GEOG 1113L Lab 4: Tectonic Landforms Exam Questions and Answers-
GSU
1. Which type of plate boundary is characterized by plates moving away from
each other?
A. Divergent boundary
B. Transform boundary
C. Convergent boundary
D. Subduction zone
Answer: A
Rationale: Divergent boundaries occur where tectonic plates move apart, leading to
seafloor spreading or continental rifting.
2. The San Andreas Fault in California is a classic example of which type of fault?
A. Normal fault
B. Reverse fault
C. Thrust fault
D. Strike-slip fault
Answer: D
Rationale: The San Andreas Fault is a transform boundary where plates slide past each
other horizontally, creating a strike-slip fault.
,3. Which type of stress is primarily associated with the formation of normal
faults?
A. Compression
B. Tension
C. Shear
D. Confining pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Tensional stress pulls the crust apart, causing the hanging wall to move down
relative to the footwall in a normal fault.
4. An upward-arching fold in rock layers where the oldest rocks are in the center
is called a(n):
A. Syncline
B. Anticline
C. Monocline
D. Graben
Answer: B
Rationale: Anticlines are arch-like folds formed by compressional stress, with the oldest
strata at the core.
5. What is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above where an earthquake
originates?
A. Hypocenter
B. Focus
C. Epicenter
D. Fault scarp
Answer: C
Rationale: The epicenter is the geographic point on the surface directly above the focus
(hypocenter) of an earthquake.
, 6. Which volcanic landform is characterized by broad, gentle slopes built from
fluid basaltic lava?
A. Cinder cone
B. Stratovolcano
C. Shield volcano
D. Composite volcano
Answer: C
Rationale: Shield volcanoes, like those in Hawaii, form from low-viscosity lava that spreads
over great distances, creating a wide, low-profile shape.
7. The Himalayan Mountains were formed by which type of plate convergence?
A. Oceanic-Oceanic
B. Continental-Continental
C. Oceanic-Continental
D. Transform-Divergent
Answer: B
Rationale: The Himalayas formed from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, both
of which are continental crust.
8. A down-dropped block of crust bounded by normal faults is known as a:
A. Horst
B. Anticline
C. Syncline
D. Graben
Answer: D
Rationale: A graben is a depressed block of the Earth’s crust bordered by parallel normal
faults, often found in rift valleys.
GSU
1. Which type of plate boundary is characterized by plates moving away from
each other?
A. Divergent boundary
B. Transform boundary
C. Convergent boundary
D. Subduction zone
Answer: A
Rationale: Divergent boundaries occur where tectonic plates move apart, leading to
seafloor spreading or continental rifting.
2. The San Andreas Fault in California is a classic example of which type of fault?
A. Normal fault
B. Reverse fault
C. Thrust fault
D. Strike-slip fault
Answer: D
Rationale: The San Andreas Fault is a transform boundary where plates slide past each
other horizontally, creating a strike-slip fault.
,3. Which type of stress is primarily associated with the formation of normal
faults?
A. Compression
B. Tension
C. Shear
D. Confining pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Tensional stress pulls the crust apart, causing the hanging wall to move down
relative to the footwall in a normal fault.
4. An upward-arching fold in rock layers where the oldest rocks are in the center
is called a(n):
A. Syncline
B. Anticline
C. Monocline
D. Graben
Answer: B
Rationale: Anticlines are arch-like folds formed by compressional stress, with the oldest
strata at the core.
5. What is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above where an earthquake
originates?
A. Hypocenter
B. Focus
C. Epicenter
D. Fault scarp
Answer: C
Rationale: The epicenter is the geographic point on the surface directly above the focus
(hypocenter) of an earthquake.
, 6. Which volcanic landform is characterized by broad, gentle slopes built from
fluid basaltic lava?
A. Cinder cone
B. Stratovolcano
C. Shield volcano
D. Composite volcano
Answer: C
Rationale: Shield volcanoes, like those in Hawaii, form from low-viscosity lava that spreads
over great distances, creating a wide, low-profile shape.
7. The Himalayan Mountains were formed by which type of plate convergence?
A. Oceanic-Oceanic
B. Continental-Continental
C. Oceanic-Continental
D. Transform-Divergent
Answer: B
Rationale: The Himalayas formed from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, both
of which are continental crust.
8. A down-dropped block of crust bounded by normal faults is known as a:
A. Horst
B. Anticline
C. Syncline
D. Graben
Answer: D
Rationale: A graben is a depressed block of the Earth’s crust bordered by parallel normal
faults, often found in rift valleys.
