Name: 
 

Rocks Study Guide


Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

1. 
Igneous rock that cools very quickly when it forms may have a texture that is
a.
smooth and shiny with no visible grain.
b.
multicolored and banded.
c.
coarse grained.
d.
made up of jagged grains.
 

2. 
When all the grains in a rock are large and easy to see, the rock is described as
a.
porphyritic.
b.
fine grained.
c.
coarse grained.
d.
nonbanded.
 

3. 
Rock that forms from the cooling of magma below the surface or lava at the surface is called
a.
sedimentary rock.
b.
metamorphic rock.
c.
igneous rock.
d.
coarse-grained rock.
 

4. 
Where does most metamorphic rock form?
a.
at the surface
b.
just below the surface
c.
in sea waters
d.
deep underground
 

5. 
Igneous rock that formed from lava that erupted onto Earth’s surface is called
a.
extrusive rock.
b.
intrusive rock.
c.
clastic rock.
d.
sedimentary rock.
 

6. 
The most abundant intrusive rock is
a.
slate.
b.
granite.
c.
flint.
d.
quartzite.
 

7. 
The texture of an igneous rock that has large crystals scattered on a background of much smaller crystals is
a.
fine grained.
b.
porphyritic.
c.
metamorphic.
d.
coarse grained.
 

8. 
The process by which sediment settles out of the water or wind carrying it is
a.
compaction.
b.
cementation.
c.
deposition.
d.
erosion.
 

9. 
To describe a rock’s texture, geologists determine
a.
the color and density of the rock.
b.
how the rock formed.
c.
the size, shape, and pattern of the rock’s grains.
d.
how many minerals the rock contains.
 

10. 
A sedimentary rock made up of rounded fragments of other rocks is called
a.
shale.
b.
sandstone.
c.
conglomerate.
d.
breccia.
 

11. 
The sedimentary rock formed when water deposits tiny particles of clay in very thin, flat layers is called
a.
gypsum.
b.
shale.
c.
limestone.
d.
calcite.
 

12. 
Chalk formed from sediments made of skeletons of microscopic living things in the ocean must be a(n)
a.
clastic rock.
b.
organic rock.
c.
chemical rock.
d.
igneous rock.
 

13. 
A ring-shaped coral island found far from land is called a(n)
a.
atoll.
b.
fringing reef.
c.
barrier reef.
d.
volcanic island.
 

14. 
What happens to a coral reef if the sea level rises or if the sea floor sinks?
a.
It dies.
b.
It is not affected.
c.
It continues to grow upward.
d.
It grows downward.
 

15. 
Over time, coral buried by sediments can turn into
a.
granite.
b.
limestone.
c.
coal.
d.
atolls.
 

16. 
Because plate movements have raised ancient sea floors above sea level,
a.
there is less coral than there used to be.
b.
coral reefs are only found around atolls.
c.
limestone that began as coral reefs can be found on the continents.
d.
all remains of ancient coral reefs have been lost.
 

17. 
Heat and pressure deep beneath Earth’s surface can change any rock into
a.
chemical rock.
b.
gemstones
c.
metamorphic rock.
d.
sedimentary rock.
 

18. 
The heat that changes a rock into metamorphic rock comes from
a.
friction of plate movement.
b.
the sun.
c.
the heat of the mantle.
d.
chemical rocks in the crust.
 

19. 
Geologists classify metamorphic rock according to
a.
the exterior color of the rock.
b.
the overall shape of the rock.
c.
the arrangement of the grains that make up the rock.
d.
the degree of hardness of the rock.
 

20. 
The texture of a metamorphic rock that has grains arranged in parallel layers is described as
a.
foliated.
b.
jagged grained.
c.
coarse grained.
d.
nonfoliated.
 

21. 
Metamorphic rocks that are nonfoliated
a.
split into layers.
b.
do not split into layers.
c.
have mineral grains lined up in parallel layers.
d.
usually have a rougher texture.
 

22. 
A series of processes on Earth’s surface and interior that slowly changes rocks from one kind to another is called
a.
erosion.
b.
crystallization.
c.
the rock cycle.
d.
evaporation.
 

23. 
Which of the following is NOT one of the possible stages in the rock cycle?
a.
volcanic activity
b.
erosion
c.
smelting
d.
melting
 

24. 
What step in the rock cycle would be required to change granite into sandstone?
a.
Dissolved calcite in ocean water cements granite sediment together.
b.
Lava flows melt the granite sediment.
c.
Pieces of the granite melt when they return to the mantle by subduction.
d.
Weathering and erosion slowly change the granite to particles of sediment.
 

25. 
For Stone Mountain in Georgia, the rock cycle began when
a.
a giant eruption formed a massive shield volcano.
b.
a granite batholith formed beneath Earth’s surface.
c.
layers of sediment built up on the floor of an ancient sea.
d.
plate movement pushed Stone Mountain down toward the mantle.
 

26. 
As part of the rock cycle, sedimentary rock attached to an oceanic plate would eventually
a.
get thicker and thicker until it rose above sea level.
b.
come to the end of its pathway through the rock cycle.
c.
change to organic rock.
d.
undergo subduction, melt, and form magma.
 

27. 
During the rock cycle, a collision between two continental plates could force one plate down toward the heat of the mantle, producing
a.
coarse-grained rock.
b.
metamorphic rock.
c.
igneous rock.
d.
sedimentary rock.
 

28. 
The sedimentary rock breccia is made up of
a.
jagged rock particles.
b.
skeletons of ocean organisms.
c.
plant remains.
d.
large crystals.
 

