UPCAT Review – Volume 7 – General Science

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PREFACE
Believe That You Can Pass the UPCAT!
by Leopold Laset

Do you sometimes find it hard to believe that your dream to pass the UPCAT can become a reality? If so, then there is
something very important that you need to know.

UPCAT is for dreamers like you.

Every student who passed the UPCAT began thinking or dreaming of passing the UPCAT.

Your near-perfect or perfect score in a quarterly test, your cellphone, PSP, or any gadget, your out-of-town (or out-of-
country) vacation, your new pair of shoes, and any other stuff that you desired and now possess - are all the result of your
‘dream come true’.

What this means is that throughout your lifetime, you have had an idea, you have desired for many things and worked
hard for them, overcome problems and ultimately transformed your dream into reality.

And if hundreds and thousands of students have been able to pass the UPCAT in the past, by starting with a dream, then
it stands to reason, that you can do it too.

Often we make the mistake of thinking that UPCAT is for a small number of bright students who have the brains and
intelligence that we don’t possess.

But this is simply not true.

The fact that thousands of average students have brought their dreams of passing the UPCAT to fruition in the past
demonstrates that the opportunity to qualify in the UPCAT is something that is available to each UPCAT aspirant –
average or bright.

Right now, hundreds of UPCAT dreamers are taking the steps necessary to achieve the goals of passing the UPCAT.
Some are studying this early, some are joining community of fellow dreamers, and some are attending review classes.
What is it that you need to do?

In order to achieve your goal of passing the UPCAT, the only things you really need are:

(1) A crystal clear picture that you already passed the UPCAT

(2) An unshakeable determination to do whatever it takes to make your dream of passing the UPCAT a reality

As soon as you take these two steps, passing the UPCAT becomes achievable. If you need a help – you look for it. If you
encounter a difficult concept – you find a way to understand it. If you can’t solve a math problem – you try and try and
practice more.

And gradually, step-by-step, you bring your UPCAT dream into reality to join the dreams of the thousands of UPCAT
dreamers who have gone before you.

So today I’d like to encourage you to believe in yourself and appreciate the fact that you live in a world where ‘dreams do
come true’.

Understand that thousands of students have made their UPCAT dream a reality in the past – Thousands more will make
their UPCAT dream a reality in the near future and you CAN be one of them.

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GENERAL SCIENCE CONTENTS

 Structure of the Earth

 Theory of Continental Drift
 Seafloor Spreading
 Theory of Plate Tectonics
 Plate Boundaries
 Earthquakes
 Volcanoes
 Minerals
 Rocks
 Weathering and Erosion
 Change and Earth’s History
 The Atmosphere

TABLE OF CONTENTS
page

REVIEW TEST --------------------- 4

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS --------------------- 15

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ANSWER SHEET – GENERAL SCIENCE

Correct Filling A B C D

A B C D A B C D

A B C D A B C D
Incorrect Filling
A B C D A B C D

A B C D

Please use No. 2 Pencil

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GENERAL SCIENCE REVIEW TEST

For questions 1-3 please refer to the following choices:

A. Gold and silver
B. Iron and nickel
C. Oxygen and silicon

1. What materials are abundant in the crust?

2. What does the mantle contain?

3. The metals _______ make up most of the earth’s core.

4. Which does not belong to the group?

A. asthenosphere B. mesosphere C. lithosphere D. troposphere

5. Movement of tectonic plates is due to the hot, flowing condition of the asthenosphere. What is the term
for semi-liquid condition?
A. fluidity B. malleability C. plasticity D. rigidity

6. The outer core is ________ because _________ is the controlling factor.

A. solid – temperature C. liquid – temperature
B. liquid – pressure D. solid – pressure

7. The inner core is ______ because _______ is the controlling factor.

A. solid – temperature C. liquid – temperature
B. liquid – pressure D. solid – pressure

8. Energy in the mesosphere moves slowly by ________.

A. conduction B. convection C. radiation D. conduction and radiation

9. The crust is made up of two separate layers: the oceanic crust and the continental crust. Which of the
following characterizes the oceanic crust?
A. exhibits folded mountain formation C. composed of granite and rhyolite
B. composed of basalt and gabbro D. composed of rocks with low density

10. Which make up continental crust?

A. basalt and gabbro C. limestone and sandstone
B. granite and rhyolite D. granite and basalt

11. Which make up the lithosphere?

A. crust C. upper mantle
B. crust and upper mantle D. upper and lower mantle

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12. The shadow zone is the boundary between the _______?

