Question 1

Where is the oldest layer in this tilted sequence of sedimentary rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  at the top of the hill in the center of the photograph 
B)  the darkest layers will be the oldest 
C)  the layers on the lower left part of the photograph 
D)  the layers on the right of the photograph 
A)  at the top of the hill in the center of the photograph 
B)  the darkest layers will be the oldest 
C)  the layers on the lower left part of the photograph 
D)  the layers on the right of the photograph C

Question 2

In this photograph, Paleozoic sandstone rests depositionally on Precambrian granite. What events must have occurred before deposition of the sandstone?

Accepted Answer

A)  uplift of granite to the surface 
B)  solidification of granite at depth 
C)  formation of an erosion surface 
D)  all of these 
E)  none of these 
A)  uplift of granite to the surface 
B)  solidification of granite at depth 
C)  formation of an erosion surface 
D)  all of these 
E)  none of these D

Question 3

Which of the four numbered features on this figure is the youngest?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 D

Question 4

Which principle can be used by a geologist to determine that the rocks shown in the photograph have not been deformed since they were deposited?

Accepted Answer

A)  Original horizontality 
B)  Superposition 
C)  Cross-cutting relations 
A)  Original horizontality 
B)  Superposition 
C)  Cross-cutting relations

Question 5

Which principle is used to determine the age of rocks by ordering them from oldest on the bottom to the youngest on the top?

Accepted Answer

A)  superposition 
B)  cross-cutting 
C)  inclusions 
D)  unconformities 
A)  superposition 
B)  cross-cutting 
C)  inclusions 
D)  unconformities

Question 6

For which of the following resources do geologic ages help us explore?

Accepted Answer

A)  mineral deposits related to granites 
B)  oil and gas 
C)  groundwater 
D)  all of these 
A)  mineral deposits related to granites 
B)  oil and gas 
C)  groundwater 
D)  all of these

Question 7

Using the data in this table, calculate the number of half-lives that have passed for the granite unit G on this table)?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5

Question 8

Why don't these two sequences of fossil-bearing rocks match exactly?

Accepted Answer

A)  they represent different parts of geologic time 
B)  one section was tilted but not the other 
C)  they have different histories of erosion and deposition 
D)  one represents a transgression whereas the other represents a regression 
A)  they represent different parts of geologic time 
B)  one section was tilted but not the other 
C)  they have different histories of erosion and deposition 
D)  one represents a transgression whereas the other represents a regression

Question 9

Of the following numbered units, which is the oldest?

Accepted Answer

A)  a sedimentary layer 2) 
B)  the granite 4) 
C)  gravels along the river 7) 
D)  the volcano and lava flow 9) 
E)  the highest sedimentary layer 11) 
A)  a sedimentary layer 2) 
B)  the granite 4) 
C)  gravels along the river 7) 
D)  the volcano and lava flow 9) 
E)  the highest sedimentary layer 11)

Question 10

If a rock started with 1,000 atoms of a parent but now contains 250 atoms, how many half lives have passed?

Accepted Answer

A)  .25 half lives 
B)  .5 half lives 
C)  1 half life 
D)  2 half lives 
E)  there is no way to tell 
A)  .25 half lives 
B)  .5 half lives 
C)  1 half life 
D)  2 half lives 
E)  there is no way to tell

Question 11

Some fossil species are of little value to geologists for correlation because:

Accepted Answer

A)  they existed for a short period of geologic time 
B)  they were widespread 
C)  they existed for a long period of geologic time 
A)  they existed for a short period of geologic time 
B)  they were widespread 
C)  they existed for a long period of geologic time

Question 12

Which of the numbered features is the oldest?

Accepted Answer

A)  conglomerate 1) 
B)  unconformity 2) 
C)  shale layer 3) 
D)  lower sedimentary units 4) 
E)  formation of the fold 5) 
A)  conglomerate 1) 
B)  unconformity 2) 
C)  shale layer 3) 
D)  lower sedimentary units 4) 
E)  formation of the fold 5)

Question 13

The contact at the base of unit F in both columns:

Accepted Answer

A)  is a disconformity 
B)  represents erosion or no deposition 
C)  represents some missing time 
D)  all of these 
A)  is a disconformity 
B)  represents erosion or no deposition 
C)  represents some missing time 
D)  all of these

Question 14

The highest surface on this figure is a river terrace. This terrace:

Accepted Answer

A)  is older than the modern river channel 
B)  formed sometime in the past 
C)  predates erosion down to the present level 
D)  all of these 
A)  is older than the modern river channel 
B)  formed sometime in the past 
C)  predates erosion down to the present level 
D)  all of these

Question 15

Which of the following collection of fossils would be LEAST useful for determining the age of a section of rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  fossils that are large and distinctive 
B)  fossils that are widely distributed across different parts of Earth 
C)  the fossil of a family of creatures that lived unchanged for a very long time 
D)  index fossils 
A)  fossils that are large and distinctive 
B)  fossils that are widely distributed across different parts of Earth 
C)  the fossil of a family of creatures that lived unchanged for a very long time 
D)  index fossils

Question 16

From this cross section of the Grand Canyon, what occurred between the formation of the Precambrian metamorphic rocks and the deposition of the lowest Paleozoic rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  uplift 
B)  erosion 
C)  deposition and tilting of the Precambrian sedimentary and igneous rocks 
D)  all of these 
E)  a and b only 
A)  uplift 
B)  erosion 
C)  deposition and tilting of the Precambrian sedimentary and igneous rocks 
D)  all of these 
E)  a and b only

Question 17

Isotopes that decay slowly are used to date:

Accepted Answer

A)  ancient rock 
B)  recent lava flows 
C)  prehistoric cultural sites 
A)  ancient rock 
B)  recent lava flows 
C)  prehistoric cultural sites

Question 18

This figure shows two fault scarps, a lava flow, and erosion along one of the scarps. What is probably the oldest feature of those listed below?