29. 
The process in which dissolved minerals crystallize and glue particles of sediment together is
a.
compaction.
b.
cementation.
c.
deposition.
d.
erosion.
 

30. 
Generally, a rock is made up of
a.
large crystals.
b.
a mixture of minerals and other materials.
c.
small crystals.
d.
a compound of several elements.
 
 
Use the diagram to answer each question.

rockssg_files/i0320000.jpg
 

31. 
In the rock cycle, how could a metamorphic rock become magma?
a.
A metamorphic rock could become magma as a result of Mid-ocean ridge spreading opening a hole and allowing the rock to return to the mantle and melt, forming magma.
c.
A metamorphic rock could become magma as a result of a collision involving contential plate. During subduction, any rock carried on the plate would return to the mantle and melt, forming magma.
b.
A metamorphic rock could become magma as a result of a collision involving an oceanic plate. During subduction, any rock carried on the plate would return to the mantle and melt, forming magma.
d.
A metamorphic rock could become magma as a result of a collision involving an oceanic plate. The collision causes heat that melts the rock and forms magma.
 

32. 
What step in the rock cycle helps sedimentary rock to form?
a.
Volcanic activity provides the sediment from which sedimentary rocks form.
c.
Erosion of igneous and metamorphic (as well as other sedimentary rocks) provides some of the sediment from which sedimentary rocks form.
b.
The subduction of  igneous and metamorphic (as well as other sedimentary rocks) melts to form sedimentary rocks form.
d.
The melting of igneous and metamorphic (as well as other sedimentary rocks) provides the lava from which sedimentary rocks form.
 

33. 
In the rock cycle, what happens to magma and lava once they cool and harden?
a.
Sediment form igneous rock once they cool and harden.
c.
Magma and lava form igneous rock once they melt and become liquid.
b.
Magma and lava form metamorphic rock once they cool and harden.
d.
Magma and lava form igneous rock once they cool and harden.
 

34. 
Must sedimentary rock become metamorphic rock before it can become magma?
a.
No
b.
Yes
 
 
Use the diagram to answer each question.

rockssg_files/i0370000.jpg
 

35. 
Match Rock B with the correct rock from the following list: slate, breccia, granite, limestone, conglomerate, gneiss. Classify Rock B into one of the three major rock groups and explain how it formed.Rock B is gneiss.  Gneiss is a metamorphic rock.  Gneiss can form when granite is subjected to heat and pressure deep underground, squeezing the mineral crystals in the granite into parallel bands.
a.
Rock B is gneiss. Gneiss is a metamorphic rock.  Gneiss can form when granite is subjected to heat and pressure deep underground, squeezing the mineral crystals in the granite into parallel bands.
c.
Rock B is gneiss. Gneiss is a igneous  rock.  Gneiss can form when granite is subjected to heat and pressure deep underground, squeezing the mineral crystals in the granite into parallel bands.
b.
Rock B is gneiss. Gneiss is a sedimentary  rock.  Gneiss can form when granite is subjected to heat and pressure deep underground, squeezing the mineral crystals in the granite into parallel bands.
d.
Rock B is gneiss.Gneiss is a metamorphic rock.  Gneiss can form when sandstone is subjected to heat and pressure deep underground, squeezing the mineral crystals in the sandstone into parallel bands.
 

36. 
Match Rock C with the correct rock from the following list: slate, breccia, granite, limestone, conglomerate, gneiss. Classify Rock C into one of the three major rock groups and explain how it formed.Rock
a.
C is conglomerate.  Conglomerate is a clastic metamorphic rock.  Conglomerate forms when rounded rock fragments such as pebbles are compacted and cemented together.  Conglomerate may contain particles of different sizes including sand.
c.
C is conglomerate.  Conglomerate is a clastic sedimentary rock.  Conglomerate forms when rounded rock fragments such as pebbles are compacted and cemented together.  Conglomerate may contain particles of different sizes including sand.
b.
C is granite.  Granite is a clastic sedimentary rock.  Granite forms when rounded rock fragments such as pebbles are compacted and cemented together.  Granite may contain particles of different sizes including sand.
d.
C is breccia.  Breccia is a clastic sedimentary rock.  Breccia forms when rounded rock fragments such as pebbles are compacted and cemented together.  Breccia may contain particles of different sizes including sand.
 

Modified True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false.  If false, change the identified word or phrase to make the sentence or statement true.
 

37. 
Plate movements drive the mid-ocean ridge by pushing rock back into the mantle, where it melts and becomes magma again.

 

38. 
Each major group of rocks follows only one pathway in the rock cycle.

 

39. 
Granite is an igneous rock made up of the minerals quartz, mica, feldspar, and hornblende.

 

40. 
Particles of minerals called grains give a rock its texture.

 

41. 
Igneous rocks that formed beneath Earth’s surface are extrusive rocks.

 

42. 
High pressure can change an igneous rock into a sedimentary rock.

 

43. 
The most common extrusive rock is basalt.

 

44. 
The small particles of rock or the remains of living things that make up sedimentary rocks are called cement.

 

45. 
Examples of clastic rocks, which are made of particles of other rocks, include sandstone, shale, and breccia.

 

46. 
A metamorphic rock that has grains arranged in bands is said to be nonfoliated.

 

Matching
 
 
a.
rockssg_files/i0520000.jpg
d.
rockssg_files/i0520001.jpg
b.
rockssg_files/i0520002.jpg
e.
rockssg_files/i0520003.jpg
c.
rockssg_files/i0520004.jpg
f.
rockssg_files/i0520005.jpg
 

47. 
granite
 

48. 
gneiss
 

49. 
conglomerate
 

50. 
breccia
 

51. 
limestone
 

52. 
slate
 



 
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