A. crust and upper mantle C. lower mantle and outer core
B. upper mantle and lower mantle D. outer core and inner core

13. Which best describes primary waves?

A. compress and expand particles that lie in their path
B. resemble the wavelike motion that results when a rope is stretched from side to side
C. both A and B
D. none of the above

14. Which illustrates a surface wave?

A. compress and expand particles that lie in their path
B. resemble the wavelike motion that results when a rope is stretched from side to side
C. both A and B
D. none of the above

15. Where do the seismic waves from an earthquake go? Seismic waves spread out in
A. a straight line C. all directions
B. a perpendicular pattern D. no particular direction

16. Why can earthquakes be not detected at the shadow zone?

A. It is too deep within the earth.
B. The outer core stops P waves and bends S waves.
C. The outer core bends P waves and stops S waves.
D. The outer core bends L waves.

17. Why are P waves bent as they strike the mantle?

A. The core and the mantle have identical properties.
B. The core and the mantle have different properties.
C. The crust and the mantle have identical properties.
D. The crust and the mantle have different properties.

18. A change in direction of a wave as it moves through rock layers of different densities is known as
A. deflection B. reflection C. refraction D. diffraction

19. What is the principle of uniformitarianism?

A. The geologic processes that occurred in the past are very much different from today’s processes.
B. The same processes that shaped the earth are still at work today.
C. The laws of nature changes very much over time.
D. Only sedimentation occurred.

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20. Which supported the continental drift theory?

1. fossils
2. rock formations
3. continental edges
4. glaciers
A. 1 only B. 1 and 2 C. 1, 2, and 3 D. 1, 2, 3, and 4

21. All of the following are associated with seafloor spreading except:
A. divergent plate boundaries C. old age of oceanic crust compared to continental crust
B. mid-oceanic ridges D. rising of magma from the asthenosphere

22. Which of the following occurs when two oceanic plates collide?
A. folded mountain formation C. subduction
B. seafloor spreading D. tension

23. Any plate boundary where the plates collide is called a ___________ boundary.
A. convergent B. divergent C. strike-slip D. transform

24. The theory of _______ explains all known major surface geological phenomena.
A. continental drift C. sea-floor spreading
B. plate tectonics D. none of the above

25. What are formed when two continental plates collide?

A. folded mountains C. trenches
B. rift valleys D. volcanoes

26. Which of the following global locations best shows the action of divergent plate boundaries?
A. African rift valley C. Marianas trench
B. Himalayan mountain range D. Mayon volcano

Questions 27 and 28 are related.

27. The type of stress that can form a trench is _______.

A. compression B. friction C. shear D. tension

28. What kind of fault results from # 27?

A. gravity B. lateral C. normal D. reverse

29. In a ______ fault, the hanging wall to move upward in relation to the footwall, while in a _____ fault, the
hanging wall moves downward in relation to the footwall.
A. normal…….reverse C. reverse……thrust
B. reverse……normal D. uplift……….thrust

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30. Arrange the following in the correct sequence

1. oceanic crust melts
2. magma rises through the earth’s crust
3. pool of magma forms under the earth’s surface
4. magma solidifies forming a pluton
5. oceanic crust subducts at boundary with continental plate
A. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 B. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 C. 5, 1, 3, 2, 4 D. 2, 5, 1, 4, 3

31. What kind of fault is formed by tension?

A. normal B. reverse C. lateral D. transform

32. On the other hand, what kind of fault is formed by compression?

A. normal B. reverse C. lateral D. transform

33. Volcanic eruptions usually occur at the _______ of continents where forces between adjoining tectonic
plates are usually the strongest.
A. bottom B. edges C. middle D. surface

34. What kind of energy do seismic waves carry?

A. kinetic B. light C. potential D. radiant

35. The earth has _______ energy and is changed into ________ energy during an earthquake.
A. kinetic…….potential C. mechanical……light
B. potential……..kinetic D. light……radiant

36. The energy transformation in # 35 occurs at the ________.

A. epicenter B. focus C. Moho D. Shadow zone

37. What happens to the amount of kinetic energy carried by the wave as the wave moves away from the
focus?
A. decreases
B. increases
C. remains the same
D. fluctuates depending on the substance that the wave passes thru

38. Which earthquake waves are called body waves?

A. P and L B. L only C. P and S D. L and S

39. The area along a fault where rocks first break and move is the_______.
A. epicenter B. focus C. Moho D. Shadow zone

40. The point on the earth’s surface where an earthquake’s shaking is generally the strongest is________.
A. epicenter B. focus C. Moho D. Shadow zone

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41. In volcano, what factor causes magma to move through a pipe?
A. heat C. heat and pressure
B. pressure D. temperature

42. Which best characterizes a cinder cone volcano?

A. has flat top formed from runny lava that flows away from the vent
B. has steep sides, generally formed by wet, silica – rich magma
C. contain alternating layers of volcanic debris and lava, has steep tops but gently sloping bases
D. has steep slopes, contains layers of cinders and lava

