A) more graniteB) more basaltC) more fossilsD) the same minerals and fossils

1. In the diagram below, letters A and B representlocations near the edge of a continent.

A geologist who compares nonsedimentary rocksamples from locations A and B would probably findthat the samples from location A contain

A) A zone of liquid rock exists within the Earth.B) Iron in some rocks prevents S-waves from

traveling.C) Some seismographs are more sensitive than

others.D) S-waves are very weak.

2. The analysis of seismic data from an earthquakeshows that some locations received both P-waves andS-waves, but other locations received only P-waves.What is the best inference that can be made fromthese observations?

A) composition B) thicknessC) porosity D) rate of cooling

3. The observed difference in density betweencontinental crust and oceanic crust is most likely dueto differences in their

4. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below and on your knowledge of Earthscience. The cross section represents the distance and age of ocean-floor bedrock found on both sidesof the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

A) B)

C) D)

Which map best represents the pattern of magnetic polarity in the minerals of ocean-floor bedrock oneach side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

A) nitrogen B) oxygenC) silicon D) iron

5. Which element is most abundant by mass in theEarth's crust?

A) inner core B) troposphereC) hydrosphere D) crust

6. Oxygen is the most abundant element by volume inthe Earth's

A) B)

C) D)

7. The graph below shows the different velocities of P-waves and S-waves through Earth's interior.

Which cross section best shows the inferred thickness of Earth's interior layers that cause thesedifferent velocities?

8. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below, which shows the paths ofseismic waves traveling from an earthquake epicenter through the different layers of Earth's interior.

A) P-waves are absorbed and S-waves are refracted by Earth's outer coreB) P-waves are refracted and S-waves are absorbed by Earth's outer coreC) both the P-waves and S-waves are refracted by Earth's outer coreD) both the P-waves and S-waves are absorbed by Earth's outer core

No P-waves or S-waves are received in the shadow zone because

A) nitrogen B) oxygenC) silicon D) hydrogen

9. The most abundant element in the Earth's crust is

A) thicker, with a less dense granitic compositionB) thicker, with a more dense basaltic compositionC) thinner, with a less dense granitic compositionD) thinner, with a more dense basaltic composition

10. Compared to the oceanic crust, the continental crustis usually

A) thicker B) more denseC) more granitic D) more felsic

11. Compared to the continental crust, the oceanic crustis

Base your answers to questions 12 and 13 on the diagram below, which represents zones of Earth’sinterior, identified by letters A through E. The scale shows depths below Earth’s surface, measured inkilometers.

A) A B) B C) E D) D

12. The Moho is a boundary located in zone

A) 650 km B) 1600 km C) 2250 km D) 2900 km

13. What is the approximate thickness of zone C?

A) an iron-rich solidB) an iron-rich liquidC) a silicate-rich solidD) a silicate-rich liquid

14. The rock between 2,900 kilometers and 5,200kilometers below the Earth's surface is inferred to be

Base your answers to questions 15 through 18 on the diagram below which represents three crosssections of the Earth at different locations to a depth of 50 kilometers below sea level. Themeasurements given with each cross section indicate the thickness and the density of the layers.

A) basalt B) granite C) shale D) limestone

15. Which material is most likely to be found 20 kilometers below sea level at the continental mountainlocation?

A) The mantle is liquid.B) The mantle has the same composition as the crust.C) The mantle is located at different depths below the Earth's surface.D) The mantle does not exist under continental mountains.

