California Geology Exam 1 Prep – Practice
Questions & Study Guide | Latest Update 2026
| Graded A+
11 - correct answerHow many geomorphic provinces are in California?
Cascade Range, Great Valley, Transverse Range, Peninsular Range, Colorado Desert,
Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevadas, Mojave Desert, Modoc Plateau, Klamath Mountains,
Basin and Range - correct answerName all the California geomorphic provinces
Mount Whitney, Sierra Nevadas - correct answerWhere is the tallest mountain in the
lower 48 states?
Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, Klamath Mountains - correct answerIn which
geomorphic province/s are California's glaciers found?
Basin and Range, Mojave Desert, Colorado Desert - correct answerIn which
geomorphic province/s are California's deserts found?
bristlecone pine - correct answerWhat is the oldest living thing found in California?
true - correct answerT or F: Deserts in California are the lowest point in North America,
have the highest temperatures ever recorded, and have the oldest living things.
rain shadow effect - correct answerWhy are the deserts so dry in California?
active volcanoes - correct answerThis type of volcano has had an eruption in historic
time.
Cascade Range - correct answerIn which geomorphic province/s are California's active
volcanoes found?
Coast Ranges - correct answerIn which geomorphic province/s are California's inactive
volcanoes found?
Sierra Nevadas, Cascade Range - correct answerWhich geomorphic provinces have
both active volcanoes and glaciers?
oil - correct answerWhat is the main energy source in California?
Great Valley, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges - correct answerIn which
geomorphic province/s are the main sources for oil/gas?
,Basin and Range - correct answerIn which geomorphic province were the oldest living
things found?
smilidon californicus, saber tooth cat - correct answerWhat is the California state fossil?
San Andreas Fault - correct answerWhat is a crazy geologic feature in California?
science - correct answerThis term means the act of learning or knowing the truth.
scientific method - correct answer1. Begin with a question
2. Collect data
3. Formulate hypothesis
4. Test
5. Theory
facts - correct answerWhat are data?
no - correct answerAre theories the same as doctrines?
doctrines - correct answerA principle accepted as authoritative by a body of believers
doctrine of uniformity - correct answerWhat is an example of a doctrine?
laws of nature are uniform - correct answerWhat does the doctrine of uniformity mean?
true - correct answerT or F: Uniformity is not a theory, nor a testable doctrine.
30% - correct answerWhat percentage of the Earth is land or topography?
70% - correct answerWhat percentage of the Earth is water or bathymetry?
yes - correct answerIs the interior of the Earth dense?
seismic waves - correct answerWhat provide a means to detect density changes or
different layers?
earthquakes - correct answerThis event occurs because of seismic energy from fault
motion.
density - correct answerSeismic wave velocities change with...
crust, mantle, core-inner, outer - correct answerWhat are the Earth's layers?
92 - correct answerHow many naturally occurring elements are there?
, iron, oxygen, silicon, magnesium - correct answerWhat 4 elements make up almost all
of the Earth's mass?
earth materials, organic compounds, wood, peat, coal, oil, natural gas, life and the
remains of life - correct answerElements combine to form...
minerals - correct answerWhat are naturally occurring crystalline solids?
internal order - correct answerWhat does crystalline refer to?
glasses - correct answerWhat are noncrystalline solids that form by rapid cooling?
obsidian - correct answerWhat is an example of a glass?
rocks - correct answerWhat are aggregates of mineral crystals, grain,s and/or natural
glass?
igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic - correct answerWhat are the types of rocks?
melts - correct answerThe definition of magma or lava
volatiles - correct answerWhat are materials that turn into gas at the surface; can be
released from volcanic eruptions and produce our atmosphere?
water and carbon dioxide - correct answerList examples of volatiles.
nitrogen - correct answerWhat volatile makes up most of our atmosphere?
continental crust - correct answerWhat type of crust is thick?
oceanic crust - correct answerWhat type of crust is thin?
oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium - correct
answerWhat elements make up almost all of the Earth's crust?
oxygen - correct answerWhat is the most abundant element in the crust?
mantle - correct answerWhat part of the Earth's interior is solid rock and flows very
slowly?
upper mantle, transitional zone, lower mantle - correct answerWhat are the sub-layers
of the mantle?
core - correct answerWhat part of the Earth's interior is an iron-rich sphere?
