Q1: Which of the following forms the outermost solid part of the earth?
1. Core
2. Crust
3. Crust
4. Magma
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The outermost layer of the earth is known as the Crust. The structure of Earth’s interior is divided into three parts: Crust, Mantle, and Core.
Q2: Which of the following is known as the most dense layer of the earth?
1. Core
2. Crust
3. Mantle
4. Magma
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Core is the densest layer of the earth. The density of the core ranges from 9.5 to 14.5 and sometimes even higher (13g/cm3). The density of the Mantle varies from 3.3 to 5.7 (3.4 gm/cm3), and the density of the Crust varies from 2.70 to 2.95 (3g/cm3).
Q3: Which of the following layers of the earth is termed as Sial?
1. Core
2. Crust
3. Mantle
4. None of the above
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The outermost layer of the earth, the crust, is also known as Sial because the major constituent elements of the crust are silica (Si) and aluminium (Al). The mantle is also known as Sima because the major constituent elements of the mantle are magnesium and silicon. The innermost layer of the earth, the core, is also known as Nife because the core is mainly composed of iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni).
Q4: Lithosphere is the combination of?
1. Upper core and lower core
2. Upper crust and lower mantle
3. Crust and uppermost part of mantle
4. Mantle and core
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: Lithosphere refers to the portion of depth up to 200 km from the surface of the earth. The crust and the uppermost part of the mantle are called the lithosphere. Its thickness ranges from 10-200 km.
Q5: Which of the following rocks are found in Oceanic crust?
1. Granite
2. Basalt
3. Igneous rocks
4. Metamorphic rocks
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: Basalt is the type of rock found in Oceanic crust. Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are found in the continental crust. Granite is an example of igneous rocks.
Q6: Which of the following is known as the thinnest layer of the earth?
1. Crust
2. Mantle
3. Core
4. None of the above
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The crust is the thinnest layer of the lithosphere of the Earth. It is usually distinguished from the underlying mantle by its chemical makeup. It is the thinnest layer as it extends only from 30-45 km on land and 5-10 km in the ocean.
Q7: Which is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust?
1. Silicon
2. Iron
3. Aluminium
4. Zinc
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust. Oxygen is the most abundant element in the earth’s crust.
Q8: Nickel & Iron are the main constituents of?
1. Earth Core
2. Earth Crust
3. Mantle
4. None of the above
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: At the centre of the Earth, we have the core, which has two parts. The solid, inner core of iron, which has a radius of about 760 miles (about 1,220 km). Surrounding it a liquid exists composed of nickel-iron alloy.
Q9: Lithosphere includes the crust and the uppermost mantle, which constitute the hard and rigid outer layer of the planet in the range of 0 to _____?
1. 10 km
2. 20 km
3. 200 km
4. 800 km
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: It consists of three main layers: crust, mantle, and core. The crust and solid mantle range from 0 to 200 km. The liquid mantle is there from 200 to about 2900 km.
Q10: Which among the following is the most abundant element by mass in Earth’s Crust?
1. Iron
2. Aluminium
3. Nickel
4. Oxygen
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: Oxygen is the most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. In Earth’s crust, Oxygen is 46.6% by mass, followed by Silicon 27.7% and Aluminum 8.1%.
Q11: Which among the following is the most recent in the geological time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy?
1. Tertiary Period
2. Quaternary Period
3. Cretaceous Era
4. Oligocene
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: Quaternary is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale. It follows the Neogene Period and spans from 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present.
Q12: Mohorovičić discontinuity is also known as a boundary between?
1. Earth’s crust and mantle
2. Sial and Sima
3. Lithosphere and Exosphere
4. Mantle and Earth’s Core
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Mohorovicic Discontinuity, or Moho, is the boundary between the crust and the mantle. Guttenberg is between the Mantle and outer core, Lehman is between the outer core and inner core.
Q13: What is the largest division of the geologic time scale?
1. Eon
2. Era
3. Epoch
4. Period
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: Eon is the largest division of the geologic time scale, spanning from hundreds to thousands of millions of years.
Q14: Which is the lowermost and the oldest epoch of the tertiary period of the geologic time scale?
1. Eocene
2. Holocene
3. Cretaceous
4. Palaeocene
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: Palaeocene is the lowermost and oldest epoch of the tertiary period. It spans between 65 million years ago to 57 million years ago.
Q15: Which among the following is not an Eon?
1. Archean
2. Hadean
3. Palaeozoic
4. Proterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: There are four Eons – Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic. Palaeozoic is an Era.
Q16: Which among the following sequence of Eons is correct?
1. Archean, Hadean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic
2. Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic
3. Archean, Hadean, Phanerozoic, and Proterozoic
4. Hadean, Archean, Phanerozoic, and Proterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: Eon is the largest division of the geologic time scale. The correct sequence of Eons is Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic.
