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 | Paleotracology Hint: LOL What the hell? |
B | Genology |
C | Ichnology |
D | Paleogeology |
Question 2 |
A | Starved ripples |
B | Climbing ripples |
C | Planar cross-lamination |
D | Trough cross-lamination |
E | Turbulent sweeps |
Question 3 |
A | denudation |
B | physical weathering |
C | chemical weathering |
D | erosion |
Question 4 |
A | Escape |
B | Crawling |
C | Dewlling |
D | Feeding |
E | Resting |
F | Grazing |
Question 5 |
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 6 |
A | Velocity decreases as the depth increases. |
B | The lowest velocity is at the bed. |
C | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
D | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to higher velocity. |
E | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
Question 7 |
A | Within the upper flow regime |
B | At the base of the sourced region (very bottom) |
C | Below hemipelagic mud |
D | None of the answers are correct |
E | Below massive/rapid deposition |
Question 8 |
A | False-it should be other way around. |
B | True |
Question 9 |
A | False |
B | Yep |
Question 10 |
A | Burial(shrinking) and exfoliation(swelling). |
B | Freezing(swelling) and thawing(shrinking). |
C | Hydration(swelling) and dehydration(shrinking) |
D | Hydration(shrinking) and dehydration(swelling) |
E | Freezing(shrinking) and thawing(swelling). |
Question 11 |

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 lift at the yellow arrow is caused by the high pressure at the top caused by converging streamlines. |
D | The pressure right above the yellow arrow is much lower than the pressure near the black rocks/sediments. |
E | The pressure from above is much higher causing the grains to push hard against the bed. |
Question 12 |

A | False |
B | True |
Question 13 |
A | Under low- to medium-density turbidity currents |
B | Within river deltas |
C | Under current ripples |
D | Within oxbow lakes |
E | Under high-density turbidity currents |
Question 14 |
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 15 |
A | At the top of a moving current, the velocity is close to zero. |
B | Deeper in the fluid lower the velocity. |
C | Uniformly moving fluids will have an equal instantaneous velocities regardless of depth. |
D | In the middle of the profile, the velocity is close to zero. |
E | Deeper in the fluid higher the velocity. |
Question 16 |
A | Sheet wash |
B | Slump |
C | Turbidity current |
D | Debris flow |
E | Rock fall |
Question 17 |
A | Settling velocity of particles in a fluid. |
B | Flow of a fluid through a tapered tube results in an increase in velocity. |
C | How flow rate, density of the fluid and pathway of flow dictates type of flows. |
D | Depositional sequences in very high energy environments. |
Question 18 |
A | Change in flow regime |
B | Gradient change |
C | Change in normality |
D | Hydraulic jump |
E | Critical flow |
Question 19 |

A | Position I in the stoss side of the ripple |
B | Position V between two ripples |
C | Position II just above the ripple |
D | Position III where the flow rate is consistent and smooth |
E | Position IV in the lee side of the ripple |
Question 20 |
A | Hard organic parts from invertebrates |
B | Calcium carbonate produced as a by product of chemical weathering |
C | Precipitation of inorganic compounds out of water due to evaporation |
D | Transported rock fragments |
E | Magmas rich in calcium carbonates |
Question 21 |
A | Rock falls |
B | Debris flows |
C | Glacial breakups |
D | Turbidity currents |
E | Slumps |
Question 22 |
A | gravity driven flow |
B | laminar flow |
C | low viscous forces in the folow |
D | turbulent flow |
Question 23 |

A | E |
B | C |
C | D |
D | F |
E | No such thing on the diagram above. |
Question 24 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 25 |
A | evaporates |
B | carbonates |
C | precipitates |
D | clastic sediments |
E | organic deposits |
Question 26 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 27 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 28 |
A | Minerals that replaces (take others' place) other minerals during sedimentation. |
B | Minerals that primarily formed from organic materials. |
C | Minerals that formed as a result of magmatic processes that occurs under water. |
D | Minerals with very high densities resulting deposition at the bottom of a flow. |
E | Minerals that are formed as a result of erosion due to chemical weathering. |
Question 29 |
A | 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. |
B | Bioturbation is caused by plants. Bioerosion is caused by animal activities. |
C | They are the same except Bioturbation is the British English word for Bioerosion(US-English) |
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 30 |
A | 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. |
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 | 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. |
D | 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. |
Question 31 |