Questions & Study Guide | Latest Update 2026
| Graded A+
11 - correct answerHow many geomorphic provinces are in California?
Cascade Range, Great Valley, Transverse Range, Peninsular Range, Colorado Desert,
Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevadas, Mojave Desert, Modoc Plateau, Klamath Mountains,
Basin and Range - correct answerName all the California geomorphic provinces
Mount Whitney, Sierra Nevadas - correct answerWhere is the tallest mountain in the
lower 48 states?
Sierra Nevada, Cascade Range, Klamath Mountains - correct answerIn which
geomorphic province/s are California's glaciers found?
Basin and Range, Mojave Desert, Colorado Desert - correct answerIn which
geomorphic province/s are California's deserts found?
bristlecone pine - correct answerWhat is the oldest living thing found in California?
true - correct answerT or F: Deserts in California are the lowest point in North America,
have the highest temperatures ever recorded, and have the oldest living things.
rain shadow effect - correct answerWhy are the deserts so dry in California?
active volcanoes - correct answerThis type of volcano has had an eruption in historic
time.
Cascade Range - correct answerIn which geomorphic province/s are California's active
volcanoes found?
Coast Ranges - correct answerIn which geomorphic province/s are California's inactive
volcanoes found?
Sierra Nevadas, Cascade Range - correct answerWhich geomorphic provinces have
both active volcanoes and glaciers?
oil - correct answerWhat is the main energy source in California?
Great Valley, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges - correct answerIn which
geomorphic province/s are the main sources for oil/gas?
,Basin and Range - correct answerIn which geomorphic province were the oldest living
things found?
smilidon californicus, saber tooth cat - correct answerWhat is the California state fossil?
San Andreas Fault - correct answerWhat is a crazy geologic feature in California?
science - correct answerThis term means the act of learning or knowing the truth.
scientific method - correct answer1. Begin with a question
2. Collect data
3. Formulate hypothesis
4. Test
5. Theory
facts - correct answerWhat are data?
no - correct answerAre theories the same as doctrines?
doctrines - correct answerA principle accepted as authoritative by a body of believers
doctrine of uniformity - correct answerWhat is an example of a doctrine?
laws of nature are uniform - correct answerWhat does the doctrine of uniformity mean?
true - correct answerT or F: Uniformity is not a theory, nor a testable doctrine.
30% - correct answerWhat percentage of the Earth is land or topography?
70% - correct answerWhat percentage of the Earth is water or bathymetry?
yes - correct answerIs the interior of the Earth dense?
seismic waves - correct answerWhat provide a means to detect density changes or
different layers?
earthquakes - correct answerThis event occurs because of seismic energy from fault
motion.
density - correct answerSeismic wave velocities change with...
crust, mantle, core-inner, outer - correct answerWhat are the Earth's layers?
92 - correct answerHow many naturally occurring elements are there?
, iron, oxygen, silicon, magnesium - correct answerWhat 4 elements make up almost all
of the Earth's mass?
earth materials, organic compounds, wood, peat, coal, oil, natural gas, life and the
remains of life - correct answerElements combine to form...
minerals - correct answerWhat are naturally occurring crystalline solids?
internal order - correct answerWhat does crystalline refer to?
glasses - correct answerWhat are noncrystalline solids that form by rapid cooling?
obsidian - correct answerWhat is an example of a glass?
rocks - correct answerWhat are aggregates of mineral crystals, grain,s and/or natural
glass?
igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic - correct answerWhat are the types of rocks?
melts - correct answerThe definition of magma or lava
volatiles - correct answerWhat are materials that turn into gas at the surface; can be
released from volcanic eruptions and produce our atmosphere?
water and carbon dioxide - correct answerList examples of volatiles.
nitrogen - correct answerWhat volatile makes up most of our atmosphere?
continental crust - correct answerWhat type of crust is thick?
oceanic crust - correct answerWhat type of crust is thin?
oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium - correct
answerWhat elements make up almost all of the Earth's crust?
oxygen - correct answerWhat is the most abundant element in the crust?
mantle - correct answerWhat part of the Earth's interior is solid rock and flows very
slowly?
upper mantle, transitional zone, lower mantle - correct answerWhat are the sub-layers
of the mantle?
core - correct answerWhat part of the Earth's interior is an iron-rich sphere?
