FALL SEMESTER 2025 | TEST BANK FOR ESSENTiALS
OF GEOLOGy, 13Th EdiTiON By FREdERicK K.
LuTGENS, EdwARd J. TARBucK & dENNiS G. TASA |
cOMPLETE TEST BANK wiTh VERiFiEd QuESTiONS,
AccuRATE ANSwERS & dETAiLEd EXPLANATiONS |
100% VERiFiEd A+ GRAdE ASSuREd | LATEST 2025–
2026 uPdATE FOR EARTh SciENcE & GEOLOGy
STudENTS
Question 1
What is the primary driving force behind plate tectonics?
A) Solar radiation
B) Earth's internal heat
C) Ocean currents
D) Wind patterns
Correct Option: B) Earth's internal heat
Rationale: The movement of tectonic plates is primarily driven by the heat from the
Earth's interior. This heat creates convection currents in the mantle, which push and
pull the plates.
Question 2
Which rock type is formed from the cooling and solidification of magma?
A) Sedimentary
B) Metamorphic
C) Igneous
D) Fossilized
Correct Option: C) Igneous
Rationale: Igneous rocks are formed when magma cools and solidifies, either beneath
the Earth's surface (intrusive) or on the surface (extrusive).
Question 3
What is the process by which rocks break down into smaller pieces?
A) Erosion
B) Weathering
,C) Lithification
D) Metamorphism
Correct Option: B) Weathering
Rationale: Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces
through various physical and chemical processes.
Question 4
What is the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere?
A) Oxygen
B) Nitrogen
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Argon
Correct Option: B) Nitrogen
Rationale: Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere, making it the most
abundant gas.
Question 5
Which layer of the Earth is liquid?
A) Crust
B) Inner core
C) Outer core
D) Mantle
Correct Option: C) Outer core
Rationale: The outer core is liquid and composed mainly of iron and nickel, while the
inner core is solid.
Question 6
What type of plate boundary is associated with the creation of new oceanic crust?
A) Convergent
B) Transform
C) Divergent
D) Subduction
Correct Option: C) Divergent
Rationale: At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma to rise
and create new oceanic crust.
,Question 7
Which mineral is the primary component of limestone?
A) Quartz
B) Feldspar
C) Calcite
D) Mica
Correct Option: C) Calcite
Rationale: Limestone is primarily composed of calcite, which is a form of calcium
carbonate.
Question 8
What is the term for the process that transforms sediment into sedimentary rock?
A) Erosion
B) Weathering
C) Lithification
D) Metamorphism
Correct Option: C) Lithification
Rationale: Lithification involves compaction and cementation of sediments to form
sedimentary rock.
Question 9
Which type of volcano is characterized by broad, gentle slopes?
A) Cinder cone
B) Composite
C) Shield
D) Lava dome
Correct Option: C) Shield
Rationale: Shield volcanoes have broad, gentle slopes due to the low viscosity of their
basaltic lava.
Question 10
What is the primary cause of earthquakes?
, A) Volcanic activity
B) Movement of tectonic plates
C) Weather changes
D) Human activity
Correct Option: B) Movement of tectonic plates
Rationale: Earthquakes are primarily caused by the sudden release of energy due to the
movement of tectonic plates.
Question 11
Which rock type is formed from the alteration of existing rocks due to heat and
pressure?
A) Igneous
B) Sedimentary
C) Metamorphic
D) Volcanic
Correct Option: C) Metamorphic
Rationale: Metamorphic rocks are formed from the transformation of existing rocks
under heat and pressure.
Question 12
Which of the following is a characteristic of a mineral?
A) Organic origin
B) Inorganic solid
C) Variable chemical composition
D) Gaseous state
Correct Option: B) Inorganic solid
Rationale: Minerals are defined as naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a specific
chemical composition and crystalline structure.
Question 13
What type of weathering involves the physical breaking of rocks?
