GEOL100 Practice Exam 4 Answers

If a geologic layer has high porosity but low permeability, will it allow hydrocarbons to flow?

 

• Yes, it will be a hydrocarbon reservoir

• No, it will not be a hydrocarbon reservoir

• It is impossible to tell from the information given

No, it will not be a hydrocarbon reservoir

If a large amount of fresh water enters the North Atlantic, downwelling will likely:

 

• continue at the same place

• slow down or stop over time

• increase in intensity or speed up

• it is impossible to tell

slow down or stop over time

In a mid-ocean ridge setting, a black smoker will:

 

• Spew heated, metal laden water into the ocean

• Cause the ocean crust to melt creating black pillow lava

• Release heat and cause the ridge to spread slowly

• Create the conditions that make cancer in sharks more likely

Spew heated, metal laden water into the ocean

Fracking is necessary in order to extract shale gas because:

 

• It isn’t, it’s just the cheapest process to extract the gas

• The process creates pathways for natural gas to escape low permeability rocks

• It is necessary to create pressure within the rock to complete the transformation of organics into gas

• Water and other chemicals are needed to change the viscosity of the natural gas deposits from solid to liquid at the underground pressures

The process creates pathways for natural gas to escape low permeability rocks

What is the “oil window”?

 

• The specific type of sedimentary deposition necessary for the formation of oil

• The specific economic condition necessary for economic oil extraction

• The specific pressure and temperature conditions necessary for the formation of oil

• The specific oxygen conditions necessary for the formation of oil

The specific pressure and temperature conditions necessary for the formation of oil

In a nuclear power plant, what is the product used to generate the electricity?

 

• U-238

• neutrons

• heat

• fission products

fission products (?)

When we consider the potential to generate solar energy in Maryland, a reasonable expectation is that we can:

 

• Generate all the electricity we will possibly need by installing solar panels on all roofs

• Install a lot more solar but it will throw the entire state economy into a downward spiral

• Produce enough electricity to be able to eliminate almost all coal-generated electricity within a decade

Produce enough electricity to be able to eliminate almost all coal-generated electricity within a decade

Most of the coal deposits in the Unites States are:

 

• deposits that are less than 50 million years old

• lower ranks of coal that will not burn as cleanly as anthracite

• ranks of coal that have lower volatile contents than anthracite

• derived from peat deposits subjected to metamorphism

lower ranks of coal that will not burn as cleanly as anthracite

A reservoir rock for oil and gas should:

 

• be porous

• be permeable

• be located under a trap

• all of the possible answers are correct

• all of the possible answers are incorrect

all of the possible answers are correct

Uranium used in nuclear power plants must be enriched before it can be used as a fuel:

 

• Because the 237 U concentration must be increased so that it will create more of the plutonium byproducts that make nuclear power possible

• Because the 237U concentration must be balanced with the 238U concentration so that it will fission efficiently in the reactor

• Because the 237U concentration must be increased from <1% to at least 2% before it will fission efficiently in the reactor

• Because the 237U concentration must be decreased to <1% or it will fission uncontrollably in the reactor

Which type of oil and gas trap is pictured in the diagram?

• salt dome

• anticline

• stratigraphic

• fault

salt dome

Why do comets have a tail?

 

• They are balls of fire and the tail are flames that trail behind the comet.

• They are balls of fire and the tail is smoke trailing from the burning comet.

• Solar wind strips off gas and dust, forming a tail pointing away from the Sun.

• Comets do not have a tail, but most dogs do.

Solar wind strips off gas and dust, forming a tail pointing away from the Sun.

Which planet has the largest volcano that we know of in our solar system?

 

• Mars

• Jupiter

• Earth

• Venus

Mars

Groundwater:

 

• moves underground mainly in underground river channels.

• dissolves very porous rock like obsidian faster than it dissolves limestone.

• typically moves slowly within the ground through porous rock layers like sandstone.

• moves fastest through layers of clay called aquicludes (or aquitards)

typically moves slowly within the ground through porous rock layers like sandstone.

Groundwater contaminants:

 

• like sulfur, iron, calcium carbonate, and methane may come from the rock the water flows through.

• are all eventually removed by rock and sediment acting as natural filters.

• move so slowly they are usually detected and removed before they travel far.

• are always toxic materials like arsenic, mercury, and lead.

• all of the above are true statements.

like sulfur, iron, calcium carbonate, and methane may come from the rock the water flows through.

Mineral-rich veins within plutons, deposited by hot groundwater into fractures within the rock, characterize ____________.

