PISA Questions (Earth Science)

Faults are fractures or zones of weakness in the Earth’s crust where

movement has occurred. These movements can be horizontal, vertical,
or oblique, and they often lead to the formation of earthquakes. Faults
can be classified into three main types: normal fault, reverse fault
(thrust), and strike-slip fault.

1. Normal faults occur when the hanging wall moves downward

relative to the footwall, typically due to extensional forces
(pulling apart).
2. Reverse (thrust) faults occur when the hanging wall moves
upward relative to the footwall, usually due to compressional
forces (pushing together).
3. Strike-slip faults involve horizontal movement, with the fault
blocks sliding past each other, often caused by shear forces.

Understanding faults is important because they are closely

linked to the generation of earthquakes and can affect
landscapes, infrastructures, and human safety.

1. Which of the following best describes the movement of rocks along

a reverse fault?
a. The hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall.
b. The hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall.
c. The blocks of rock slide past each other horizontally.
d. The rocks on either side of the fault remain stationary.

Answer:

b. The hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall.

Explanation:

A reverse or thrust fault is characterized by the upward movement

of the hanging wall relative to the footwall. This type of fault typically
forms due to compressional forces, where the Earth’s crust is being
pushed together. This is the opposite of a normal fault, where the hanging
wall moves downward due to extensional forces. Strike-slip fault on the
other hand, involve horizontal movement.
Earthquakes are sudden movements of the Earth’s crust caused by
the release of energy accumulated along faults. These movements
can result in the shaking of the ground, damage to buildings, and, in
severe cases, loss of life. The energy that causes an earthquake is
stored in the Earth’s lithosphere and is usually released when the
stress on rocks exceeds their ability to resist deformation.

The size or magnitude of an earthquake is measured using the

Richter scale, which quantifies the amount of energy released during
the event. Earthquakes can be shallow, intermediate, or deep,
depending on where they occur in relation to the Earth’s surface.
Most earthquakes occur along tectonic plate boundaries, where
plates are either colliding, separating, or sliding past one another.

In addition to the initial shaking, earthquakes can trigger secondary

effects such as tsunamis, landslides, and aftershocks.

2. Which of the following factors is most closely related to the

likelihood of an earthquake occurring?
a. The temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere.
b. The movement of tectonic plates at plate boundaries.
c. The amount of rainfall in a region.
d. The type of plants growing in an area.

Answer:

b. The movement of tectonic plates at plate boundaries.

Explanation:

Earthquakes are most commonly associated with the movement of

tectonic plates along plate boundaries. These movements cause
stress to build up along faults, which is then released as seismic
energy during an earthquake. The type of plate boundary – whether
convergent, divergent, or transform – affects the likelihood and
characteristics of earthquakes. In contrast, atmospheric
temperature, rainfall, and vegetation do not have a direct
connection to the occurrence of earthquakes.
A typhoon is a type of tropical cyclone that forms over warm ocean
waters, typically in the Western Pacific Ocean. These storms are
characterized by a well-defined center known as the eye, surrounded
by a powerful rotating system of winds called the eyewall. Typhoons
can bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surges that can cause
widespread flood and damage to coastal areas.

The intensity of a typhoon is measured using the Saffir-Simpson scale,

which classifies storms into five categories, with the Category 1 being
the weakest and Category 5 being the most severe. Factors such as
wind speed, storm surge, and rainfall contribute to the overall impact of
the storm. Typhoons can last several days, with their path and strength
being influenced by ocean temperatures, atmospheric pressure, and
wind patterns.

3. Which of the following factors is most important in determining the

intensity of a typhoon?
a. The temperature of the land it crosses.
b. The amount of rainfall it produces.
c. The wind speed and storm surge.
d. The color of the clouds in the storm.

Answer:

c. The wind speed and storm surge.