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 lee side. |
C | Left side is the stoss side and right side is the lee side. |
D | Left side has the scour region and right side is the stoss side. |
E | All statements are incorrect. |
Question 32 |
A | Turbidity current |
B | Grain flow |
C | Liquified flow |
D | Debris flow |
Question 33 |
A | Glacial environment where clasts are dragged across a flat surface. |
B | High energy environment with a one single direction of water flow. |
C | Deep subsurface environments under high pressures and temperatures. |
D | Deltaic environment with high sediment influx. |
Question 34 |
A | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing decrease in the mineral volume. |
B | Organic activities such as roots and biodegradation causing increase in the mineral volume. |
C | Release of stress as a result of pressure decrease. |
D | Freeze-thaw cycle result in change in volume. |
E | Increase of stress as a result of pressure increase. |
F | Hydration of minerals result in increase in volume. |
Question 35 |
A | False because pedogenesis is the process of erosion by both physical and chemical weathering. |
B | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating soil. |
C | False because pedogenesis is the process of creating rivers. |
D | True |
Question 36 |
A | turbulent velocity model |
B | rough bed velocity model |
C | laminar velocity model |
D | smooth current velocity model |
Question 37 |
A | sliding |
B | rolling |
C | saltation |
D | suspension traction |
E | paleoflow |
Question 38 |
A | 5% |
B | 98% |
C | 75% |
D | 50% |
E | 90% |
Question 39 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 40 |
A | a type of chemical weathering caused by dissociation of water into H+ and OH- ions as a result of acidifying agent. |
B | a type of erosion caused by temperature and pressure change caused by exhumation of rocks/sediments. |
C | a type of physical weathering caused by biogenic processes which result in breakdown of rocks/sediments. |
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 chemical weathering caused by oxidation of chemical compounds within rocks. |
Question 41 |
A | Flow velocity |
B | Flow separation |
C | Potential energy |
D | Sediment load |
E | Gravity |
Question 42 |

A | B |
B | C |
C | A |
Question 43 |
Description
-high velocity
-larger Reynold's number
-inertial forces dominates over the viscous forces

A | B |
B | A |
C | It could be either A or B because the description is is insufficient. |
D | Neither |
Question 44 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 45 |
h(D) = 55 m
g = 9.81 m/s2
u = 33 m/s
A | 1.42 |
B | 1.95 |
C | 0.06116 |
D | 2.37 |
E | 0.6116 |
Question 46 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 47 |
A | bed surface of the velocity profile. |
B | surface of the fluid. |
C | highest velocity point of the velocity profile. |
D | (around) middle of the velocity profile. |
Question 48 |

A | A |
B | B |
C | C |
Question 49 |
A | Significant density contrast |
B | Pressure: soft water-bearing sediments escaping through overlying sediments |
C | High volume sediment loads |
D | Gravity: hard sediments sinking into soft underlying sediments |
Question 50 |
A | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
B | Bathyal zone |
C | Abyssal zone |
D | Above the normal sea level |
E | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
Question 51 |
A | temporal acceleration |
B | spatial acceleration |
C | inertial acceleration |
D | upwards acceleration |
E | gravitational acceleration |
Question 52 |
A | High velocity currents. |
B | Medium velocity currents. |
C | Low velocity currents. |
D | Fluctuating velocity currents. |
Question 53 |

A | depth in m |
B | flow velocity in cm/s |
C | grain size in um |
D | grain size in mm |
E | flow velocity in m/s |
Question 54 |
A | amplitude of the wave |
B | viscosity of the fluid |
C | type of fluid |
D | period of the wave |
Question 55 |

