Geography · General Awareness

Geology and Earth Structure

1,268 Questions

Geology and Earth Structure explores the physical composition of the planet, including its layers, tectonic plates, and seismic activity. This topic is a core component of geography and general science sections in various competitive exams. Reviewing these concepts builds a solid foundation for answering questions related to natural phenomena.

Layers of the EarthTectonic PlatesEarthquakes and VolcanoesGeomagnetism ApplicationsGeophysical MethodsLandform Formation

Geology and Earth Structure Questions

Multiple choice

Consider the following:

  1. Electromagnetic radiation
  2. Geothermal energy
  3. Gravitational force
  4. Plate movements
  5. Rotation of Earth
  6. Revolution of Earth

Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of Earth?

  1. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

  2. 1, 3, 5 and 6 only

  3. 2 and 6 only

  4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Everything about our planet is related either directly or indirectly to tectonic plates. Rotation causes day and night. Revolution causes seasons, change in the length of day and night.

Multiple choice

Lithosphere refers to

  1. Liquid part of the earth

  2. Heat of the earth

  3. Solid crust of the earth

  4. Inner structure of the earth
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Lithosphere refers to the solid outer crust of the Earth, including the crust and uppermost mantle. It is not the liquid part (A - that's hydrosphere), the heat (B - that's geothermal), or the inner structure (D - that's core/mantle). The lithosphere is broken into tectonic plates.

Multiple choice

What does the passage talk about?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

India being a large landmass is particularly prone to earthquakes. The Indian subcontinent is divided into five seismic zones with respect to the severity of the earthquakes. The severe hazard zones are roughly confined to plate boundary regions, i.e. the Himalayan frontal arc in the North, the chaman fault region in the North-West and the Indo-Burma region in the North-East. The lower hazard zone is confined to Indian shield in the south and then moderate hazard zone is confined to the transitional zone in between the two. The bureau of Indian standards is the official agency for publishing the seismic hazard maps and codes. It has brought out versions of seismic zoning map: a six zone map in 1962, a seven zone map in 1966 and a five zone map in 1970/1984. The last of these maps is currently valid; this map was created based on the values of maximum MM intensities recorded in various parts of the country in historic times.

  1. Different versions of seismic zoning maps

  2. Distribution of earthquake zones in India

  3. The country’s most powerful earthquakes

  4. All of the above

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following areas is not included in the severe hazard zone?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

India being a large landmass is particularly prone to earthquakes. The Indian subcontinent is divided into five seismic zones with respect to the severity of the earthquakes. The severe hazard zones are roughly confined to plate boundary regions, i.e. the Himalayan frontal arc in the North, the chaman fault region in the North-West and the Indo-Burma region in the North-East. The lower hazard zone is confined to Indian shield in the south and then moderate hazard zone is confined to the transitional zone in between the two. The bureau of Indian standards is the official agency for publishing the seismic hazard maps and codes. It has brought out versions of seismic zoning map: a six zone map in 1962, a seven zone map in 1966 and a five zone map in 1970/1984. The last of these maps is currently valid; this map was created based on the values of maximum MM intensities recorded in various parts of the country in historic times.

  1. Indian shield in the south

  2. The Himalayan front arc in the north

  3. The Indo-Burma region in the North-East

  4. The chaman fault region in the North-West

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as this region is in the lower hazard zone.

Multiple choice

What is the function of the Bureau of Indian standards?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

India being a large landmass is particularly prone to earthquakes. The Indian subcontinent is divided into five seismic zones with respect to the severity of the earthquakes. The severe hazard zones are roughly confined to plate boundary regions, i.e. the Himalayan frontal arc in the North, the chaman fault region in the North-West and the Indo-Burma region in the North-East. The lower hazard zone is confined to Indian shield in the south and then moderate hazard zone is confined to the transitional zone in between the two. The bureau of Indian standards is the official agency for publishing the seismic hazard maps and codes. It has brought out versions of seismic zoning map: a six zone map in 1962, a seven zone map in 1966 and a five zone map in 1970/1984. The last of these maps is currently valid; this map was created based on the values of maximum MM intensities recorded in various parts of the country in historic times.

