Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test
Name:
1.
Date:
It is generally true that igneous rocks
5.
(1) contain primarily evaporites. (2) can be scratched with a penny. (3) normally contain fossils.
Your teacher has brought a sample of water to class. The sample contains a mixture of small rocks, sand, and silt (very ne soil) from the Mississippi River. After a few hours, the sample settles. Which diagram shows how the sample will settle? (1)
(4) are composed of silicate minerals.
2.
Which of the following is most likely to produce a fragmental sedimentary rock? (1) magma fractured on the ocean oor (2) calcite crystallized from seawater (3) gravel deposited in a silt bed (2) (4) limestone dissolved in cave formation
3.
A volcanic rock is black, glossy, and smooth. How did this rock most likely form? (1) Rapidly, on the Earth's surface (2) Rapidly, beneath the Earth's surface (3) Slowly, on the Earth's surface (3)
(4) Slowly, beneath the Earth's surface
4.
A rock sample will most likely contain (1) plants.
(2) minerals.
(3) water.
(4) wood.
(4)
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6.
The diagram below shows how a type of rock is formed over time.
7.
Dora wrote down some observations of four rock samples she was studying. Based on her observations, which of the following rock samples is most likely a sedimentary rock? (1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
This diagram represents the formation of which of the following types of rock?
8.
Which type of rock is formed when hot lava cools?
(1) igneous
(2) metamorphic
(1) coal
(2) igneous
(3) sedimentary
(4) volcanic
(3) limestone
(4) metamorphic
9.
Which of the following best describes a mineral? (1) the main nutrient in all foods (2) a type of grain found in cereals (3) a natural substance that makes up rocks (4) the decomposed plant matter found in soil
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Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test
10.
Use the information below to answer the following question(s).
14.
The rock cycle is a process that alters sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. The diagram below shows the rock cycle.
A lake is surrounded by hills covered with trees and shrubs. Which statement correctly describes how a change to the plants in this area will a ect this environment? (1) Adding plants to the hillsides will increase sedimentation in the lake. (2) Adding plants to the edge of the lake will increase erosion by the lake. (3) Removing plants from the hillsides will increase erosion on the hills. (4) Removing plants from the edge of the lake will increase sedimentation on the hills.
15.
How do plants most commonly break large rocks into smaller pieces? (1) Plant leaves insulate surrounding rocks from extreme temperatures. (2) Plant roots grow into cracks in rocks. (3) Seeds from plants fall onto rocks and release acidic compounds. (4) Stems of plants surround and squeeze rocks.
Which process forms igneous rock? (1) weathering of rock
16.
The freezing and thawing action of water a ects a rock by
(2) cooling of liquid magma (3) heat and pressure changing solid rock
(1) transforming the rock into igneous rock.
(4) compaction and cementation of loose material
(2) chemically changing the rock. (3) gradually breaking down the rock into smaller pieces.
11.
12.
(4) leaving behind sedimentary particles from evaporated solutions.
Which type of rock contains the best fossil record? (1) igneous
(2) magma
(3) metamorphic
(4) sedimentary
17.
Humus, or organic matter, is decayed plant and animal matter. Which Earth material contains humus?
It is harder to read the wording on very old tombstones than it is to read the wording on newer ones. This di erence is most likely a result of: (1) dirt lling in the letters; (2) modern tombstones being made of arti cial materials;
(1) rock
(2) mineral
(3) soil
(4) lava
(3) weathering of the stone; or (4) slow crystallization of the stone.
13.
As stream velocity decreases, which factor will likely increase? 18. (1) erosion of the stream bank (2) deposition of material in the stream (3) amount of material carried downstream
Wind, moving water, and moving ice pick up and move soil and other materials in a process known as (1) erupting.
(2) erosion.
(3) faulting.
(4) fossilization.
(4) size of the particles carried downstream
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Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test
19.
The picture below shows the result of a geological event that changed a mountain rapidly.
24.
