Geography · General Awareness

Geology and Earth Structure

1,345 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

Which of the following is/are the correct characteristic (s) of primary seismic wave?

  1. It is a longitudinal and compressional wave

  2. It is analogous to sound waves

  3. It travels with faster speed through solids but slowly through liquids

  4. All the above three
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 The correct characteristic (s) of primary seismic wave are :

  1. It is a longitudinal and compressional wave.
  2. It is analogous to sound waves.
  3. It travels with faster speed through solids but slowly through liquids.
Multiple choice

Which of the following are formed due to collision of continental plates?

  1. The Alps
  2. The Himalayas
  3. The Rockies
  4. The Caucasus MountainsSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. 1, 2 and 3

  2. 2, 3 and 4

  3. 1, 2 and 4

  4. 1, 3 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

 The Alps (continental-continental plate collision). The Himalaya (Continental-continental plate collission, Eurasion and Indian plate). The Rockies (Oceanic-Continental plate collision, Pacific and American Plate). The Caucasus Mountains (Continental-continental plate collision).

Multiple choice

With respect to the Geological Survey of India, which of the following is the objective of Obvious Geological Potential (OGP) areas?

  1. Identifying reserves of rare Earth

  2. Developing local sources with ability to support fossil specific expansion strategy

  3. Exploration for coal, mainly for powering steam transport, and later exploration for oil reserves, and ore deposits

  4. Mapping the rock structures, strata and their age in India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Geological Survey of India has set in motion an ambitious geo-chemical mapping project to identify reserves of Rare Earth’s and other strategic minerals across India. The project under Ministry of mines is going to cover India’s Obvious Geological Potential (OGP) area around 8 lakh sq km, in the next four-five years.

Multiple choice

With reference to earthquakes, which one of the following statements is not correct?

  1. L waves travel along the surface of the earth's crust.

  2. As the P waves propagate, they move material in a path parallel to the direction of movement.

  3. S waves move objects at right angles to their direction of motion.

  4. S waves propagate through even liquid material.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

S waves (secondary or shear waves) are transverse waves that can only propagate through solid materials. They cannot travel through liquid, which is why they are blocked by the Earth's liquid outer core.

Multiple choice

What are Geosynclines?

  1. Arched upfolds in the strata of the earth's crust.

  2. Major structural downfolds in the earth's crust.

  3. Large scale rises in the earth's crust.

  4. Sliding of plate margins inside the earth's crust.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Geosynclines are large-scale, linear depressions in the Earth's crust that accumulate thick layers of sediment over long periods, eventually becoming mountain ranges.

Multiple choice

What is a seismic zone extending at an angle of about 45° from the base of an ocean trench, down through lithosphere to the asthenosphere known as ?

  1. Appleton layer

  2. Benioff zone

  3. Conard discontinuity

  4. Convergence zone

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

A Benioff zone, also known as a Wadati-Benioff zone, is a planar zone of seismicity corresponding with the down-going slab in a subduction zone, dipping at roughly 45 degrees from an ocean trench.

Multiple choice

When does excarpment develop ?

  1. When a block steps down along a fault plane.

  2. When a block moves down vertically along a fault plane.

  3. When a block moves horizontally along a fault plane.

  4. When a block moves upward along a fault plane.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two areas of differing elevations. It typically forms when a block moves vertically along a fault plane.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ? Types of waterfall : Names of waterfalls

  1. Caprock fall : Gersoppa falls

  2. Scarp fall : Dasam falls

  3. Knickpoint fall : Dhunwadhar falls

  4. Hanging Valley fall : Johna falls

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

Gersoppa (Jog) Falls is a plunge waterfall caused by the river Sharavathi, not a caprock fall. Caprock falls are typically formed where a hard rock layer overlies a softer one, like Niagara.

Multiple choice

What is lithosphere?

  1. The combination of continental and oceanic crust

  2. The combination of lower mantle and outer core

  3. The combination of lower crust and upper mantle

  4. The combination of inner and outer core
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Multiple choice

Which of the following is not true regarding the mantle?

  1. Earth's mantle extends to a depth of almost 2900 km.

  2. It is the thickest layer of Earth.

  3. It is composed of silicate rocks that are rich in iron and magnesium.

  4. All of the given statements are true.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The mantle extends to 2900 km, is the thickest layer, and is composed of silicate rocks rich in iron and magnesium. All statements are correct.

Multiple choice

Following relief zones are the characteristics of ocean basins:

  1. Continental slope
  2. Continental shell
  3. Deep sea plain
  4. Oceanic trench

The correct sequence of their seaward appearance from the coasts is

  1. 1, 2, 4, 3

  2. 2, 1, 4, 3

  3. 1, 2, 3, 4

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

The correct sequence of their seaward appearance from the coasts is Continental shelf, Continental slope, Deep sea plain and Oceanic trench. The oceanic trenches are hemispheric-scale long, but narrow topographic depressions of the sea floor. They are also the deepest parts of the ocean floor. A continental slope is the seaward border of continental shelf. A deep sea plain is a broad, almost level area forming the predominant portion of the ocean floor. 

Multiple choice

'Plate Tectonics' refers to movement of large sections of Earth's crust. Which of the following factors is 'Not' responsible for this movement?

  1. Diatrophism

  2. Continental Drift

  3. Sea floor spreading

  4. Polar Wandering
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Plate tectonics is driven by mantle convection, sea floor spreading, and continental drift. Polar wandering is a phenomenon where the magnetic poles appear to move, but it is not a driver of crustal plate movement.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements associated with the Deccan Traps:

  1. From the Cretaceous to the Eocene, intense volcanic activity took place in Peninsular India.
  2. The volcanic lava spread out horizontal sheets, filling the irregularities of the pre-existing topography.
  3. The trap country is characterized by conical hills and extensive flat surfaces. Of these statements:

  1. 1 and 2 are correct

  2. 1, 2 and 3 are correct

  3. 2 and 3 are correct

  4. 1 and 3 are correct
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Deccan Traps formed during the Cretaceous-Eocene period due to volcanic activity (1). The lava flows were horizontal (2). Statement 3 is incorrect because the trap country is characterized by flat-topped hills (mesas/buttes), not conical hills.