ENVSOCTY 2OC3 FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
What are the types of glacial deposition landforms? - ANS Eskers: winding ridges that were
carved into tunnels that supposably moves meltwater through
Drumlins: elongated hill that is in the shape of a inverted spoon. The direction of the glacier was
moving in the direction where the hill comes to the end of the tear drop
Moraine: ridges or mounds of glacial material deposited close to ice margins often associated
with topography
How were the Great Lakes formed? - ANS about 10,000 years ago, the retreat of glaciers
caused depressions in the landscape that allowed meltwater to fill in. These bodies of water
hold 21% of the world's freshwater
What are Epeiric Seas? - ANS Considered an inland sea caused by high sea levels that used to
cover North America in the Mesozoic era. This also led to limestone caps in lowlands.
What was the Pleistocene Period? - ANS occurred about 2.5 mya and humans began to
evolve and migrate around the world out of Africa.
It also marks the most recent glacial period
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,How was the Canadian Shield formed? - ANS Has been worn down through weathering and
erosion and as the glaciers retreated, they scraped away rock layers exposing bedrock.
Erratics and drop stones were left behind
What is Orbital Eccentricity? - ANS The departure of the earth's elliptical orbit from a circular
shape. Since the earth doesn't orbit in a full circle, it has more of an ellipsoid shape which
influences our summer and winter solstices and equinoxes
What is Axial Tilt? - ANS The angle of tilt between rotational axis and orbital axis which is the
reason behind our seasons and determining our surface temperature. The current tilt is 23.5
degrees.
Can also influence glacial or interglacial cycles
What is Axial Precession? - ANS The earth's rotational axis moves slow and continuously
which is caused by the moon and the sun being pulled by gravity. It takes 25,000 years for a full
cycle.
What are 3 factors that determine glaciation? - ANS Orbital Eccentricity, Axial Tilt and Axial
Precession
When was the last glacial maximum? - ANS Wisconsin Ice Age 18,000 to 25,000 years ago
How do glaciers form? - ANS with a temperature drop, it allows glaciers to form and as they
grow they're volume increases which yields to sea level dropping
What is a Physiographic Region? - ANS an area with distinct surface landforms and underlying
bed rock structure
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is an Igneous Rock? - ANS can either be extrusive meaning hardened out in the open or
intrusive meaning hardened deep in the ground.
Ex. Basalt, Granite, obsidian
The Canadian Shield is made up of igneous rock
What is a Metamorphic Rock? - ANS a chemically altered rock by either heat or pressure or
both being penetrated that were often formed at deep surfaces
Ex. gneiss, quartzite, schist
What is a Sedimentary Rock? - ANS a rock that has been created from various sediments that
have come from other rocks. This rock is often carried long distances and eroded over time.
Some rocks are made up with CaCO3 (limestone) which can react with acid.
Ex. sandstone, limestone, chalk
Much of the Niagara Escarpment is made up of sedimentary rock
How does the Rock Cycle work? - ANS Igneous rock is the starter rock which has been broken
down or chemically altered into metamorphic or sedimentary.
Sedimentary rock can be metamorphosed into metamorphic rock
As layers get piled up and buried, they become recycled and used to create other rocks.
What is the Cordillera Region? - ANS 16% of total land mass that is comprised of mountains,
plateaus and north-south running aligned valleys. The mountains were formed from converging
tectonic plates.
What is the Interior Plains and Prairies Region? - ANS 20% of the total land mass and is so flat
because of epeiric seas that left behind millions of years of marine sediment. there is a high
population of people who live in the southern parts and they take advantage of the growing
conditions
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
What are the types of glacial deposition landforms? - ANS Eskers: winding ridges that were
carved into tunnels that supposably moves meltwater through
Drumlins: elongated hill that is in the shape of a inverted spoon. The direction of the glacier was
moving in the direction where the hill comes to the end of the tear drop
Moraine: ridges or mounds of glacial material deposited close to ice margins often associated
with topography
How were the Great Lakes formed? - ANS about 10,000 years ago, the retreat of glaciers
caused depressions in the landscape that allowed meltwater to fill in. These bodies of water
hold 21% of the world's freshwater
What are Epeiric Seas? - ANS Considered an inland sea caused by high sea levels that used to
cover North America in the Mesozoic era. This also led to limestone caps in lowlands.
What was the Pleistocene Period? - ANS occurred about 2.5 mya and humans began to
evolve and migrate around the world out of Africa.
It also marks the most recent glacial period
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,How was the Canadian Shield formed? - ANS Has been worn down through weathering and
erosion and as the glaciers retreated, they scraped away rock layers exposing bedrock.
Erratics and drop stones were left behind
What is Orbital Eccentricity? - ANS The departure of the earth's elliptical orbit from a circular
shape. Since the earth doesn't orbit in a full circle, it has more of an ellipsoid shape which
influences our summer and winter solstices and equinoxes
What is Axial Tilt? - ANS The angle of tilt between rotational axis and orbital axis which is the
reason behind our seasons and determining our surface temperature. The current tilt is 23.5
degrees.
Can also influence glacial or interglacial cycles
What is Axial Precession? - ANS The earth's rotational axis moves slow and continuously
which is caused by the moon and the sun being pulled by gravity. It takes 25,000 years for a full
cycle.
What are 3 factors that determine glaciation? - ANS Orbital Eccentricity, Axial Tilt and Axial
Precession
When was the last glacial maximum? - ANS Wisconsin Ice Age 18,000 to 25,000 years ago
How do glaciers form? - ANS with a temperature drop, it allows glaciers to form and as they
grow they're volume increases which yields to sea level dropping
What is a Physiographic Region? - ANS an area with distinct surface landforms and underlying
bed rock structure
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is an Igneous Rock? - ANS can either be extrusive meaning hardened out in the open or
intrusive meaning hardened deep in the ground.
Ex. Basalt, Granite, obsidian
The Canadian Shield is made up of igneous rock
What is a Metamorphic Rock? - ANS a chemically altered rock by either heat or pressure or
both being penetrated that were often formed at deep surfaces
Ex. gneiss, quartzite, schist
What is a Sedimentary Rock? - ANS a rock that has been created from various sediments that
have come from other rocks. This rock is often carried long distances and eroded over time.
Some rocks are made up with CaCO3 (limestone) which can react with acid.
Ex. sandstone, limestone, chalk
Much of the Niagara Escarpment is made up of sedimentary rock
How does the Rock Cycle work? - ANS Igneous rock is the starter rock which has been broken
down or chemically altered into metamorphic or sedimentary.
Sedimentary rock can be metamorphosed into metamorphic rock
As layers get piled up and buried, they become recycled and used to create other rocks.
What is the Cordillera Region? - ANS 16% of total land mass that is comprised of mountains,
plateaus and north-south running aligned valleys. The mountains were formed from converging
tectonic plates.
What is the Interior Plains and Prairies Region? - ANS 20% of the total land mass and is so flat
because of epeiric seas that left behind millions of years of marine sediment. there is a high
population of people who live in the southern parts and they take advantage of the growing
conditions
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
