GEOLOGY EXAMINATION QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION GRADED A+ STUDY GUIDE
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY
1. Geology is the study of:
A. Earth materials and processes
B. Only water
C. Only air
D. Only animals
Answer: A
Rationale: Geology focuses on Earth’s structure and processes.
2. The Earth’s crust is:
A. Outermost solid layer
B. Inner core
C. Atmosphere
D. Hydrosphere
Answer: A
Rationale: Thin outer rocky layer.
3. The mantle lies:
A. Beneath the crust
B. Above the crust
C. In the atmosphere
D. In the ocean
Answer: A
Rationale: Middle Earth layer.
4. The core is composed mainly of:
A. Iron and nickel
B. Oxygen and nitrogen
C. Water
D. Silicon only
Answer: A
Rationale: Dense metallic materials.
5. The lithosphere includes:
A. Crust and upper mantle
, B. Atmosphere
C. Oceans
D. Biosphere
Answer: A
Rationale: Rigid outer shell.
6. Plate tectonics explains:
A. Movement of Earth’s plates
B. Weather changes
C. Ocean salinity
D. Animal evolution
Answer: A
Rationale: Lithospheric motion.
7. Divergent plate boundary is where plates:
A. Move apart
B. Collide
C. Slide past
D. Stop moving
Answer: A
Rationale: Seafloor spreading zones.
8. Convergent boundary is where plates:
A. Collide
B. Separate
C. Float
D. Evaporate
Answer: A
Rationale: Collision zones.
9. Transform boundary is where plates:
A. Slide past each other
B. Merge
C. Separate
D. Sink
Answer: A
Rationale: Lateral movement.
10. Earthquakes are caused by:
A. Sudden energy release in crust
, B. Rainfall
C. Wind
D. Ocean waves
Answer: A
Rationale: Fault movement.
11. A fault is:
A. Fracture in Earth’s crust
B. River channel
C. Mountain peak
D. Ocean trench
Answer: A
Rationale: Rock breakage zone.
12. Epicenter is:
A. Surface point above earthquake origin
B. Underground point only
C. Volcano center
D. Ocean floor
Answer: A
Rationale: Surface location.
13. Focus (hypocenter) is:
A. Earthquake origin underground
B. Surface point
C. Mountain base
D. Ocean surface
Answer: A
Rationale: Seismic origin point.
14. Seismic waves are:
A. Energy waves from earthquakes
B. Water waves
C. Wind waves
D. Sound waves only
Answer: A
Rationale: Earth vibration waves.
15. P-waves are:
A. Primary seismic waves
ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION GRADED A+ STUDY GUIDE
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY
1. Geology is the study of:
A. Earth materials and processes
B. Only water
C. Only air
D. Only animals
Answer: A
Rationale: Geology focuses on Earth’s structure and processes.
2. The Earth’s crust is:
A. Outermost solid layer
B. Inner core
C. Atmosphere
D. Hydrosphere
Answer: A
Rationale: Thin outer rocky layer.
3. The mantle lies:
A. Beneath the crust
B. Above the crust
C. In the atmosphere
D. In the ocean
Answer: A
Rationale: Middle Earth layer.
4. The core is composed mainly of:
A. Iron and nickel
B. Oxygen and nitrogen
C. Water
D. Silicon only
Answer: A
Rationale: Dense metallic materials.
5. The lithosphere includes:
A. Crust and upper mantle
, B. Atmosphere
C. Oceans
D. Biosphere
Answer: A
Rationale: Rigid outer shell.
6. Plate tectonics explains:
A. Movement of Earth’s plates
B. Weather changes
C. Ocean salinity
D. Animal evolution
Answer: A
Rationale: Lithospheric motion.
7. Divergent plate boundary is where plates:
A. Move apart
B. Collide
C. Slide past
D. Stop moving
Answer: A
Rationale: Seafloor spreading zones.
8. Convergent boundary is where plates:
A. Collide
B. Separate
C. Float
D. Evaporate
Answer: A
Rationale: Collision zones.
9. Transform boundary is where plates:
A. Slide past each other
B. Merge
C. Separate
D. Sink
Answer: A
Rationale: Lateral movement.
10. Earthquakes are caused by:
A. Sudden energy release in crust
, B. Rainfall
C. Wind
D. Ocean waves
Answer: A
Rationale: Fault movement.
11. A fault is:
A. Fracture in Earth’s crust
B. River channel
C. Mountain peak
D. Ocean trench
Answer: A
Rationale: Rock breakage zone.
12. Epicenter is:
A. Surface point above earthquake origin
B. Underground point only
C. Volcano center
D. Ocean floor
Answer: A
Rationale: Surface location.
13. Focus (hypocenter) is:
A. Earthquake origin underground
B. Surface point
C. Mountain base
D. Ocean surface
Answer: A
Rationale: Seismic origin point.
14. Seismic waves are:
A. Energy waves from earthquakes
B. Water waves
C. Wind waves
D. Sound waves only
Answer: A
Rationale: Earth vibration waves.
15. P-waves are:
A. Primary seismic waves