Q17: Which among the following Eon is not included in the Precambrian Supereon?
1. Hadean
2. Archean
3. Phanerozoic
4. Proterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic are part of the Precambrian Supereon.
Q18: Which Eon represents the time before the fossil record of life on Earth?
1. Proterozoic
2. Archean
3. Phanerozoic
4. Hadean
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: The Hadean Eon represents the time before the fossil record of life on Earth. It began 4600 million years ago.
Q19: Which among the following units of geological time is correctly arranged?
1. Eon, Epoch, Era, Period, Age
2. Eon, Period, Era, Epoch, Age
3. Eon, Era, Period, Epoch, Age
4. Period, Eon, Epoch, Period, Age
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: Eons are divided into eras, which are further subdivided into periods, epochs, and ages.
Q20: Who put forward the theory of a petrifying fluid?
1. Avicenna
2. Nicholas Steno
3. Abraham Werner
4. Charles Lyell
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: Avicenna suggested that many of the organisms were fossilised by petrifying fluids, which also explains the stoniness of the fossils.
Q21: Who propounded the Neptunist Theory of Geology?
1. James Hutton
2. Abraham Werner
3. Aristotle
4. F. Hoyle
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The Neptunist theory of geology proposed that all the rocks are formed from the crystallisation of the minerals in the early oceans of the Earth. It was propounded by Abraham Werner.
Q22: Who published the first geologic time scale?
1. Copernicus
2. James Hutton
3. Abraham Werner
4. Arthur Holmes
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: Arthur Holmes published the first geologic time scale in 1913. This time scale included the absolute dates. He also published the book ‘The Age of the Earth’.
Q23: Which geologist published the book ‘The Age of the Earth’?
1. Charles Lyell
2. Arthur Holmes
3. Roderick Murchison
4. Abraham Werner
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: Arthur Holmes, the British geologist, published his renowned book ‘Age of the Earth’. In this book, he estimated the age of the Earth to be 1.6 billion years.
Q24: Which among the following is correct about Chronostratigraphy?
1. It is the study of plates and plate tectonics
2. It is the study of the flow of rivers and its evolution
3. It is the study of the age of rock with relation to time
4. It is the study of mountains and their evolution
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: Chronostratigraphy is the branch of stratigraphy that studies the age of the rock strata with relation to time.
Q25: Who published the first geologic time scale based on the type of fossil found in each era?
1. Arthur Holmes
2. John Phillips
3. Abraham Werner
4. Charles Lyell
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: John Phillips, in 1841, published the first geologic time scale based on the type of fossil found in each era.
Q26: In which Eon did the formation of the Moon take place?
1. Hadean
2. Archean
3. Phanerozoic
4. Proterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The formation of the Moon took place in the Hadean Eon (around 4533- 4527 million years ago).
Q27: In which Eon was the oldest known mineral Zircon found?
1. Archean
2. Hadean
3. Proterozoic
4. Phanerozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The oldest known mineral Zircon was found in the Paleohadean era of the Hadean Eon.
Q28: To which Eon is the evolution of Napier Orogeny related?
1. Archean
2. Hadean
3. Phanerozoic
4. Proterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The formation of the Napier mountains in Antarctica began in the Archean Eon.
Q29: Which is the uppermost stage of the Quaternary period?
1. Calabrian
2. Northgrippian
3. Greenlandian
4. Meghalayan
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: The Meghalayan age is the latest and the uppermost stage of the Quaternary period. It belongs to the Holocene Epoch.
Q30: In which Epoch did the Homo sapiens evolve?
1. Eocene
2. Oligocene
3. Miocene
4. Pleistocene
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: The Homo sapiens evolved in the Chibanian age of the Pleistocene epoch.
Q31: Which is the first geological epoch of the Neogene period?
1. Miocene
2. Pliocene
3. Pleistocene
4. Holocene
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Miocene is the first geological epoch of the Neogene period. It was named by Charles Lyell and extends from 23.03 to 5.33 million years ago.
Q32: What helped determine the absolute divisions in the time scale?
1. Seismometer
2. Radioactive dating
3. Weathering
4. Barometer
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: Scientists used radioactive dating to determine the absolute divisions in the time scale. They developed the time scale by studying the rock layers and fossils worldwide.
Q33: In which era did the formation of the Appalachian mountains take place?
1. Mesozoic era
2. Paleozoic era
3. Cenozoic era
4. Paleoproterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The formation of the Appalachian Mountains took place in the Devonian period of the Paleozoic era.
Q34: Which time comprises almost 90% of the Earth’s history?
1. Pre-Cambrian
2. Quaternary
3. Cenozoic
4. Mesozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Pre-Cambrian is the oldest and the longest time period. It consists of almost 90% of the Earth’s history.
