10th Sep '25

Multiple Choice 2015-16

Question	Answer	Mislead1	Mislead2	Mislead3	Point
Can earthquakes and volcanoes happen anywhere on the Earth?	Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions only happen in certain places on Earth.				Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions only happen in certain places on Earth.
What are tectonic plates?	Tectonic plates are pieces that the Earth's crust and the upper part of the mantle are split into.	Tectonic plates are pieces that the Earth's crust is split into.	Tectonic plates are pieces that the upper part of the mantle is split into.	Tectonic plates are pieces that the Earth's crust and the whole mantle are split into.	The Earth's crust and the upper part of the mantle are cracked into a number of large pieces (tectonic plates).
Which is the thinnest layer out of the crust, mantle, outer core and inner core?	The crust is relatively very thin.				The crust is relatively very thin.
What 3 forms of evidence did Alfred Wegener base his theory of crustal movement on?	Alfred Wegener theory of crustal movement (continental drift) based on: - Matched coastlines of Africa and S.America, - Matched rock formations, - Common fossils.				Alfred Wegener observed - Matched coastlines of Africa and S.America, - Matched rock formations, - Common fossils.
What was Alfred Wegener's explanation for the forms of evidence?	This could be explained if the continents drifted apart.				This could be explained if the continents drifted apart.
Why was Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift not generally accepted?	Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was not generally accepted for many years because he couldn't explain how it could happen.	Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was not generally accepted for many years because he had no evidence.	Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was not generally accepted for many years because he had little evidence.	Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift was not generally accepted for many years because there is lots of evidence against it.	Alfred Wegener theory of crustal movement (continental drift) was not generally accepted for many years because he couldn't explain how it could happen. We now believe...
What moves the tectonic plates?	The tectonic plates are moved by convection currents within the Earth’s mantle. The plates to move at relative speeds of a few centimetres per year.	The tectonic plates are moved by convection currents within the Earth’s mantle. The plates move at relative speeds of a few metres per year.	The tectonic plates are moved by ocean currents. The plates move at relative speeds of a few centimetres per year.	The tectonic plates are moved by convection currents in the atmosphere. The plates move at relative speeds of a few metres per year.	Convection currents within the Earth's mantle cause the plates.
Where does the energy come from to cause the movement of the tectonic plates?	The heat energy from natural radioactive processes in the core causes the tectonic plates to move.	The heat energy from natural radioactive processes in the mantle causes the tectonic plates to move.	The heat energy from natural chemical processes in the core causes the tectonic plates to move.	The heat energy from natural chemical processes in the mantle causes the tectonic plates to move.	The heat energy drives convection currents in the mantle, through the changing density (particle movement) of the heated mantle.
What creates the heat in the core?	The heat in the core is released by natural radioactive processes.				The heat in the core is released by natural radioactive processes.
What is the energy transform occurring in the core?	Nuclear to Heat	Gravitational to Heat	Chemical to Heat	Elastic to Heat	Nuclear energy is transformed into heat energy.
How fast do the plates move on average?	The plates move at relative speeds of a few centimetres per year.				The plates move at relative speeds of a few centimetres per year.
What do the sudden movements of the tectonic plates cause?	The sudden movements of tectonic plates can cause both earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.	The sudden movements of tectonic plates can cause earthquakes only.	The sudden movements of tectonic plates can cause volcanic eruptions only.	The sudden movements of tectonic plates can cause earthquakes and tidal waves.	The movements can be sudden and disastrous. Earthquakes and / or volcanic eruptions occur at the boundaries between tectonic plates.
Starting at the center, what are the layers that make up the Earth?	The Earth consists of a core, mantle and crust.	The Earth consists of a crust, mantle and core.	The Earth consists of a mantle, a core and crust.	The Earth consists of a mantle, crust and core.	The Earth consists of a core, mantle and crust, and is surrounded by the atmosphere.
What are the relative sizes of the core and mantle in how much of the diameter of the Earth they take up?	The Core is about half the diameter of the Earth, with the Mantle making up the other half.				The Core is about half the diameter of the Earth, with the Mantle making up the other half.
