Notice
If you get a question wrong, you can still click on the other answers. This will open up hints and explanations(if available) with additional information.My personal advice: Since the exams are written, if you score less than 90% on the following MC questions, seriously reconsider your study strategies for this class.
Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, no guarantees for the currency or accuracy of information are made. It takes several proof readings and rewrites to bring the quiz to an exceptional level. If you find an error, please contact me as soon as possible. Please provide a description of the question because server may randomize the questions and answers.
Go to: Midterm II | Final
Geology (GLGY 381-UCAL) Midterm Exam I
Congratulations - you have completed Geology (GLGY 381-UCAL) Midterm Exam I.
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Question 1 |

A | NW to SE |
B | SE to NW |
C | NE to SE |
D | N to S |
E | S to N |
Question 2 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 3 |
A | dwelling |
B | crawling |
C | extractions(pooping) |
D | fighting |
E | feeding |
Question 4 |

A | E |
B | C |
C | F |
D | No such thing on the diagram above. |
E | D |
Question 5 |
A | Turbidity current |
B | Sheet wash |
C | Debris flow |
D | Slump |
E | Rock fall |
Question 6 |
A | Low velocity currents. |
B | Medium velocity currents. |
C | Fluctuating velocity currents. |
D | High velocity currents. |
Question 7 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 8 |
A | Minerals that formed as a result of magmatic processes that occurs under water. |
B | Minerals that are formed as a result of erosion due to chemical weathering. |
C | Minerals that replaces (take others' place) other minerals during sedimentation. |
D | Minerals with very high densities resulting deposition at the bottom of a flow. |
E | Minerals that primarily formed from organic materials. |
Question 9 |
A | Bathyal zone |
B | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
C | Abyssal zone |
D | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
E | Above the normal sea level |
Question 10 |
A | low viscous forces in the folow |
B | gravity driven flow |
C | turbulent flow |
D | laminar flow |
Question 11 |
A | None of the answers are correct. |
B | I. lower II. turbulent |
C | I. zero II. turbulent |
D | I. lower II. laminar |
E | I. higher II. laminar |
Question 12 |
A | Gravity |
B | Potential energy |
C | Sediment load |
D | Flow separation |
E | Flow velocity |
Question 13 |
A | A. subercritical B. critical C. supcritical |
B | A. critical B. supercritical C. subcritical |
C | A. supercritical B. critical C. subcritical |
D | A. critical B. subcritical C. supercritical |
E | A. supercritical B. subcritical C. critical |
supercritical = Fr > 1 and the velocity of the stream is greater than the velocity of the surface wave.
subcritical = Fr < 1 and the velocity of the stream is lower than the velocity of the surface wave.
Question 14 |

