Question 1

According to the principle of inclusions, if a rock is found embedded within an igneous pluton, the reasonable conclusion would be that:

Accepted Answer

A)  it cannot be determined whether the rock or the pluton is older. 
B)  the rock is the same age as the pluton. 
C)  the rock is younger than the pluton. 
D)  the rock is older than the pluton. 
A)  it cannot be determined whether the rock or the pluton is older. 
B)  the rock is the same age as the pluton. 
C)  the rock is younger than the pluton. 
D)  the rock is older than the pluton. D

Question 2

The principle of _________ states that the present is the key to the past.

Accepted Answer

A)  original horizontality 
B)  uniformitarianism 
C)  superposition 
D)  fossils have evolved over time 
A)  original horizontality 
B)  uniformitarianism 
C)  superposition 
D)  fossils have evolved over time B

Question 3

An eroded fault offsets a dike, which intrudes sedimentary layers. Which event occurred last?

Accepted Answer

A)  Erosion of the fault surface. 
B)  Intrusion of sedimentary layers. 
C)  Deposition of sedimentary layers. 
D)  Faulting and offsetting of a dike. 
A)  Erosion of the fault surface. 
B)  Intrusion of sedimentary layers. 
C)  Deposition of sedimentary layers. 
D)  Faulting and offsetting of a dike. A

Question 4

The proper order of the divisions of the geologic time scale from largest to smallest is:

Accepted Answer

A)  eon, era, period, epoch. 
B)  era, eon, epoch, period. 
C)  epoch, period, eon, era. 
D)  eon, epoch, period, era. 
A)  eon, era, period, epoch. 
B)  era, eon, epoch, period. 
C)  epoch, period, eon, era. 
D)  eon, epoch, period, era.

Question 5

We can apply the principle of uniformitarianism to conclude that:

Accepted Answer

A)  volcanoes have always erupted lava. 
B)  Earth has always rotated at the same speed. 
C)  Earth has always had continents. 
D)  Earth has always had rivers. 
A)  volcanoes have always erupted lava. 
B)  Earth has always rotated at the same speed. 
C)  Earth has always had continents. 
D)  Earth has always had rivers.

Question 6

Correlation of rock units is used to determine:

Accepted Answer

A)  the ages of similar fossils found in geographically distant rocks. 
B)  which geographically distant rock units are the same type of rock. 
C)  which geographically distant rock units were formed under approximately the same environments. 
D)  which geographically distant rock units are approximately the same age. 
A)  the ages of similar fossils found in geographically distant rocks. 
B)  which geographically distant rock units are the same type of rock. 
C)  which geographically distant rock units were formed under approximately the same environments. 
D)  which geographically distant rock units are approximately the same age.

Question 7

We believe the age of the Earth to be about 4.6 billion years old. This theory is confirmed by all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  radiometric dating of meteorites that have struck the Earth. 
B)  extrapolation from radiometric dating of the oldest rocks found on Earth. 
C)  radiometric dating of rocks found on the Moon. 
D)  the proportional amount of lead isotopes on the Earth. 
A)  radiometric dating of meteorites that have struck the Earth. 
B)  extrapolation from radiometric dating of the oldest rocks found on Earth. 
C)  radiometric dating of rocks found on the Moon. 
D)  the proportional amount of lead isotopes on the Earth.

Question 8

Determining a specific age for a geologic event, feature, or rock unit using quantitative data is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  age dating. 
B)  geometric dating. 
C)  relative dating. 
D)  absolute dating. 
A)  age dating. 
B)  geometric dating. 
C)  relative dating. 
D)  absolute dating.

