APES Unit 4 Test Review (MCQs)

they look like long terms, but its only because I list the answer choices; I also give answer explanations but you don't have to read those if you understand the answer

which layer of earth is composed primarily of liquid nickel and iron?

a. the outer core

b. the inner core

c. the asthenosphere

d. the mantle

A, the outer core; this is correct because the earth’s core is primarily composed of nickel and iron, however, the inner core is solid, and the outer core is liquid, so the answer is A

which of the following statements best describes the process of subduction?

a. subduction is the result of a hot spot moving near a plate boundary

b. subduction occurs when one plate passes under another

c. subduction occurs when oceanic plates diverge and form volcanoes

d. subduction is the process that occurs in transform boundaries that results in earthquakes

B, subduction occurs when one plate passes under another; this is correct because subduction occurs when the edge of a tectonic plate (oceanic, normally) passes beneath another plate (continental, normally) and is pushed downward toward the earth’s center

the hawaiian islands were formed

a. at a divergent plate boundary

b. at a hot spot

c. at a convergent plate boundary

d. at a transform fault

B, at a hot spot; this is correct because hawaii is believed to have formed by several volcanic eruptions when the pacific plate traveled northwest over a stationary hotspot

how far will a plate travel in 60,000 years if it moves at a net rate of 25 mm/year?

a. 24 m

b. 1,500 m

c. 3,000 m

d. 4,800 m

B, 1,500 m; this is correct given the formula in the picture. first, we need to plug in 60,000 for time (in years) and 25 for rate. to isolate ‘distance’, we can multiply 25 by 60,000 and we get 1.5 million mm/year. then, to convert this to meters, we can do a unit conversion as follows: (1,500,000 mm/year)(1 meter/1000 mm). after simplifying this, we get 1,500 m/year

an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 on the richter scale is how much greater than an earthquake of magnitude 5.0?

a. 2

b. 5

c. 10

d. 100

D, 100; this is correct because earthquake magnitude is measured on a logarithmic scale, and each unit increase on the richter scale represents a 10-fold increase in ground movement. so 5.0 to 6.0 is a ten-fold increase, and 6.0 to 7.0 is another 10-fold increase. 10×10=100, so D is the answer

which rock is formed at high temperatures and pressures?

a. igneous

b. sandstone

c. sedimentary

d. metamorphic

D, metamorphic; this is correct because metamorphic rocks are formed when igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, or other metamorphic rocks are exposed to high temperatures and pressures

which statement is the best explanation of acid precipitation?

a. acid precipitation causes physical weathering, which can release key soil nutrients from breaking up rock

b. acid precipitation causes chemical weathering, which can release key soil nutrients from dissolving minerals in rock

c. acid precipitation causes chemical weathering, which can consume key soil nutrients from breaking up rock

d. acid precipitation causes physical weathering, which can consume key soil nutrients from dissolving minerals in rock

B, acid precipitation causes chemical weathering, which can release key soil nutrients from dissolving minerals in rock; this is correct because acid precipitation is a chemical weathering process where the acid chemically weathers/breaks down the rock and releases nutrients as a result, but doesn’t typically consume nutrients

what are the five primary soil formation factors?

a. climate, parent material, pH, organisms, topography

b. parent material, topography, organisms, time, latitude

c. parent material, climate, pH, latitude, altitude

d. climate, parent material, topography, organisms, time

D, climate, parent material, topography, organisms, time; this is correct because these are the 5 contributing factors that affect soil formation; pH, latitude, and altitude are not

which is the correct order of soil horizons starting at the surface?

a. A, B, C, E, O

b. O, A, B, C, E

c. O, E, A, B, C

d. O, A, E, B, C

D, O, A, E, B, C; this is correct because soil horizons follow this order beginning with the surface: O horizon (organic materials in various stages of decomposition), A horizon (topsoil, organic material and minerals mixed together), E horizon (zone of leaching/eluviation), B horizon (subsoil, mainly mineral material), C horizon (least-weathered, most similar to parent material); REMEMBER THIS: Our Aunt Ellie Bakes Cookies (Regularly)

what type of soil would be best to add to the bottom of a constructed pond, where the goal is to have as little leakage of water as possible?

a. mostly clay

b. mostly silt

c. mostly sand

d. equal amounts of sand, silt, and clay

A, mostly clay; this is correct because clay comes in the smallest particles, which means it has the lowest porosity (it lets the least amount of water pass through among other soil types/particles); maxing out clay percentage would mean there is as little water leakage as possible

which of the following, if added to soil, would lower the base saturation?

a. sodium

b. potassium

c. magnesium

d. aluminum

D, aluminum; this is correct because aluminum is the only soil acid in this list, and because acids neutralize bases, this would lower base saturation; also, you might notice that all answer choices have a positive charge (Na¹⁺, K¹⁺, Mg²⁺) except aluminum (Al^3-)

using the soil texture triangle (I put it here, but it ISN’T on the quiz), what is the soil type that contains 30 percent clay, 30 percent silt, and 40 percent sand?

a. silt loam

b. clay loam

c. sandy loam

d. aluminum

B, clay loam; this is correct because when you diagonally trace these percentages according to the corresponding sides (like I showed in the images), you land closest to the clay loam region than you do to any of the other answer choices; also, aluminum isn’t even a soil type