A | False |
B | True |
Question 15 |
A | Sutured contacts |
B | Subrounded contacts |
C | Point contacts |
D | Long contacts |
E | Concavo-convex contacts |
Question 16 |
A | Crawling |
B | Feeding |
C | Resting |
D | Dewlling |
E | Grazing |
F | Escape |
Question 17 |
A | Deep marine environments |
B | Warm and tropical wet environments |
C | Shallow marine environments |
D | River bed environments |
E | None of the answers posted here are correct. |
Question 18 |
A | Turbidity currents |
B | Debris flows |
C | Glacial breakups |
D | Rock falls |
E | Slumps |
Question 19 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 20 |
A | Critical flow |
B | Change in flow regime |
C | Change in normality |
D | Hydraulic jump |
E | Gradient change |
Question 21 |
A | Classification of the trace fossils. |
B | Description of the identifiable parts. |
C | Study of behavior. |
D | Study of the mode of preservation. |
Question 22 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 23 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 24 |
A | sedimentary |
B | metamorphic |
C | native |
D | authigenic |
E | detrital |
Question 25 |
A | Sediment is totally reworked by bioturbation |
B | Bioturbation is between 30% and 60% of the sediment affected and bedding is distinct |
C | Bioturbation is over 90% of sediment bioturbated, and bedding
is barely detectable |
D | Bioturbation affects less than 30% of the sediment sample and the bedding is distinct |
E | A sample with few discrete traces of bioturbation |
F | Bioturbation is between 60% to 90% of the sediment bioturbated and bedding indistinct |
Question 26 |
A | B |
B | F |
C | A |
D | C |
E | E |
F | D |
G | G |
Question 27 |
A | Flow of a fluid through a tapered tube results in an increase in velocity. |
B | Depositional sequences in very high energy environments. |
C | How flow rate, density of the fluid and pathway of flow dictates type of flows. |
D | Settling velocity of particles in a fluid. |
Question 28 |
A | Semi- relief structures are preserved within a single type of sediment while full-relief structures are preserved at an interface between two strata. |
B | Full relief structures are partially preserved within a single type of sediment while semi-relief structures are fully preserved at an interface between two strata. |
C | Full relief structures are preserved as 2D structures while semi-relief structures are preserved as 3D structures. Both are preserved within a single type of sediment. |
D | Full relief structures are preserved within a single type of sediment while semi-relief structures are preserved at an interface between two strata. |
Question 29 |
A | False |
B | True |
Antidunes can be formed as a result of beds deposition in phase to the surface water wave.
Question 30 |
A | Olivine |
B | Muscovite mica |
C | Calcium Feldspars |
D | Pyroxene |
E | Kaolinite |
Question 31 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 32 |
h(D) = 55 m
g = 9.81 m/s2
u = 33 m/s
A | 2.37 |
B | 1.95 |
C | 0.6116 |
D | 0.06116 |
E | 1.42 |
Question 33 |
A | A. felsic minerals B. mafic minerals |
B | A. mafic minerals B. felsic minerals |
C | A. oceanic crust B. continental crust |
D | A. iron rich minerals B. oxygen rich minerals |
E | A. mafic and felsic minerals B. silica rich minerals |
Question 34 |
A | Dry climates with year-round permafrost |
B | Humid climates |
C | Deep sea ocean beds with rich organic matter |
D | Temperate climate with long cold winters and short warm summers |
E | Dry climates with long periods of droughts |
Question 35 |
A | surface of the fluid. |
B | highest velocity point of the velocity profile. |
C | (around) middle of the velocity profile. |
D | bed surface of the velocity profile. |
Question 36 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 37 |

A | A. Quartz B. Feldspar C. Lilith fragments |
B | A. Continental block B. Magmatic arc C. Recycled origin |
C | A. Recycled origin B. Continental block C. Magmatic arc |
D | A. Quartz B. Lilith fragments C. Feldspar |
E | A. Magmatic arc B. Continental block C. Recycled origin |
F | A. Continental block B. Recycled origin C. Magmatic arc |
Question 38 |
A | parsimony |
B | lowerposition |
C | original horizontality |
D | superposition |
E | Uniformitarianism |
Question 39 |

A | The stream lines(red lines) converging at the yellow arrow cause the velocity to decrease significantly(at that point). |
B | The stream lines(red lines) converging at the yellow arrow cause the velocity to increase significantly(at that point). |
C | The pressure right above the yellow arrow is much lower than the pressure near the black rocks/sediments. |
D | The lift at the yellow arrow is caused by the high pressure at the top caused by converging streamlines. |
E | The pressure from above is much higher causing the grains to push hard against the bed. |
Question 40 |
A | Low pH solutions in high temperature solutions |
B | Base solutions in high temperature environment |
C | Base |
D | High pH solutions |
E | Acids |
Question 41 |
A | Uniformly moving fluids will have an equal instantaneous velocities regardless of depth. |
B | Deeper in the fluid lower the velocity. |
C | Deeper in the fluid higher the velocity. |
D | At the top of a moving current, the velocity is close to zero. |
E | In the middle of the profile, the velocity is close to zero. |
Question 42 |
A | High pressures excreted on sediments from both through uplift and loading processes. |
B | Differential lateral compaction within bed forms resulting high pressures between bed contacts. |
C | Differential pressure-temperature gradient that increases with depth. |
D | Extreme pressure concentrated at the contacts between grains within sediments. |
E | Extreme temperatures and pressures between different sediment successions. |
Question 43 |
A | True |
B | False-it should be other way around. |
Question 44 |
A | increasing , decreasing |
B | decreasing , decreasing |
C | None of the answers are correct because it is not the acidity that is important, it is the pH. |
D | decreasing , increasing |
E | increasing , increasing |
Question 45 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 46 |
A | Gravity: hard sediments sinking into soft underlying sediments |
B | Significant density contrast |
C | High volume sediment loads |
D | Pressure: soft water-bearing sediments escaping through overlying sediments |
Question 47 |
A | pedogenesis |
B | paleosols |
C | sedimentation |
D | erosion |
Question 48 |
A | tangential stress |
B | sub-normal stress |
C | shear stress |
D | normal stress |
E | super-normal stress |
Question 49 |
A | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing increase in the mineral volume. |
B | Release of stress as a result of pressure decrease. |
C | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing decrease in the mineral volume. |
D | Increase of stress as a result of pressure increase. |
E | Freeze-thaw cycle result in change in volume. |
F | Hydration of minerals result in increase in volume. |
Question 50 |
A | Burrows are trace fossils and borings are body fossils. |
B | I have no freaking clue what the hell you asking about. |
C | Borings are trace fossils and burrows are body fossils. |
D | Burrows and borings are created by two distinct type of creatures that in burrows the sediments are removed mechanically and in borings the sediments are dissolved chemically. |
E | Burrows are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and borings are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
F | Borings are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and boring are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
Question 51 |
A | type of fluid |
B | amplitude of the wave |
C | period of the wave |
D | viscosity of the fluid |
Question 52 |
A | Transported rock fragments |
B | Precipitation of inorganic compounds out of water due to evaporation |
C | Magmas rich in calcium carbonates |
D | Calcium carbonate produced as a by product of chemical weathering |
E | Hard organic parts from invertebrates |
Question 53 |