  1. Calculating values of maximum MM intensities recorded in various parts of the country

  2. Publishing the seismic hazard maps and codes

  3. Deciding the validity of seismic zone maps

  4. Keeping track of seismic activity since historic times

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

How many seismic zones have been classified in the currently valid map for seismic zones on the Indian subcontinent?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

India being a large landmass is particularly prone to earthquakes. The Indian subcontinent is divided into five seismic zones with respect to the severity of the earthquakes. The severe hazard zones are roughly confined to plate boundary regions, i.e. the Himalayan frontal arc in the North, the chaman fault region in the North-West and the Indo-Burma region in the North-East. The lower hazard zone is confined to Indian shield in the south and then moderate hazard zone is confined to the transitional zone in between the two. The bureau of Indian standards is the official agency for publishing the seismic hazard maps and codes. It has brought out versions of seismic zoning map: a six zone map in 1962, a seven zone map in 1966 and a five zone map in 1970/1984. The last of these maps is currently valid; this map was created based on the values of maximum MM intensities recorded in various parts of the country in historic times.

  1. Six zones

  2. Four zones

  3. Five zones

  4. Seven

  5. .
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian subcontinent is divided into five seismic zones with respect to the severity of the earthquakes. The five zone map currently valid was made in 1970/1984.

Multiple choice

Which of the following induces diastrophism and volcanism in the lithosphere?

  1. The energy due to geothermal gradients and heat flow from within the earth's crust.

  2. The processes that move, elevate or build up portions of the earth’s crust.

  3. The force applied on earth's materials affecting the same.

  4. The differences in the internal forces operating from within the earth, which built up the crust.

  5. The endogenic and exogenic forces causing physical stresses and chemical actions on earth's crust.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The energy due to geothermal gradients and heat flow from within, induces diastrophism and volcanism in the lithosphere. This is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following processes does not come under diastrophism?

  1. Weathering processes

  2. Orogenic processes

  3. Epeirogenic processes

  4. Earthquakes involving local relatively minor movements

  5. Plate tectonics involving horizontal movements of crustal plates
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Weathering is the mechanical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rocks through actions of various elements of weather and climate. This does not come under diastrophism.

Multiple choice

__ is the outer most solid part of the earth?

  1. Mantle

  2. Crust

  3. Core

  4. None of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Earth's structure has three main layers: crust (solid outer layer), mantle (semisolid middle), and core (innermost). The crust is the thinnest layer we live on.

Multiple choice

The central molten state of earth is called

  1. lithosphere

  2. hydrosphere

  3. barysphere

  4. pyrosphere
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The barysphere is the central, molten core of the Earth. The lithosphere is the solid crust, hydrosphere refers to Earth's water, and pyrosphere is the region of molten rock just beneath the crust.

Multiple choice

The geological process by which the Earth came to have its present interior structure is called ____.

  1. integration

  2. polymerization

  3. differentiation

  4. amalgamation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Planetary differentiation is the process by which a planet separates into layers of different composition and density. During Earth's early molten state, heavier elements (iron, nickel) sank to form the core, while lighter materials (silicates) rose to form the mantle and crust. This created the layered interior structure we observe today.

Multiple choice

The crust is the outermost layer of rock which envelops the interior of the Earth also known as ______.

  1. hydrosphere

  2. lithosphere

  3. asthenosphere

  4. atmosphere
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of Earth, consisting of the crust and uppermost mantle. It's broken into tectonic plates. The term 'lithosphere' literally means 'rocky sphere' and encompasses all solid rock above the asthenosphere. While the crust is part of it, the lithosphere is the complete rigid outer shell.

Multiple choice

The boundary between the crust and the mantle is called the ________.

  1. mohorovic discontinuity

  2. magma

  3. gutenberg discontinuity

  4. asthenosphere
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Mohorovicic discontinuity (Moho) is the boundary between Earth's crust and the mantle. It was discovered by Andrija Mohorovicic in 1909 when he observed seismic wave velocity changes at this boundary. The Moho varies in depth - about 5-10 km under oceans and 30-50 km under continents. The Gutenberg discontinuity marks the core-mantle boundary instead.

Multiple choice

Directions: For the following question, choose the option that fills up the blanks most correctly.

Millions of years ago, a volcano ________ a mountain on the floor of the Atlantic, in eruption after eruption, it pushed up a great pile of volcanic rock, until it had accumulated a mass a hundred mile across at its base, reaching ________ towards the surface of the sea.

  1. collapsed, laterally

  2. ruptured, transitionally

  3. brazured, downward

  4. built, upward

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The clue for first blank is found in latter part of the sentence as this is an explanation to the first part. 'Pushed up' and 'accumulated a mass' signifies that a volcano built a mountain and not collapsed it as we would have thought. As 'built' is one of our options, hence (4) is the answer.