needed for rocks to form.
D. The model includes how temperature and pressure affect how a rock is formed.
A. The model does not show an image of the rocks.