Question 1

Explain how a supercontinent could impact global ocean currents.

Accepted Answer

Computer models and the rock record both suggest that the assembly of all continents into a single landmass and the development of a single global ocean largely prevented mixing of the surface water and the ocean depths during the Permian Period and causing the chemistry of the ocean water to change drastically.

Question 2

The _________ the time that a species existed, the more precisely the index fossil reflects the age of the rock.

Accepted Answer

Shorter

Question 3

Which is not a true statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Volcanic ash can form a depositional layer and can be used to date rocks because the ash deposit is the same age everywhere it got deposited 
B)  An iridium-rich clay layer from the debris of a giant meteorite impact can be used to date rocks because its presence in rock layers of the same age should be present 
C)  Individual sedimentary layers of similar composition can be used to date rocks because that rock type would have been deposited at the same geologic time 
D)  The presence of a single type of index fossil is sufficient to establish the relative age of a rock 
A)  Volcanic ash can form a depositional layer and can be used to date rocks because the ash deposit is the same age everywhere it got deposited 
B)  An iridium-rich clay layer from the debris of a giant meteorite impact can be used to date rocks because its presence in rock layers of the same age should be present 
C)  Individual sedimentary layers of similar composition can be used to date rocks because that rock type would have been deposited at the same geologic time 
D)  The presence of a single type of index fossil is sufficient to establish the relative age of a rock C

Question 4

Which of the following geologic principle is directly applicable to a tilted layer of the Grand Canyon originally being deposited in a flat, horizontal manner?

Accepted Answer

A)  The principle of superposition states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs 
B)  The principle of crosscutting relationships states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs 
C)  The principle of original horizontality states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs 
D)  The principle of included fragments states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs on 
E)  The principle of faunal succession states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs 
A)  The principle of superposition states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs 
B)  The principle of crosscutting relationships states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs 
C)  The principle of original horizontality states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs 
D)  The principle of included fragments states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs on 
E)  The principle of faunal succession states that sediments accumulate in horizontal layers and are tilted or folded after deposition occurs

Question 5

As sea level rises and falls, the position of the shoreline will change and all of depositional environments associated with the shoreline will also ________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As sea level rises and falls, the...

Question 6

Which is not a true statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Carbon-12 would make an excellent isotope to determine absolute time of a rock because it has a known half-life 
B)  Carbon-14 would make an excellent isotope to determine absolute time of a rock because it has a known half-life 
C)  Uranium would make an excellent isotope to determine absolute time of a rock because it has a known half-life 
D)  Rubidium-87 would make an excellent isotope to determine absolute time of a rock because it has a known half-life 
A)  Carbon-12 would make an excellent isotope to determine absolute time of a rock because it has a known half-life 
B)  Carbon-14 would make an excellent isotope to determine absolute time of a rock because it has a known half-life 
C)  Uranium would make an excellent isotope to determine absolute time of a rock because it has a known half-life 
D)  Rubidium-87 would make an excellent isotope to determine absolute time of a rock because it has a known half-life

Question 7

Which is not a true statement about the geologic time scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  When you look at a geologic time scale, the oldest divisions are at the bottom 
B)  The geologic time scale is revised as more units are evaluated using radiometric dating techniques 
C)  The geologic time scale is revised as more fossil assemblages are described around world 
D)  The geologic time scale is divided into three major eons 
E)  Eons are the largest time units of the geologic time scale 
A)  When you look at a geologic time scale, the oldest divisions are at the bottom 
B)  The geologic time scale is revised as more units are evaluated using radiometric dating techniques 
C)  The geologic time scale is revised as more fossil assemblages are described around world 
D)  The geologic time scale is divided into three major eons 
E)  Eons are the largest time units of the geologic time scale

Question 8

The rocks that currently exist on Earth and contain the record of its history are referred to as the ____________ _____________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The rocks that currently exist on Earth...

Question 9

If you find a fossil of a flowering plant, the rock would have to be a minimum of 543 million years old because flowering plants appeared at the beginning of the Paleozoic Era.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Explain why a high concentration of iridium in a rock layer could suggest that a meteorite struck earth during that time period.

Accepted Answer

Iridium is a rare earth element but is c

Question 11

What specific mineral can be used to isolate datable mineral grains in sandstone to determine an absolute age?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What specific mineral can be used to...

Question 12

Which is a true statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  A disconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when igneous or metamorphic rocks exist below the unconformity and younger, flat, sedimentary rocks exist above the unconformable contact 
B)  An angular unconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when igneous or metamorphic rocks exist below the unconformity and younger, flat, sedimentary rocks exist above the unconformable contact 
C)  A nonconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when igneous or metamorphic rocks exist below the unconformity and younger, flat, sedimentary rocks exist above the unconformable contact 
D)  A geo-conformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when igneous or metamorphic rocks exist below the unconformity and younger, flat, sedimentary rocks exist above the unconformable contact 
A)  A disconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when igneous or metamorphic rocks exist below the unconformity and younger, flat, sedimentary rocks exist above the unconformable contact 
B)  An angular unconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when igneous or metamorphic rocks exist below the unconformity and younger, flat, sedimentary rocks exist above the unconformable contact 
C)  A nonconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when igneous or metamorphic rocks exist below the unconformity and younger, flat, sedimentary rocks exist above the unconformable contact 
D)  A geo-conformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when igneous or metamorphic rocks exist below the unconformity and younger, flat, sedimentary rocks exist above the unconformable contact

Question 13

Which of the following geologic principle is directly applicable to a conglomerate rock found in the Grand Canyon that contains clasts of granite?

