MIDTERM REVIEW EARTH SCIENCE TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2024 ALREADY GRADED A+|GUARANTEED SUCCESS

Which of the following changes would end Earth's tectonic activity? A Earth's crust becomes a cooler solid. B Earth's mantle becomes a warmer semiliquid. C Earth's mantle becomes cooler and solid. D Earth's outer core becomes warmer. C Earth's mantle becomes cooler and solid. Which of the following best explains why Earth is tectonically active? A Earth's solid surface layer rotates more rapidly than the layers beneath it. B Areas of Earth's solid surface layer are under great pressure from ocean water. C Earth's solid surface layer sits on a moving, semiliquid layer. D Areas of Earth's solid surface layer are thicker and so heavier than other areas. C Earth's solid surface layer sits on a moving, semiliquid layer. Brainpower 0:05 / 0:15 Oceanic crust is composed mainly of basalt. Continental crust is composed mainly of granite. Why does oceanic crust generally tend to subduct under continental crust when plates collide? A The oceanic crust is thicker than the continental crust. B The continental crust is thicker than oceanic crust. C The oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust. D The continental crust is denser than the oceanic crust. C The oceanic crust is denser than the continental crust. What are the properties of the Earth's crust and mantle that are most responsible for Earth's tectonic activity? A They are in different states and have different temperatures. B They are in the same state but have different temperatures. C They are in different states but have the same temperature. D They are the same state and have the same temperature. A They are in different states and have different temperatures. Which analogy best illustrates why Earth's plates move? A A glass shatters as it falls from a table onto a tile floor. B The ice on a frozen pond cracks when the water beneath it moves. C Burning diesel fuel forces a piston downward, turning the crankshaft. D A tree root grows into a ledge and breaks off a piece of rock. B The ice on a frozen pond cracks when the water beneath it moves. Which transition is most responsible for gaps in the fossil record? A metamorphic rock to igneous rock B igneous rock to metamorphic rock C metamorphic rock to sedimentary rock D sedimentary rock to metamorphic rock D sedimentary rock to metamorphic rock After fossils are formed, which process is most likely to destroy them? A the carbon cycle B the nitrogen cycle C the water cycle D the rock cycle D the rock cycle Half of a volcanic rock formation can be seen at Pinnacles National Park in California, on one side of the San Andreas Fault. The other half is 195 miles southeast of the park on the other side of the same fault line. This is evidence for which of the following theories? A that earthquakes are the result of volcanic activity B that Earth's crust is made of rocky plates that shift over time C that rock formations may move hundreds of miles in an earthquake D that Earth's current landforms were created when Earth's surface cooled B that Earth's crust is made of rocky plates that shift over time Which of these is the best evidence that Earth's continental landmasses drifted apart over time? A the fossil record along the edges of continents B the rocky coastlines at the edges of continents C the distribution of biomes on all the continents D the prevalence of granite on all the continents A the fossil record along the edges of continents Ferromagnetic molecules in the liquid igneous rocks orient themselves to align with Earth's magnetic field. When the rock cools, the molecules are set in place. Earth's poles swap positions periodically, so molecules from different periods have different orientations. Which finding would support modern plate tectonic theory? A Bands of ferromagnetic molecules with alternating orientations are asymmetrical on either side of a divergent boundary. B Bands of ferromagnetic molecules with alternating orientations are asymmetrical on either side of a convergent boundary. C Bands of ferromagnetic molecules with alternating orientations are symmetrical on either side of a convergent boundary. D Bands of ferromagnetic molecules with alternating orientations are symmetrical on either side of a divergent boundary. D Bands of ferromagnetic molecules with alternating orientations are symmetrical on either side of a divergent boundary. Which of these features of Earth's crust are caused by the shifting of tectonic plates? A mid-ocean ridges B desert sand dunes C U-shaped valleys D continental shelves A mid-ocean ridges Which of these is evidence for the theory of plate tectonics? A the melting of the polar ice caps B the shifting of biomes as climates change C the prevalence of granite on all the