 

• hydrothermal deposits

• placer deposits

• residual mineral deposits

• sedimentary deposits

hydrothermal deposits

The elevation of the water table ____.

 

• is a constant for a given area so long as the topography remains the same

• may rise during times of drought and sink during rainy periods

• may rise during rainy periods and sink during droughts

may rise during rainy periods and sink during droughts

The majority of liquid fresh water within Earth exists in ____.

 

• glaciers

• rivers and streams

• pores within rock and sediment

• atmospheric clouds

glaciers

Which arrow shows the best representation of how groundwater would flow given the conditions in the diagram.

Which of the following statements about the hydrologic cycle is false?

 

• There is an exchange of water among oceans, land, and atmosphere.

• Water that manages to infiltrate the land is lost to the cycle.

• Sheetwash is a thin film of water that moves down slopes.

• Meteoric water can fall directly into a stream, accumulate in a standing body, become sheetwash, or infiltrate the soil.

• Surface snow and ice is part of this cycle.

Water that manages to infiltrate the land us lost to the cycle.

Why does water flow out of the faucet on the upper floors of a typical suburban home?

 

• Magic!

• Water stored in towers is pumped out into municipal supply pipes and flows and “uphill” into the faucets

• Water towers create artificial pressure that allows water to flow “uphill” to the faucet

• The faucet creates an artificial high pressure spot that water flows towards

Water towers create artificial pressure that allows water to flow “uphill” to the faucet

In our current understanding of the Big Bang, ____.

 

• Earth is much older than the rest of the Universe

• the Universe is considerably older than Earth

• Earth and the Universe formed at about the same time

• there is no way of knowing how old the Universe might be

the Universe is considerably older than Earth

The gas giant, or Jovian, planets are ____.

 

• Mars, Mercury, and Venus

• Mars, Venus, and Jupiter

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

• Mars and Saturn

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

Features that are created when water dissolves surface and subsurface limestone, like sinkholes, troughs, caverns, natural bridges, and towers, are collectively called:

 

• potentiometric surfaces.

• geothermal landscapes.

• karst landscape.

• artesian surfaces.

• undersaturated surfaces.

karst landscape.

Geologists believe the impact of a 10-km wide meteorite 65 million years ago: (choose all that apply)

 

• Caused worldwide forest fires

• Caused enormous tsunamis

• Caused photosynthesis to shut down due to a cloud of debris that was ejected into the atmosphere

• Caused mammals to evolve because of the cold conditions

• Caused the largest extinction event in Earth history

• Caused worldwide forest fires

• Caused enormous tsunamis

• Caused photosynthesis to shut down due to a cloud of debris that was ejected into the atmosphere

• Caused the largest extinction event in Earth history

Porosity may be defined as:

 

• the rate of forward flow of groundwater

• the amount of space in a body of rock or soil which is filled by mineral grains

• the volume of open space in a mass of geologic material

• the 'connectedness' of the pores in a mass of geologic material

the volume of open space in a mass of geologic material

Put the steps in which our solar system into order according to the Nebular Hypothesis.

• Step 1 — A nebula is disturbed by the shockwave of a nearby supernova explosion.

• Step 2 — A nebula collapsed into a flat spinning disk with matter streaming in toward the center.

• Step 3 — The temperature rises and a proto-sun begins to glow as the outer fringes of the disk collide and coalesce.

• Step 4 — The heat of the sun causes the material in the planetesimals to differentiate.

We have found life in the solar system on:

Choose all that apply

 

• Earth

• Mars

• Enceladus

• Titan

Earth

Fracking is necessary in order to extract shale gas because:

 

• It isn’t, it’s just the cheapest process to extract the gas

• The process creates pathways for natural gas to escape low permeability rocks

• It is necessary to create pressure within the rock to complete the transformation of organics into gas

• Water and other chemicals are needed to change the viscosity of the natural gas deposits from solid to liquid at the underground pressures

The process creates pathways for natural gas to escape low permeability rocks

When considering hydrocarbon chains:

 

• Shorter chains are more likely to separate from other lengths in the mixture

• Shorter chains are more volatile and less viscous

• Longer chains are more volatile and less viscous

• Longer chains are more likely to separate from other lengths in the mixture

Shorter chains are more volatile and less viscous

When we consider the potential to generate solar energy in Maryland, a reasonable expectation is that we can:

 

• Generate all the electricity we will possibly need by installing solar panels on all roofs

• Install a lot more solar but it will throw the entire state economy into a downward spiral

• Produce enough electricity to be able to eliminate almost all coal-generated electricity within a decade

Install a lot more solar but it will throw the entire state economy into a downward spiral

Mars has lots of ice at the poles. What is this ice made of?

