Question 1

Lithostratigraphic units are defined by the physical attributes of the rocks

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

An interval of geologic time not represented by strata in a particular area is a(n)____________________.

Accepted Answer

hiatus

Question 3

A hiatus between igneous or metamorphic rocks and sedimentary rocks is represented in the rock record by a(n)____.

Accepted Answer

A) angular unconformity 
B) hiatal unconformity 
C) nonconformity 
D) anticonformity 
E) disconformity 
A) angular unconformity 
B) hiatal unconformity 
C) nonconformity 
D) anticonformity 
E) disconformity C

Question 4

Whose work was the basis for the principle of uniformitarianism and the unavoidable necessity of a great age for Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Charles Lyell 
B) William Smith 
C) James Hutton 
D) Lord Kelvin 
E) John Joly 
A) Charles Lyell 
B) William Smith 
C) James Hutton 
D) Lord Kelvin 
E) John Joly

Question 5

The most accurate radiometric dates are obtained from ____________________ rocks. Only in very unusual circumstances can ____________________ rocks be radiometrically dated.

Accepted Answer

igneous, s

Question 6

Geologists are correlating past geologic events to see if there are correlations with climate changes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

____________________ dating is used to obtain absolute age dates.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ dating is used to obtain absolute...

Question 8

____ is the study of the composition, origin, areal distribution, and age relationships of layered rocks.

Accepted Answer

A) Stratigraphy 
B) Uniformitarianism 
C) Lithography 
D) Chronography 
E) Biostratification 
A) Stratigraphy 
B) Uniformitarianism 
C) Lithography 
D) Chronography 
E) Biostratification

Question 9

The geologic time scale is a static concept that has allowed geologists to accurately date past events.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Suppose an isotope has a half-life of 50 million years, and 1\8 of the sample remaining consists of that isotope. What is the age of the rock from which it was taken?

Accepted Answer

A) 150 million years 
B) 300 million years 
C) 400 million years 
D) 600 million years 
E) 800 million years 
A) 150 million years 
B) 300 million years 
C) 400 million years 
D) 600 million years 
E) 800 million years

Question 11

What is the maximum age limit for radiocarbon dating of fossils?

Accepted Answer

A) 70,000 years 
B) 700,000 years 
C) 7 million years 
D) 70 million years 
E) 700 million years 
A) 70,000 years 
B) 700,000 years 
C) 7 million years 
D) 70 million years 
E) 700 million years

Question 12

What is the goal of the subsurface correlation techniques that are used in the search for oil and gas?

Accepted Answer

Subsurface correlation techniques correl

Question 13

What is the principle of uniformitarianism? Why does the principle of uniformitarianism lead to the conclusion that Earth's age is great?

Accepted Answer

Present-day processes have operated thro

Question 14

An examination of fossilized plants and organisms, along with an analysis of rock type enables scientists to reconstruct historical ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An examination of fossilized plants and organisms,...

Question 15

The most useful method for dating the oldest events on Earth is ____.

Accepted Answer

A) tree ring records 
B) radiometric dating of rocks and fossils 
C) oxygen isotope ratios from ice cores 
D) plankton and isotopes in ocean sediments 
E) glacial evidence 
A) tree ring records 
B) radiometric dating of rocks and fossils 
C) oxygen isotope ratios from ice cores 
D) plankton and isotopes in ocean sediments 
E) glacial evidence

Question 16

What principle states that in an undisturbed succession of sedimentary rocks, the oldest layer is at the bottom and the youngest is at the top?

Accepted Answer

A) The principle of cross-cutting relationships 
B) The principle of inclusions 
C) The principle of fossil succession 
D) The principle of uniformitarianism 
E) The principle of superposition 
A) The principle of cross-cutting relationships 
B) The principle of inclusions 
C) The principle of fossil succession 
D) The principle of uniformitarianism 
E) The principle of superposition

Question 17

A fossil is determined to be 175,000 years old. This is an example of a(n)____ date.

Accepted Answer

A) radiometric 
B) certain 
C) relative 
D) sequential 
E) inferential 
A) radiometric 
B) certain 
C) relative 
D) sequential 
E) inferential

Question 18

What is the loss of two protons and two neutrons from the nucleus called?

Accepted Answer

A) alpha decay 
B) beta decay 
C) electron decay 
D) electron capture 
E) half-life decay 
A) alpha decay 
B) beta decay 
C) electron decay 
D) electron capture 
E) half-life decay

Question 19

____ are a type of lithostratigraphic unit with distinctive upper and lower boundaries.

Accepted Answer

A) Biozones 
B) Stratotypes 
C) Formations 
D) Systems 
E) Zones 
A) Biozones 
B) Stratotypes 
C) Formations 
D) Systems 
E) Zones

Question 20

In the accompanying figure, what type of feature is represented by the letter U? How did it form?

Accepted Answer

U represents an angular unconf

Exam 17: Geologic Time: Concepts and Principles

Lithostratigraphic units are defined by the physical attributes of the rocks

An interval of geologic time not represented by strata in a particular area is a(n)____________________.

A hiatus between igneous or metamorphic rocks and sedimentary rocks is represented in the rock record by a(n)____.

Whose work was the basis for the principle of uniformitarianism and the unavoidable necessity of a great age for Earth?

The most accurate radiometric dates are obtained from ____________________ rocks. Only in very unusual circumstances can ____________________ rocks be radiometrically dated.

Geologists are correlating past geologic events to see if there are correlations with climate changes.

____________________ dating is used to obtain absolute age dates.

____ is the study of the composition, origin, areal distribution, and age relationships of layered rocks.

The geologic time scale is a static concept that has allowed geologists to accurately date past events.

Suppose an isotope has a half-life of 50 million years, and 1\8 of the sample remaining consists of that isotope. What is the age of the rock from which it was taken?

What is the maximum age limit for radiocarbon dating of fossils?

What is the goal of the subsurface correlation techniques that are used in the search for oil and gas?

What is the principle of uniformitarianism? Why does the principle of uniformitarianism lead to the conclusion that Earth's age is great?

An examination of fossilized plants and organisms, along with an analysis of rock type enables scientists to reconstruct historical ____________________.

The most useful method for dating the oldest events on Earth is ____.

What principle states that in an undisturbed succession of sedimentary rocks, the oldest layer is at the bottom and the youngest is at the top?

A fossil is determined to be 175,000 years old. This is an example of a(n)____ date.

What is the loss of two protons and two neutrons from the nucleus called?

____ are a type of lithostratigraphic unit with distinctive upper and lower boundaries.

In the accompanying figure, what type of feature is represented by the letter U? How did it form?

Understanding Earth: a Dynamic and Evolving Planet

Plate Tectonics: a Unifying Theory

Minerals: The Building Blocks of Rocks

Igneous Rocks and Plutons

Volcanoes and Volcanism

Weathering, Erosion, and Soil

Sediment and Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Earthquakes and Earthapos;s Interior

Deformation, Mountain Building, and Earthapos;s Crust

Mass Wasting

Running Water--Streams and Rivers

Groundwater

Glaciers and Glaciation

The Work of Wind and Deserts

Oceans, Shorelines, and Shoreline Processes

Organic Evolution--The Theory and Its Supporting Evidence

Precambrian Earth and Life History

Paleozoic Earth History

Paleozoic Life History

Mesozoic Earth and Life History

Cenozoic Earth and Life History

Filters

The most accurate radiometric dates are obtained from rocks. Only in very unusual circumstances can rocks be radiometrically dated.