A | A |
B | F |
C | D |
D | C |
E | B |
F | G |
Question 56 |
A | Matrix is deposited at the same time as clasts while cement forms after the deposition of sediment as precipitate. |
B | 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. |
C | Matrix is the substance that binds clasts together while cement is a fined grained material that deposits within crystals. |
D | Matrix is formed when the clasts are deposited under high temperatures while cement is formed when clasts are deposited under low temperatures. |
Question 57 |
A | The rock is dominated by matrix and has very few clasts. |
B | The rock is composed of just two or three clast types. |
C | The rock is composed of highly angular clasts. |
D | The rock is composed of just one clast type. |
Question 58 |
A | evaporites |
B | clastic deposits |
C | carbonates |
D | ore deposits |
E | chemical deposits |
Question 59 |
A | feeding |
B | dwelling |
C | crawling |
D | extractions(pooping) |
E | fighting |
Question 60 |
A | Abyssal zone |
B | Bathyal zone |
C | Above the normal sea level |
D | Shelf (sublittoral zone) |
E | Sandy shore (littoral zone) |
Question 61 |
A | True |
B | False |
Antidunes can be formed as a result of beds deposition in phase to the surface water wave.
Question 62 |
A | Acids |
B | Base solutions in high temperature environment |
C | High pH solutions |
D | Base |
E | Low pH solutions in high temperature solutions |
Question 63 |
-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 | Liquified flow |
B | Debris flow |
C | Grain flow |
D | Turbidity flow |
Question 64 |
A | increasing , decreasing |
B | decreasing , increasing |
C | None of the answers are correct because it is not the acidity that is important, it is the pH. |
D | increasing , increasing |
E | decreasing , decreasing |
Question 65 |

A | A. Recycled origin B. Continental block C. Magmatic arc |
B | A. Continental block B. Magmatic arc C. Recycled origin |
C | A. Continental block B. Recycled origin C. Magmatic arc |
D | A. Quartz B. Feldspar C. Lilith fragments |
E | A. Magmatic arc B. Continental block C. Recycled origin |
F | A. Quartz B. Lilith fragments C. Feldspar |
Question 66 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 67 |

A | E |
B | A |
C | D |
D | C |
E | B |
Question 68 |
A | It transforms igneous rocks into sedimentary rocks |
B | It transforms sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks |
C | It change the chemical and physical characteristics of sediments after the deposition |
D | It occurs under temperatures above 500 degree Celsius |
E | It transforms sediments into metamorphic rocks |
Question 69 |
A | A. carbonates B. silicates |
B | A. silicates B. carbonates |
C | A. felsic rocks B. mafic rocks |
D | A. mafic rocks B. felsic rocks |
Question 70 |
A | 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. |
B | Full relief structures are preserved within a single type of sediment while semi-relief structures are 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 | Semi- relief structures are preserved within a single type of sediment while full-relief structures are preserved at an interface between two strata. |
Question 71 |

A | Neither due to incorrect representation of the internal flow direction. |
B | Neither due to incorrect representation of the initial flow direction. |
C | B |
D | A |
Question 72 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 73 |
A | True |
B | False |
Question 74 |
A | A. oceanic crust B. continental crust |
B | A. iron rich minerals B. oxygen rich minerals |
C | A. mafic and felsic minerals B. silica rich minerals |
D | A. mafic minerals B. felsic minerals |
E | A. felsic minerals B. mafic minerals |
Question 75 |
A | pedogenesis |
B | erosion |
C | sedimentation |
D | paleosols |
Question 76 |
A | Dunes form in marine environments and ripples form in non-marine river type environments. |
B | Dunes have interbedded cross laminations and ripples do not. |
C | Dunes are distinctly larger than ripples. |
D | Dunes forms in turbulent waters and ripples forms in calm waters. |
Question 77 |

A | Chemical |
B | Physical |
C | Simple solution |
D | Hydration/dehydration |
Question 78 |
A | original horizontality |
B | Uniformitarianism |
C | parsimony |
D | lowerposition |
E | superposition |
Question 79 |
A | 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. |
B | Burrows are trace fossils and borings are body fossils. |
C | Burrows are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and borings are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
D | Borings are trace fossils and burrows are body fossils. |
E | Borings are created by pushing the grains to walls of the structure and boring are created by mechanically/chemically cutting the grains. |
F | I have no freaking clue what the hell you asking about. |
Question 80 |
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 | Extreme temperatures and pressures between different sediment successions. |
D | Differential pressure-temperature gradient that increases with depth. |
E | Extreme pressure concentrated at the contacts between grains within sediments. |
Question 81 |