• carbon dioxide

• fresh water

• salt water

• nitrogen

carbon dioxide

What is the name of the mission that arrived at Saturn in 2004?

 

• Cassini

• Juno

• Venera

• Messenger

Cassini

When a Mars-sized impactor smashed into the early Earth, why were pieces of mantle ejected into space rather than both bodies vaporizing?

 

• The impact was at an oblique angle

• The impact was very low speed

• The Mars-sized body was very low density and not differentiated 

• The moon slowed and deflected the Mars-sized body before impact

The impact was at an oblique angle

The visible surface of Jupiter and Saturn are reddish-orange because they consist of

 

• mostly hydrogen and helium

• red glacial ice.

• methane and other gases.

• materials that are very cold because they are very far from the Sun.

mostly hydrogen and helium

As you move from natural gas to tar, hydrocarbon chains:

 

• increase in chemical complexity as well as cost per unit

• increase in chain length as well as viscosity

• decrease in chain length as well as viscosity

• decrease in chemical complexity as well as cost per unit

increase in chain length as well as viscosity

Choose the answer that lists the nonmetallic mineral resources in the proper order to match these uses:
fertilizer; wallboard; roofing shingles; gravel or cement

 

• phosphate, gypsum, slate, limestone

• slate, gypsum, pumice, phosphate

• limestone, pumice, gypsum, phosphate

• pumice, limestone, slate, gypsum

• gypsum, phosphate, pumice, limestone

phosphate, gypsum, slate, limestone

Future use and environmental impacts of coal will include all except which of the following?

 

• atmospheric carbon dioxide content will increase

• coal use will result in significant waste disposal problems

• impacts will decrease as the United States will run out of coal soon

• more land will be strip mined and require reclamation

impacts will decrease as the United States will run out of coal soon

Geothermal energy is based on the physical reality that

 

• Caves are sites of natural air conditioning

• Groundwater flows beneath the surface

• None of the above

• Temperatures at and below the surface differ a great deal during most of the year

Temperatures at and below the surface differ a great deal during most of the year

How specifically does a photovoltaic (PV) system produce electricity?

 

• mirrors focus the sun on tubes of water which turns to steam and turns a turbine

• a stream of electrons flow through water, heat it and the steam turns a turbine to produce E

• mirrors focus the sun on tubes of oil, oil heats water, and the steam turns a turbine

• photons knock electrons off atoms and electrons flow toward wires to produce E

photons knock electrons off atoms and electrons flow toward wires to produce E

In the U.S. today, the most common method used to extract coal reserves is:

 

• underground mining

• strip mining

• heap-leach mining

• mountaintop removal mining

• hydraulic mining

underground mining (?)

Oil formed because:

 

• leaves, twigs, and tree trunks decomposed under conditions of heat, pressure, and low oxygen.

• the temperature reached a minimum of 1,000°C.

• tiny algae and plankton decomposed under conditions of heat, pressure, and low oxygen.

• the decomposition of organic material remained aerobic (lots of oxygen) for a long time.

• large sauropod-type dinosaurs decayed in swamps.

tiny algae and plankton decomposed under conditions of heat, pressure, and low oxygen.

One of the major drawbacks to solar panel energy power is:

 

• the components used to make solar panels are rare

• it is one of the most expensive methods of energy generation

• it creates enormous amounts of waste

• the sun goes down and power generation ceases until sunrise

the sun goes down and power generation ceases until sunrise

The oil window:

 

• means the depth in Earth at which oil forms, roughly 40-50 km.

• is the time of year at which OPEC allows new oil fields to be drilled in its member countries.

• is the relatively narrow range of temperatures in which oil can form, 90-160 °C.

• is the late Cenozoic, when all current oil was formed; any older oil has already decomposed.

• is the holes in the drill bit through which oil enters.

is the relatively narrow range of temperatures in which oil can form, 90-160 degrees C

To generate electricity from coal, coal is burned and

 

• the heat rising from the fires is used to turn a turbine

• the gases produced are funneled in to a hot stream of air which is used to turn a turbine

• it heats water to create steam which is used to turn a turbine

it heats water to create steam which is used to turn a turbine

Which of the following statements regarding mineral resources is false?

 

• Mineral resource exploitation requires a long-term investment.

• Mineral resource exploitation has environmental consequences.

• Mineral resources occur only in particular places.