continents D the presence of volcanoes around the Pacific rim D the presence of volcanoes About 75% of the world's active volcanoes are the result of tectonic activity around which plate? A North American Plate B African Plate C Pacific Plate D Nazca Plate C Pacific Plate Magma wells up and forms a ridge down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, creating new seafloor that slowly spreads out east and west of the ridge. This is evidence for which of the following theories? A Earth's crust is made up of rocky plates that move over time. B Earthquakes result from periodic disturbances along fault lines. C Convection currents in the mantle are the cause of volcanic activity. D Magma cooling at the surface of Earth forms a type of igneous rock. A Earth's crust is made up of rocky plates that move over time. Which of these provides the best evidence that Earth's crust is divided into tectonic plates? A the distribution of water on Earth's surface B the distribution of biomes on Earth's surface C the distribution of rock types on Earth's surface D the distribution of earthquakes on Earth's surface D the distribution of earthquakes on Earth's surface A student created a diagram of farmland with runoff from cornfields to a nearby pond. What was the student probably trying to model? A how acid rain kills pond plants B how pond water is use to irrigate crops C how fertilizers can get into ponds and cause algae blooms D how toxic chemicals from industrial wastes can poison pond water C how fertilizers can get into ponds and cause algae blooms Which of these natural disasters are the most unpredictable? A earthquakes B hurricanes C tornados D blizzards A earthquakes Which of these natural disasters is least likely to cause major damage to a prairie ecosystem? A a flood B a tornado C a hurricane D an earthquake D an earthquake Look at the list of features of a watershed below a highway. 1. roadside soil and plants 2. nearby lakes and streams 3. underground water system 4. wells for drinking water Which of these features belong in a model of how salt used to melt ice on roads can damage the environment? A 1 only B 1 and 2 only C 1, 2, and 3 only D 1, 2, 3, and 4 D 1, 2, 3, and 4 Which of these serve as protective barriers along coastlines and are often destroyed when hit by a strong hurricane? A the erosion of land along the coastline B the buildup of dunes along the coast over time C the new construction of buildings along the coastline D the buildup of organic material from oil rigs along the coast B the buildup of dunes along the coast over time Which scale is used to report the intensity of an earthquake? A Saffir-Simpson Scale B Modified Mercalli Scale C Richter Magnitude Scale D Moment Magnitude Scale B Modified Mercalli Scale Which ongoing process causes the buildup of energy that is released at a later time when an earthquake occurs? A Heat from Earth's core slowly melts the rocks found deep in Earth's crust. B Nuclear reactions in Earth's lower crust release electromagnetic waves. C Jagged edges along a fault generate friction between two moving tectonic plates. D Tectonic plates near a fault continue to move even though the fault remains motionless. D Tectonic plates near a fault continue to move even though the fault remains motionless. Tectonic motion caused tension between plates in Earth's crust. A sudden release of this energy occurred. Based on this information, which event happened? A subsidence B earthquake C volcanic eruption D meteoroid impact B earthquake Which of the following compounds is an organic compound? A water (H2O) B hexane (C6H14) C ammonia (NH3) D sulfur dioxide (SO2) B hexane (C6H14) The magnetic poles of Earth frequently change location. What is the direct cause of this change in magnetic pole location? A molten rock flowing in the asthenosphere B convection cells in the lower mantle C turbulence in the liquid outer core D radioactive decay in the solid inner core C turbulence in the liquid outer core Hawaii is composed mainly of volcanoes with gentle slopes and large surface areas. Which characteristics best describe the lava these volcanoes have released? A relatively fluid and low viscosity B highly viscous and relatively cool C mix of hot gas and rock shards D mainly water vapor and large boulders A relatively fluid and low viscosity Which statement describes an aspect of tectonic plate motion directly caused by density differences among tectonic plates? A Ocean plates move outward from the mid-ocean ridge. B When ocean and continental plates collide, the ocean plate is subducted. C Continental plates are thicker and contain older material than ocean plates. D The orientation of magnetic particles in ocean plates changes at regular intervals. B When ocean and continental plates collide, the ocean plate is subducted.