Earth Science Quiz

Change in Earth’s systems refers to any alteration over time in which of the following components?

• Only the physical

• Only the biological

• Only the chemical

• Physical, chemical, and biological

The two broad drivers of change in Earth’s systems are natural drivers and:

• Volcanic drivers

• Anthropogenic drivers

• Orbital drivers

• Tectonic drivers

Which of the following is a natural driver of change?

• Plate motions

• Deforestation

• Fossil fuel combustion

• Urbanization

Which of the following is an anthropogenic driver of change?

• Orbital cycles

• Volcanic eruptions

• Polluting the atmosphere

• Seafloor spreading

Geologic timescales for rock-forming processes and tectonic shifts typically span:

• Seconds to minutes

• Years to centuries

• Thousands to millions of years

• Decades to centuries

Human-driven changes (e.g., emissions, deforestation) have accelerated markedly over the past:

• Century

• Millennium

• Decade

• Million years

A sudden event in Earth’s systems is exemplified by:

• Coastal erosion over centuries

• River meandering over decades

• Volcanic eruption

• Soil profile development

A gradual trend in Earth’s systems includes:

• Large earthquakes

• Asteroid impacts

• Slow sea-level rise

• Volcanic eruptions

Igneous rocks form by:

• Cementation of sediments

• Recrystallization under pressure

• Crystallization from magma

• Organic accumulation

Sedimentary rocks are produced through:

• Melting and cooling

• Compaction and cementation

• Partial melting

• High-grade metamorphism