• Mineral resources are nearly inexhaustible.

• Mineral resources form due to unique geologic conditions.

Mineral resources are nearly inexhaustible.

Mountains don't get infinitely high or exist forever because:

 

• they experience orogenic collapse.

• all of the above are true statements.

• when they get exceptionally large and old they spread laterally.

• their own weight causes them eventually to collapse.

• erosion attacks as soon as they begin to rise

all of the above are true statements.

Natural gas ___________.

 

• is produced at higher temperatures than graphite

• is produced at higher temperatures than oil

• consists of longer carbon chains as compared to oil

• is denser than oil

is produced at higher temperatures than oil

Earth’s rotation around the sun takes about

• 100,000 years

• 6 months

• 24 hours

• 365 days

365 days

What is the approximate age of the Earth?

 

• 10,000 years

• 4,600,000,000 years

• 100,000,000 years

• 1,000,000,000 years

• 460,000 years

• 46,000,000,000 years

4,600,000,000 years

About 90 percent of Earth consists of the four elements: iron, ___________, silicon, and magnesium.

oxygen

Can water flow “uphill” in the saturated zone?

 

• No

• It depends on the geologic material it's flowing through

• Yes

Yes

Match the following terms associated with the water table to the appropriate target.

• capillary fringe — feature B

• saturated zone — feature A

• unsaturated zone — feature C

Hydraulic head is a measure of the potential energy available to drive the flow of groundwater; hydraulic gradient is the change of hydraulic head between two points.

 

• True

• False

True

If there are many spaces between rock grains and the spaces connect with each other, the rock is said to be porous, but not permeable.

• True

• False

False

In terms of the hydrologic cycle, evaporation is:

 

• when water evaporates from the surface of a plant

• when water evaporates from the surface of the Earth

• when water flows across the surface and collects into streams

• when water percolates into the subsurface

• when water falls as droplets from the atmosphere

when water evaporates from the surface of the Earth

How specifically does a solar collector system produce electricity?

 

• photons knock electrons off atoms and electrons flow toward wires to produce E

• mirrors focus the sun on tubes of water which turns to steam and turns a turbine

• a stream of electrons flow through water, heat it and the steam turns a turbine to produce E

• mirrors focus the sun on tubes of oil, oil heats water, and the steam turns a turbine

mirrors focus the sun on tubes of oil, oil heats water, and the steam turns a turbine

If the water drains out of the local water tower and is not replaced, will water come out of the faucets in the surrounding homes anyway?

 

• Yes

• Maybe, but only if you are still above the local potentiometric surface

• No

No

Microscopic organic material (algae and plankton) undergoes heat (greater than 160˚C) and pressure in an oxygen-poor setting over a geologically long time. The result is mostly:

 

• Petroleum.

• Coal.

• Oil shale.

• Methane.

• Tar sands.

Tar sands (?)

The most important system in a nuclear power plant is the heat removal or cooling system that removes the heat generated in the reaction chamber. Why?

 

• All of the above

• Buildup of excess heat is likely to lead to a meltdown

• None of the above

• The cooling system transfers the heat that generates the electricity

• Too much heat can cause the nuclear fuel rods to deteriorate

All of the above

Which mineral resources are considered renewable?

 

• no mineral resources are renewable

• iron and aluminum ores

• nonmetallic minerals only

• base metals only

no minerals resources are renewable

How did life arise on Earth?

 

• We aren't completely sure

• Panspermia

• deep sea vents

• Lightning and primordial 'soup'

We aren’t completely sure

Factors that contribute to the existence of complex life on Earth include:

Choose any answers that apply.

 

• glaciers and ice caps

• Earth has basalt

• a stable sun

• our moon

• an iron-rich core

• the ozone layer

• glaciers and ice caps

• a stable sun

• our moon

• an iron-rich core

• the ozone layer

Ganymede is a good candidate for life in our solar system because of its:

 

• magnetosphere and oxygen atmosphere

• oxygen atmosphere and water ice

• water ice and saltwater ocean

• saltwater ocean and gravity

oxygen atmosphere and water ice (?)

The Drake equation:

 

• calculates the number of technologically advanced civilizations in the Milky Way

• calculates the length of time the Milky Way has existed

• calculates the number of exoplanets in the Milky Way

• calculates the number of planets suitable for life in the Milky Way

calculates the number of technologically advanced civilizations in the Milky Way

The Great Filter:

 

• has been passed by humanity

• is still ahead of humanity

• may be either ahead of or behind humanity

may be either ahead of or behind humanity