A | Position V between two ripples |
B | Position II just above the ripple |
C | Position IV in the lee side of the ripple |
D | Position III where the flow rate is consistent and smooth |
E | Position I in the stoss side of the ripple |
Question 54 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 55 |
A | Sedimentary rocks are unconsolidated materials that forms at the Earth's surface while sediments are formed as a result of burial and lithification of these sediment materials. |
B | Even though they have the similar names, they are unrelated each other because sediment is a geologic structure and sedimentary rock is a type of geologic material. |
C | Sediments are unconsolidated materials that forms at the Earth's surface while sedimentary rocks are formed as a result of burial and lithification of these sediment materials. |
D | Even though they have the similar names, they are unrelated each other because sedimentary rock is a geologic structure and sediment is a type of geologic material. |
Question 56 |
-high viscosity
-poorly sorted grains
-often larger clasts are separated by fine grained materials
-low Reynolds number and considered as a laminar flow
-low velocity (40-50 km/h)
A | Grain flow |
B | Turbidity flow |
C | Liquified flow |
D | Debris flow |
Question 57 |
A | They are the same except Bioturbation is the British English word for Bioerosion(US-English) |
B | Bioturbation is the reworking of soils and sediments by animals or plants. Bioerosion is caused by mechanically or chemically cutting/removing the grains by organisms. |
C | Bioturbation is caused by plants. Bioerosion is caused by animal activities. |
D | Bioerosion is the reworking of soils and sediments by animals or plants. Bioturbation is caused by mechanically or chemically cutting/removing the grains by organisms. |
Question 58 |
A | Dunes forms in turbulent waters and ripples forms in calm waters. |
B | Dunes form in marine environments and ripples form in non-marine river type environments. |
C | Dunes are distinctly larger than ripples. |
D | Dunes have interbedded cross laminations and ripples do not. |
Question 59 |

A | C |
B | F |
C | G |
D | D |
E | E |
Question 60 |
A | ore deposits |
B | evaporites |
C | chemical deposits |
D | carbonates |
E | clastic deposits |
Question 61 |

A | Simple solution |
B | Chemical |
C | Physical |
D | Hydration/dehydration |
Question 62 |

A | B |
B | C |
C | A |
Question 63 |
A | Turbulent sweeps |
B | Climbing ripples |
C | Trough cross-lamination |
D | Starved ripples |
E | Planar cross-lamination |
Question 64 |
A | Debris flow |
B | Liquified flow |
C | Turbidity current |
D | Grain flow |
Question 65 |

A | A |
B | Neither due to incorrect representation of the initial flow direction. |
C | B |
D | Neither due to incorrect representation of the internal flow direction. |
Question 66 |

A | A |
B | C |
C | B |
D | D |
E | G |
F | F |
Question 67 |
A | organic deposits |
B | clastic sediments |
C | carbonates |
D | evaporates |
E | precipitates |
Question 68 |
A | ~ 10 degrees |
B | ~ 50 degrees |
C | ~ 100 degrees |
D | ~ 90 degrees |
E | ~ 30 degrees |
Question 69 |

