ANSWERSHEET
Earth Science, Tarbuck - Complete test
bank - exam questions - quizzes (updated
2022)
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
Earth Science, 14e (Tarbuck/Lutgens)
Chapter 1 Introduction to Earth Science
1) What are the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical
geology?
A) Physical geology is the study of fossils and sequences of rock strata; historical
geology is the study of how rocks and minerals were used in the past.
B) Historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and geologic events,
utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference; physical geology includes the study of
how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface.
C) Physical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and deposition in relation to
plate movements in the geologic past; historical geology charts how and where the plates
were moving in the past.
D) none of the above—physical geology and historical geology are essentially the same.
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
2) The study of Earth's atmosphere is known as ________.
A) astronomy
B) oceanography
C) meteorology
D) cosmology
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
3) Which science is not used within the Earth sciences?
A) Chemistry
B) Physics
C) Biology
D) Mathematics
E) None of the above; Earth Science makes use of all of these sciences.
Answer: E
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 3 Apply
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
4) Oceanography is the study of the oceans and geology is the study of the earth, so what
is meteorology?
A) the study of meteors
B) the study of the Sun's impact on the upper atmosphere
C) the study of the atmosphere
D) the study of how to be a TV newscaster
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
5) Sedimentary rocks with marine fossils are exposed at the top of Mt. Everest. Which
scientists would make most use of this observation in their study?
A) Meteorologists, because they could use the fossils as a guide to ancient climates
B) Geologists, because their elevation is related to physical geology and fossils are
related to Earth history
C) Oceanographers, because the fossils can tell us about periods when the earth was
covered with water to the height of Mt. Everest
D) Astronomers, because they can study how life came from outer space to Earth
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
6) Hurricanes and tornados are natural disasters. What branch of the Earth sciences
studies the origin of these phenomena?
A) Meteorology
B) Geology
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
C) Oceanography
D) Astronomy
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
7) Hurricanes are natural disasters. Which branch of the Earth sciences studies the
impact of this phenomenon on coastal environments?
A) Meteorology
B) Geology
C) Oceanography
D) Astronomy
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
8) Tsunamis and earthquakes have killed millions of people during human history. What
branch of the Earth sciences is the main group that studies these phenomena?
A) Meteorology
B) Geology
C) Oceanography
D) Astronomy
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
9) If you want to buy a house in an area and you are worried there may be an earthquake
hazard, who would be the best person to ask for advice on this hazard?
A) a civil engineer
B) a geologist
C) a physicist
D) an astrologer
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
10) The earth is estimated to be approximately 4.6 billion years old. Life appeared early
in the history of Earth, but metazoans (multicelled organisms) did not appear until about
600 million years ago. If the history of Earth were compressed into a single year, when
would metazoans appear?
A) late September
B) late November
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
C) mid-December
D) late January
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 4 Analyze
11) Which of the following would not typically be considered an Earth Science study?
A) studies of volcanic eruptions
B) studies of impact craters on the moon
C) studies of acid mine waters and the bacteria that live in those waters
D) chemical refining of petroleum
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand / 3 Apply
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
12) Climate change is a well-known human problem and remains controversial despite
widespread scientific agreement on the issue. Although most scientists are familiar with
the issues, if you were a congressman and wanted an informed analysis of the problem,
which of the following would be most likely to give you the most complete analysis?
A) an astronomer
B) a meteorologist with knowledge of oceanography
C) a geologist with knowledge of astronomy
D) a physicist
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
13) A ________ is a well-tested and widely accepted view that best explains certain
scientific observations.
A) hypothesis
B) generalization
C) law
D) theory
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.2 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
14) The primary goal of Earth Science is ________.
A) to develop things that will benefit mankind
B) to identify the patterns in nature and use that information to predict the future
C) to locate resources
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
D) to protect the environment
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.2 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
15) All of the following are possible steps of scientific investigation except for ________.
A) the collection of scientific facts through observation and measurement
B) assumption of conclusions without prior experimentation or observation
C) the development of one or more working hypotheses or models to explain facts
D) development of observations and experiments to test the hypotheses
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.2 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Bloom's Taxonomy: 4 Analyze
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
16) Which of the following is not necessary for a hypothesis to be accepted by the
scientific community?
A) It must be testable.
B) It must predict something other than the observations it was based on.
C) There must be alternative hypotheses proposed.
D) It must be based on observations or facts.
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.2 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
17) The ________ explains how our solar system probably formed from a giant cloud of
gases and dispersed solid particles.
A) protogalactic theory
B) nebular theory
C) extrastellar solar hypothesis
D) planetary compression theory
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.3 Early Evolution of Earth
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
18) Which of the following is not a planet?
A) Europa
B) Venus
C) Saturn
D) Neptune
Earth Science, Tarbuck - Complete test
bank - exam questions - quizzes (updated
2022)
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
Earth Science, 14e (Tarbuck/Lutgens)
Chapter 1 Introduction to Earth Science
1) What are the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical
geology?
