Daily Practice Questions (DPQs)

(Lecture 02)

1
 Syllabus
● Interior of the Earth, Types of rocks
Prelims Practice MCQs

Q1. Consider the following statements about the crust of the earth.

1. It is the outermost layer of Earth.

2. It is divided into continental and oceanic crust.
3. It is made of solid rocks and minerals.

Select the correct option from below

a) Only 1
b) Only 1 and 2
c) 1, 2 and 3
d) Only 2

Q2. Consider the following statements about the mantle of the earth.

1. It is the mostly solid bulk of Earth’s interior.

2. It lies between Earth’s core and crust.
3. It makes up 84 percent of Earth’s total volume.
4. It is mainly composed of silicate rocks and magnesium oxide.

Which of the above are correct?

a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 3
c) 1, 2 and 3
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Consider the following statements about the core of the earth.

1. It is composed of iron, nickel, and some other elements.

www.UPSCprep.com
2
 2. It is divided into a solid inner core and a liquid outer core.
3. It is the source of Earth’s magnetic field.
4. It is cooler than the mantle and the crust.

Which of the above are correct?

a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 3
c) 1, 2 and 3
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. With regards to lithosphere and asthenosphere, consider the following-

1. The asthenosphere is the solid, outer part of Earth, while the lithosphere is the hot and
fluid layer below it.
2. The asthenosphere is the source of convection currents that move the tectonic plates of
the lithosphere.

How many of the above are correct?

a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q5. Which of the following discontinuity is incorrectly matched with the layer adjacent to it?

a) Conrad discontinuity - between sial and sima

b) Mohorovičić discontinuity - between sima and upper mantle
c) Repetti discontinuity - between upper and lower mantle
d) Gutenberg discontinuity - between upper mantle and nife

www.UPSCprep.com
3
Q6. Consider the following statements about igneous rocks:
1. They are formed by the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
2. They are one of the three main types of rocks, along with sedimentary and metamorphic
rocks.
3. They can have different compositions, textures and shapes depending on the cooling
conditions and the magma source.
4. They are always fine-grained and glassy in appearance.

Which of the statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 2, 3 and 4
c) 1, 3 and 4
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Consider the following statements about sedimentary rocks:

1. They are formed by the accumulation and lithification of sediment or by the precipitation
from solution at Earth’s surface.
2. They are one of the three main types of rocks, along with igneous and metamorphic
rocks.
3. They can have different compositions, textures and structures depending on the source
and mode of deposition of sediment.
4. They are always coarse-grained and porous in appearance.

Which of the statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 2, 3 and 4
c) 1, 3 and 4
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

www.UPSCprep.com
4
Q8. Consider the following about metamorphic rocks.
1. They are formed by the alteration of preexisting rocks in response to changing
environmental conditions, such as temperature, pressure, and chemical components.
2. They are always banded and foliated in appearance.

Which of the above are true?

a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q9. Which of the following best describes banding in a rock?

a) A linear structure formed by the alignment of minerals in a rock.

b) A discoloration in a stone that can be caused by a variety of different factors.
c) A series of processes that create and transform the types of rocks in Earth’s crust.
d) A variation in structure, texture, color, or composition of a rock that forms layers or
bands.

Q10. Which of the following rocks can be found as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic?

a) Limestone
b) Granite
c) Quartzite
d) Basalt

Mains Level 1 Answer Writing - Practice Question

Q. What is a rock cycle? Discuss. (10 Marks)

www.UPSCprep.com
5
www.UPSCprep.com
6
 Prelims MCQ Answers

Q1. c All the statements are correct. The crust of the earth is the outermost layer of Earth. It is
divided into continental and oceanic crust, which have different thicknesses and compositions. It
is made of solid rocks and minerals, such as granite, basalt, feldspar, quartz, etc.

Q2. d All statements are correct.

The mantle is the mostly solid bulk of Earth’s interior. The mantle lies between Earth’s dense,
superheated core and its thin outer layer, the crust. The mantle is about 2,900 kilometers (1,802
miles) thick, and makes up a whopping 84 percent of Earth’s total volume. The rocks that make
up Earth’s mantle are mostly silicates—a wide variety of compounds that share a silicon and
oxygen structure. The other major type of rock found in the mantle is magnesium oxide.

Q3. c Only 3 statements are correct.

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are true. The core is composed of iron, nickel, and some other elements12.
It is divided into a solid inner core and a liquid outer core. It is the source of Earth’s magnetic
field. However, statement 4 is false. The core is hotter than the mantle and the crust. The
temperature of the outer core ranges from 4400 °C to 6100 °C, and the temperature of the inner
core is about 5700 °C.