A | E |
B | A |
C | B |
D | D |
E | C |
Question 70 |
A | Gravitational force is proportional to the mass and acceleration due to gravity. |
B | For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. |
C | The relationship between an object's mass m, its acceleration a, and the applied force F is F = ma. Acceleration and force are vectors (as indicated by their symbols being displayed in slant bold font); in this law the direction of the force vector is the same as the direction of the acceleration vector. |
D | Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. |
Question 71 |
A | Deep subsurface environments under high pressures and temperatures. |
B | High energy environment with a one single direction of water flow. |
C | Glacial environment where clasts are dragged across a flat surface. |
D | Deltaic environment with high sediment influx. |
Question 72 |
A | Salt Diapirs |
B | Pore waters |
C | Geostatic pressure |
D | Pressure dissolution |
Question 73 |
A | The lowest velocity is at the bed. |
B | Velocity decreases as the depth increases. |
C | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
D | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to higher velocity. |
E | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
Question 74 |
A | physical weathering |
B | chemical weathering |
C | erosion |
D | denudation |
Question 75 |
A | temporal acceleration |
B | inertial acceleration |
C | upwards acceleration |
D | gravitational acceleration |
E | spatial acceleration |
Question 76 |
A | biotite |
B | amphibole |
C | quartz |
D | olivine |
Question 77 |
A | At the mouth of rivers |
B | Between dunes |
C | Lee side of ripples |
D | Within channels |
E | Stoss side of ripples |
Question 78 |
Description
-high velocity
-larger Reynold's number
-inertial forces dominates over the viscous forces

A | It could be either A or B because the description is is insufficient. |
B | B |
C | Neither |
D | A |
Question 79 |
A | The rock is composed of just two or three clast types. |
B | The rock is dominated by matrix and has very few clasts. |
C | The rock is composed of highly angular clasts. |
D | The rock is composed of just one clast type. |
Question 80 |
A | A. mafic rocks B. felsic rocks |
B | A. silicates B. carbonates |
C | A. felsic rocks B. mafic rocks |
D | A. carbonates B. silicates |
Question 81 |
A | chemical weathering |
B | physical weathering |
C | artificial weathering |
D | biological weathering |
Question 82 |
A | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
B | It is difficult to determine the velocity hence we heavily relies on speed of flowing rivers for analysis. |
C | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
D | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to lower velocity. |
Question 83 |
A | None of the answers are correct |
B | Below hemipelagic mud |
C | Below massive/rapid deposition |
D | Within the upper flow regime |
E | At the base of the sourced region (very bottom) |
Question 84 |

A | A |
B | C |
C | B |
Question 85 |
A | Ichnology |
B | Paleotracology Hint: LOL What the hell? |
C | Paleogeology |
D | Genology |
Question 86 |
A | Freezing(swelling) and thawing(shrinking). |
B | Burial(shrinking) and exfoliation(swelling). |
C | Hydration(shrinking) and dehydration(swelling) |
D | Freezing(shrinking) and thawing(swelling). |
E | Hydration(swelling) and dehydration(shrinking) |
Question 87 |
A | 98% |
B | 50% |
C | 75% |
D | 90% |
E | 5% |
Question 88 |
A | a type of chemical weathering caused by oxidation of chemical compounds within rocks. |
B | a type of erosion caused by temperature and pressure change caused by exhumation of rocks/sediments. |
C | a type of chemical weathering caused by dissociation of water into H+ and OH- ions as a result of acidifying agent. |
D | a type of physical weathering caused by water or hydrous fluids penetrate rocks/sediments and expand as a result of freezing; leads to cracks and physical breakdown of materials. |
E | a type of physical weathering caused by biogenic processes which result in breakdown of rocks/sediments. |
Question 89 |

A | Left side is the lee side and right side is the stoss side. |
B | Left side has the scour region and right side is the stoss side. |
C | Left side has the scour region and right side is the lee side. |
D | Left side is the stoss side and right side is the lee side. |
E | All statements are incorrect. |
Question 90 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 91 |
A | True |
B | False because pedogenesis is the process of erosion by both physical and chemical weathering. |
C | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating soil. |
D | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating rivers. |
Question 92 |