Explanation:

The intensity of a typhoon is primarily determined by the wind

speed and storm surge, which are the key components used in the
Saffir-Simpson scale. Strong winds and high storm surges cause the
most damage and destruction in typhoons. While rainfall is a
significant factor in the overall impact (it can lead to flooding), it is
not the primary determinant of the typhoon’s intensity. The
temperature of the land that a typhoon crosses, and the color of the
clouds do not directly influence its classification or strength.
Comets, asteroids, and meteors are all objects in space, but they have
different characteristics and origins.

 Comets are icy bodies that originate from the outer regions of the
solar system, such as the Oort Cloud, and the Kuiper Belt. When
comets approach the Sun, the heat causes the icy materials to
vaporize, creating a coma and a tail. Their orbits are highly
elliptical, meaning they can travel far away from the Sun and
then return again after many years or even centuries.
 Asteroids are rocky objects that are mostly found in the asteroid
belt between Mars and Jupiter, although some also come close to
Earth’s orbit. They range in size from small rocks to objects
several hundred kilometers in diameter. Unlike comets, asteroids
do not have tails or comas, and they are primarily made of rock
and metal, not ice.
 Meteors are small pieces of rock or metal that enter Earth’s
atmosphere form space. As they burn up due to friction with the
atmosphere, they create a streak of light commonly known as a
“shooting star”. If a meteor survives its journey through the
atmosphere and lands on Earth, it is called a meteorite.

4. Which of the following statements is logically consistent with the

information provided about comets, asteroids, and meteors?
a. Both comets and asteroids are composed of ice, while meteors
are made entirely of rock.
b. Asteroids can create visible tails when they approach the Sun,
just like comets.
c. Meteors only become visible when they enter Earth’s
atmosphere, unlike comets and asteroids, which are visible in
space.
d. Comets and meteors are both rocky bodies that orbit the Sun,
while asteroids are icy objects that form tails.

Answer:

c. Meteors only become visible when they enter Earth’s atmosphere,

unlike comets and asteroids, which are visible in space.
 Explanation:

Option C is logically consistent because meteors only become visible

when they burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, creating a streak of light.
In contrast, comets and asteroids can be observed in space, with
comets having tails that are visible when they approach the Sun,
and asteroids being visible as small rocky objects in space.

The Coriolis effect is a phenomenon that causes moving air and water
to turn and twist in certain directions due to the Earth’s rotation. As the
Earth’s spin on its axis, different parts of the Earth move at different
speeds. The equator moves faster than the poles because the Earth’s
circumference is larger at the equator. This difference in speed leads to
the deflection of moving objects, such as air masses, in a predictable
pattern.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes the moving air
and water to deflect to the right. In the Southern Hemisphere, they
deflect to the left. This deflection influences weather patterns and
ocean currents. For example, trade winds in the tropics are curved due
to the Coriolis effect, and large-scale ocean currents, such as the Gulf
Stream, are also shaped by this force.

5. Which of the following best explains the Coriolis effect and its
impact on the movement of air and water on Earth?
a. The Coriolis effect occurs because the Earth’s surface is curved,
causing objects to speed up at the poles and slow down at the
equator.
b. The Coriolis effect is caused by the Earth’s rotation, which causes
moving air and water to be deflected to the right in the Northern
Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
c. The Coriolis effect causes effect causes wind to blow in straight
lines across the Earth, regardless of the Earth’s rotation.
d. The Coriolis effect occurs due to gravitational forces acting on
moving air and water, which results in the deflection of these
elements.

Answer:
b. The Coriolis effect is caused by the Earth’s rotation, which causes
moving air and water to be deflected to the right in the Northern
Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Explanation:

The Coriolis effect is directly linked to the Earth’s rotation. As the

Earth spins, the rotation causes objects like air and water to follow
curved paths instead of moving in a straight line. In the Northern
Hemisphere, these moving objects are deflected to the right, while
in the Southern Hemisphere, they are deflected to the left. This
effect is responsible for the direction of trade winds and the rotation
of large ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream.