2. Isotopes of the same element have different numbers of
a) protons
b) neutrons
c) electrons
d) protons or electrons
e) none of the above
3. An atom with 6 protons and 7 electrons
a) is an anion
b) is a cation
c) has a charge of +1
d) has a charge of 1
e) none of the above
4. Most elements are most stable with how many valence electrons?
a) 2
b) 4
c) 6
d) 8
e) none of the above
5. Common elements in the Earth's crust are
a) Se
b) Si
c) U
d) O
e) Rn
6. Common elements in the whole Earth are
a) C and Se
b) O and Fe
c) Fe and S
d) Hg and I
e) S and O
7. The universe
a) is 1520 Ga old
b) is 4.6 Ga old
c) formed in the 'Big Bang'
d) is expanding
e) none of the above
8. Stars
a) produce supernovae
b) produce elements heavier than Fe
c) are mostly H and He
d) are 4.6 Ga old
e) none of the above
9. The Earth is differentiated into light elements in the atmosphere and heavy elements in the core because
a) it is homogeneous
b) it formed in a supernovae
c) of gravity
d) of spinning of the outer liquid core
e) none of the above
10. A molecule
a) is a regular, repeating structure
b) always has Si and O
c) is a group of bonded atoms
d) contains isotopes
e) none of the above
11. A mineral is
a) a regular arrangement of Si atoms
b) a hexagonal network of Si and O atoms
c) a regular arrangement of atoms
d) a molecule of economic value
e) none of the above
12. The noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and Rn)
a) are very stable
b) have eight electrons
c) react exposively
d) have completely full outer orbitals
e) none of the above
13. Elements near the left side of the periodic table (e.g., Na and Mg)
a) like to gain electrons
b) have completely full outer orbitals
c) like to become anions
d) like to become cations
e) none of the above
14. Elements near the right side of the periodic table (e.g., Cl and S)
a) like to gain electrons
b) have completely full outer orbitals
c) like to become anions
d) like to become cations
e) none of the above
15. Which of the following are electrically neutral?
a) H3O
b) CO3
c) SiO4
d) NaCl
e) none of the above
16. Silicate minerals
a) always contain Mg and Fe
b) are pure SiO2
c) can form sheets
d) can form chains
e) none of the above
17. Polymorphs are minerals of
a) the same structure
b) different composition
c) different structure
d) the same composition
e) none of the above
18. With increasing depth in the Earth
a) pressure increases
b) SiO2 content decreases
c) density increases
d) temperature increases
e) none of the above
19. The temperature gradient within the Earth derives from
a) rotation of the outer core
b) cooling following planetary aggregation
c) crystallization of the inner core
d) radioactive heating
e) none of the above
20. Radioactivity is produced by
a) breakdown of atomic nuclei
b) electron spin
c) spinning of the Earth
d) 4He nuclei
e) none of the above
21. The half life of a radioactive decay process is
a) the lifetime of half of the daughter atoms
b) half the time required for the parent atoms to decay
c) the time required for half of the daughter atoms to be produced
d) the time required for half of the parent atoms to decay
e) none of the above
22. The amount of water present in the atmosphere + lakes + rivers is
a) roughly equal to the water in the oceans
b) equal to 67% of the surface of the Earth
c) only a small fraction of the water in the ocean
d) responsible for Earth tides
e) none of the above
23. Sunlight decreases from the equator to the poles because
a) there are more clouds at the equator
b) of the seasons
c) the Earth is tilted on its axis
d) incoming solar radiation is dictated by the incidence angle of the Sun's rays
e) none of the above
24. Albedo
a) is re-radiated excess energy
b) is a measure of reflectivity
c) of snow is very high
d) decreases during deforestation
e) none of the above
25. Deserts are caused by
a) low rainfall
b) high rates of evaporation
c) dry wind falling from high levels in the atmosphere
d) high mountains
e) none of the above
26. Which of the following contribute to desertification?
a) off-road vehicles
b) overgrazing
c) overcultivation
d) removal of plants for fuel
e) none of the above
27. Mechanical weathering
a) includes abrasion
b) requires acid
c) is faster in tropical climates
d) includes exfoliation
e) none of the above
28. The grain size of sediment depends on
a) temperature
b) water depth
c) water velocity
d) water composition
e) none of the above
29. If a sedimentary particle is angular or poorly rounded
a) it must be very large
b) it has travelled a short distance
c) it has come from a beach
d) it is a carbonate
e) none of the above
30. Sandstones are
a) coarse-grained shales
b) fine-grained conglomerates
c) organic detritus
d) indicative of old beaches or rivers
e) none of the above
What were the Vikings doing in Fargo North Dakota anyway?