A | 98% quartz
1 % lithics
1% feldspar |
B | 98% lithics
1 % feldspar
1% quartz |
C | 60% quartz
1 % lithics
90% feldspar |
D | 50% lithics
40 % feldspar
10% quartz |
Question 93 |
A | Within oxbow lakes |
B | Under high-density turbidity currents |
C | Within river deltas |
D | Under low- to medium-density turbidity currents |
E | Under current ripples |
Question 94 |
A | paleoflow |
B | sliding |
C | saltation |
D | rolling |
E | suspension traction |
Question 95 |
A | Yep |
B | False |
Question 96 |
A | sandstone |
B | limestone |
C | mudstone |
D | dolostone |
E | gypsum |
Question 97 |
A | Matrix is deposited at the same time as clasts while cement forms after the deposition of sediment as precipitate. |
B | Matrix is the substance that binds clasts together while cement is a fined grained material that deposits within crystals. |
C | Matrix is formed when the clasts are deposited under high temperatures while cement is formed when clasts are deposited under low temperatures. |
D | Both terms describes a material that binds clasts but the term "matrix" is used when the rock is mostly composed of clasts while cement is used when majority of the rock is composed of fined grained materials. |
Question 98 |

A | grain size in um |
B | flow velocity in cm/s |
C | grain size in mm |
D | flow velocity in m/s |
E | depth in m |
Question 99 |
A | turbulent velocity model |
B | rough bed velocity model |
C | smooth current velocity model |
D | laminar velocity model |
Question 100 |
A | It change the chemical and physical characteristics of sediments after the deposition |
B | It transforms sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks |
C | It transforms igneous rocks into sedimentary rocks |
D | It transforms sediments into metamorphic rocks |
E | It occurs under temperatures above 500 degree Celsius |
Question 101 |
A | A. gravity driven load B. inertial forces driven load |
B | A. suspended load B. bed load |
C | A. bed load B. suspended load |
D | A. inertial forces driven load B. gravity driven load |
Question 102 |
A | A type of depositional environment that provides the best suitable conditions for organisms to thrive. |
B | An assemblage of trace fossils that provides an indication of the palaeoenvironment. |
C | A a body of rock with specified mineralogical characteristics. |
D | A type of trace fossils created by echinoids. |
E | A sub set of beds and laminations that is defined by certain depositional structures. |
Question 103 |
A | Low energy and high sedimentation environments. |
B | High energy and high sedimentation environments. |
C | Low energy and low sedimentation environments. |
D | High energy and low sedimentation environments. |
Question 104 |

A | 1. is an antidune 2. is a dune |
B | 1. is an antidune 2. is an antidune |
C | 1. is a dune 2. is an antidune |
D | 1. is a dune 2. is a dune |
Question 105 |
A | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
B | Abyssal zone |
C | Above the normal sea level |
D | Bathyal zone |
E | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
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| End |
Credits: Based on the excellent class notes provided by, Dr. Melissa Giovanni during Fall 2012.
FAQ | Report an Error
Some of the Lab Midterm sample images | Click here
Concepts and Additional Questions for Fall 2012 Midterm I
Important!
↑ Some of these are already in the exam type questions in the quiz(above) ↑
Answers to these will NOT be posted. These are based on lecture notes!
-velocity profile; what is idealized modal’s limitations; where is the viscous sublayer and what is it
-bed formation; shape of the bed, x-beds, directional flows
-bed load vs suspended load
-Stoke’s law and the settling velocity
-flow separation concepts; eddy; stoss/lee with respect to x-beds in dunes and anti-dunes; water surface in or out of phase of bed formation
-unidirectional flow vs ocillating flow; be able to draw and describe the differences between them; wave base “feel my bottom”.
-type of sediment gravity flows; debris flow; grain flow; liquefied flow (remember that debris flow and liquefied flow are similar in operation, but different in terms of size of rocks/grains involved.
Dr. Spila’s stuff
-4 steps involving accurately identifying fossils; preservation, description, behaviour, classification(we don’t have to know how to name them)
-What is ichnology
-difference between biotrubation and bioerrosion; which is the most common type; what is the formula for degree of bioturbation
-what are borings and what are borrows
-6 major common categories of behaviours and their reliefs; crawling(semi), resting(semi), feeding(full), gazing(semi), dewlling(full), escape(full).
-meniscae and few other definitions
-preservation differences between full and semi-relief