Which type of climate has the greatest amount of rock weathering caused by frost action? (1) a dry climate in which temperatures remain below freezing (2) a dry climate in which temperatures alternate from below freezing to above freezing (3) a wet climate in which temperatures remain below freezing (4) a wet climate in which temperatures alternate from below freezing to above freezing
25. Which of the following most likely caused the rapid change of the mountain?
Which long-term atmospheric changes would increase the rate of chemical weathering of surface bedrock? (1) decreasing temperature and decreasing precipitation
(1) landslide
(2) snowfall
(2) decreasing temperature and increasing precipitation
(3) wind erosion
(4) volcanic eruption
(3) increasing temperature and decreasing precipitation (4) increasing temperature and increasing precipitation
20.
The diagram below shows the same grain of sand moving up the side of a desert sand dune.
26.
The accompanying diagram shows two landscape regions with similar bedrock type and structure.
What causes the grain of sand to move in this pattern?
21.
(1) earthquakes
(2) volcanoes
(3) water
(4) wind Which statement best explains why these two landscape regions are di erent in appearance?
Which factor has the most in uence on the development of soil?
(1) Landscape A formed in a humid region, and landscape B formed in a dry region.
(1) climate
(2) Landscape A formed in a humid region, and landscape B formed in a glaciated region.
(2) longitude (3) amount of rounded sediment
(3) Landscape A formed in a dry region, and landscape B formed in a glaciated region.
(4) slope of the landscape
(4) Landscape A formed in a dry region, and landscape B formed in a humid region. 22.
Which climate conditions normally produce the greatest amount of chemical weathering? 27. (1) cool and dry
(2) cool and moist
(3) warm and dry
(4) warm and moist
Which geologic feature is caused primarily by chemical weathering? (1) large caves in limestone bedrock (2) a pattern of parallel cracks in a granite mountain
23.
Humus, which is formed by the decay of plant and animal matter, is important for the formation of most
(3) blocks of basalt at the base of a steep slope
(1) soils
(2) minerals
(4) the smooth, polished surface of a rock in a dry, sandy area
(3) sediment
(4) surface bedrock
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Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test
28.
Which activity demonstrates chemical weathering?
30.
The diagram below shows some features in a cave.
(1) freezing of water in the cracks of a sandstone sidewalk (2) abrasion of a streambed by tumbling rocks (3) grinding of talc into a powder (4) dissolving of limestone by acid rain
29.
The cross section below shows a soil pro le.
Which type of rock was chemically weathered by acidic groundwater to produce the cave and its features?
31.
(1) siltstone
(2) basalt
(3) quartzite
(4) limestone
The diagram below represents a sample of a rock
This rock would be classi ed as metamorphic because it shows (1) distorted banding (2) an organic composition
This soil was formed primarily by
(3) a mixture of minerals (1) erosion by glaciers
(4) crystals from precipitation
(2) erosion by running water (3) capillarity and human activity
32.
(4) weathering and biological activity
The block diagrams below show cross sections of the crust in a landscape that has undergone gradual change.
The hardened lava in this volcano's central pipe formed a mountain peak in the late stage because the lava plug was composed of (1) soft igneous rock (2) soft metamorphic rock (3) igneous rock that is resistant to erosion (4) metamorphic rock that is resistant to erosion
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Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test
33.
Which statement best describes the formation of an intrusive igneous rock?
38.
(1) Magma solidi es slowly, resulting in a coarse-grained texture.
A decrease in a river's velocity will most likely result in more (1) erosion by the river (2) deposition within the river
(2) Magma solidi es slowly, resulting in a ne-grained texture.
(3) large particles being carried by the river
(3) Magma solidi es rapidly, resulting in a glassy texture.
(4) dissolved material being picked up by the river
(4) Magma solidi es rapidly, resulting in a clastic texture. 39. 34.
The accompanying diagram shows a broken crystal of the mineral halite.
The cross section below represents the transport of sediments by a glacier.
At which location is deposition most likely the dominant process?
The shape of the halite crystal is a direct result of the (1) internal arrangement of the atoms in the crystal
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
(2) temperature at which the crystal formed (3) type of surface on which the crystal formed (4) stream erosion that changed the crystal
35.
36.
Which process is necessary for the formation of igneous rocks? (1) erosion
(2) deposition
(3) solidi cation
(4) metamorphism
The accompanying diagram shows four rock samples.
Which sample best shows the physical properties normally associated with regional metamorphism? (1) A
37.
