GOL 105 Exam 1 UPDATED Study
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which of the following are accurate definitions of physical and historical geology?
a. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the
many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology documents the
major discoveries, scientists, and development of geologic thought.
b. Physical geology examines only the physics of Earth materials. Historical geology seeks to
understand the origin of Earth and its development through time.
c. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the
many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology examines the
geologic period that covers human history.
d. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the
many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology seeks to
understand the origin of Earth and its developme - CORRECT ANSWER d. Physical
geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the many processes
that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology seeks to understand the origin of
Earth and its development through time.
According to the textbook, understanding Earth is challenging because our planet is a
_____________ body with many interacting parts and a complex history. - CORRECT
ANSWER Dynamic
A natural hazard is a natural process that endangers humans. T/F - CORRECT
ANSWER True
Which of the following are all considered natural hazards?
a. earthquakes, volcanoes, and skydiving
b. mining, mountain climbing, and skydiving
c. mudslides, mountain climbing, and tsunamis
, d. avalanches, earthquakes, and floods - CORRECT ANSWER d. avalanches,
earthquakes, and floods
Which of the following accurately describes the principle of uniformitarianism and properly
identifies the individual to whom the idea is attributed?
a. Uniformitarianism is the idea that deposition of materials at Earth's surface occurs in an
orderly fashion, with youngest layers on top and the oldest layers on the bottom. It was put
forth by James Ussher.
b. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws operating
today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Hutton.
c. Uniformitarianism is the idea that Earth's landscapes have been shaped by sudden and
often worldwide disasters produced by unknowable causes that no longer operate. It was put
forth by James Hutton.
d. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws operating
today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Ussher. - CORRECT
ANSWER b. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological
laws operating today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Hutton.
According to the textbook, how old is Earth?
a. about 14 billion years old
b. about 4.6 billion years old
c. about 8000 years old
d. Geologists have not been able to estimate the age of Earth. - CORRECT
ANSWER b. about 4.6 billion years old
What is the Greek translation of the word geology?
a. planetary discourse, or the study of planets
b. hydrologic discourse, or the study of water
c. rock discourse, or the study of rocks
, d. rock and mineral discourse, or the study of rocks and minerals
e. Earth discourse, or the study of Earth - CORRECT ANSWER e. Earth discourse, or
the study of Earth
A theory is a tentative or untested explanation that explains a given set of observations. T/F -
CORRECT ANSWER False
Some of the ways that scientific advancements can occur include the following: the scientific
method, _______________ ideas, and serendipitous discoveries (i.e., chance or luck). -
CORRECT ANSWER Theoretical
Earth can be thought of as consisting of four major spheres: the hydrosphere, the geosphere,
the atmosphere, and the _____________. - CORRECT ANSWER biosphere
Which of the following are the major processes of the hydrologic cycle?
a. the oceans, ice caps, and groundwater
b. erosion, evaporation, and transpiration
c. ice, water, and steam
d. evaporation, condensation, and precipitation - CORRECT ANSWER d. evaporation,
condensation, and precipitation
Earth system science aims to study Earth as a system composed of numerous interacting parts
or subsystems, integrating knowledge from several academic fields. T/F - CORRECT
ANSWER True
The two sources of energy that power the Earth system are the Sun and photosynthesis. T/F -
CORRECT ANSWER False
Match the steps in the formation of the solar system, according to the nebular theory, to the
correct order number.
a. rotating disk of hot gases is formed.
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which of the following are accurate definitions of physical and historical geology?
a. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the
many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology documents the
major discoveries, scientists, and development of geologic thought.
b. Physical geology examines only the physics of Earth materials. Historical geology seeks to
understand the origin of Earth and its development through time.
c. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the
many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology examines the
geologic period that covers human history.
d. Physical geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the
many processes that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology seeks to
understand the origin of Earth and its developme - CORRECT ANSWER d. Physical
geology examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the many processes
that operate beneath and upon its surface. Historical geology seeks to understand the origin of
Earth and its development through time.
According to the textbook, understanding Earth is challenging because our planet is a
_____________ body with many interacting parts and a complex history. - CORRECT
ANSWER Dynamic
A natural hazard is a natural process that endangers humans. T/F - CORRECT
ANSWER True
Which of the following are all considered natural hazards?
a. earthquakes, volcanoes, and skydiving
b. mining, mountain climbing, and skydiving
c. mudslides, mountain climbing, and tsunamis
, d. avalanches, earthquakes, and floods - CORRECT ANSWER d. avalanches,
earthquakes, and floods
Which of the following accurately describes the principle of uniformitarianism and properly
identifies the individual to whom the idea is attributed?
a. Uniformitarianism is the idea that deposition of materials at Earth's surface occurs in an
orderly fashion, with youngest layers on top and the oldest layers on the bottom. It was put
forth by James Ussher.
b. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws operating
today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Hutton.
c. Uniformitarianism is the idea that Earth's landscapes have been shaped by sudden and
often worldwide disasters produced by unknowable causes that no longer operate. It was put
forth by James Hutton.
d. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological laws operating
today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Ussher. - CORRECT
ANSWER b. Uniformitarianism is the idea that the physical, chemical, and biological
laws operating today also operated in the geologic past. It was put forth by James Hutton.
According to the textbook, how old is Earth?
a. about 14 billion years old
b. about 4.6 billion years old
c. about 8000 years old
d. Geologists have not been able to estimate the age of Earth. - CORRECT
ANSWER b. about 4.6 billion years old
What is the Greek translation of the word geology?
a. planetary discourse, or the study of planets
b. hydrologic discourse, or the study of water
c. rock discourse, or the study of rocks
, d. rock and mineral discourse, or the study of rocks and minerals
e. Earth discourse, or the study of Earth - CORRECT ANSWER e. Earth discourse, or
the study of Earth
A theory is a tentative or untested explanation that explains a given set of observations. T/F -
CORRECT ANSWER False
Some of the ways that scientific advancements can occur include the following: the scientific
method, _______________ ideas, and serendipitous discoveries (i.e., chance or luck). -
CORRECT ANSWER Theoretical
Earth can be thought of as consisting of four major spheres: the hydrosphere, the geosphere,
the atmosphere, and the _____________. - CORRECT ANSWER biosphere
Which of the following are the major processes of the hydrologic cycle?
a. the oceans, ice caps, and groundwater
b. erosion, evaporation, and transpiration
c. ice, water, and steam
d. evaporation, condensation, and precipitation - CORRECT ANSWER d. evaporation,
condensation, and precipitation
Earth system science aims to study Earth as a system composed of numerous interacting parts
or subsystems, integrating knowledge from several academic fields. T/F - CORRECT
ANSWER True
The two sources of energy that power the Earth system are the Sun and photosynthesis. T/F -
CORRECT ANSWER False
Match the steps in the formation of the solar system, according to the nebular theory, to the
correct order number.
a. rotating disk of hot gases is formed.
