Question 1

The time period of "ancient life" is the _________era.

Accepted Answer

A) Paleozoic 
B) Phanerozoic 
C) Cenozoic 
D) Mesozoic 
A) Paleozoic 
B) Phanerozoic 
C) Cenozoic 
D) Mesozoic

Question 2

The general term_________ denotes a buried, erosional surface where rock layers are missing.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The general term_________ denotes a buried, erosional...

Question 3

A worm would stand a poor chance of being fossilized because __________ .

Accepted Answer

A) worms contain no carbon- 14 
B) worms have no hard parts 
C) worms have been rare during the geologic past 
D) all of these 
A) worms contain no carbon- 14 
B) worms have no hard parts 
C) worms have been rare during the geologic past 
D) all of these

Question 4

When a radioactive isotope decays by electron capture, the electron _________.

Accepted Answer

A) combines with a neutron in the nucleus, raising the mass number of the daughter isotope by one 
B) makes the daughter isotope into an ion with a charge of positive one 
C) combines with a proton in the nucleus; the atomic number of the daughter is one less than the parent 
D) makes the parent isotope into an ion with a charge of negative one 
A) combines with a neutron in the nucleus, raising the mass number of the daughter isotope by one 
B) makes the daughter isotope into an ion with a charge of positive one 
C) combines with a proton in the nucleus; the atomic number of the daughter is one less than the parent 
D) makes the parent isotope into an ion with a charge of negative one

Question 5

The phrase, "The present is the key to the past," refers to the doctrine of __________ .

Accepted Answer

The answer of The phrase, "The present is the key...

Question 6

In an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the one above and younger than the one below. The preceding is a statement of the law of_________ .

Accepted Answer

The answer of In an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks,...

Question 7

Which of the following refers to the investigative process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas?

Accepted Answer

A) cross- access dating 
B) super matching 
C) strata indexing 
D) correlation 
A) cross- access dating 
B) super matching 
C) strata indexing 
D) correlation

Question 8

For a radioactive isotope like Uranium- 235, what does the 235 indicate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of For a radioactive isotope like Uranium- 235,...

Question 9

Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?

Accepted Answer

A) John Wesley Powell, nineteenth century 
B) Nicolaus Steno, seventeenth century 
C) John Stuart Priestly, nineteenth century 
D) William Smith, eighteenth century 
A) John Wesley Powell, nineteenth century 
B) Nicolaus Steno, seventeenth century 
C) John Stuart Priestly, nineteenth century 
D) William Smith, eighteenth century

Question 10

By applying the law of superposition _________dates can be determined.

Accepted Answer

A) conventional 
B) relative 
C) radiometric 
D) both relative and radiometric 
A) conventional 
B) relative 
C) radiometric 
D) both relative and radiometric

Question 11

Which of the following denotes the divisions of the geologic time scale in correct order of decreasing lengths of time beginning with the longest time interval and ending with the shortest?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

Assume that you have just examined several flat- lying sedimentary layers. After much study you determine that there is a considerable span of time for which no sedimentary rock layer exists at this site. You have just discovered a(n)_________.

Accepted Answer

A) series of conformable strata 
B) disconformity 
C) angular unconformity 
D) example of cross- cutting relationships 
A) series of conformable strata 
B) disconformity 
C) angular unconformity 
D) example of cross- cutting relationships

Question 13

_________is an erosional contact between tilted, older strata below and horizontal, younger strata above.

Accepted Answer

A) Cross cutting 
B) A disconformity 
C) An angular unconformity 
D) Inverse bedding 
A) Cross cutting 
B) A disconformity 
C) An angular unconformity 
D) Inverse bedding

Question 14

The_________ is the idea or concept that ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and that the contained assemblage of fossils can determine geologic ages of strata.

Accepted Answer

A) law of fossil regression 
B) principle of faunal succession 
C) law of correlative indexing 
D) principle of cross correlation 
A) law of fossil regression 
B) principle of faunal succession 
C) law of correlative indexing 
D) principle of cross correlation

Question 15

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact. Which of the following statements is correct geologically?

Accepted Answer

A) The granite is older if the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite. 
B) The granite is older if it contains inclusions of sandstone. 
C) The sandstone is younger if the granite contains sandstone inclusions. 
D) The sandstone is younger if it shows evidence of contact metamorphism. 
A) The granite is older if the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite. 
B) The granite is older if it contains inclusions of sandstone. 
C) The sandstone is younger if the granite contains sandstone inclusions. 
D) The sandstone is younger if it shows evidence of contact metamorphism.

Question 16

About 88 percent of geologic time is represented by the time span called the_________ .

Accepted Answer

A) Paleozoic 
B) Phanerozoic 
C) Mesozoic 
D) Precambrian 
A) Paleozoic 
B) Phanerozoic 
C) Mesozoic 
D) Precambrian

Question 17

If the ratio of radioactive parent to stable daughter isotope is 1:3, how many half- lives have elapsed?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the ratio of radioactive parent to...