Q35: Which period is called the Age of Fishes?
1. Cambrian
2. Permian
3. Triassic
4. Devonian
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: The Devonian period, part of the Paleozoic era, is called the Age of Fishes as large fishes populated the oceans.
Q36: Which Era is known as the Age of Reptiles?
1. Cenozoic
2. Paleozoic
3. Mesozoic
4. Mesoproterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: The Mesozoic Era began 251 million years ago. Surviving reptiles and amphibians evolved into many other species (like dinosaurs), hence the Age of Reptiles.
Q37: In which Era did Pangaea form?
1. Cenozoic
2. Mesozoic
3. Neoproterozoic
4. Paleozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: Pangaea formed at the end of the Paleozoic Era. Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed millions of years ago on Earth.
Q38: Which Era continues even today?
1. Cenozoic
2. Mesozoic
3. Paleozoic
4. Neoproterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Cenozoic Era began 65 million years ago and continues even today.
Q39: Which Era is known as the Age of Mammals?
1. Mesozoic
2. Cenozoic
3. Paleozoic
4. Neoproterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The Cenozoic Era began 65 million years ago and continues till date. Ceno – new and Zoic life. Humans evolved in this era, and hence it is known as the Age of Mammals.
Q40: Which period is not a part of the Paleozoic Era?
1. Devonian
2. Triassic
3. Cambrian
4. Permian
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The Triassic period is a part of the Mesozoic Era. The Paleozoic Era is divided into six periods – Permian, Carboniferous, Devonian, Silurian, Ordovician, and Cambrian.
Q41: Which among the following is not a part of the Mesozoic Era?
1. Jurassic
2. Triassic
3. Cretaceous
4. Carboniferous
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: The Mesozoic era lasted from 250 million years ago to 65 million years ago. It is divided into three periods – Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous.
Q42: Which period is not a part of the Cenozoic Era?
1. Quaternary
2. Devonian
3. Neogene
4. Paleogene
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The Devonian period is a part of the Paleozoic Era. The Cenozoic Era is divided into three periods – Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary.
Q43: The Cretaceous period belongs to which Era?
1. Mesozoic
2. Paleozoic
3. Cenozoic
4. Phanerozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Cretaceous period belongs to the Mesozoic Era. It lasted from 150 million years ago to 65.5 million years ago.
Q44: Which Era among the following means ancient life?
1. Cenozoic Era
2. Mesozoic Era
3. Paleozoic Era
4. Neoproterozoic Era
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: The Paleozoic Era begins 544 million years ago up to 248 million years ago. It refers to ancient life. It is also known as the Age of Fishes.
Q45: The Largest mass extinction marks the end of which Era?
1. Paleozoic
2. Mesozoic
3. Cenozoic
4. Neoproterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Largest mass extinction marks the extinction of the Paleozoic era. Almost 95% of all life forms disappear in the fossil record.
Q46: In which Era does the Supercontinent Pangaea separate?
1. Mesozoic
2. Cenozoic
3. Paleozoic
4. Neoproterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Mesozoic Era spans from 248 mya to 65 mya. The word Mesozoic means ‘middle life’. The supercontinent Pangaea separates in this era.
Q47: Which era is also known as the new life?
1. Mesozoic
2. Cenozoic
3. Paleozoic
4. Neoproterozoic
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The Cenozoic Era spans from 65 mya up to the present. The word Cenozoic means new life. The first human fossil shows up in this era.
Q48: What does the Lithosphere consist of?
1. The upper and the lower crust
2. The core and the lower level of the mantle
3. The crust and the upper layer of the mantle
4. The upper mantle and the lower mantle
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: The crust and the upper layer of the mantle together make up a zone of rigid, brittle rock called the Lithosphere.
Q49: Which currents cause the flow of the middle mantle?
1. Oceanic currents
2. Convection currents
3. Atmospheric currents
4. Surface currents
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The middle mantle flows because of the convection currents. These currents are caused by the very hot material at the deepest part of the mantle.
Q50: Which is the thinnest layer among all the layers of the Earth?
1. Crust
2. Mantle
3. Inner core
4. Outer core
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth. It is 5-100 km thick. It is the thinnest of all layers of the Earth.
Q51: Which among the following statements is/are correct?
1. The oceanic crust mainly consists of granitic rocks
2. The continental crust mainly comprises basaltic rocks
Select the correct code from the options given below:
1. Only 1
2. Only 2
3. Both 1 & 2
4. Neither 1 & 2
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: The continental crust forms the continents and is mostly made of granite. The oceanic crust lies below the oceans and consists mostly of basalt.
Q52: Which layer contains almost 67% of the Earth’s mass?
1. Crust
2. Mantle
3. Core
4. Outer crust
Answer: 2
Show Answer
Explanation: The mantle lies from about 40 km to 2900 km below the surface. It contains 67% of the mass of the Earth.
