Focus On Earth Science: California Grade 6

Unit 1: Earth's Structure and Plate Tectonics

Unit Tests

1.
The __________ is Earth's thinnest layer. 1.b
A)inner core
B)mantle
C)crust
D)outer core
2.
A map scale with a ratio of 1:50 could mean which of the following? 7.f
A)1 inch on the map represents 50 miles.
B)50 inches on the map represents 1 inch.
C)1 inch on the map represents 1 mile.
D)1 inch on the map represents 50 inches.
3.
Which of the following objects has potential energy? 3.a
A)a ball rolling across the floor
B)a glass sitting on a table
C)a baseball hitting the ground
D)a bowling ball knocking over a pin
4.
What are strike-slip faults? 1.c
A)a boundary where rocks move in the same directions at the same rate
B)a boundary where rocks in the fault never move
C)a boundary where rocks on the same side of the fault move in the same direction, but at different rates
D)a boundary where rocks on opposite sides of the fault move in opposite or the same directions at different rates
5.
On a geologic map, a depositional contact is shown by _______. 7.f
A)a thick black line
B)a thin black line
C)a colored line
D)adjacent contour lines
6.
A contour line on a map shows points having_____ . 7.f
A)a high elevation
B)different elevations
C)the same elevation
D)a low elevation
7.
What tool does a scientist use to detect magnetic fields? 1.a
A)a magnetogram
B)a magnetometer
C)a thermometer
D)a fieldometer
8.
What is a transform boundary? 1.c
A)A transform boundary is when two plates collide.
B)A transform boundary is when two plates pull away from each other.
C)A transform boundary is when two plates move toward each other.
D)A transform boundary is when two plates slide past one another.
9.
Plates make up the __________. 1.b
A)aesthenosphere
B)outer core
C)lithosphere
D)crust
10.
Global Positioning System is a system of satellites, ground monitoring stations, and receivers that __________. 1.c
A)provide information about the receiver's exact location at or above Earth's surface
B)provide mobile telephone service
C)broadcast television signals
D)provide two-way radio service for police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances
11.
Which of these would not be shown on a topographic map? 7.f
A)buildings
B)bodies of water
C)types of soil
D)roads
12.
Why are there so many mountains in California? 1.f
A)California sits on granitic rock.
B)California has many volcanic activities.
C)California has many earthquakes.
D)California is on a plate boundary.
13.
Which of the following is an example of a mineral? 6.b
A)water
B)quartz
C)coal
D)granite
14.
__________ is not an example of a physical property. 6.b
A)Cleavage and fracture
B)Luster
C)Color
D)Chemical composition
15.
__________ occurs when one plate moves underneath another. 1.c
A)Tension
B)Subduction
C)Compression
D)Shearing
16.
__________ is a measure of the average kinetic energy of all the particles in an object. 3.a
A)Conduction
B)Density
C)Temperature
D)Radiation
17.
__________ is the transfer of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. 3.d
A)Radiation
B)Convection
C)Conduction
D)Refraction
18.
The transfer of energy through matter by the direct contact of particles is called __________. 3.c
A)radiation
B)convection
C)confluence
D)conduction
19.
A ___________ shows how rocks are stacked under the surface. 7.f
A)contour line
B)geologic formation
C)geologic cross section
D)contact
20.
How do scientists explain the formation of underwater mountain ranges? 1.a
A)continental drift
B)seafloor spreading
C)convection currents
D)strike-slip faults
21.
The transform plate boundary in California goes out to sea north of ________. 1.f
A)Gulf of California
B)San Francisco
C)Death Valley
D)Cape Mendocino
22.
If the particles in an object begin to move more quickly, their average kinetic energy __________ and the object's temperature __________. 3.a
A)decreases, rises
B)increases, falls
C)increases, rises
D)decreases, falls
23.
Lines of latitude and longitude are divided into _________. 7.f
A)hours and minutes
B)hours, minutes and seconds
C)degrees, hours, and minutes
D)degrees, minutes, and seconds.
24.
Which of these is true when describing a location? 7.f
A)latitude is listed before longitude
B)longitude is listed before latitude
C)either latitude or longitude can be listed first
D)neither latitude nor longitude is used
25.
Which of the following is NOT a form of energy? 3.a
A)electrical
B)thermal
C)friction
D)chemical
26.
