Explain why the portions of the San Andreas fault that are "locked" are or are not safer than the parts
where the two plates slide more or less continually. What is the name of the theory that deals with this
issue? What will be an ideal response?
The locked portions of a fault are probably less safe than those that slide regularly. The locked
portions are storing energy in the surrounding rocks, which will ultimately be released in a large
earthquake. The portions that slide frequently build up much less energy, since they release it
frequently. The name of the theory is the seismic gap theory.
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Many politicians and others have advocated that the U.S. reduce its dependence on oil by increasing its domestic drilling program. What are the prospects for this and the correct reason?
A. Poor, because the U.S. has so little of the world's proven oil reserves. B. Excellent, because oil production from shale is guaranteed to increase dramatically and last for decades. C. Excellent, because ANWR will produce several billion barrels once it is developed. D. Not necessary, because the U.S. has such a large share of the world's proven oil reserves.
What happens to the land surface when large ice sheets melt away?
A) It subsides because there is less ice on top. B) The land surface remains unchanged but seems lower because of the loss of ice. C) The land flexes upward due to isostatic rebound. D) The land rises because the rocks are warmer without the ice.
Use the following diagram to answer this question.
Which of the images would be potential sites for both active volcanoes and deep earthquakes?
A. Diagram a and b B. Diagram b and c C. Diagram c and d D. Diagram a, b, c, and d
When someone says we have a southeast wind, what direction would you look to face into the wind?
A) northwest B) west C) east D) southeast