A | NE to SE |
B | S to N |
C | NW to SE |
D | N to S |
E | SE to NW |
Question 82 |
A | Sutured contacts |
B | Long contacts |
C | Concavo-convex contacts |
D | Point contacts |
E | Subrounded contacts |
Question 83 |
A | sedimentary |
B | detrital |
C | metamorphic |
D | authigenic |
E | native |
Question 84 |
A | biotite |
B | olivine |
C | amphibole |
D | quartz |
Question 85 |
A | Salt Diapirs |
B | Pore waters |
C | Pressure dissolution |
D | Geostatic pressure |
Question 86 |
A | A type of trace fossils created by echinoids. |
B | An assemblage of trace fossils that provides an indication of the palaeoenvironment. |
C | A type of depositional environment that provides the best suitable conditions for organisms to thrive. |
D | A sub set of beds and laminations that is defined by certain depositional structures. |
E | A a body of rock with specified mineralogical characteristics. |
Question 87 |

A | F |
B | D |
C | G |
D | C |
E | E |
Question 88 |
A | shear stress |
B | tangential stress |
C | super-normal stress |
D | sub-normal stress |
E | normal stress |
Question 89 |
A | The highest velocity is at the bed. |
B | Velocity increases as the depth increases. |
C | At the bed, there is no slip conditions due to lower velocity. |
D | It is difficult to determine the velocity hence we heavily relies on speed of flowing rivers for analysis. |
Question 90 |
A | I. zero II. turbulent |
B | None of the answers are correct. |
C | I. lower II. laminar |
D | I. lower II. turbulent |
E | I. higher II. laminar |
Question 91 |
A | A. supercritical B. critical C. subcritical |
B | A. critical B. subcritical C. supercritical |
C | A. critical B. supercritical C. subcritical |
D | A. subercritical B. critical C. supcritical |
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 92 |
A | Humid climates |
B | Dry climates with long periods of droughts |
C | Deep sea ocean beds with rich organic matter |
D | Temperate climate with long cold winters and short warm summers |
E | Dry climates with year-round permafrost |
Question 93 |
A | Between dunes |
B | At the mouth of rivers |
C | Stoss side of ripples |
D | Within channels |
E | Lee side of ripples |
Question 94 |
A | chemical weathering |
B | physical weathering |
C | artificial weathering |
D | biological weathering |
Question 95 |
A | ~ 90 degrees |
B | ~ 50 degrees |
C | ~ 10 degrees |
D | ~ 30 degrees |
E | ~ 100 degrees |
Question 96 |
A | Shallow marine environments |
B | Deep marine environments |
C | Warm and tropical wet environments |
D | River bed environments |
E | None of the answers posted here are correct. |
Question 97 |

A | 1. is an antidune 2. is an antidune |
B | 1. is an antidune 2. is a dune |
C | 1. is a dune 2. is a dune |
D | 1. is a dune 2. is an antidune |
Question 98 |
A | Kaolinite |
B | Muscovite mica |
C | Olivine |
D | Calcium Feldspars |
E | Pyroxene |
Question 99 |

A | 98% lithics
1 % feldspar
1% quartz |
B | 60% quartz
1 % lithics
90% feldspar |
C | 50% lithics
40 % feldspar
10% quartz |
D | 98% quartz
1 % lithics
1% feldspar |
Question 100 |
A | Description of the identifiable parts. |
B | Study of behavior. |
C | Classification of the trace fossils. |
D | Study of the mode of preservation. |
Question 101 |
A | False |
B | True |
Question 102 |
A | High energy and high sedimentation environments. |
B | High energy and low sedimentation environments. |
C | Low energy and high sedimentation environments. |
D | Low energy and low sedimentation environments. |
Question 103 |
A | gypsum |
B | sandstone |
C | dolostone |
D | limestone |
E | mudstone |
Question 104 |
A | B |
B | C |
C | A |
D | D |
E | F |
F | E |
G | G |
Question 105 |
A | Bioturbation affects less than 30% of the sediment sample and the bedding is distinct |
B | Bioturbation is between 30% and 60% of the sediment affected and bedding is distinct |
C | A sample with few discrete traces of bioturbation |
D | Bioturbation is between 60% to 90% of the sediment bioturbated and bedding indistinct |
E | Sediment is totally reworked by bioturbation |
F | Bioturbation is over 90% of sediment bioturbated, and bedding
is barely detectable |
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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