Question 1

What spectacular development in organisms marks the beginning of the Paleozoic era?

Accepted Answer

Organisms developed ability to secrete c

Question 2

When tilted or folded sedimentary layers are covered by younger,horizontal rock layers it is called

Accepted Answer

A) an intrusion. 
B) an angular unconformity. 
C) a syncline. 
D) conformable. 
A) an intrusion. 
B) an angular unconformity. 
C) a syncline. 
D) conformable.

Question 3

In what way could sea level be lowered? How might this affect existing life forms?

Accepted Answer

Sea level could be lowered if the climat

Question 4

Which of the following is not true of the fossil record?

Accepted Answer

A) The fossil record spans 3 billion years of Earth's 4.6 billion year age. 
B) The most common fossils are from organisms that had hard parts like shells and bones. 
C) Similar to present day stromatolites,the first fossils were simple,anaerobic algal plants. 
D) The Paleozoic era is credited with the emergence of life. 
A) The fossil record spans 3 billion years of Earth's 4.6 billion year age. 
B) The most common fossils are from organisms that had hard parts like shells and bones. 
C) Similar to present day stromatolites,the first fossils were simple,anaerobic algal plants. 
D) The Paleozoic era is credited with the emergence of life.

Question 5

In a sequence of rock layers we find trilobite fossils at the bottom of rock layer 1 and dinosaur fossils directly above the fossil trilobites in layer 2.There are inclusions of trilobites in layer 2.We conclude that

Accepted Answer

A) dinosaurs were extinct long before trilobites came into existence. 
B) dinosaurs are from the Cambrian Period. 
C) by inclusion and faunal succession,layer 1 is older than layer 2. 
D) there is no time gap between the rocks. 
A) dinosaurs were extinct long before trilobites came into existence. 
B) dinosaurs are from the Cambrian Period. 
C) by inclusion and faunal succession,layer 1 is older than layer 2. 
D) there is no time gap between the rocks.

Question 6

The idea of uniformitarianism suggests that

Accepted Answer

A) the natural laws that operate today are different than those that have operated in the past. 
B) sediments are laid down layer upon layer with younger layers always on the top. 
C) the processes and natural laws that operate today have been valid throughout geologic time. 
D) all rocks layers are originally uniform. 
A) the natural laws that operate today are different than those that have operated in the past. 
B) sediments are laid down layer upon layer with younger layers always on the top. 
C) the processes and natural laws that operate today have been valid throughout geologic time. 
D) all rocks layers are originally uniform.

Question 7

The five principles used to determine the relative ages of rock include original

Accepted Answer

A) horizontality,superposition,cross cutting,inclusion,and faunal succession. 
B) horizontality,nonconformity,cross cutting,inclusion,and faunal succession. 
C) inclusion,superposition,uniformitarianism,horizontality,and fossil succession. 
D) horizontality,uniformitariansism,cross cutting,stromatolite,and faunal succession. 
A) horizontality,superposition,cross cutting,inclusion,and faunal succession. 
B) horizontality,nonconformity,cross cutting,inclusion,and faunal succession. 
C) inclusion,superposition,uniformitarianism,horizontality,and fossil succession. 
D) horizontality,uniformitariansism,cross cutting,stromatolite,and faunal succession.

Question 8

An eroded surface of metamorphic rocks on which a horizontal bed rests is called a

Accepted Answer

A) strata. 
B) dike. 
C) nonuniform surface. 
D) nonconformity. 
A) strata. 
B) dike. 
C) nonuniform surface. 
D) nonconformity.

Question 9

You would expect to find the least number of fossils in rocks from the

Accepted Answer

A) Cenozoic era. 
B) Mesozoic era. 
C) Paleozoic era. 
D) Precambrian era. 
A) Cenozoic era. 
B) Mesozoic era. 
C) Paleozoic era. 
D) Precambrian era.

Question 10

The Cretaceous extinction that wiped out 60% of Earth's species (including the dinosaurs)is attributed to

Accepted Answer

A) the break-up of Pangaea. 
B) meteorite bombardment. 
C) massive volcanic eruptions. 
D) all of the above 
A) the break-up of Pangaea. 
B) meteorite bombardment. 
C) massive volcanic eruptions. 
D) all of the above

Question 11

The climatic zones of Pangaea ranged from

Accepted Answer

A) glaciation in the south,and a mild temperate climate in the north. 
B) cold,dry temperatures in the north,and warm,tropical temperatures in the south. 
C) humid uplands in the north,and drier,desert like conditions in the south. 
D) widespread glaciation in the north,and a warm,tropical climate in the south. 
A) glaciation in the south,and a mild temperate climate in the north. 
B) cold,dry temperatures in the north,and warm,tropical temperatures in the south. 
C) humid uplands in the north,and drier,desert like conditions in the south. 
D) widespread glaciation in the north,and a warm,tropical climate in the south.