How are P and S waves used to discover what the inner Earth is like?	DESIRABLE: Our knowledge of the structure of the Earth comes mainly from studying how the shockwaves from earthquakes (seismic waves) travel through it. Earthquakes produce two types of waves that can travel through the Earth: - Longitudinal faster travelling Primary, P (pressure) waves, which move through liquids as well as solids; - Transverse slower travelling Secondary, S waves, which travel only through solids. The S-wave shadow is what give rise to the idea of a core. http://www.mrcorfe.com/KS4/Edexcel/Physics/P1-11-NowYouSeeIt/EarthStructure.php				DESIRABLE: Our knowledge of the structure of the Earth comes mainly from studying how the shockwaves from earthquakes (seismic waves) travel through it. Earthquakes produce two types of waves that can travel through the Earth: - Longitudinal faster travelling Primary, P (pressure) waves, which move through liquids as well as solids; - Transverse slower travelling Secondary, S waves, which travel only through solids. The S-wave shadow is what give rise to the idea of a core. http://www.mrcorfe.com/KS4/Edexcel/Physics/P1-11-NowYouSeeIt/EarthStructure.php
What is the Earth mainly composed of?	The Earth is composed of mainly of: - iron - oxygen - silicon - magnesium	The Earth is composed of mainly of: - iron - oxygen - silicon - tungsten	The Earth is composed of mainly of: - iron - argon - silicon - magnesium	The Earth is composed of mainly of: - iron - argon - silicon - tungsten	The Earth is composed of mainly of: - iron (32.1%), - oxygen (30.1%), - silicon (15.1%), - magnesium (13.9%).
What is the Earth's core mainly composed of?	The Earth's core is composed of mainly of iron with smaller amounts of nickel.	The Earth's core is composed of mainly of nickel with smaller amounts of iron.	The Earth's core is composed of mainly of oxygen with smaller amounts of nitrogen.	The Earth's core is composed of mainly of nitrogen with smaller amounts of oxygen.	The Earth's core is composed of mainly of iron (88.8%) with smaller amounts of nickel (5.8%).
What is the Earth's crust mainly made up of?	The Earth's crust is composed of mainly of oxygen, chemically locked up in rocks.	The Earth's crust is composed of mainly of iron,	The Earth's crust is composed of mainly of nickle,	The Earth's crust is composed of mainly of nitrogen,	The Earth's crust is composed of mainly of oxygen (47%), chemically locked up in rocks. The most common of which are Silica, Silicon Dioxide (54%) and Alumina, Aluminum oxide (16%). - Something to do with revising Elements and compounds.
What type of chemical is the air?	The atmosphere is composed of mainly nitrogen and oxygen with small proportions of various other gases.	The atmosphere is composed of mainly nitrogen and oxygen.	The atmosphere is composed of mainly iron and nickle.	The atmosphere is composed of mainly iron and nickle with small proportions of various gases.	The air in the atmosphere is a mixture.
What is the atmosphere composed of?	The atmosphere is composed of: - about four-fifths nitrogen (80%) - about one-fifth oxygen (20%) - small proportions of various other gases, including carbon dioxide, water vapour and noble gases.				The atmosphere is composed of: - about four-fifths nitrogen (80%) - about one-fifth oxygen (20%) - small proportions of various other gases, including carbon dioxide, water vapour and noble gases.
What is the test for oxygen gas?	The gas test for oxygen is it relights a glowing spill.	The gas test for oxygen is it turns lime water cloudy.	The gas test for oxygen is it makes a squeaky pop when lit.	The gas test for oxygen is it puts out a burning spill.	The gas test for oxygen is it relights a glowing spill.
What is the test for carbon dioxide?	The gas test for carbon dioxide is it turns lime water cloudy.	The gas test for carbon dioxide is it relights a glowing spill.	The gas test for carbon dioxide is it makes a squeaky pop when lit.	The gas test for carbon dioxide is it puts out a burning spill.	The gas test for carbon dioxide is it turns lime water cloudy.
What is the test for hydrogen gas?	The gas test for hydrogen is it makes a squeaky pop when lit.	The gas test for hydrogen is it relights a glowing spill.	The gas test for hydrogen is it turns lime water cloudy.	The gas test for carbon dioxide is it puts out a burning spill.	The gas test for hydrogen is it makes a squeaky pop when lit.
What process maintains the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?	The levels in the atmosphere are maintained by photosynthesis.	The levels in the atmosphere are maintained by combustion.	The levels in the atmosphere are maintained by decomposition.	The levels in the atmosphere are maintained by evaporation.	The oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are maintained by photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae.
Why is photosynthesis important?	the dependence of almost all life on Earth on the ability of photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, to use sunlight in photosynthesis to build organic molecules that are an essential energy store and to maintain levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - Energy transfer from sun to plant, chloroplast transform atoms rearranged (conserved in reaction). Oxygen we need for respiration = glucose.				Photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, use sunlight in photosynthesis to build organic molecules that are an essential energy store.
Why is oxygen important in the atmosphere?	Oxygen is need for respiration which releases energy from glucose. This is essential for all life. Therefore all life depends on the energy from the sun and the photosynthetic				Oxygen is need for respiration which releases energy from glucose. This is essential for all life. Therefore all life depends on the energy from the sun and the photosynthetic
Which gas is used as a sign of life on other planets?	Oxygen is a sign that life is on an other planet.	Nitrogen is a sign that life is on an other planet.	Carbon dioxide is a sign that life is on an other planet.	Methane is a sign that life is on an other planet.	In the search for life on other planets, looking for oxygen is a sign that life is on the planet.

Mod	Number of Questions
0S	10
1B	10
1C	10
1P	10
BI	5