GEOLOGY 101 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED
Geology 101 Final Exam
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
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1. The main layers of the Earth in correct order, from the c) crust, mantle, outer
surface moving down is: core, inner core
a) upper core, outer core, inner core, mantle
b) outer core, inner core, upper mantle, lower crust
c) crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
d) upper mantle, lower mantle, inner core, crust
2. Geology can help us learn about Earth's past by study- e) all of these
ing
a) why continents have different regions
b) why a landscape looks the way it does
c) how life in the past was different than today
d) how global climate has changed since the ice ages
e) all of these
3. The distribution of natural resources is influenced by d) all of these
the:
a) types of rocks
b) ages of rocks
c) way in which the rocks formed
d) all of these
4. Which layer in the earth is similar in composition to b) oceanic crust
basalt, a dark lava rock?
a) continental crust
b) oceanic crust
c) upper mantle
d) lower mantle
e) core
5. The principle of isostasy refers to:
a) the difference in the strength of the mantle versus
, Geology 101 Final Exam
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the crust b) the relationship be-
b) the relationship between regional elevations and tween regional elevations
thickness of crustthe relationship between regional and thickness of crust
elevations and thickness of crust
c) how the outer core differs from the inner core
d)how the upper mantle differs from the lower mantle
6. which of the following is a principle to interpret rela- c) a younger rock can in-
tive ages? clude pieces of an older
a) The youngest rock is on the bottom rock
b) a geologic feature is older than any rock or feature
it crosscuts
c) a younger rock can include pieces of an older rock
d) an older magma can bake or metamorphose
younger rocks
7. which type of map or diagram would best indicate c) topographic map
would best elevation of the land surface?
a) shaded relief map
b) satellite image
c) topographic map
d) stratigraphic section
8. The scientific process states that: c) we conclude from ob-
a) we observe then hypothesize servations to form theo-
b) we create laws that we then find data to fit ries
c) we conclude from observations to form theories
d) we make shit up
e) none of these
9. The earth is how old d) 4.55 billion years old
a) 4.55 mill
b) 2,500
, Geology 101 Final Exam
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c) 10.2 bill
d) 4.55 bill
e) none of these
10. which of the following best explains what a contour b) a line that repre-
line is? sents continuous points of
a) 4.55 million years old equal elevation
b) 2,500 years old
c) 10.2 billion years old
d) 4.55 billion years old
e) none of these
11. Which of the following is the Principle of uniformitar- c) the present is the key to
ianism? the past
a) all rocks were originally deposited horizontally
b) all the rocks were depoisted with the youngest on
the bottom
c) the present is the key to the past
d) all the rocks were deposited with the oldest on the
bottom
12. Mid-ocean ridges are higher than surrounding ocean- e) lithosphere is thinner
ic crust primarily because: and hotter
a) two plates are colliding
b) the crust is thicker
c) the crust is stronger
d) transform faulting uplifts the rocks
e) lithosphere is thinner and hotter
13. rocks moving from a source area become: a) smaller and rounder as
a) smaller and rounder as they are transported they are transported
b) bigger and rounder as they are transported
c) depends
, Geology 101 Final Exam
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d) smaller and more angular
e) change their mineralogy
14. When a plate boundary changes its orientation, it can d) all the above
change from:
a) a spreading center to a transform fault
b) a transform fault to a spreading center
c) a transform fault to a subduction zone
d) all the above
15. deformation and metamorphism is part of? c) the rock cycle
a) internal processes within the moon
b) volcanic eruptions
c) the rock cycle
d) all of these
e) none of these
16. which of the following is not one of the main families d) meteorites
of rocks?