A) Physical geology is the study of fossils and sequences of rock strata; historical
geology is the study of how rocks and minerals were used in the past.
B) Historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and geologic events,
utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference; physical geology includes the study of
how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface.
C) Physical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and deposition in relation to
plate movements in the geologic past; historical geology charts how and where the plates
were moving in the past.
D) none of the above—physical geology and historical geology are essentially the same.
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
2) The study of Earth's atmosphere is known as ________.
A) astronomy
B) oceanography
C) meteorology
D) cosmology
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
3) Which science is not used within the Earth sciences?
A) Chemistry
B) Physics
C) Biology
D) Mathematics
E) None of the above; Earth Science makes use of all of these sciences.
Answer: E
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 3 Apply
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
4) Oceanography is the study of the oceans and geology is the study of the earth, so what
is meteorology?
A) the study of meteors
B) the study of the Sun's impact on the upper atmosphere
C) the study of the atmosphere
D) the study of how to be a TV newscaster
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
5) Sedimentary rocks with marine fossils are exposed at the top of Mt. Everest. Which
scientists would make most use of this observation in their study?
A) Meteorologists, because they could use the fossils as a guide to ancient climates
B) Geologists, because their elevation is related to physical geology and fossils are
related to Earth history
C) Oceanographers, because the fossils can tell us about periods when the earth was
covered with water to the height of Mt. Everest
D) Astronomers, because they can study how life came from outer space to Earth
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
6) Hurricanes and tornados are natural disasters. What branch of the Earth sciences
studies the origin of these phenomena?
A) Meteorology
B) Geology
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
C) Oceanography
D) Astronomy
Answer: A
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
7) Hurricanes are natural disasters. Which branch of the Earth sciences studies the
impact of this phenomenon on coastal environments?
A) Meteorology
B) Geology
C) Oceanography
D) Astronomy
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
8) Tsunamis and earthquakes have killed millions of people during human history. What
branch of the Earth sciences is the main group that studies these phenomena?
A) Meteorology
B) Geology
C) Oceanography
D) Astronomy
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
9) If you want to buy a house in an area and you are worried there may be an earthquake
hazard, who would be the best person to ask for advice on this hazard?
A) a civil engineer
B) a geologist
C) a physicist
D) an astrologer
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
10) The earth is estimated to be approximately 4.6 billion years old. Life appeared early
in the history of Earth, but metazoans (multicelled organisms) did not appear until about
600 million years ago. If the history of Earth were compressed into a single year, when
would metazoans appear?
A) late September
B) late November
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
C) mid-December
D) late January
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 4 Analyze
11) Which of the following would not typically be considered an Earth Science study?
A) studies of volcanic eruptions
B) studies of impact craters on the moon
C) studies of acid mine waters and the bacteria that live in those waters
D) chemical refining of petroleum
Answer: D
Diff: 2
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand / 3 Apply
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
12) Climate change is a well-known human problem and remains controversial despite
widespread scientific agreement on the issue. Although most scientists are familiar with
the issues, if you were a congressman and wanted an informed analysis of the problem,
which of the following would be most likely to give you the most complete analysis?
A) an astronomer
B) a meteorologist with knowledge of oceanography
C) a geologist with knowledge of astronomy
D) a physicist
Answer: B
Diff: 2
Topic: 1.1 What Is Earth Science
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
13) A ________ is a well-tested and widely accepted view that best explains certain
scientific observations.
A) hypothesis
B) generalization
C) law
D) theory
Answer: D
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.2 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
14) The primary goal of Earth Science is ________.
A) to develop things that will benefit mankind
B) to identify the patterns in nature and use that information to predict the future
C) to locate resources
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
D) to protect the environment
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.2 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
15) All of the following are possible steps of scientific investigation except for ________.
A) the collection of scientific facts through observation and measurement
B) assumption of conclusions without prior experimentation or observation
C) the development of one or more working hypotheses or models to explain facts
D) development of observations and experiments to test the hypotheses
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.2 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Bloom's Taxonomy: 4 Analyze
, Test Bank for Earth Science 14th Edition
16) Which of the following is not necessary for a hypothesis to be accepted by the
scientific community?
A) It must be testable.
B) It must predict something other than the observations it was based on.
C) There must be alternative hypotheses proposed.
D) It must be based on observations or facts.
Answer: C
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.2 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Bloom's Taxonomy: 2 Understand
17) The ________ explains how our solar system probably formed from a giant cloud of
gases and dispersed solid particles.
A) protogalactic theory
B) nebular theory
C) extrastellar solar hypothesis
D) planetary compression theory
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Topic: 1.3 Early Evolution of Earth
Bloom's Taxonomy: 1 Remember
18) Which of the following is not a planet?
A) Europa
B) Venus
C) Saturn
D) Neptune
