1. Which statement below best describes mechanical or chemical weathering? a. Chemical weathering is caused by wind, water, or gravity
b. Mechanical weathering is caused by a chemical reaction c. Chemical and mechanical weathering are the same thing
d. Mechanical weathering breaks rocks down using physical force.
2. Cementation is
a. The process of sediments being compacted together b. The process of sediments solidifying in a solid mass c. The process of rocks being broken down
d. The process of sediments being moved by wind or water
3. What type of rock is formed by compaction and cementation of bits of other rock? a. Metamorphic
b. Sedimentary c. Igneous d. Volcanic
4. Density is the ratio between an object’s a. Weight and volume
b. Mass and volume c. Size and texture d. Weight and mass
5. The table below shows the mass and volume of three different rocks. Based on the data, which statement below best describes the density of these rocks?
Sample Mass (g) Volume (cm3) Density (g/cm3)
A 6 3
B 12 6
C 13 6.5
a. Sample A is more dense than B. b. Sample B is as dense as C. c. Sample A is more dense than C. d. Samples A, B, and C are equally dense.
6. Which of the following is a characteristic that all minerals have? a. Organic with a crystalline structure
b. Inorganic and liquid c. Inorganic and solid
d. Human-made with a crystalline structure
7. Rocks are best described as_____ a. a pure mineral
b. either igneous or sedimentary c. always made of molten material
8. Which of the following statements best describes minerals? a. They can be created by humans or in nature
b. They always come from the remains of living things c. They always have the same chemical composition d. They can be solids, liquids or gasses
9. In prehistoric times, glaciers carrying frozen sediments existed all over the United States. As glaciers melted, these sediments were left behind. This is an example of
a. Weathering b. Deposition c. Erosion d. Cementation
10. Igneous rock is forced underground at a subduction zone. Before it melts and turns into magma, the heat and pressure it is exposed to will probably turn it into
a. Igneous rock b. Sedimentary rock c. Metamorphic rock d. Hydrothermal rock
11. Igneous rocks are most likely to be found a. Below folded mountains
b. Near an inactive volcano c. At fault lines
d. At the bottom of a lake
12. The rock cycle shows us that
a. Rocks can be changed from one type to another b. Matter is being destroyed in nature all around us c. Energy is created as rocks are created
d. Rocks never change and always stay the same
13. Which rocks are created from weathered bits of other rocks? a. Foliated
b. Sedimentary c. Metamorphic d. Intrusive
14. Sedimentary rocks are classified as ______ based on how they form. a. basaltic, andesitic, or granitic
b. foliated or non-foliated c. clastic or chemical
d. mafic, intermediate, or felsic
15. Metamorphic rocks can be categorized as a. foliated and non-foliated
16. Foliation occurs because
a. Minerals in metamorphic rock align as pressure builds up b. Minerals in cooling lava align as temperatures decrease c. Minerals in sedimentary rock align as weathering increases d. Minerals in metamorphic rock are destroyed
17. A mountain is exposed to high amounts of rain and wind. Over time, these conditions cause the mountain to shrink in size. This is an example of
a. Chemical weathering b. Mechanical weathering c. Hydrothermal weathering d. Deposition
18. Sediments are carried down a stream and rest at the bottom of a lake. Over time, these sediments will solidify and turn into
a. Igneous rock b. Sedimentary rock c. Metamorphic rock d. Hydrothermal rock
19. The Himalayas were formed when the Indian continent collided with Asia, creating folded mountains. These mountains are an example of
a. Regional metamorphism b. Basaltic metamorphism c. Contact metamorphism d. Granitic metamorphism
20. Clastic rocks are formed when
a. Minerals precipitate from water b. Lava cools in a volcano sill c. Sediments are melted together d. Bits of rock are cemented together
21. Limestone is a sedimentary rock containing high amounts of a mineral calcite. When limestone is exposed to carbonic acid, it starts to fizz and breakdown. This is an example of
a. Mechanical weathering b. Chemical weathering c. Organic weathering d. Clastic weathering
22. Which of the following situations would create an igneous extrusive rock? a. Magma chambers cool below the earth’s surface
23. Which combination the following options best describes how igneous rocks are formed? i. Magma cools under ground
ii. Heat and pressure compresses rock underground iii. Lava cools after volcanic eruption
iv. Sediments and rock are cemented together a. i and iv
b. i and iii c. ii and iii d. ii and iv
24. Which of these scenarios leads to the formation of coarse-grained igneous rocks? a. Lava cools very slowly inside a magma chamber
b. Crystals are not able to grow in the cooling rock c. Quick lava cooling times cause crystals to be small d. Magma chambers come into contact with water
25. When rocks are subducted below the earth’s crust, they eventually reach the _________, where they melt and turn into magma.