Question 18

An unconformity is a buried __________.

Accepted Answer

A) surface of erosion with older strata above and younger strata below 
B) fault or fracture with younger strata above and older strata below 
C) surface of erosion separating younger strata above from older strata below 
D) fault or fracture with older rocks above and younger rocks below 
A) surface of erosion with older strata above and younger strata below 
B) fault or fracture with younger strata above and older strata below 
C) surface of erosion separating younger strata above from older strata below 
D) fault or fracture with older rocks above and younger rocks below

Question 19

What is the age of the Earth accepted by most scientists today?

Accepted Answer

A) 4.5 billion years 
B) 6.4 million years 
C) 6.4 billion years 
D) 4.5 million years 
A) 4.5 billion years 
B) 6.4 million years 
C) 6.4 billion years 
D) 4.5 million years

Question 20

Which of the following geologic observations would not bear directly on working out the sequence of geologic events in an area?

Accepted Answer

A) an unconformity between a granite and sandstone 
B) inclusions of sandstone in a granite pluton 
C) the feldspar and quartz contents of a granite 
D) a well- exposed dike of basalt in sandstone 
A) an unconformity between a granite and sandstone 
B) inclusions of sandstone in a granite pluton 
C) the feldspar and quartz contents of a granite 
D) a well- exposed dike of basalt in sandstone

The time period of "ancient life" is the _________era.

The general term_________ denotes a buried, erosional surface where rock layers are missing.

A worm would stand a poor chance of being fossilized because __________ .

When a radioactive isotope decays by electron capture, the electron _________.

The phrase, "The present is the key to the past," refers to the doctrine of __________ .

In an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the one above and younger than the one below. The preceding is a statement of the law of_________ .

Which of the following refers to the investigative process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas?

For a radioactive isotope like Uranium- 235, what does the 235 indicate?

Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?

By applying the law of superposition _________dates can be determined.

Which of the following denotes the divisions of the geologic time scale in correct order of decreasing lengths of time beginning with the longest time interval and ending with the shortest?

Assume that you have just examined several flat- lying sedimentary layers. After much study you determine that there is a considerable span of time for which no sedimentary rock layer exists at this site. You have just discovered a(n)_________.

_________is an erosional contact between tilted, older strata below and horizontal, younger strata above.

The_________ is the idea or concept that ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and that the contained assemblage of fossils can determine geologic ages of strata.

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact. Which of the following statements is correct geologically?

About 88 percent of geologic time is represented by the time span called the_________ .

If the ratio of radioactive parent to stable daughter isotope is 1:3, how many half- lives have elapsed?

An unconformity is a buried __________.

What is the age of the Earth accepted by most scientists today?

Which of the following geologic observations would not bear directly on working out the sequence of geologic events in an area?

An Introduction to Geology

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Matter and Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Intrusive Activity

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Weathering and Soils

Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Origin and Evolution of the Ocean Floor

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Mass Wasting: the Work of Gravity

Running Water

Groundwater

Glaciers and Glaciation

Deserts and Wind

Shorelines

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

Global Climate Change

Filters

Exam 18: Geologic Time

The time period of "ancient life" is the _________era.

The general term_________ denotes a buried, erosional surface where rock layers are missing.

A worm would stand a poor chance of being fossilized because __________ .

When a radioactive isotope decays by electron capture, the electron _________.

The phrase, "The present is the key to the past," refers to the doctrine of __________ .

In an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the one above and younger than the one below. The preceding is a statement of the law of_________ .

Which of the following refers to the investigative process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas?

For a radioactive isotope like Uranium- 235, what does the 235 indicate?

Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?

By applying the law of superposition _________dates can be determined.

Which of the following denotes the divisions of the geologic time scale in correct order of decreasing lengths of time beginning with the longest time interval and ending with the shortest?

Assume that you have just examined several flat- lying sedimentary layers. After much study you determine that there is a considerable span of time for which no sedimentary rock layer exists at this site. You have just discovered a(n)_________.

_________is an erosional contact between tilted, older strata below and horizontal, younger strata above.

The_________ is the idea or concept that ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and that the contained assemblage of fossils can determine geologic ages of strata.

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact. Which of the following statements is correct geologically?

About 88 percent of geologic time is represented by the time span called the_________ .

If the ratio of radioactive parent to stable daughter isotope is 1:3, how many half- lives have elapsed?

An unconformity is a buried __________.

What is the age of the Earth accepted by most scientists today?

Which of the following geologic observations would not bear directly on working out the sequence of geologic events in an area?

An Introduction to Geology

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Matter and Minerals

Igneous Rocks and Intrusive Activity

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Weathering and Soils

Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Origin and Evolution of the Ocean Floor

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Mass Wasting: the Work of Gravity

Running Water

Groundwater

Glaciers and Glaciation

Deserts and Wind

Shorelines

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

Global Climate Change

Filters