INTERLUDE A: Rock Groups
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A(n) ________ material is held together, solid, and must be broken apart to separate it into
smaller pieces.
a. unconsolidated c. coherent
b. paved d. buttressed
ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Remembering
2. A(n) ________ of minerals forms a rock.
a. compilation c. mass
b. aggregate d. assembly
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Remembering
3. Rocks are ________ and thus not man-made.
a. coherent c. rare
b. synthetic d. natural
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Remembering
4. A pile of unconsolidated sediment is NOT ________ and therefore NOT a rock.
, a. coherent c. natural
b. aggregated d. solid
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Understanding
5. A piece of concrete from a driveway is NOT considered a rock because it ________.
a. is made of one mineral c. is unconsolidated
b. does not contain minerals d. is man-made
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Understanding
6. Which one of the pictures does NOT show (a) rock(s)?
Figure A Figure B
Figure C Figure D
, a. Figure A c. Figure C
b. Figure B d. Figure D
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Applying
7. Which of the following describes a rock?
a. a pile of damp sand still holding the form of a bucket
b. a collection of crystals that fit together like puzzle pieces
c. cobblestones cemented together to form a walkway
d. a layer of mud at the bottom of a dry river bed
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Applying
8. What is the difference between a rock that is cemented and a rock that is crystalline?
a. A rock that is cemented contains rounded grains that are held together by cement, whereas
a crystalline rock contains angular grains held together by cement.
b. Crystalline rocks contain minerals, while cemented rocks contain rock fragments; both are
held together by static forces between grains.
c. Minerals are held together as interlocking pieces in a cemented rock, whereas grains are
held together by minerals precipitated in pore spaces in a crystalline rock.
d. Minerals are held together as interlocking pieces in a crystalline rock, whereas in a
cemented rock the grains do not fit together like puzzle pieces and instead are held
together by cement.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Analyzing
, 9. Which is a characteristic used to classify a rock?
a. mineral stability c. water content
b. rock texture d. degree of weathering
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: A.3
OBJ: Understand the basis that geologists use to classify rock into three classes.
MSC: Remembering
10. Igneous rocks form from ________.
a. heat and pressure applied to a rock
b. precipitation of minerals out of a solution
c. sediments cemented together
d. molten rock cooling and forming crystals
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: A.3
OBJ: Understand the basis that geologists use to classify rock into three classes.
MSC: Remembering
11. Which type of rock is formed by precipitation of minerals from a solution?
a. metamorphic c. sedimentary
b. glassy d. igneous
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: A.3
OBJ: Understand the basis that geologists use to classify rock into three classes.
MSC: Remembering
12. Composition describes the ________.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A(n) ________ material is held together, solid, and must be broken apart to separate it into
smaller pieces.
a. unconsolidated c. coherent
b. paved d. buttressed
ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Remembering
2. A(n) ________ of minerals forms a rock.
a. compilation c. mass
b. aggregate d. assembly
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Remembering
3. Rocks are ________ and thus not man-made.
a. coherent c. rare
b. synthetic d. natural
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Remembering
4. A pile of unconsolidated sediment is NOT ________ and therefore NOT a rock.
, a. coherent c. natural
b. aggregated d. solid
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Understanding
5. A piece of concrete from a driveway is NOT considered a rock because it ________.
a. is made of one mineral c. is unconsolidated
b. does not contain minerals d. is man-made
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Understanding
6. Which one of the pictures does NOT show (a) rock(s)?
Figure A Figure B
Figure C Figure D
, a. Figure A c. Figure C
b. Figure B d. Figure D
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Applying
7. Which of the following describes a rock?
a. a pile of damp sand still holding the form of a bucket
b. a collection of crystals that fit together like puzzle pieces
c. cobblestones cemented together to form a walkway
d. a layer of mud at the bottom of a dry river bed
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Applying
8. What is the difference between a rock that is cemented and a rock that is crystalline?
a. A rock that is cemented contains rounded grains that are held together by cement, whereas
a crystalline rock contains angular grains held together by cement.
b. Crystalline rocks contain minerals, while cemented rocks contain rock fragments; both are
held together by static forces between grains.
c. Minerals are held together as interlocking pieces in a cemented rock, whereas grains are
held together by minerals precipitated in pore spaces in a crystalline rock.
d. Minerals are held together as interlocking pieces in a crystalline rock, whereas in a
cemented rock the grains do not fit together like puzzle pieces and instead are held
together by cement.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: A.2
OBJ: Understand the geologic definition of rock. MSC: Analyzing
, 9. Which is a characteristic used to classify a rock?
a. mineral stability c. water content
b. rock texture d. degree of weathering
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: A.3
OBJ: Understand the basis that geologists use to classify rock into three classes.
MSC: Remembering
10. Igneous rocks form from ________.
a. heat and pressure applied to a rock
b. precipitation of minerals out of a solution
c. sediments cemented together
d. molten rock cooling and forming crystals
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: A.3
OBJ: Understand the basis that geologists use to classify rock into three classes.
MSC: Remembering
11. Which type of rock is formed by precipitation of minerals from a solution?
a. metamorphic c. sedimentary
b. glassy d. igneous
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: A.3
OBJ: Understand the basis that geologists use to classify rock into three classes.
MSC: Remembering
12. Composition describes the ________.
