Regents Earth Science 2

Question 1

Which type of seismic wave causes the most damage during an earthquake by moving the ground side to side?

Accepted Answer

Surface waves

Answer

Surface waves (Love and Rayleigh waves) travel along Earth's surface and produce the greatest ground motion, causing the most structural damage.

Question 2

A stream cuts through horizontal rock layers and exposes the following from bottom to top: limestone, shale, sandstone. Which layer is oldest?

Accepted Answer

Limestone

Answer

According to the Law of Superposition, in undisturbed horizontal layers, the lowest layer (limestone) is the oldest.

Question 3

What is the primary cause of the Coriolis effect on large air masses in the Northern Hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

Earth's rotation

Answer

Earth's rotation causes freely moving objects, including air masses, to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 4

Which property of a mineral is tested by observing how light reflects off its surface?

Accepted Answer

Luster

Answer

Luster describes how a mineral reflects light and is categorized as metallic or nonmetallic.

Question 5

A fossil of a marine organism is found at 3,000 meters elevation in the Himalayas. What does this most likely indicate?

Accepted Answer

Tectonic uplift raised former seafloor

Answer

The presence of marine fossils at high elevations indicates that tectonic forces lifted former ocean floor to create mountain ranges.

Regents Practice Test