Question 9

According to the principle of cross- cutting relationships, if a dike is found cutting across sedimentary strata, the reasonable conclusion would be that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the dike may be either younger or older than the sedimentary strata. 
B)  the dike is younger than the sedimentary strata. 
C)  the dike and the sedimentary strata are the same age. 
D)  the dike is older than the sedimentary strata. 
A)  the dike may be either younger or older than the sedimentary strata. 
B)  the dike is younger than the sedimentary strata. 
C)  the dike and the sedimentary strata are the same age. 
D)  the dike is older than the sedimentary strata.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about varve chronology is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Summer sediment layers are dark- colored, while winter sediments are light- colored. 
B)  Varve layers are examined in cores extracted from the bottom of a lake. 
C)  Varves are more apparent in lakes that freeze in winter than in those that do not. 
D)  Varves can be used to date geologic events that had an effect on a lake. 
A)  Summer sediment layers are dark- colored, while winter sediments are light- colored. 
B)  Varve layers are examined in cores extracted from the bottom of a lake. 
C)  Varves are more apparent in lakes that freeze in winter than in those that do not. 
D)  Varves can be used to date geologic events that had an effect on a lake.

Question 11

Why do we find neither rocks nor evidence of life as old as the age of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

Many of the Earth's oldest rocks are met

Question 12

The principle of _________ states that in any undisturbed sequence of rock strata, the youngest strata will be at the top and the oldest at the bottom.

Accepted Answer

A)  superposition 
B)  cross- cutting relationships 
C)  inclusions 
D)  original horizontality 
A)  superposition 
B)  cross- cutting relationships 
C)  inclusions 
D)  original horizontality

Question 13

Which of the following statements about unconformities is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sedimentary rock record of most regions represents only 1% to 5% of Earth's existence. 
B)  Virtually every sequence of sedimentary rock layers contains one or more unconformities. 
C)  No single place on Earth contains all of the rock strata composing the entire geologic record. 
D)  Unconformities occur when plate- tectonic forces cause sediments to be deposited at an angle instead of horizontally. 
A)  The sedimentary rock record of most regions represents only 1% to 5% of Earth's existence. 
B)  Virtually every sequence of sedimentary rock layers contains one or more unconformities. 
C)  No single place on Earth contains all of the rock strata composing the entire geologic record. 
D)  Unconformities occur when plate- tectonic forces cause sediments to be deposited at an angle instead of horizontally.

Question 14

The primary reason the principle of original horizontality can be applied by geologists is:

Accepted Answer

A)  rocks are often found in overturned positions. 
B)  sediments tend to be deposited in horizontal layers. 
C)  vast areas have been deformed by tectonic activity. 
D)  lava flows tend to disrupt horizontally deposited sediments. 
A)  rocks are often found in overturned positions. 
B)  sediments tend to be deposited in horizontal layers. 
C)  vast areas have been deformed by tectonic activity. 
D)  lava flows tend to disrupt horizontally deposited sediments.

Question 15

Evidence of the oldest continental landscape includes all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  an eroded surface indicating an unconformity. 
B)  fossilized sea creatures. 
C)  rocks containing paleosols. 
D)  sedimentary rocks containing shallow- water ripples. 
A)  an eroded surface indicating an unconformity. 
B)  fossilized sea creatures. 
C)  rocks containing paleosols. 
D)  sedimentary rocks containing shallow- water ripples.

Question 16

The oldest rocks found on Earth are dated at:

Accepted Answer

A)  4.6 billion years. 
B)  570 million years. 
C)  3.77 billion years. 
D)  3.96 billion years. 
A)  4.6 billion years. 
B)  570 million years. 
C)  3.77 billion years. 
D)  3.96 billion years.

Question 17

The primary change in the Earth's environment that allowed more complex life forms to come into being was:

Accepted Answer

A)  the addition of sufficient dissolved mineral and nutrients in the oceans. 
B)  the development of hospitable climatic belts. 
C)  a change in the Sun's emission of ultraviolet radiation. 
D)  the development of a protective atmosphere. 
A)  the addition of sufficient dissolved mineral and nutrients in the oceans. 
B)  the development of hospitable climatic belts. 
C)  a change in the Sun's emission of ultraviolet radiation. 
D)  the development of a protective atmosphere.

Question 18

Explain how weathering features may indicate the relative ages of rocks, landscapes, and soils.