Accepted Answer

A)  The principle of superposition states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate 
B)  The principle of crosscutting relationships states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate 
C)  The principle of original horizontality states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate 
D)  The principle of included fragments states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate 
E)  The principle of faunal succession states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate 
A)  The principle of superposition states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate 
B)  The principle of crosscutting relationships states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate 
C)  The principle of original horizontality states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate 
D)  The principle of included fragments states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate 
E)  The principle of faunal succession states that a rock must first exist before pieces of it can be broken off and included in another rock such as a conglomerate

Question 14

Which is not a true statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ages are the longest increment of time on the geologic time scale 
B)  Eras are subdivided into Periods 
C)  Periods are subdivided into Epochs 
D)  The geologic time scale was originally made on the basis of relative dating 
A)  Ages are the longest increment of time on the geologic time scale 
B)  Eras are subdivided into Periods 
C)  Periods are subdivided into Epochs 
D)  The geologic time scale was originally made on the basis of relative dating

Question 15

Which is a true statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  A disconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when the sedimentary layers above and below the unconformity are parallel 
B)  An angular unconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when the sedimentary layers above and below the unconformity are parallel 
C)  A nonconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when the sedimentary layers above and below the unconformity are parallel 
D)  A geo-conformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when the sedimentary layers above and below the unconformity are parallel 
A)  A disconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when the sedimentary layers above and below the unconformity are parallel 
B)  An angular unconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when the sedimentary layers above and below the unconformity are parallel 
C)  A nonconformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when the sedimentary layers above and below the unconformity are parallel 
D)  A geo-conformity in the Grand Canyon can be observed when the sedimentary layers above and below the unconformity are parallel

Question 16

Grasses evolved during the Cretaceous Period which allowed for the establishment of widespread grassland ecosystems for dinosaurs to feed on.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which of the following is not a true statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Carbon-14 is used to date materials younger than 50,000 in age 
B)  Rubidium-87 is used to date materials older than 10,000 years in age 
C)  Rubidium-87 is used to date materials younger than 10,000 years in age 
D)  Carbon-14 would not be used to date materials that are millions or billions of years old because there would not be enough daughter isotopes left to measure 
A)  Carbon-14 is used to date materials younger than 50,000 in age 
B)  Rubidium-87 is used to date materials older than 10,000 years in age 
C)  Rubidium-87 is used to date materials younger than 10,000 years in age 
D)  Carbon-14 would not be used to date materials that are millions or billions of years old because there would not be enough daughter isotopes left to measure

Question 18

Explain how the chemistry of the Permian Ocean led to mass extinctions.

Accepted Answer

The anoxic conditions that developed in

Question 19

Explain how volcanic eruptions can cause a mass extinction event.

Accepted Answer

Volcanic eruptions produce gas

Question 20

Which of the following is not a true statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  If large volcanic eruptions throw gas and fine ash into the atmosphere, this can reflect sunlight back into space causing the climate to cool off 
B)  Sulfur dioxide is a volcanic aerosol that reflects sunlight and cools off the Earth's climate 
C)  The cooling effect of a volcanic eruption occurs within a few weeks or months of the eruption 
D)  Carbon dioxide is a volcanic aerosol that reflects sunlight and cools off the Earth's climate 
E)  Volcanic eruptions coincided with the Permian Mass Extinction event when flood basalts were deposited in Siberia 
A)  If large volcanic eruptions throw gas and fine ash into the atmosphere, this can reflect sunlight back into space causing the climate to cool off 
B)  Sulfur dioxide is a volcanic aerosol that reflects sunlight and cools off the Earth's climate 
C)  The cooling effect of a volcanic eruption occurs within a few weeks or months of the eruption 
D)  Carbon dioxide is a volcanic aerosol that reflects sunlight and cools off the Earth's climate 
E)  Volcanic eruptions coincided with the Permian Mass Extinction event when flood basalts were deposited in Siberia

Exam 4: Geologic Time: a Story in the Rocks

Explain how a supercontinent could impact global ocean currents.

The _________ the time that a species existed, the more precisely the index fossil reflects the age of the rock.

Which is not a true statement?

Which of the following geologic principle is directly applicable to a tilted layer of the Grand Canyon originally being deposited in a flat, horizontal manner?

As sea level rises and falls, the position of the shoreline will change and all of depositional environments associated with the shoreline will also ________________.

Which is not a true statement?

Which is not a true statement about the geologic time scale?

The rocks that currently exist on Earth and contain the record of its history are referred to as the ____________ _____________.

If you find a fossil of a flowering plant, the rock would have to be a minimum of 543 million years old because flowering plants appeared at the beginning of the Paleozoic Era.

Explain why a high concentration of iridium in a rock layer could suggest that a meteorite struck earth during that time period.

What specific mineral can be used to isolate datable mineral grains in sandstone to determine an absolute age?

Which is a true statement?

Which of the following geologic principle is directly applicable to a conglomerate rock found in the Grand Canyon that contains clasts of granite?

Which is not a true statement?

Which is a true statement?

Grasses evolved during the Cretaceous Period which allowed for the establishment of widespread grassland ecosystems for dinosaurs to feed on.

Which of the following is not a true statement?

Explain how the chemistry of the Permian Ocean led to mass extinctions.

Explain how volcanic eruptions can cause a mass extinction event.

Which of the following is not a true statement?

Earth Systems

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The Active Earth: Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and the Earths Structure

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Weathering, Soil, and Erosion

Fresh Water: Streams, Lakes, Ground Water, and Wetlands

Water Resources

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Energy Balance in the Atmosphere

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Climate Change

Motions in the Heavens

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Filters

The rocks that currently exist on Earth and contain the record of its history are referred to as the _.