Volcanic mountains are formed by __________. 2.d
A)uplifting
B)the deposition of molten rock
C)erosion
D)folding
27.
Plates move apart due to __________. 1.c
A)compression
B)boundaries
C)faults
D)tension
28.
A(n) __________ is a material that does not allow heat to move through it easily. 3.c
A)conductor
B)insulator
C)fluid
D)current
29.
Mountains can be built through all of the following processes EXCEPT __________. 2.b
A)volcanic activity
B)uplifting
C)folding
D)erosion
30.
What does plate tectonics cause? 1.e
A)causes volcanoes
B)forms mountains
C)forms ocean basins
D)all of the above
31.
What does plate tectonics cause? 1.c
A)causes volcanoes
B)forms mountains
C)forms ocean basins
D)all of the above
32.
A __________ is a repeating disturbance that transfers energy through matter or open space. 3.a
A)wave
B)medium
C)frequency
D)conductor
33.
Who first proposed the theory of continental drift? 1.a
A)Harry Hess
B)Alfred Wegener
C)Galileo Galilei
D)Albert Einstein
34.
Which of the following conducts heat most effectively? 3.c
A)gas
B)liquid
C)solid
D)plasma
35.
What does closely spaced contour lines show? 7.f
A)steep slopes
B)flat areas
C)gentle slopes
D)sea level
36.
Which of these is primarily responsible for shaping California's landscape? 1.f
A)glaciers
B)erosion
C)plate movements
D)ocean waves
37.
How are strike-slip faults formed? 1.c
A)Gravitational forces form them.
B)Slip forces form them.
C)Shear forces form them.
D)Strike forces form them.
38.
How can crust disappear at the edge of a boundary? 1.c
A)It is too dense and is sinking into Earth.
B)because new crust is being added to the other edge of the boundary
C)Gravity is pulling it down.
D)The other edge of the boundary is being pulled into Earth's core.
39.
How can crust disappear at the edge of a boundary? 1.c
A)The other edge of the boundary is being pulled into Earth's core.
B)It is too dense and is sinking into Earth.
C)Gravity is pulling it down.
D)because new crust is being added to the other edge of the boundary
40.
"Which of the following characteristics is NOT used to identify unique minerals?" 6.b
A)magnetism
B)fizzes on contact with acid
C)hardness
D)presence of a double image
41.
An imaginary line running from the north to the south pole is a(n) ____. 7.f
A)hemisphere
B)equator
C)line of longitude
D)line of latitude
42.
A map has contour intervals between 1 and 3 meters. Which of the following areas would this represent? 7.f
A)mountainous
B)flat
C)hilly
D)flat and mountainous
43.
Which of these can be determined by a map? 7.f
A)how Earth changed over time
B)where places are located
C)all of the above
D)locations of the parts of Earth's interior
44.
What kind of forces cause normal faults? 1.c
A)compression forces
B)gravity
C)inertia
D)tension forces
45.
Molten metal comprises most of the __________. 1.b
A)outer core
B)mantle
C)inner core
D)crust
46.
Which layer of Earth is solid, yet flows? 1.b
A)inner core
B)outer core
C)mantle
D)crust
47.
What happens to rock around a subducting slab? 1.c
A)It combines with the other rock.
B)It goes over the other plate.
C)It goes under the other plate.
D)It disappears from Earth.
48.
__________ is the thermal energy that flows from a material with a higher temperature to one with a lower temperature. 3.a
A)Potential energy
B)Work
C)Kinetic energy
D)Heat
49.
Which mountain range is formed as a result of rifting? 1.f
A)Cascade Mountains
B)The Panamint Range
C)Klamath Mountains
D)Sierra Nevada
50.
U-shaped valleys are formed by __________. 2.b
A)lakes
B)rivers
C)glaciers
D)rock slides
51.
Igneous rocks cannot be formed from________. 6.b
A)magma
B)sediments
C)lava
D)liquid rock
52.
Which of the following objects has kinetic energy? 3.a
A)a sunny windowsill
B)a bicycle parked at the top of a hill
C)leaves lying on the ground beneath a tree
D)a ball rolling across the floor
53.
What evidence proved that South America, Africa, India, and Australia were once covered by glaciers? 1.a
A)glacial deposits and rock surfaces scarred by glaciers
B)enormous valleys formed by glaciers
C)leftover portions of glaciers
D)cold climates
54.