43. The _______ seismic waves can cause the most damage because they cause the earth’s surface to move
up or down or side to side
A. P B. L C. S D. P and S

44. Which best characterizes a mineral?

1. naturally formed
2. solid
3. has definite crystal structure
4. organic
5. maybe an element or a compound
A. 1, 2, 3, 4 B. 1, 2, 3, 5 C. 1, 2, 4, 5 D. 1, 3, 4, 5

45. Which is NOT a mineral?

A. coal B. diamond C. feldspar D. graphite

46. What is the symbol of quartz?

A. Si O2 B. Si2 O2 C. Si2 O D. Si O

47. Ferrous oxides are composed of:

A. carbon and oxygen C. iron and oxygen
B. ferritin and oxygen D. silicon and oxygen

48. Which is NOT a rock?

A. halite B. phyllite C. granite D. marble

49. Which statement is TRUE?

A. the color of the mineral is always the same
B. the luster of the mineral is always the same
C. the streak of the mineral is always the same
D. none of the above

50. Specific gravity is the ratio of a mineral’s density to the density of water. What is the specific gravity of a
3
mineral whose density is 5.3 g/cm ?
3 3
A. 5.3 B. 5.3 g/cm C. 5.3 cm /g D. 5.3 g
51. Moh’s scale is used to determine the ________ of a mineral.
A. Hardness B. luster C. malleability D. magnetism

52. A mineral scratches all the other minerals. What is its hardness number in Moh’s scale?
A. 9 B. 10 C. 11 D. 12

53. The “lead” in pencil is actually

A. charcoal B. graphite C. halite D. quartzite

54. What minerals maybe used to make porcelain?

A. borax and feldspar C. talc and halite
B. quartz and sulfur D. graphite and gypsum

55. The _________ of a mineral leaves even surface while ______ of a mineral leaves uneven plane.
A. fracture…..cleavage C. hardness…..streak
B. cleavage….fracture D. specific gravity….streak

56. You have two mineral samples that vary in color but are identical in all other properties. What can you
infer about the two samples?
A. different mineral, different impurities C. same mineral, different impurities
B. different mineral, same impurities D. same mineral, same impurities

Questions 57 and 58 are related.

3
57. A sample of a mineral has a mass of 64 g and a volume of 16 cm . What is its density?
3 3 3 3
A. 48 g x cm B. 80 g x cm C. 4 cm /g D. 4 g/cm

58. What is its specific gravity?

A. 4 B. 8 C. 16 D. 32

59. Which does NOT belong to the group?

A. marble B. sandstone C. schist D. quartzite

60. Which is an igneous rock?

A. conglomerate B. gneiss C. obsidian D. phyllite

61. Which is a metamorphic rock?

A. schist B. dolomite C. pumice D. limestone

62. Igneous rocks are formed by the _________ of magma.

A. cooling and solidifying C. depositing and cementing
B. cooling and cementing D. solidifying and depositing
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63. The process by which new rocks are formed thru intense heat and pressure is called ________.
A. crystallization B. lithification C. metamorphism D. plastic deformation

64. Both sedimentary rocks are metamorphic foliated rocks have layers. Sedimentary rocks are formed by
_________ while foliated rock layers consist of _________.
A. particles of different sizes……..different minerals
B. particles of the same size……….same minerals
C. organisms of different sizes………same minerals
D. different minerals…….particles of different sizes

65. When magma cools rapidly, the rocks that form __________.
A. have small or no minerals C. have large mineral crystals
B. are glassy D. are fractured

66. A rock with two very different textures means that the rock probably
A. is sedimentary C. is metamorphic
B. formed at two different depths D. formed as two different rocks fused

67. The oldest rock layers lie on the bottom according to the principle of
A. crosscutting B. faunal succession C. superposition D. uniform process

68. The parent rock of gneiss is __________.

A. clay B. shale C. limestone D. granite

69. Breakdown of rocks due to daily fluctuations in temperature is a form of _________.

A. chemical weathering C. mechanical weathering
B. leaching D. oxidation

70. Which is NOT a factor of weathering?

A. heat C. plants and animals
B. temperature and pressure D. magnetic field

71. Frost action breaks rocks apart due to _________.

A. the expansion of water as it expands C. the sharp edges of the ice
B. the dissolution of minerals by water D. none of the above

72. Which mineral will resist weathering the most?

A. calcite B. feldspar C. iron oxide D. quartz

73. The most important product of weathering is _______.

A. another rock B. mineral C. soil D. fine particle of rock

74. Daily temperature changes affect rocks due to the ________ of the outer surface layer of the rock which
causes rocks to crack.

