Which of the following is NOT one of the tectonic stresses experienced by Earth’s crust?

1. Which of the following is NOT one of the tectonic stresses experienced by Earth’s crust? • Compressional. • Tensional. • Torsional. • Shear.

2. Which of the following is NOT one of the tectonic stresses experienced by Earth’s crust? • Compressional. • Tensional. • Torsional. • Shear. Explanation: Torsion is a rotational stress. Sections of crust can be pushed together, pulled apart, or slid past one another.

3. When rock deforms elastically, • it is permanently deformed after stress is removed. • it returns to its original size and shape after stress is removed. • it stretches irreversibly, even after stress is removed. • it fractures along planes of weakness when stress is applied.

4. When rock deforms elastically, • it is permanently deformed after stress is removed. • it returns to its original size and shape after stress is removed. • it stretches irreversibly, even after stress is removed. • it fractures along planes of weakness when stress is applied. Explanation: Elastic means behavior like a rubber band—it returns to original size and shape after stressed and released.

5. When rock deforms plastically, • it is permanently deformed after stress is removed. • it returns to its original size and shape after stress is removed. • it stretches irreversibly, even after stress is removed. • it fractures along planes of weakness when stress is applied.

6. When rock deforms plastically, • it is permanently deformed after stress is removed. • it returns to its original size and shape after stress is removed. • it stretches irreversibly, even after stress is removed. • it fractures along planes of weakness when stress is applied. Explanation: Plastic means behavior like chewing gum—it stays deformed when stressed and released.

7. When rock is stressed beyond its elastic limit, • minerals undergo retrograde metamorphism. • the rock loses heat. • a new elastic limit is established. • it deforms plastically or breaks.

8. When rock is stressed beyond its elastic limit, • minerals undergo retrograde metamorphism. • the rock loses heat. • a new elastic limit is established. • it deforms plastically or breaks. Explanation: Folds and faults form when the elastic limit is surpassed. Cold rock is more brittle than warm rock, so warm rock deforms plastically to produce folds, and cold rock breaks to produce faults. Confining pressure also plays a role in determining elastic and plastic limits.

9. Rock in the center (or core) of a syncline is • younger than rock horizontally away from the center. • the same age as rock horizontally away from the center. • older than rock horizontally away from the center. • younger or older than rock horizontally away from the center.

10. Rock in the center (or core) of a syncline is • younger than rock horizontally away from the center. • the same age as rock horizontally away from the center. • older than rock horizontally away from the center. • younger or older than rock horizontally away from the center. Explanation: Think of a syncline as being shaped like a bowl. Sedimentary rocks are deposited horizontally with newer, younger rock on top of older rock. Flatten out the bowl by squishing and spreading it out. If the bowl was layered rock, can you see that younger rock forms the outside or “upper” part (deposited last)?

11. Rock in the center (or core) of an anticline is • younger than rock horizontally away from the center. • the same age as rock horizontally away from the center. • older than rock horizontally away from the center. • younger or older than rock horizontally away from the center.

12. Rock in the center (or core) of an anticline is • younger than rock horizontally away from the center. • the same age as rock horizontally away from the center. • older than rock horizontally away from the center. • younger or older than rock horizontally away from the center. Explanation: Think of an anticline as shaped like an “A” or an upside-down bowl. Sedimentary rocks are deposited horizontally with newer, younger rock on top of older rock. Flatten out the “A” by squishing and spreading it out. If the “A” was layered rock, can you see that younger rock forms the outside or “upper” part (deposited last)?

13. Normal faults are the result of • compression. • tension. • shear. • a combination of compression, tension, and shear.

14. Normal faults are the result of • compression. • tension. • shear. • a combination of compression, tension, and shear. Explanation: The production of normal faults is one way that Earth’s crust stretches.

15. Reverse faults are the result of • compression. • tension. • shear. • a combination of compression, tension, and shear.

16. Reverse faults are the result of • compression. • tension. • shear. • a combination of compression, tension, and shear. Explanation: The production of reverse faults is one way that Earth’s crust thickens.

17. Strike-slip faults are the result of • compression. • tension. • shear. • a combination of compression, tension, and shear.

18. Strike-slip faults are the result of • compression. • tension. • shear. • a combination of compression, tension, and shear. Explanation: Strike-slip faults have horizontal movement caused by shearing.

19. For a normal fault, the hanging wall moves • sideways. • obliquely. • up. • down.

20. For a normal fault, the hanging wall moves • sideways. • obliquely. • up. • down. Explanation: A block of rock of a certain size will be lengthened horizontally if a fault forms and the hanging wall moves down. Normal faults are the result of tension.

21. For a reverse fault, the hanging wall moves • sideways. • obliquely. • up. • down.

22. For a reverse fault, the hanging wall moves • sideways. • obliquely. • up. • down. Explanation: A block of rock of a certain size will be shortened horizontally if a fault forms and the hanging wall moves up. Reverse faults are the result of compression.

