GEOL 200 INTRODUCTORY PHYSICAL
GEOLOGY PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ Introduction to environmental geology.
Answer: A. Earth and Life
B. Earth's place in space
C. Geology
D. Environmental Geology
◉ A. Earth and Life.
Answer: Formation of Earth and life
a. Earth began about 4.6 billion years ago
b. Life on Earth began about 3.5 billion years ago, and has evolved
and become more complex over time
c. Humans have existed for a few million years
d. Our current impact on the environment is very significant in the
Earth's history
◉ B. Earth's Place in Space.
Answer: 1.Origin of universe
a. Big Bang-12 billion years ago
,b. Supernova (7 billion years ago)-led to formation of sun
2. Origin of Atmosphere--formed from carbon dioxide and water
vapor from volcanoes and other sources
◉ Evolution as a process.
Answer: a. While evolution is a typically slow process, geologic
hazards such as asteroids can lead to mass extinctions
b. Humans are causing rapid extinction of animal and plant species
through the processes of pollution, agriculture, urbanization,
industrialization, and the land clearing of tropical forests.
1) Biodiversity is being greatly reduced
2) Reduction of biodiversity is thought to be a major environmental
problem because many living things, including humans, on Earth
depend on the environment with its diversity of life-forms for their
existence
◉ C. Geology.
Answer: 1. Definition-the study of processes related to the
composition, structure, and history of Earth and its life
2. Geology is interdisciplinary in nature relies on chemistry, physics,
and biology
◉ D. Environmental geology.
,Answer: (applied geology) use of geologic information to help solve
conflicts in land use, to minimize environmental degradation, and to
maximize beneficial uses of resources
◉ Environmental geology focuses on.
Answer: the entire spectrum of human interactions with the physical
environment
◉ Applications of Environmental Geology.
Answer: a. earth materials
b. natural hazards
c. land resources
d. hydrologic processes
e. geologic processes
◉ a. earth materials.
Answer: such as minerals, rocks, and soils, to determine how they
form, their potential use as resources or waste disposal sites, and
their effects on human health
◉ b. natural hazards.
Answer: such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic
activity, in order to minimize loss of life and property
, ◉ c. land resources.
Answer: Land for site selection, land-use planning, and
environmental impact analysis
◉ d. hydrologic processes.
Answer: of groundwater and surface water to evaluate water
resources and water pollution problems
◉ e. geologic processes.
Answer: as deposition of sediment on the ocean floor, the formation
of mountains, and the movement of water on and below the surface
of Earth, to evaluate local, regional, and global change
◉ Fundamental concepts of environmental geology.
Answer: A. Human Population Growth
B. Sustainability
C. Earth as a system
D. Hazardous Earth
E. Scientific knowledge and values
◉ A. Human population growth.
Answer: 1. The foremost environmental problem
GEOLOGY PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ Introduction to environmental geology.
Answer: A. Earth and Life
B. Earth's place in space
C. Geology
D. Environmental Geology
◉ A. Earth and Life.
Answer: Formation of Earth and life
a. Earth began about 4.6 billion years ago
b. Life on Earth began about 3.5 billion years ago, and has evolved
and become more complex over time
c. Humans have existed for a few million years
d. Our current impact on the environment is very significant in the
Earth's history
◉ B. Earth's Place in Space.
Answer: 1.Origin of universe
a. Big Bang-12 billion years ago
,b. Supernova (7 billion years ago)-led to formation of sun
2. Origin of Atmosphere--formed from carbon dioxide and water
vapor from volcanoes and other sources
◉ Evolution as a process.
Answer: a. While evolution is a typically slow process, geologic
hazards such as asteroids can lead to mass extinctions
b. Humans are causing rapid extinction of animal and plant species
through the processes of pollution, agriculture, urbanization,
industrialization, and the land clearing of tropical forests.
1) Biodiversity is being greatly reduced
2) Reduction of biodiversity is thought to be a major environmental
problem because many living things, including humans, on Earth
depend on the environment with its diversity of life-forms for their
existence
◉ C. Geology.
Answer: 1. Definition-the study of processes related to the
composition, structure, and history of Earth and its life
2. Geology is interdisciplinary in nature relies on chemistry, physics,
and biology
◉ D. Environmental geology.
,Answer: (applied geology) use of geologic information to help solve
conflicts in land use, to minimize environmental degradation, and to
maximize beneficial uses of resources
◉ Environmental geology focuses on.
Answer: the entire spectrum of human interactions with the physical
environment
◉ Applications of Environmental Geology.
Answer: a. earth materials
b. natural hazards
c. land resources
d. hydrologic processes
e. geologic processes
◉ a. earth materials.
Answer: such as minerals, rocks, and soils, to determine how they
form, their potential use as resources or waste disposal sites, and
their effects on human health
◉ b. natural hazards.
Answer: such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic
activity, in order to minimize loss of life and property
, ◉ c. land resources.
Answer: Land for site selection, land-use planning, and
environmental impact analysis
◉ d. hydrologic processes.
Answer: of groundwater and surface water to evaluate water
resources and water pollution problems
◉ e. geologic processes.
Answer: as deposition of sediment on the ocean floor, the formation
of mountains, and the movement of water on and below the surface
of Earth, to evaluate local, regional, and global change
◉ Fundamental concepts of environmental geology.
Answer: A. Human Population Growth
B. Sustainability
C. Earth as a system
D. Hazardous Earth
E. Scientific knowledge and values
◉ A. Human population growth.
Answer: 1. The foremost environmental problem
