GOL 105
GOL105 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS 2025
Which of the following are accurate definitions of physical and historical geology?
a. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand
the many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology
documents the major discoveries, scientists, and development of geologic thought.
b. Physical geology examines only the physics of Earth materials. Historical geology
seeks to understand the origin of Earth and its development through time.
c. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand
the many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology
examines the geologic period that covers human history.
d. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand
the many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology
seeks to understand the origin of Earth and its development - ANS-d. Physical geology
examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the many processes
that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology seeks to understand the
origin of Earth and its development through time.
According to the textbook, understanding Earth is challenging because our planet is a
_____________ body with many interacting parts and a complex history. - ANS-
Dynamic
A natural hazard is a natural process that endangers humans. T/F - ANS-True
Which of the following are all considered natural hazards?
a. earthquakes, volcanoes, and skydiving
b. mining, mountain climbing, and skydiving
c. mudslides, mountain climbing, and tsunamis
d. avalanches, earthquakes, and floods - ANS-d. avalanches, earthquakes, and floods
Which of the following accurately describes the principle of uniformitarianism and
properly identifies the individual to whom the idea is attributed?
a. Uniformitarianism is the idea that deposition of materials at Earth's surface occurs in
an orderly fashion, with youngest layers on top and the oldest layers on the bottom. It
was put forth by James Ussher.
b. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws
operating today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Hutton.
c. Uniformitarianism is the idea that Earth's landscapes have been shaped by sudden
and often worldwide disasters produced by unknowable causes that no longer operate.
It was put forth by James Hutton.
GOL 105
, GOL 105
d. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws
operating today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Ussher. -
ANS-b. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws
operating today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Hutton.
According to the textbook, how old is Earth?
a. about 14 billion years old
b. about 4.6 billion years old
c. about 8000 years old
d. Geologists have not been able to estimate the age of Earth. - ANS-b. about 4.6
billion years old
What is the Greek translation of the word geology?
a. planetary discourse, or the study of planets
b. hydrologic discourse, or the study of water
c. rock discourse, or the study of rocks
d. rock and mineral discourse, or the study of rocks and minerals
e. Earth discourse, or the study of Earth - ANS-e. Earth discourse, or the study of Earth
A theory is a tentative or untested explanation that explains a given set of observations.
T/F - ANS-False
Some of the ways that scientific advancements can occur include the following: the
scientific method, _______________ ideas, and serendipitous discoveries (i.e., chance
or luck). - ANS-Theoretical
Earth can be thought of as consisting of four major spheres: the hydrosphere, the
geosphere, the atmosphere, and the _____________. - ANS-biosphere
Which of the following are the major processes of the hydrologic cycle?
a. the oceans, ice caps, and groundwater
b. erosion, evaporation, and transpiration
c. ice, water, and steam
d. evaporation, condensation, and precipitation - ANS-d. evaporation, condensation,
and precipitation
Earth system science aims to study Earth as a system composed of numerous
interacting parts or subsystems, integrating knowledge from several academic fields.
T/F - ANS-True
The two sources of energy that power the Earth system are the Sun and
photosynthesis. T/F - ANS-False
GOL 105
GOL105 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS 2025
Which of the following are accurate definitions of physical and historical geology?
a. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand
the many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology
documents the major discoveries, scientists, and development of geologic thought.
b. Physical geology examines only the physics of Earth materials. Historical geology
seeks to understand the origin of Earth and its development through time.
c. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand
the many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology
examines the geologic period that covers human history.
d. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand
the many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology
seeks to understand the origin of Earth and its development - ANS-d. Physical geology
examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the many processes
that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology seeks to understand the
origin of Earth and its development through time.
According to the textbook, understanding Earth is challenging because our planet is a
_____________ body with many interacting parts and a complex history. - ANS-
Dynamic
A natural hazard is a natural process that endangers humans. T/F - ANS-True
Which of the following are all considered natural hazards?
a. earthquakes, volcanoes, and skydiving
b. mining, mountain climbing, and skydiving
c. mudslides, mountain climbing, and tsunamis
d. avalanches, earthquakes, and floods - ANS-d. avalanches, earthquakes, and floods
Which of the following accurately describes the principle of uniformitarianism and
properly identifies the individual to whom the idea is attributed?
a. Uniformitarianism is the idea that deposition of materials at Earth's surface occurs in
an orderly fashion, with youngest layers on top and the oldest layers on the bottom. It
was put forth by James Ussher.
b. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws
operating today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Hutton.
c. Uniformitarianism is the idea that Earth's landscapes have been shaped by sudden
and often worldwide disasters produced by unknowable causes that no longer operate.
It was put forth by James Hutton.
GOL 105
, GOL 105
d. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws
operating today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Ussher. -
ANS-b. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws
operating today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Hutton.
According to the textbook, how old is Earth?
a. about 14 billion years old
b. about 4.6 billion years old
c. about 8000 years old
d. Geologists have not been able to estimate the age of Earth. - ANS-b. about 4.6
billion years old
What is the Greek translation of the word geology?
a. planetary discourse, or the study of planets
b. hydrologic discourse, or the study of water
c. rock discourse, or the study of rocks
d. rock and mineral discourse, or the study of rocks and minerals
e. Earth discourse, or the study of Earth - ANS-e. Earth discourse, or the study of Earth
A theory is a tentative or untested explanation that explains a given set of observations.
T/F - ANS-False
Some of the ways that scientific advancements can occur include the following: the
scientific method, _______________ ideas, and serendipitous discoveries (i.e., chance
or luck). - ANS-Theoretical
Earth can be thought of as consisting of four major spheres: the hydrosphere, the
geosphere, the atmosphere, and the _____________. - ANS-biosphere
Which of the following are the major processes of the hydrologic cycle?
a. the oceans, ice caps, and groundwater
b. erosion, evaporation, and transpiration
c. ice, water, and steam
d. evaporation, condensation, and precipitation - ANS-d. evaporation, condensation,
and precipitation
Earth system science aims to study Earth as a system composed of numerous
interacting parts or subsystems, integrating knowledge from several academic fields.
T/F - ANS-True
The two sources of energy that power the Earth system are the Sun and
photosynthesis. T/F - ANS-False
GOL 105