A) Chemical weathering
B) Mechanical weathering
C) Biological weathering
D) Erosion
OF GEOLOGy, 13Th EdiTiON By FREdERicK K.
LuTGENS, EdwARd J. TARBucK & dENNiS G. TASA |
cOMPLETE TEST BANK wiTh VERiFiEd QuESTiONS,
AccuRATE ANSwERS & dETAiLEd EXPLANATiONS |
100% VERiFiEd A+ GRAdE ASSuREd | LATEST 2025–
2026 uPdATE FOR EARTh SciENcE & GEOLOGy
STudENTS
Question 1
What is the primary driving force behind plate tectonics?
A) Solar radiation
B) Earth's internal heat
C) Ocean currents
D) Wind patterns
Correct Option: B) Earth's internal heat
Rationale: The movement of tectonic plates is primarily driven by the heat from the
Earth's interior. This heat creates convection currents in the mantle, which push and
pull the plates.
Question 2
Which rock type is formed from the cooling and solidification of magma?
A) Sedimentary
B) Metamorphic
C) Igneous
D) Fossilized
Correct Option: C) Igneous
Rationale: Igneous rocks are formed when magma cools and solidifies, either beneath
the Earth's surface (intrusive) or on the surface (extrusive).
Question 3
What is the process by which rocks break down into smaller pieces?
A) Erosion
B) Weathering
,C) Lithification
D) Metamorphism
Correct Option: B) Weathering
Rationale: Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces
through various physical and chemical processes.
Question 4
What is the most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere?
A) Oxygen
B) Nitrogen
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Argon
Correct Option: B) Nitrogen
Rationale: Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere, making it the most
abundant gas.
Question 5
Which layer of the Earth is liquid?
A) Crust
B) Inner core
C) Outer core
D) Mantle
Correct Option: C) Outer core
Rationale: The outer core is liquid and composed mainly of iron and nickel, while the
inner core is solid.
Question 6
What type of plate boundary is associated with the creation of new oceanic crust?
A) Convergent
B) Transform
C) Divergent
D) Subduction
Correct Option: C) Divergent
Rationale: At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma to rise
and create new oceanic crust.
,Question 7
Which mineral is the primary component of limestone?
A) Quartz
B) Feldspar
C) Calcite
D) Mica
Correct Option: C) Calcite
Rationale: Limestone is primarily composed of calcite, which is a form of calcium
carbonate.
Question 8
What is the term for the process that transforms sediment into sedimentary rock?
A) Erosion
B) Weathering
C) Lithification
D) Metamorphism
Correct Option: C) Lithification
Rationale: Lithification involves compaction and cementation of sediments to form
sedimentary rock.
Question 9
Which type of volcano is characterized by broad, gentle slopes?
A) Cinder cone
B) Composite
C) Shield
D) Lava dome
Correct Option: C) Shield
Rationale: Shield volcanoes have broad, gentle slopes due to the low viscosity of their
basaltic lava.
Question 10
What is the primary cause of earthquakes?
, A) Volcanic activity
B) Movement of tectonic plates
C) Weather changes
D) Human activity
Correct Option: B) Movement of tectonic plates
Rationale: Earthquakes are primarily caused by the sudden release of energy due to the
movement of tectonic plates.
Question 11
Which rock type is formed from the alteration of existing rocks due to heat and
pressure?
A) Igneous
B) Sedimentary
C) Metamorphic
D) Volcanic
Correct Option: C) Metamorphic
Rationale: Metamorphic rocks are formed from the transformation of existing rocks
under heat and pressure.
Question 12
Which of the following is a characteristic of a mineral?
A) Organic origin
B) Inorganic solid
C) Variable chemical composition
D) Gaseous state
Correct Option: B) Inorganic solid
Rationale: Minerals are defined as naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a specific
chemical composition and crystalline structure.
Question 13
What type of weathering involves the physical breaking of rocks?
A) Chemical weathering
B) Mechanical weathering
C) Biological weathering
D) Erosion