16. Which statement about the Earth's mantle is confirmed by the diagram?

A) thinner and less dense B) thinner and more denseC) thicker and less dense D) thicker and more dense

17. Compared with the oceanic crust, the continental crust is

A) radioactive dating B) seismic wavesC) volcanic eruptions D) gravity measurements

18. The division of the Earth's interior into crust and mantle, as shown in the diagram, is based primarilyon the study of

A) aluminum and ironB) sodium and chlorineC) calcium and carbonD) oxygen and silicon

19. What are the two most abundant elements by massfound in Earth's crust?

A) fluorite and calciteB) magnetite and pyriteC) amphibole and quartzD) galena and sulfur

20. Which minerals contain the two most abundantelements by mass in Earth’s crust?

A) liquid, with an average density ofapproximately 4 g/cm3

B) liquid, with an average density ofapproximately 11 g/cm3

C) solid, with an average density of approximately4 g/cm3

D) solid, with an average density of approximately11 g/cm3

21. Earth’s outer core is best inferred to be

A) crust B) stiffer mantleC) inner core D) outer core

22. In the Earth's interior, which zone has a temperaturehigher than its melting point?

23. Base your answer to the following question on the map below which shows the locations of deep-seacore drilling sites numbered 1 through 4. The approximate location of the diverging plate at the EastPacific Ridge is shown by a dashed line. Point A is located on the East Pacific Ridge.

A) thinner and less dense B) thinner and more denseC) thicker and less dense D) thicker and more dense

Compared to the thickness and density of the continental crust of South America, the oceanic crust ofthe Pacific floor is

A) East Pacific RidgeB) the center of South AmericaC) Old Forge, New YorkD) San Andreas Fault

24. Beneath which surface location is Earth's crust thethinnest?

25. Base your answer to the following question on the map below. The map shows the continents ofAfrica and South America, the ocean between them, and the ocean ridge and transform faults.Locations A and D are on the continents. Locations B and C are on the ocean floor.

A) B)

C) D)

Which table best shows the relative densities of the crustal bedrock at locations A, B, C, and D?

A) nitrogen B) hydrogenC) oxygen D) silicon

26. Which element is most abundant in Earth's crust?

A) inner core B) outer coreC) mantle D) crust

27. Which part of the Earth is most likely a liquid zone?

A) B) C) D)

28. On the map below, locations A and B are reference points on the Earth's surface. Crustal thicknesswas measured beneath a line from A to B.

Which graph best represents the thickness of the Earth's crust from location A to location B?

A) The oceanic crust is thinner and contains lessbasalt.

B) The oceanic crust is thinner and contains morebasalt.

C) The oceanic crust is thicker and contains lessbasalt.

D) The oceanic crust is thicker and contains morebasalt.

29. How does the oceanic crust compare to thecontinental crust?

A) less dense and less felsicB) less dense and less maficC) more dense and more felsicD) more dense and more mafic

30. Compared to the continental crust, the oceanic crustis

A) an iron-rich solidB) an iron-rich liquidC) a silicate-rich solidD) a silicate-rich liquid

31. The rock between 2,900 kilometers and 5,200kilometers below the Earth's surface is inferred to be

A) composed of iron and nickelB) more dense than the inner coreC) hotter than the rock's melting pointD) in the solid state of matter

32. The fact that S-waves are unable to travel throughthe Earth's outer core supports the inference that theouter core is

A) silicon and potassiumB) silicon and ironC) iron and nickelD) oxygen and potassium

33. Which two elements make up the greatest volume ofthe Earth's crust?

A) oxygen, potassium, sodium, and calciumB) hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and potassiumC) aluminum, iron, silicon, and magnesiumD) aluminum, calcium, hydrogen, and iron

34. What are the four most abundant elements, byvolume, in the Earth's crust?

A) in Earth's inner coreB) on the surface of the MoonC) at lithospheric plate boundariesD) in the Sun's interior

35. Where has the process of nuclear fusion beenoccurring for over four billion years?

A) The oceanic crust is thicker than the mantle.B) The continental crust is thicker than the oceanic

crust.C) The continental crust is composed primarily of

sedimentary rock.D) The crust is composed of denser rock than the

mantle is.

36. The diagram below represents a cross section of aportion of the Earth's crust.

Which statement about the Earth's crust is bestsupported by the diagram?