Accepted Answer

A)  the scarp on the left 
B)  the scarp on the right 
C)  the lava flow 
D)  erosion of the scarp on the right 
A)  the scarp on the left 
B)  the scarp on the right 
C)  the lava flow 
D)  erosion of the scarp on the right

Question 19

This figure shows a disconformity between an upper dark layer being deposited by the sea) and a lower light-colored layer. What happened to form this disconformity?

Accepted Answer

A)  The lower layers were tilted and untilted before deposition of the upper layers. 
B)  The boundary between the two units indicates that for a time there was either erosion or no deposition. 
C)  The lower limestones were converted into another rock type by seawater. 
D)  The upper layer must have been deposited by volcanic eruptions. 
A)  The lower layers were tilted and untilted before deposition of the upper layers. 
B)  The boundary between the two units indicates that for a time there was either erosion or no deposition. 
C)  The lower limestones were converted into another rock type by seawater. 
D)  The upper layer must have been deposited by volcanic eruptions.

Question 20

What is the main geologic feature for which Siccar Point in Scotland is famous?

Accepted Answer

A)  a boundary between steep gray layers below and gently dipping red layer above 
B)  an unconformity 
C)  an ancient erosion surface 
D)  all of these 
E)  none of these 
A)  a boundary between steep gray layers below and gently dipping red layer above 
B)  an unconformity 
C)  an ancient erosion surface 
D)  all of these 
E)  none of these

Where is the oldest layer in this tilted sequence of sedimentary rocks?

In this photograph, Paleozoic sandstone rests depositionally on Precambrian granite. What events must have occurred before deposition of the sandstone?

Which of the four numbered features on this figure is the youngest?

Which principle can be used by a geologist to determine that the rocks shown in the photograph have not been deformed since they were deposited?

Which principle is used to determine the age of rocks by ordering them from oldest on the bottom to the youngest on the top?

For which of the following resources do geologic ages help us explore?

Using the data in this table, calculate the number of half-lives that have passed for the granite unit G on this table)?

Why don't these two sequences of fossil-bearing rocks match exactly?

Of the following numbered units, which is the oldest?

If a rock started with 1,000 atoms of a parent but now contains 250 atoms, how many half lives have passed?

Some fossil species are of little value to geologists for correlation because:

Which of the numbered features is the oldest?

The contact at the base of unit F in both columns:

The highest surface on this figure is a river terrace. This terrace:

Which of the following collection of fossils would be LEAST useful for determining the age of a section of rocks?

From this cross section of the Grand Canyon, what occurred between the formation of the Precambrian metamorphic rocks and the deposition of the lowest Paleozoic rocks?

Isotopes that decay slowly are used to date:

This figure shows two fault scarps, a lava flow, and erosion along one of the scarps. What is probably the oldest feature of those listed below?

This figure shows a disconformity between an upper dark layer being deposited by the sea) and a lower light-colored layer. What happened to form this disconformity?

What is the main geologic feature for which Siccar Point in Scotland is famous?

The Nature of Geology

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Climate and Weathering

Glaciers, Shorelines, and Changing Sea Levels

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Streams and Flooding

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Exam 9: Geologic Time

Where is the oldest layer in this tilted sequence of sedimentary rocks?

In this photograph, Paleozoic sandstone rests depositionally on Precambrian granite. What events must have occurred before deposition of the sandstone?

Which of the four numbered features on this figure is the youngest?

Which principle can be used by a geologist to determine that the rocks shown in the photograph have not been deformed since they were deposited?

Which principle is used to determine the age of rocks by ordering them from oldest on the bottom to the youngest on the top?

For which of the following resources do geologic ages help us explore?

Using the data in this table, calculate the number of half-lives that have passed for the granite unit G on this table)?

Why don't these two sequences of fossil-bearing rocks match exactly?

Of the following numbered units, which is the oldest?

If a rock started with 1,000 atoms of a parent but now contains 250 atoms, how many half lives have passed?

Some fossil species are of little value to geologists for correlation because:

Which of the numbered features is the oldest?

The contact at the base of unit F in both columns:

The highest surface on this figure is a river terrace. This terrace:

Which of the following collection of fossils would be LEAST useful for determining the age of a section of rocks?

From this cross section of the Grand Canyon, what occurred between the formation of the Precambrian metamorphic rocks and the deposition of the lowest Paleozoic rocks?

Isotopes that decay slowly are used to date:

This figure shows two fault scarps, a lava flow, and erosion along one of the scarps. What is probably the oldest feature of those listed below?

This figure shows a disconformity between an upper dark layer being deposited by the sea) and a lower light-colored layer. What happened to form this disconformity?

What is the main geologic feature for which Siccar Point in Scotland is famous?

The Nature of Geology

Investigating Geologic Questions

Plate Tectonics

Earth Materials

Igneous Environments

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Sedimentary Environments

Deformation and Metamorphism

Seafloor and Continental Margins

Mountains, Basins, and Continents

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Climate and Weathering

Glaciers, Shorelines, and Changing Sea Levels

Weathering, Soil, and Unstable Slopes

Streams and Flooding

Water Resources

Energy and Mineral Resources

Geology of the Solar System

Filters