a. Core b. Mantle c. Lithosphere d. Crust
26. Which of the following is a step of the rock cycle? a. Cooling
b. Weathering c. Cementation d. All of the above
27. The picture below shows one igneous, one metamorphic, and one sedimentary rock. Which option below correctly labels the three types of rock?
A.
1= igneous, 2= sedimentary, 3= metamorphic B.
1= sedimentary, 2=metamorphic, 3= igneous
C.
1= sedimentary, 2=igneous, 3=metamorphic
D.
Use the Mohs hardness scale below to answer questions 28-32.
28. Which common objects are harder than orthoclase?
a. Steel file b. Glass
c. Copper penny d. Finger nail
29. A pocket knife has a hardness of about 5. Which mineral is closest in hardness to it?
a. Fluorite b. Corundum c. Apatite d. Calcite
30. Which of the following statements is true? a. A fingernail will scratch calcite but not
gypsum
b. Calcite will be scratched by a copper penny c. The mineral apatite will scratch topaz d. A steel file has a hardness of about 7.5
31. Imagine that you tried to determine the streak of corundum on a glass streak plate. What can you expect to happen?
a. Corundum will leave a streak on the streak plate. b. Corundum will scratch the streak plate.
32. Imagine that you tried to determine streak of fluorite on a glass streak plate. What can you expect to happen?
a. Fluorite will leave a streak on the streak plate. b. Fluorite will scratch the streak plate.
c. Both A and B will occur d. None of the above
33. Which mineral is mined in great quantities in Arizona? a. Copper
b. Coltan c. Corundum d. Coal
34. Why is coltan mining and global coltan trade so controversial? a. Because no one actually needs coltan
b. Because of human rights abuses at mines c. Because of the poor quality of coltan d. Because of the low supply of coltan
35. As the demand for coltan increases in the future, how can we expect the price of coltan to change? Assume that no new coltan mines open up.
a. The price of coltan will go up b. The price of coltan will go down c. The price of coltan will stay the same d. There’s no way to know
ESSAY PREP
Be prepared to write to write a minimum of 12 sentences on the following options. Only one of these options will show up on the test, so prepare for both.
Option 1
Rocks and minerals are purchased and sold throughout the world for a wide variety of uses. Describe how a rock or mineral of your choice is used and traded by answering the following questions:
1. Choose any rock or mineral that is widely traded throughout the world. Explain how it is used today, and why it is important to modern life.
2. Explain a scenario where the supply or demand for that rock or mineral might change. How would that affect the price of that rock or mineral? How would this change affect our lives?
Option 2
1. How we’ve used different minerals to improve our lives (or maybe hurt others)
2. Mow the mining industry affects countries differently
3. What people have done (in the past and in the present) to get the minerals they want
1. D
2. B
3. B
4. B
5. D
6. C
7. D
8. C 9. B 10. C
11. B 12. A 13. B 14. C 15. A 16. A 17. B 18. B 19. A 20. D
26. D 27. B 28. A 29. C 30. B