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
Unsorted piles of angular sediments were most likely transported and deposited by (1) wind
(2) glaciers
(3) ocean waves
(4) running water
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Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test
40.
The accompanying diagram shows rock material being transported by a mountain glacier.
43.
Base your answer(s) to the following question(s) on the cross section and data table shown below. The cross section shows a sediment-laden river owing into the ocean. The arrows show the direction of river ow. Di erent zones of sorted sediments, A, B, C, and D, have been labeled. Sediments have been taken from these zones and measured. The data table shows the range of sediment sizes in each zone.
Data Table Zone
Major Sediment Sizes
A
0.04 cm to 6 cm
B
0.006 cm to 0.1 cm
C
0.0004 cm to 0.006 cm
D
Less than 0.0004 cm
How is this pattern of horizontal sorting produced? (1) High-density materials generally settle more slowly. The moraine deposits left when this glacier melts will generally be
(2) Rounded sediments generally settle more slowly. (3) Dissolved minerals are generally deposited rst.
(1) sorted by size and layered
(4) Bigger particles are generally deposited rst.
(2) sorted by size and unlayered (3) unsorted by size and layered
44. The accompanying cross section shows surface landscape features that developed because of a humid climate.
(4) unsorted by size and unlayered
41.
Base your answer(s) to the following question(s) on the information and on your knowledge of Earth science. Howe Caverns Many scientists believe that the formation of the rocks in which Howe Caverns is now found began millions of years ago. At that time, an ocean covered the eastern region of New York State. Hundreds of feet of calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) sediments were deposited in layers along the edge of this ocean. These layers eventually formed the sedimentary rock limestone, which makes up the walls of today's Howe Caverns. Much later, tectonic forces raised this region of New York State above sea level exposing the rock to weathering and erosion. These tectonic forces cracked the thick limestone, creating pathways for groundwater to in ltrate and gradually increase the size of the cracks. Eventually some of the larger cracks provided pathways for the underground stream, which carved the winding passages of Howe Caverns seen today.
Which change will eventually be observed if the climate of the area becomes very arid? (1) The rate of chemical weathering will increase. (2) The elevation of the entire region will increase.
State two processes that caused these sediments to become limestone.
42.
(3) The landscape will gradually become more rounded. (4) The slopes will gradually become steeper and more angular.
Identify one method that could be used to determine that the walls of Howe Caverns are made of limestone.
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Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test
45.
The photograph below shows a sand dune that formed in a coastal area.
48.
The boundaries of landscape regions are generally well de ned by changes in (1) vegetation and soil type (2) stream size and drainage pattern (3) latitude and longitude (4) elevation and bedrock structure
49. This sand dune was most likely formed by (1) water owing from the left (2) water owing from the right (3) wind blowing from the left
The accompanying table shows characteristics of three landscape regions X, Y, and Z. Landscape Region
Relief
Bedrock
X
Great relief, high peaks, deep valleys
Many types, including igneous and metamorphic rocks; nonhorizontal structure
Y
Moderate to high relief
Flat layers of sedimentary rock or lava ows
Z
Very little relief, low elevations
Many types and structures
Which terms, when substituted for X, Y, and Z, best complete the table?
(4) wind blowing from the right
(1) X = mountains, Y = plains, Z = plateaus 46.
The map below shows the large delta that formed as the Mississippi River emptied into the Gulf of Mexico.
(2) X = plateaus, Y = mountains, Z = plains (3) X = plains, Y = plateaus, Z = mountains (4) X = mountains, Y = pleaters, Z = plains
50.
Which process was primarily responsible for the formation of the delta?
Base your answer(s) to the following question(s) on the geologic cross sections below, which represent bedrock from di erent areas on Earth.
All the cross sections most likely represent areas of
(1) glacial erosion (2) cementation of sediment
(1) crustal stability
(2) mountain building
(3) seashore erosion
(4) plateau development
(3) deposition of sediment (4) mass movement
47.
Which diagram represents a plateau landscape? (1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
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Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test
Problem-Attic format version 4.4.195 c 2011–2013 EducAide Software _ Licensed for use by Lori Zimmerman Terms of Use at www.problem-attic.com Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test
10/30/2013
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