A) rigid mantle B) asthenosphereC) outer core D) inner core

37. Which part of Earth’s interior is inferred to haveconvection currents that cause tectonic plates tomove?

A) thinner and more denseB) thinner and less denseC) thicker and more denseD) thicker and less dense

38. Compared to Earth’s continental crust, Earth’soceanic crust is

A) rigid mantle and plastic mantleB) outer core and stiffer mantleC) stiffer mantle and asthenosphereD) crust and rigid mantle

39. Which two Earth layers are separated by the Mohoboundary?

A) aluminum, iron, calciumB) aluminum, silicon, magnesiumC) magnesium, iron, aluminumD) magnesium, silicon, calcium

40. Which group of elements is listed in increasing orderbased on the percent by mass in Earth’s crust?

A) silicon and oxygenB) hydrogen and ironC) oxygen and magnesiumD) hydrogen and calcium

41. Which two elements listed below are most abundantby weight in the Earth's crust?

A) seismic wavesB) depth of Earth's oceansC) electromagnetic radiationD) isobar gradients

42. A model of Earth's internal structure is shownbelow.

Analysis of which type of data led to thedevelopment of this model?

A) felsic, with a density of 2.7 g/cm3

B) felsic, with a density of 3.0 g/cm3

C) mafic, with a density of 2.7 g/cm3

D) mafic, with a density of 3.0 g/cm3

43. The basaltic bedrock of the oceanic crust isclassified as

A) at the edge of continental shelvesB) at mid-ocean ridgesC) under continental mountain rangesD) under volcanic islands

44. Where is the thickest part of the Earth's crust?

A) crust B) outer core C) troposphere D) hydrosphere

45. The pie graph below represents the composition, in percent by mass, of the chemical elements foundin an Earth layer.

The composition of which Earth layer is represented by the pie graph?

A) thinner and composed of graniteB) thinner and composed of basaltC) thicker and composed of graniteD) thicker and composed of basalt

46. Compared to Earth's oceanic crust, Earth'scontinental crust is

A) water erosion on the MoonB) weathering on the Moon's surfaceC) radioactivity of the Moon's surface rocksD) the Moon's interior

47. Seismic studies of the Moon have helped scientiststo make inferences about

A) less dense, more mafic, and thinnerB) less dense, more felsic, and thickerC) more dense, more mafic, and thinnerD) more dense, more felsic, and thicker

48. Compared to continental crust, oceanic crust is

A) basalt B) graniteC) sandstone D) limestone

49. Most of the oceanic crust is composed of rockmaterial similar to

50. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below, which shows a portion ofEarth’s crust and upper mantle near a mid-ocean ridge.

A) igneous rock with normal magnetic polarityB) igneous rock with reversed magnetic polarityC) sedimentary rock with normal magnetic polarityD) sedimentary rock with reversed magnetic polarity

If crust 2 represents basalt with normal magnetic polarity, what does crust 3 most likely represent?

A) more dense than continental crustB) softer than continental crustC) thinner than continental crustD) younger than continental crust

51. To get sample material from the mantle, drilling willbe done through the oceanic crust rather thanthrough the continental crust because oceanic crust is

A) younger B) thickerC) less dense D) more felsic

52. Compared to the continental crust of central NorthAmerica, the oceanic crust of the Mid-AtlanticRidge is

A) garnet, calcite, pyrite, and galenaB) biotite mica, muscovite mica, fluorite, and

haliteC) talc, quartz, graphite, and olivineD) plagioclase feldspar, amphibole, pyroxene, and

potassium feldspar

53. The most abundant metallic element by mass inEarth's crust makes up 8.23% of the crust. Whichgroup of minerals all normally contain this metallicelement in their compositions?

54. Base your answer to the following question on thediagram below, which shows a cutaway view ofEarth in which the interior layers are visible. Thepaths of earthquake waves generated at point X areshown. A, B, C, and D are locations of seismicstations on Earth's surface, and point E is located inEarth's interior.

