The Sun-Earth-Moon System
Practice Test
1.
Which feature shown in the figure is the oldest?
a.
Q
b.
L
c.
H
d.
P
2.
What era of geologic time ended with the largest extinction event in Earth history?
a.
the Cenozoic
b.
the Paleozoic
c.
the Cretaceous
d.
the Mesozoic
3.
Which series of the moon in the figure are waxing?
a.
15-17
b.
21-15
c.
19-21
d.
17-19
4.
When the Sun and Moon are aligned the tides are __________, which is called a __________.
a.
less than normal, spring tide
b.
less than normal, neap tide
c.
greater than normal, spring tide
d.
greater than normal, neap tide
5.
Which is NOT a layer of the Moon?
a.
lower mantle
b.
crust
c.
core
d.
outer core
6.
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
a.
frequencies measured by satellites
b.
visible light
c.
the arrangement of electromagnetic radiation
d.
energy emitted from Earth
7.
What is the longest division of time in the geologic time scale?
a.
a period
b.
an eon
c.
an epoch
d.
an era
8.
What is the source of cold water of Earth's oceans?
a.
polar seas
b.
years with cold temperatures
c.
equatorial seas
d.
years with long winters
9.
How do crystals of salt form?
a.
in glacial ice
b.
from solution
c.
inside caves
d.
from magma
10.
What determines the light-collecting power of a microscope?
a.
the number of mirrors
b.
the configuration of the lenses
c.
the shape of the opening
d.
the area of the opening
11.
What instrument can be used to demonstrate that Earth is rotating?
a.
a Foucault pendulum
b.
a GPS
c.
a reflecting telescope
d.
sonar
12.
How does a Landsat satellite differentiate between objects on Earth's surface?
a.
Landsat measures the longest frequencies of electromagnetic radiation from Earth.
b.
Landsat satellites take pictures using visible light.
c.
Landsat uses a single detector to measure the intensities of energy.
d.
Features on Earth radiate warmth at different frequencies, which show up as different colors on Landsat images.
13.
What isotope is used for finding the age of materials that are organic in origin?
a.
thorium-232
b.
potassium-40
c.
carbon-14
d.
uranium-238
14.
What does a disconformity in a sedimentary rock sequence represent?
a.
a flood event
b.
a gap in the rock record
c.
duplicated strata in the rock record
d.
a volcanic eruption
15.
Which crystal shown in the figure is the type of crystal found in pyrite?
a.
2
b.
3
c.
none are found in pyrite
d.
1
16.
What determines the speed of waves in deep water?
a.
surface currents
b.
wave height
c.
wavelength
d.
direction of waves
17.
The loose, ground-up rock on the surface of the Moon is called __________.
a.
sandstone
b.
maria
c.
regolith
d.
rille
18.
What describes the way a mineral feels?
a.
luster
b.
hardness
c.
texture
d.
streak
19.
A gravel-sized particle in a conglomerate is __________ the conglomerate rock.
a.
the same age as
b.
younger than
c.
older than
d.
always ten times older than
20.
According to the table, which mineral is capable of scratching garnet?
Mineral
Color
Hardness
Gold
Metallic gold
2.5- 3
Apatite
Blue, green
5
Pyrite
Metallic pale brass, gold
6-6.5
Garnet
Red, deep red, brown
7.5- 8
Corundumm
Red, deep red
9
a.
gold
b.
pyrite
c.
corundum
d.
apatite