Question 12

In general,when we refer to the time of the "Ice Age" we are referring to the

Accepted Answer

A) Jurassic. 
B) Tertiary era. 
C) Pleistocene epoch. 
D) Pliocene era. 
A) Jurassic. 
B) Tertiary era. 
C) Pleistocene epoch. 
D) Pliocene era.

Question 13

During the Mesozoic,the supercontinent of Pangaea fragmented into

Accepted Answer

A) Laurasia and Gondwanaland. 
B) a rift zone between Africa and Europe. 
C) the present-day continents we see today. 
D) four quadrants. 
A) Laurasia and Gondwanaland. 
B) a rift zone between Africa and Europe. 
C) the present-day continents we see today. 
D) four quadrants.

Question 14

When sea level is low

Accepted Answer

A) shallow marine habitats expand. 
B) low elevation areas of the continents are flooded. 
C) more continental land is exposed. 
D) climate conditions tend to be mild. 
A) shallow marine habitats expand. 
B) low elevation areas of the continents are flooded. 
C) more continental land is exposed. 
D) climate conditions tend to be mild.

Question 15

In a thick bed of sedimentary rocks we find an igneous dike.The order of formation is

Accepted Answer

A) together. 
B) igneous before sedimentary. 
C) sedimentary before igneous. 
D) unknown. 
A) together. 
B) igneous before sedimentary. 
C) sedimentary before igneous. 
D) unknown.

Question 16

During the late Cenozoic,sea level was

Accepted Answer

A) low-water was tied up in the glaciers that covered the land surface. 
B) high as melt water from glaciers was released due to warm ocean floors. 
C) relatively high as ocean floors stood higher and seawater covered the continents. 
D) relatively low due to rifting activity in the final phase of Pangaea's break-up. 
A) low-water was tied up in the glaciers that covered the land surface. 
B) high as melt water from glaciers was released due to warm ocean floors. 
C) relatively high as ocean floors stood higher and seawater covered the continents. 
D) relatively low due to rifting activity in the final phase of Pangaea's break-up.

Question 17

Describe the conditions of Earth during the Precambrian.

Accepted Answer

Hadean: intense volcanic activity,meteor

Question 18

What are the limitations in obtaining radiometric dates?

Accepted Answer

When using the half-life method,scientis

Question 19

Iridium is an element that is relatively

Accepted Answer

A) abundant on Earth,but very rare in meteorites. 
B) rare on Earth,but very common in meteorites. 
C) abundant on both the Earth and the Moon. 
D) rare on both Earth and in meteorites. 
A) abundant on Earth,but very rare in meteorites. 
B) rare on Earth,but very common in meteorites. 
C) abundant on both the Earth and the Moon. 
D) rare on both Earth and in meteorites.

Question 20

The San Andreas Fault is a transform fault separating the

Accepted Answer

A) westward moving North American Plate from the eastward moving Pacific ridge. 
B) westward moving North American Plate from the southwest moving Pacific Plate. 
C) Farallon Plate from the North American Plate. 
D) eastern part of California from the Gulf of California. 
A) westward moving North American Plate from the eastward moving Pacific ridge. 
B) westward moving North American Plate from the southwest moving Pacific Plate. 
C) Farallon Plate from the North American Plate. 
D) eastern part of California from the Gulf of California.

Exam 23: Geologic Time - Reading the Rock Record

What spectacular development in organisms marks the beginning of the Paleozoic era?

When tilted or folded sedimentary layers are covered by younger,horizontal rock layers it is called

In what way could sea level be lowered? How might this affect existing life forms?

Which of the following is not true of the fossil record?

In a sequence of rock layers we find trilobite fossils at the bottom of rock layer 1 and dinosaur fossils directly above the fossil trilobites in layer 2.There are inclusions of trilobites in layer 2.We conclude that

The idea of uniformitarianism suggests that

The five principles used to determine the relative ages of rock include original

An eroded surface of metamorphic rocks on which a horizontal bed rests is called a

You would expect to find the least number of fossils in rocks from the

The Cretaceous extinction that wiped out 60% of Earth's species (including the dinosaurs)is attributed to

The climatic zones of Pangaea ranged from

In general,when we refer to the time of the "Ice Age" we are referring to the

During the Mesozoic,the supercontinent of Pangaea fragmented into

When sea level is low

In a thick bed of sedimentary rocks we find an igneous dike.The order of formation is

During the late Cenozoic,sea level was

Describe the conditions of Earth during the Precambrian.

What are the limitations in obtaining radiometric dates?

Iridium is an element that is relatively

The San Andreas Fault is a transform fault separating the

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Shaping Earths Surface

The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Driving Forces of Weather

The Solar System

Stars and Galaxies

The Structure of Space and Time

Prologue: The Nature of Science

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