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1. expansion
2. contraction
3. convection
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. 1 and 2 D. 2 and 3

75. Which is not a form of chemical weathering?

A. carbonation B. exfoliation C. hydration D. oxidation

76. Why is carbonic acid a significant weathering agent?

A. it is a strong acid C. it is common in nature
B. it can be artificially synthesized D. it is naturally occurring

77. What forces break / split parent rock into blocks or boulders?
1. mechanical weathering
2. chemical weathering
3. cementation
4. lithification
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. 1 and 2 D. 3 and 2 and 4

Classification of rivers depends on how much they erode the areas around them. There are three stages of river
erosion: young, mature and old.

For questions 78 and 79 refer to the following:

A. little erosion at the bottom of the river, steep slope, swift flow,
B. presence of rapids and waterfalls V-shaped valleys
C. broad, flat floodplain, oxbow lake
D. gentle slope, presence of meanders
E. rapids and waterfalls, oxbow lake, meanders

78. Which characterizes an old river?

79. Which best describes a young river?

80. Which of the following best explains why nitrogen is the most common gas in the atmosphere?
A. it is inert C. it is needed to produce fertilizers
B. it is required for respiration D. it is a vital component of amino acids

81. In Northern Hemisphere, air in a cyclone blows ________.

A. clockwise C. counterclockwise
B. from west to east D. into an area of high pressure

82. The least dense air is found in the ________.

A. mesosphere B. stratosphere C. thermosphere D. troposphere

83. The layer of the atmosphere which contains the ozone gas is ________.

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A. mesosphere B. stratosphere C. thermosphere D. troposphere

84. In what part of the atmosphere do average sized and large meteors burn in during atmospheric entry?
A. exosphere B. ionosphere C. mesosphere D. stratosphere

85. Why don’t we feel pressure of air?

A. Pressure inside and outside our bodies are equal.
B. Pressure inside our body is greater than the pressure outside our body.
C. Pressure inside is lesser than the pressure outside.
D. Air pressure is negligible.

86. How are the density of air and the air pressure related to the height above the surface of the earth?
A. Density and pressure increases as the height increases.
B. Density and pressure decreases as the height increases.
C. Density increases with altitude while pressure decreases.
D. Density decreases with altitude while pressure increases.

87. Energy that powers weather comes from the sun. How is this energy transferred among the different air
masses in the earth?
A. convection B. radiation C. conduction D. radiation and conduction

88. The warming of the atmosphere due to the trapping of heat from the sun by carbon dioxide and other
gases is known as ________.
A. coriolis effect B. ozone depletion C. smog D. greenhouse effect

89. The gas in the stratosphere that absorbs UV radiation is _______.

A. oxygen B. neon C. ozone D. carbon

90. The layer of the atmosphere where most airline planes travel in is the _____.
A. Stratosphere B. ionosphere C. exosphere D. troposphere

91. The temperature at which air is saturated with water vapor is called the _______.
A. saturation point C. freezing point
B. evaporation point D. dew point

92. Air mass A is 80% saturated, while air mass B is 60% saturated. Assuming that air temperature is
constant, which of the following statements is true?
A. Air mass A has lower dew point than air mass B.
B. Air mass A has higher dew point than air mass B.
C. Air mass A and air mass B have equal dew points.
D. No conclusion regarding dew points can be made.

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93. Air mass A has a water vapor amount of 25ppm while air mass B has 50ppm. Assuming air temperature is
constant, which of the following statements is true?
A. Air mass A would exhibit rain first.
B. Air mass B would exhibit rain first.
C. Both air masses will exhibit rain at the same time.
D. No conclusive statement about rain can be made.

94. Sea and land breezes are caused by _______.

1. uneven heating
2. local changes in air pressure
3. changes in air density
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. 1 and 2 D. 1, 2 and 3

95. The _________ corresponds to the solar surface.

A. chromosphere B. corona C. photosphere D. radiation zone

96. The _________ is the origin of the solar wind.

A. chromosphere B. convection zone C. core D. corona

97. After billions of years, the sun would eventually use up its hydrogen fuel and “die”. It would then become
a
A. black hole B. red giant C. supernova D. white dwarf

98. new moon  __________  waxing quarter  __________  full moon  __________  waning quarter
 __________ new moon
A. waxing gibbous  waxing crescent  waning gibbous  waning crescent
B. waxing crescent  waxing gibbous  waning crescent  waning gibbous
C. waxing gibbous  waxing crescent  waning crescent  waning gibbous
D. waxing crescent  waxing gibbous  waning gibbous  waning crescent

99. Which of the following does not belong to the group?

A. Jupiter B. Neptune C. Pluto D. Saturn

100. Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of _______.

0 0 0 0
A. 21.5 B. 23.5 C. 30.2 D. 40.1

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