The ratio that shows the relationship between the distance on a map and the actual distance is the _____ . 7.f
A)legend
B)degree
C)scale
D)profile
55.
The warmest place within Earth is in the __________. 1.b
A)inner core
B)outer core
C)mantle
D)crust
56.
What is transferred when work is done? 3.a
A)velocity
B)mass
C)matter
D)energy
57.
A colorful map showing rock units is a _____ map. 7.f
A)topographic
B)geologic
C)mountain
D)contact
58.
Which of these occur as the Pacific Plate moves? 1.f
A)basins drop down
B)earthquakes
C)mountains pushed up
D)all of the above
59.
Compression forces cause __________ faults. 1.c
A)normal
B)slip
C)reverse
D)tension
60.
The equator divides Earth into which hemispheres? 7.f
A)southern and western
B)eastern and western
C)northern and eastern
D)northern and southern
61.
The cross section of a volcano is drawn in _____view on a map. 7.f
A)profile
B)map
C)plan
D)plot
62.
The rock cycle is not used to illustrate the __________. 6.b
A)relationship of rocks to other rocks
B)different types of rocks
C)process of rocks changing from one type to another
D)journey of a rock
63.
__________ is the transfer of energy by the motion of heated particles in a gas or liquid. 3.c
A)Convection
B)Conduction
C)Radiation
D)Collision
64.
What is the difference between normal faults and rift valleys? 1.c
A)Rift valleys sometimes occur near normal faults, but their formation is not related to these faults.
B)Rift valley formation has nothing to do with normal faults.
C)Rift valleys are formed from normal faults.
D)Normal faults occur in the northern hemisphere, but rift valleys only occur in the southern hemisphere.
65.
__________ rocks are formed by heating and squeezing existing rocks. 6.b
A)Igneous
B)Metamorphic
C)Sedimentary
D)Detrital
66.
The San Andreas Fault in California is an example of a __________ zone. 1.f
A)separating
B)colliding
C)sliding
D)convection
67.
Crystals are solid materials with __________. 6.b
A)several different grain sizes
B)distinct layers or bands
C)atoms in an orderly, repeating pattern
D)glass like, shiny surfaces
68.
Topographic maps are drawn in ______ view. 7.f
A)top
B)profile
C)side
D)map or plan
69.
What clue supported the continental drift theory? 1.a
A)a puzzle-like fit of all the continents
B)Fossils of animals have been found on continents separated by oceans.
C)Similar rock structures have been found on different continents.
D)all of the above
70.
A divergent boundary is a boundary between two plates that __________. 1.c
A)converge
B)move away from each other
C)slide along each other
D)move toward each other
71.
New crust forms along __________ boundaries. 1.c
A)sliding
B)colliding
C)separating
D)buoyant
72.
What does the ocean floor look like? 1.a
A)sloping
B)smooth
C)mountainous
D)flowing
73.
What two factors determine how much kinetic energy an object has? 3.a
A)speed and surface area
B)position and mass
C)speed and position
D)speed and mass
74.
If an object absorbs light energy, its thermal energy __________. 3.a
A)increases
B)decreases
C)stays the same
D)is transformed into kinetic energy
75.
A map showing surface features is a _____ map. 7.f
A)geologic
B)topographic
C)street
D)plan
76.
To pinpoint a specific location, mapmakers use a system of ______. 7.f
A)profiles and views
B)imaginary grid lines
C)symbols
D)snapshots
77.
What is the continental drift theory? 1.a
A)the belief that continents have always been located at their current locations on Earth
B)the belief that continents have quickly moved apart to their current locations on Earth
C)the belief that continents are moving slowly together from their current locations on Earth
D)the belief that continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations on Earth
78.
What is the plate tectonic theory? 1.a
A)the belief that continents have moved slowly apart to their current locations on Earth
B)the belief that Earth's crust and upper mantle is broken into sections
C)the belief that hot, less dense material is forced up through Earth's crust through mid-ocean ridges
D)the belief that Earth is broken into sections that fit together into one sphere
79.
What occurs at a mid-ocean ridge? 1.a
A)the continental shelf
B)underwater mountains
C)a new seafloor
D)the continental slope
80.