Q53: What is the average thickness of the lithosphere?
1. 1000 km
2. 500 km
3. 100 km
4. 5000 km
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: The crust and the uppermost part of the mantle are together called the lithosphere. It is about 100 km thick.
Q54: Which layer of the Earth constitutes the D Layer?
1. Uppermost mantle
2. Lowermost mantle
3. Uppermost crust
4. Lowermost core
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The lowermost portion of the mantle is called the D (D-double-prime) layer. The average thickness of this layer is approximately 200 km.
Q55: What is the innermost rigid part of the mantle called?
1. Thermosphere
2. Mesosphere
3. Asthenosphere
4. Lithosphere
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: Crust and the top portion of the mantle – Lithosphere, Plastic-like layer of the mantle – Asthenosphere, Innermost rigid part of the mantle – Mesosphere
Q56: Which among the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Lithosphere is about 75 km thick beneath the ocean
2. The Lithosphere is about 50 km thick under the continents
Select the correct code from the options given below:
1. Only 1
2. Only 2
3. Both 1 & 2
4. Neither 1 & 2
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Lithosphere comprises the crust and the uppermost mantle. It is 75 km thick beneath the ocean and 125 km under the continents.
Q57: What is the Radius of the Earth?
1. 5500 km
2. 6370 km
3. 7560 km
4. 10670 km
Show Answer
Q57: What is the Radius of the Earth?
1. 5500 km
2. 6370 km
3. 7560 km
4. 10670 km
Explanation: The Radius of the Earth – 6370 km, The Diameter of the Earth – 12740 km
Q58: On which of the following does the seismic wave velocity depend?
1. Density of the rock
2. Elasticity of the rock
3. Shape of the rock
4. Both 1 and 2
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: Seismic wave velocity depends on the density and the elasticity of the rock. Seismic waves travel faster in denser elastic rocks.
Q59: What is the average thickness of the continental crust?
1. Around 35 km
2. Around 100 km
3. Around 75 km
4. Around 750 km
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The average thickness of the continental crust is around 35 km. It is thicker than the oceanic crust.
Q60: What is the radius of the inner core?
1. 2220 km
2. 1220 km
3. 6250 km
4. 3200 km
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The inner core is a hot dense ball, mainly composed of iron (85%) and nickel. The radius of the inner core is 1220 km.
Q61: What is the boundary between the mantle and the core called?
1. Mohorovicic discontinuity
2. Gutenberg discontinuity
3. Conrad discontinuity
4. Lehmann discontinuity
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The Gutenberg discontinuity separates the mantle from the core. It is found at a depth of approximately 2900 km.
Q62: Which geologist named the crust, mantle, and the core as sial, sima, and nife?
1. Alexander Humboldt
2. F. Hoyle
3. Eduard Suess
4. James Jeans
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: Eduard Suess, an Austrian geologist, first named the crust, mantle, and the core as sial, sima, and nife in the 19th century.
Q63: Which layer has the lowest density among all the layers of the Earth’s crust?
1. Sial
2. Sima
3. Nife
4. Outer core
Show Answer
Answer: 1
Explanation: The Sial is the uppermost layer of the Earth’s crust. It has the lowest density among all the layers. Its density ranges from 2.75 to 2.90 g/cm³.
Q64: Which among the following options is not correct about the Earth’s layer and its thickness?
1. Crust – 0 to 50 km
2. Inner core – 2800 to 6371 km
3. Outer core – 2900 to 5100 km
4. Mantle – 50 to 2900 km
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: Crust – 0 to 50 km, Mantle – 50 to 2900 km, Outer core – 2900 to 5100 km, Inner core – 5100 to 6371 km
Q65: What is the average thickness of the oceanic crust?
1. 30 – 35 km
2. 50 – 70 km
3. 5-10 km
4. 100-150 km
Show Answer
Answer: 3
Explanation: The average thickness of the oceanic crust is 5-10 km. It mainly comprises basaltic rocks.
Q66: Which of the following statements is correct about the Lehmann Discontinuity?
1. The boundary between the upper crust and the lower crust
2. The boundary between the inner core and outer core
3. The boundary between the outer core and the mantle
4. The boundary between the crust and the mantle
Show Answer
Answer: 2
Explanation: The boundary between the inner core and the outer core is called the Lehmann Discontinuity. It is also called the Lehmann-Bullen discontinuity.
Q67: What is the average density of the ‘core’ of the Earth?
1. 5 gm/cm³
2. 2.9 gm/cm³
3. 2 gm/cm³
4. 12 gm/cm³
Show Answer
Answer: 4
Explanation: Core (Nife) is the innermost layer of the Earth. It is made up of dense heavy metals. The average density of the core is 12 gm/cm³.