23. Mountains are grouped into all the following classifications EXCEPT • normal-thrust mountains. • folded mountains. • upwarped mountains. • fault-block mountains.

24. Mountains are grouped into all the following classifications EXCEPT • normal-thrust mountains. • folded mountains. • upwarped mountains. • fault-block mountains.

25. Which of the following is NOT one of the three main types of volcanoes? • Composite cone. • Shield volcano. • Cinder cone. • Ash cone.

26. Which of the following is NOT one of the three main types of volcanoes? • Composite cone. • Shield volcano. • Cinder cone. • Ash cone.

27. Composite cones are formed by the eruption of • fluid basaltic lava. • alternating layers of lava, ash, and mud. • ash, cinders, glass, and lava fragments. • massive amounts of ash.

28. Composite cones are formed by the eruption of • fluid basaltic lava. • alternating layers of lava, ash, and mud. • ash, cinders, glass, and lava fragments. • massive amounts of ash. Explanation: A composite cone is so named because it consists of layers of differing consistency.

29. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water found? • Lakes. • Ice caps and glaciers. • Rivers. • Underground.

30. Where is most of Earth’s fresh water found? • Lakes. • Ice caps and glaciers. • Rivers. • Underground. Explanation: 79% of Earth’s fresh water is currently locked up in ice! Less than 21% has the potential for use by land-based life.

31. The continental rise is • the elevated land next to a beach. • the sloping region between the continental shelf and deep ocean. • areas just barely above sea level. • the wedge of sediment at the base of the continental slope.

32. The continental rise is • the elevated land next to a beach. • the sloping region between the continental shelf and deep ocean. • areas just barely above sea level. • the wedge of sediment at the base of the continental slope. Explanation: The continental rise is created by submarine “landslides” called turbidity currents.

33. Ocean waves break at the shoreline because • the wave’s circular motion touches the seafloor in shallower water. • the wave has nowhere to go. • the wave’s circular motion increases, causing the wave to topple. • transverse currents disrupt normal wave behavior.

34. Ocean waves break at the shoreline because • the wave’s circular motion touches the seafloor in shallower water. • the wave has nowhere to go. • the wave’s circular motion increases, causing the wave to topple. • transverse currents disrupt normal wave behavior. Explanation: Ocean waves have longitudinal and circular components. The circular motion touches the ocean floor when the water depth is less than half the wave’s wavelength.

35. The compound that constitutes the majority of dissolved substances in ocean water is • sodium sulfate. • magnesium chloride. • sodium chloride. • sodium fluoride.

36. The compound that constitutes the majority of dissolved substances in ocean water is • sodium sulfate. • magnesium chloride. • sodium chloride. • sodium fluoride.

37. Precipitation that does not infiltrate becomes • groundwater. • the water table. • soil moisture. • runoff.

38. Precipitation that does not infiltrate becomes • groundwater. • the water table. • soil moisture. • runoff. Explanation: If water does not infiltrate, it stays on the surface and flows downslope.

39. The maximum amount of water a particular soil can hold is determined by the • porosity. • permeability. • degree of saturation. • amount of recharge.

40. The maximum amount of water a particular soil can hold is determined by the • porosity. • permeability. • degree of saturation. • amount of recharge. Explanation: Porosity is the percentage of open space in a soil. Water can only occupy open spaces—the higher the porosity, the larger the amount of water that can be held.

41. The maximum amount of water that can flow through a particular soil is determined by the • porosity. • permeability. • degree of saturation. • amount of recharge.

42. The maximum amount of water that can flow through a particular soil is determined by the • porosity. • permeability. • degree of saturation. • amount of recharge.

43. The work of surface water does all of the following EXCEPT • erosion. • deposition. • land subsidence. • delta formation.

44. The work of surface water does all of the following EXCEPT • erosion. • deposition. • land subsidence. • delta formation. Explanation: Groundwater withdrawal causes land subsidence.

45. Which of the following does the most work in deserts? • Water. • Wind. • Ice. • Groundwater.

46. Which of the following does the most work in deserts? • Water. • Wind. • Ice. • Groundwater. Explanation: Wind is an important shaper of land in the desert, creating such landforms as sand dunes. But running water is still the dominant agent of erosion and deposition in the desert.

47. Erosion by alpine glaciers creates • V-shaped valleys. • U-shaped valleys. • drumlins. • moraines.

48. Erosion by alpine glaciers creates • V-shaped valleys. • U-shaped valleys. • drumlins. • moraines. Explanation: V-shaped valleys are characteristic of stream erosion. Drumlins and moraines are depositional features, not erosional.

49. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of continental glaciation? • Striations. • U-shaped valleys. • Drumlins. • Moraines.

50. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of continental glaciation? • Striations. • U-shaped valleys. • Drumlins. • Moraines. Explanation: U-shaped valleys are characteristic of alpine glaciation.