What happens when an oceanic plate converges with a continental plate? 1.c
A)The less dense oceanic plate slides past the denser continental plate.
B)The less dense oceanic plate slides under the denser continental plate.
C)The denser oceanic plate slides on top of the less dense continental plate.
D)The denser oceanic plate slides under the less dense continental plate.
81.
Which of these can be determined from a geologic map? 7.f
A)the depth of a valley
B)the distance between towns
C)the ages of rocks
D)the surface features of the land
82.
What is Pangaea? 1.a
A)Earth's inner core
B)the large landmass in which all continents once were connected
C)the large landmass that all continents are currently forming
D)the largest fault found on Earth
83.
How do scientists use sound waves to figure out the shape of the ocean floor? 1.a
A)The less time it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the deeper the water is.
B)The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the more shallow the water is.
C)The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the deeper the water is.
D)The longer it takes a sound wave to return to the ship, the colder the water is.
84.
What do scientists believe is the force behind the plate tectonics theory? 4.c
A)convection currents
B)gravity slab pull
C)the movement of the planets
D)the Sun's gravity
85.
What is the lithosphere? 1.b
A)the plates that make up the crust
B)large, flat stones sitting on top of malleable magma
C)the plates that make up the crust and the upper part of the mantle
D)the upper part of the mantle
86.
What is the lithosphere? 1.b
A)large, flat stones sitting on top of malleable magma
B)the plates that make up the crust and the upper part of the mantle
C)the plates that make up the crust
D)the upper part of the mantle
87.
What dictates the type of fault formed when a surface breaks? 1.c
A)the current barometric pressure
B)the weather conditions at the time of the faulting
C)the type of soil involved at the location of the fault
D)the way in which the forces are applied to a rock
88.
__________ energy is the type of energy light has. 3.a
A)Radiant
B)Potential
C)Thermal
D)Electrical
89.
__________ is the energy stored in an object due to its position. 3.a
A)Thermal energy
B)Kinetic energy
C)Potential energy
D)Entropy
90.
How can Earth's plates move? 1.c
A)They only can move toward each other.
B)They can collide, pull apart, or slide against each other.
C)They only converge or diverge.
D)They only collide or slide along each other.
91.
How can Earth's plates move? 1.c
A)They can collide, pull apart, or slide against each other.
B)They only collide or slide along each other.
C)They only converge or diverge.
D)They only can move toward each other.
92.
How do map makers make sure maps can be easily read and understood? 7.f
A)they use computers
B)they draw them carefully
C)they use legends and scales
D)they include all the information on the map
93.
Convection is driven by differences in __________. 4.c
A)temperature
B)density
C)thickness
D)size
94.
During energy transformations, energy is never __________. 3.a
A)completely transformed
B)released as heat
C)used to increase an object's potential energy
D)created or destroyed
95.
What is the connection between volcanoes and plate tectonic movement? 1.f
A)Volcanoes cause plate tectonic movement.
B)No connection exists between volcanoes and plate tectonic movement.
C)Plate movement causes rocks to melt into magma.
D)Plate movement causes rock to harden and cool underground.
96.
What is a magnetic field reversal? 1.a
A)when Earth's magnetic field leaves the south pole and enters the north pole
B)when Earth's magnetic field leaves the north pole and enters the south pole
C)when Earth's magnetic field suddenly disappears for short periods of time
D)when Earth's magnetic field suddenly runs east/west instead of south/north
97.
When the pyramids were built, blocks were lifted from a quarry and moved across the desert. When was work done in a scientific sense? 3.a
A)when lifting the blocks and when moving them across the desert
B)moving the blocks across the desert
C)lifting the blocks
D)No work was done in a scientific sense.
98.
The most important agent(s) of erosion is/are __________. 2.a
A)streams
B)ice
C)wind
D)gravity
99.
Canyons are formed by the erosional processes of __________. 2.b
A)ice
B)streams
C)wind
D)gravity
100.
__________ is the ability to cause change. 3.a
A)Work
B)Momentum
C)Energy
D)Power
101.
Do two colliding continental plates always cause volcanoes? 1.e
A)No, earthquakes always occur when two continental plates collide.
B)No, usually no subduction occurs when continental plates collide.
C)Yes, subduction always occurs when continental plates collide.
D)Yes, subduction always occurs when oceanic plates collide.
Grade 6
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