Accepted Answer

Rocks generally weather from the outside

Question 19

Of the following organisms, the best index fossils would be:

Accepted Answer

A)  bacteria, because they have existed in widespread geographic areas since life first began. 
B)  a specific type of trilobite that existed for only a short geologic time in widespread geographic areas. 
C)  cockroaches, because they have existed in widespread geographic areas almost since the first appearance of insects. 
D)  a specific type of bryzoa that existed for only a short geologic time in very limited geographic areas. 
A)  bacteria, because they have existed in widespread geographic areas since life first began. 
B)  a specific type of trilobite that existed for only a short geologic time in widespread geographic areas. 
C)  cockroaches, because they have existed in widespread geographic areas almost since the first appearance of insects. 
D)  a specific type of bryzoa that existed for only a short geologic time in very limited geographic areas.

Question 20

Briefly discuss how fossils form.

Accepted Answer

Most fossils form when an organism is bu

According to the principle of inclusions, if a rock is found embedded within an igneous pluton, the reasonable conclusion would be that:

The principle of _________ states that the present is the key to the past.

An eroded fault offsets a dike, which intrudes sedimentary layers. Which event occurred last?

The proper order of the divisions of the geologic time scale from largest to smallest is:

We can apply the principle of uniformitarianism to conclude that:

Correlation of rock units is used to determine:

We believe the age of the Earth to be about 4.6 billion years old. This theory is confirmed by all of the following EXCEPT:

Determining a specific age for a geologic event, feature, or rock unit using quantitative data is called:

According to the principle of cross- cutting relationships, if a dike is found cutting across sedimentary strata, the reasonable conclusion would be that:

Which of the following statements about varve chronology is NOT true?

Why do we find neither rocks nor evidence of life as old as the age of the Earth?

The principle of _________ states that in any undisturbed sequence of rock strata, the youngest strata will be at the top and the oldest at the bottom.

Which of the following statements about unconformities is NOT true?

The primary reason the principle of original horizontality can be applied by geologists is:

Evidence of the oldest continental landscape includes all of the following EXCEPT:

The oldest rocks found on Earth are dated at:

The primary change in the Earth's environment that allowed more complex life forms to come into being was:

Explain how weathering features may indicate the relative ages of rocks, landscapes, and soils.

Of the following organisms, the best index fossils would be:

Briefly discuss how fossils form.

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Filters

Exam 8: Telling Time Geologically

According to the principle of inclusions, if a rock is found embedded within an igneous pluton, the reasonable conclusion would be that:

The principle of _________ states that the present is the key to the past.

An eroded fault offsets a dike, which intrudes sedimentary layers. Which event occurred last?

The proper order of the divisions of the geologic time scale from largest to smallest is:

We can apply the principle of uniformitarianism to conclude that:

Correlation of rock units is used to determine:

We believe the age of the Earth to be about 4.6 billion years old. This theory is confirmed by all of the following EXCEPT:

Determining a specific age for a geologic event, feature, or rock unit using quantitative data is called:

According to the principle of cross- cutting relationships, if a dike is found cutting across sedimentary strata, the reasonable conclusion would be that:

Which of the following statements about varve chronology is NOT true?

Why do we find neither rocks nor evidence of life as old as the age of the Earth?

The principle of _________ states that in any undisturbed sequence of rock strata, the youngest strata will be at the top and the oldest at the bottom.

Which of the following statements about unconformities is NOT true?

The primary reason the principle of original horizontality can be applied by geologists is:

Evidence of the oldest continental landscape includes all of the following EXCEPT:

The oldest rocks found on Earth are dated at:

The primary change in the Earth's environment that allowed more complex life forms to come into being was:

Explain how weathering features may indicate the relative ages of rocks, landscapes, and soils.

Of the following organisms, the best index fossils would be:

Briefly discuss how fossils form.

A First Look at Planet Earth - Its Origins, Systems, and Tectonic Plates

Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Processes

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering - the Breakdown of Rocks

Sedimentary Processes, Environments, and Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Earth Structures - Folds, Faults, and Fabrics

Earthquakes

The Earths Interior - Whats Going on Down There

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Oceans

Continental Tectonics and the Formation of the Earths Continents

Mass Movement

Streams and Floods

Groundwater

Glaciers and Ice Ages

Deserts and the Work of Winds

Shores and Coastal Processes

Human Use of the Earths Resources Appendices Glossary

Filters