a) sedimentary
b) igneous
c) metamorphic
d) meteorites
17. According to the rock cycle, sediment that is being c) deposition and burial
transported by a river could become a metamorphic
rock after:
a) uplift and weathering
b) melting and solidification
c) deposition and burial
d) solidification and uplift
18. b) lithosphere
Geology 101 Final Exam
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_pfwdw
1. The main layers of the Earth in correct order, from the c) crust, mantle, outer
surface moving down is: core, inner core
a) upper core, outer core, inner core, mantle
b) outer core, inner core, upper mantle, lower crust
c) crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
d) upper mantle, lower mantle, inner core, crust
2. Geology can help us learn about Earth's past by study- e) all of these
ing
a) why continents have different regions
b) why a landscape looks the way it does
c) how life in the past was different than today
d) how global climate has changed since the ice ages
e) all of these
3. The distribution of natural resources is influenced by d) all of these
the:
a) types of rocks
b) ages of rocks
c) way in which the rocks formed
d) all of these
4. Which layer in the earth is similar in composition to b) oceanic crust
basalt, a dark lava rock?
a) continental crust
b) oceanic crust
c) upper mantle
d) lower mantle
e) core
5. The principle of isostasy refers to:
a) the difference in the strength of the mantle versus
, Geology 101 Final Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_pfwdw
the crust b) the relationship be-
b) the relationship between regional elevations and tween regional elevations
thickness of crustthe relationship between regional and thickness of crust
elevations and thickness of crust
c) how the outer core differs from the inner core
d)how the upper mantle differs from the lower mantle
6. which of the following is a principle to interpret rela- c) a younger rock can in-
tive ages? clude pieces of an older
a) The youngest rock is on the bottom rock
b) a geologic feature is older than any rock or feature
it crosscuts
c) a younger rock can include pieces of an older rock
d) an older magma can bake or metamorphose
younger rocks
7. which type of map or diagram would best indicate c) topographic map
would best elevation of the land surface?
a) shaded relief map
b) satellite image
c) topographic map
d) stratigraphic section
8. The scientific process states that: c) we conclude from ob-
a) we observe then hypothesize servations to form theo-
b) we create laws that we then find data to fit ries
c) we conclude from observations to form theories
d) we make shit up
e) none of these
9. The earth is how old d) 4.55 billion years old
a) 4.55 mill
b) 2,500
, Geology 101 Final Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_pfwdw
c) 10.2 bill
d) 4.55 bill
e) none of these
10. which of the following best explains what a contour b) a line that repre-
line is? sents continuous points of
a) 4.55 million years old equal elevation
b) 2,500 years old
c) 10.2 billion years old
d) 4.55 billion years old
e) none of these
11. Which of the following is the Principle of uniformitar- c) the present is the key to
ianism? the past
a) all rocks were originally deposited horizontally
b) all the rocks were depoisted with the youngest on
the bottom
c) the present is the key to the past
d) all the rocks were deposited with the oldest on the
bottom
12. Mid-ocean ridges are higher than surrounding ocean- e) lithosphere is thinner
ic crust primarily because: and hotter
a) two plates are colliding
b) the crust is thicker
c) the crust is stronger
d) transform faulting uplifts the rocks
e) lithosphere is thinner and hotter
13. rocks moving from a source area become: a) smaller and rounder as
a) smaller and rounder as they are transported they are transported
b) bigger and rounder as they are transported
c) depends
, Geology 101 Final Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_pfwdw
d) smaller and more angular
e) change their mineralogy
14. When a plate boundary changes its orientation, it can d) all the above
change from:
a) a spreading center to a transform fault
b) a transform fault to a spreading center
c) a transform fault to a subduction zone
d) all the above
15. deformation and metamorphism is part of? c) the rock cycle
a) internal processes within the moon
b) volcanic eruptions
c) the rock cycle
d) all of these
e) none of these
16. which of the following is not one of the main families d) meteorites
of rocks?
a) sedimentary
b) igneous
c) metamorphic
d) meteorites
17. According to the rock cycle, sediment that is being c) deposition and burial
transported by a river could become a metamorphic
rock after:
a) uplift and weathering
b) melting and solidification
c) deposition and burial
d) solidification and uplift
18. b) lithosphere