A) S-waves are much weaker than P-waves.B) S-waves travel faster than P-waves.C) The liquid outer core prevents S-waves from

traveling to seismic stations C and D.D) The solid outer core prevents S-waves from

traveling to seismic stations C and D.

Both P-waves and S-waves were received at seismicstations A and B, but only P-waves were received atseismic stations C and D. Which statement bestexplains why this occurred?

A) at mid-ocean ridgesB) at transform faultsC) under continental mountain rangesD) under volcanic islands

55. Where is the thickest part of the Earth's crust?

A) olivineB) potassium feldsparC) plagioclase feldsparD) quartz

56. Which mineral is most frequently found in bothgranitic continental crust and basaltic oceanic crust?

A) 20% B) 30% C) 70% D) 90%

57. What is the approximate percentage by volume ofoxygen in the crust of the Earth?

58. Base your answer to the following question on the map below, which shows seismic stations X, Y, and Z that have recorded seismic waves from thesame earthquake. The distances from seismic stations X and Y to the earthquake epicenter have beendrawn on the map. Locations A, B, C, and D represent possible earthquake epicenters. The distancefrom seismic station Z to the earthquake epicenter has been deliberately omitted.

A) lithosphere B) asthenosphere C) stiffer mantle D) outer core

If the earthquake's focus was 2 kilometers below Earth's surface, the earthquake occurred in the

A) silicon and iron B) silicon and oxygenC) iron and lead D) iron and nickel

59. The interior of Earth between a depth of 5200kilometers and 6300 kilometers is inferred to becomposed mostly of A) solid all the way to the center of the inner core

B) solid, then liquid to the center of the inner coreC) solid, then liquid, then solid again to the center

of the inner coreD) solid, then liquid, then gaseous to the center of

the inner core

60. From the top of the stiffer mantle to the center ofEarth, the rock material is inferred to be

A) the interface varies in an unpredictable mannerB) oceanic crust is thicker than continental crustC) continental crust is thicker than oceanic crustD) both oceanic and continental crusts are

approximately the same thickness

61. The interface between the crust and mantle of theEarth is generally much deeper under continentalsurfaces than under ocean surfaces. This informationindicates that

62. Base your answer to the following question on the cross section below, which shows the boundary between two lithospheric plates. Point X is alocation in the continental lithosphere. The depth below Earth's surface is labeled in kilometers.

A) less dense and thinner B) less dense and thickerC) more dense and thinner D) more dense and thicker

Compared to the continental crust, the oceanic crust is

A) P-waves can pass through the outer core.B) P-waves cannot pass through the outer core.C) S-waves can pass through the outer core.D) S-waves cannot pass through the outer core.

63. Why is Earth’s outer core inferred to be a liquid?

A) The crust is thinner and less dense than themantle.

B) The crust is thinner and more dense than themantle.

C) The crust is thicker and less dense than themantle.

D) The crust is thicker and more dense than themantle.

64. Which statement most accurately compares Earth’scrust and Earth’s mantle?

65. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram of Earth shown below. Letters B, C, and D represent layers of Earth. Letter Q represents a location on Earth's surface.

A) Q B) B C) C D) D

Which letter best represents Earth's mantle?

A) potassium B) hydrogenC) nitrogen D) silicon

66. The two most abundant elements by mass in Earth’scrust are oxygen and

Base your answers to questions 67 and 68 on thediagram below which represents Earth's interiorzones.

A) oceans B) desert regionsC) coastal plains D) mountain regions

67. The thinnest section of Earth's crust is found beneath

A) deep drill coresB) volcanic eruptionsC) gravity measurementsD) earthquake seismic waves

68. Scientists have classified Earth's interior into thezones shown based primarily on evidence gained bystudying

A) oxygen B) nitrogenC) hydrogen D) iron

69. Which element in the Earth's crust makes up thelargest volume of most minerals?