Q4. d Neither 1 nor 2 is correct.

The asthenosphere is the hot and fluid layer below the lithosphere, not the other way around. The
lithosphere is the solid, outer part of Earth, including the brittle upper portion of the mantle and
the crust. The asthenosphere is not the source of convection currents that move the tectonic
plates of the lithosphere. The convection currents are generated in the deeper mantle, and they
drag the lithosphere along with them. The asthenosphere acts as a lubricating layer that allows
the lithosphere to move over it.

www.UPSCprep.com
7
Q5. d Statement d is incorrect. . Conrad discontinuity is between sial and sima, which are the
upper and lower crust respectively. Mohorovičić discontinuity is between sima and upper mantle.
Repetti discontinuity is between upper and lower mantle. Gutenberg discontinuity is between
lower mantle and outer core, not between upper mantle and nife. Nife is the name given to the
iron-nickel alloy that makes up the core.

The other statements are correct.

Q6. a Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are true. Igneous rocks are one of the three main types of rocks, along with
sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. They are formed by the cooling and solidification of
magma or lava. They can have different compositions, textures and shapes depending on the
cooling conditions and the magma source. However, statement 4 is false. Igneous rocks are not
always fine-grained and glassy in appearance. They can be coarse-grained and crystalline if they
cool slowly inside the crust (intrusive rocks), or fine-grained and glassy if they cool quickly on
the surface (extrusive rocks).

Q7. a Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are true. Sedimentary rocks are one of the three main types of rocks, along
with igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are formed by the accumulation and lithification of
sediment or by the precipitation from solution at Earth’s surface. They can have different
compositions, textures and structures depending on the source and mode of deposition of
sediment. However, statement 4 is false. Sedimentary rocks are not always coarse-grained and
porous in appearance. They can be fine-grained and compact if they are formed from clay or silt,
or if they undergo compaction and cementation.

Q8. a Statement 2 is incorrect.

www.UPSCprep.com
8
Statement 1 is true. Metamorphic rocks are formed by the alteration of preexisting rocks in
response to changing environmental conditions, such as temperature, pressure, and chemical
components. Metamorphic rocks are one of the three main types of rocks, along with igneous
and sedimentary rocks.. However, statement 2 is false. Metamorphic rocks are not always banded
and foliated in appearance. They can be non-foliated if they are composed of minerals that are
not flat or elongated, or if they undergo uniform pressure. Examples of non-foliated metamorphic
rocks are marble, quartzite, and hornfels.

Q9. d Statement d is correct.

Banding in a rock is a variation in structure, texture, color, or composition of a rock that forms
layers or bands. Banding can be caused by different processes, such as sedimentation,
metamorphism, or magmatic differentiation.

Q10. c The correct answer is c.

The correct answer is C. Quartzite can be found as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks.
Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that forms from quartz sandstone. Quartz sandstone is a
sedimentary rock that forms from the cementation of quartz grains. Quartz grains can also form
igneous rocks, such as granite and rhyolite, when they crystallize from magma or lava.
Therefore, quartzite can have an igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic origin. Limestone,
granite, and basalt are not found as all three types of rocks.

MAINS Model Answer to Practice Question

Q. What is a rock cycle? Discuss. (10 Marks)

Give background

Definition of rock cycle

www.UPSCprep.com
9
Go to the main demand of the question- First draw a diagram then explain. Examples have
been given.

Fig 1. Rock cycle

● Igneous rocks can become sedimentary rocks by weathering, erosion, and lithification.
For example, granite can weather and erode into sand, which can compact and cement
into sandstone.

www.UPSCprep.com
10
 ● Igneous rocks can become metamorphic rocks by high temperature and pressure. For
example, basalt can undergo high temperature and pressure at a plate boundary and turn
into amphibolite.
● Sedimentary rocks can become metamorphic rocks by high temperature and pressure. For
example, limestone can undergo high temperature and pressure deep in the crust and turn
into marble.
● Sedimentary rocks can become igneous rocks by melting and solidification. For example,
shale can melt into magma and solidify into rhyolite.
● Metamorphic rocks can become igneous rocks by melting and solidification. For
example, gneiss can melt into magma and solidify into granite.
● Metamorphic rocks can become sedimentary rocks by weathering, erosion, and
lithification. For example, quartzite can weather and erode into quartz grains, which can
compact and cement into quartz sandstone.

Conclusion

Rock cycle helps in maintaining the mineral balance of the earth and is a continuous process.

www.UPSCprep.com
11