Question 1

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 2

How do geologists determine the relative ages of different rocks?

Accepted Answer

Geologists use the six common

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

On what four assumptions is the principle of faunal succession based?

Accepted Answer

1)The general sequence of fossils is sim

Question 5

Earth's first atmosphere was rich in water vapor but poor in free oxygen. The atmosphere became more oxygenated with the

Accepted Answer

A) development of the ozone layer. 
B) emergence of stromatolites that developed a simple version of photosynthesis. 
C) emergence of gases from volcanic eruptions. 
D) both A and B. 
A) development of the ozone layer. 
B) emergence of stromatolites that developed a simple version of photosynthesis. 
C) emergence of gases from volcanic eruptions. 
D) both A and B.

Question 6

Life forms in the Precambrian included

Accepted Answer

A) trilobites. 
B) brachiopods. 
C) coelacanths. 
D) cyanobacteria. 
A) trilobites. 
B) brachiopods. 
C) coelacanths. 
D) cyanobacteria.

Question 7

The process where an element spontaneously changes into a different element (transmutation)by a change in the nucleus of an atom is called

Accepted Answer

A) radiometric dating. 
B) radioactive decay. 
C) radiometric decay. 
D) none of these 
A) radiometric dating. 
B) radioactive decay. 
C) radiometric decay. 
D) none of these

Question 8

A radiometric date is determined from mica that has been removed from a rock. What does the date signify if the mica is found in granite? What does the date signify if the mica is found in schist?

Accepted Answer

If the mica is found in granite, the dat

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 formation of the early Appalachian Mountains began as a result of tectonic activity during the

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

The oldest known fossils of single-celled organisms are

Accepted Answer

A) 4.6 billion years old. 
B) 3.9 billion years old. 
C) 3.3-3.5 billion years old. 
D) 1.3-1.5 billion years old. 
A) 4.6 billion years old. 
B) 3.9 billion years old. 
C) 3.3-3.5 billion years old. 
D) 1.3-1.5 billion years old.

Question 12

The principle of original horizontality states that each

Accepted Answer

A) sedimentary layer is older than the layer above. 
B) sedimentary layer is younger than the layer above. 
C) new layer of sediment is laid down nearly horizontally over older sediment. 
D) new layer of sediment is laid down accordingly. 
A) sedimentary layer is older than the layer above. 
B) sedimentary layer is younger than the layer above. 
C) new layer of sediment is laid down nearly horizontally over older sediment. 
D) new layer of sediment is laid down accordingly.

Question 13

Which relative dating principle states that in an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each layer is older than the one above and younger than the one below?

Accepted Answer

A) Original horizontality. 
B) Superposition. 
C) Cross-cutting. 
D) Inclusion. 
A) Original horizontality. 
B) Superposition. 
C) Cross-cutting. 
D) Inclusion.

Question 14

An unconformity can be interpreted as

Accepted Answer

A) an occurrence of radioactive decay. 
B) repeated intrusions of igneous rock. 
C) a buried surface of erosion. 
D) the result of repeated volcanic action. 
A) an occurrence of radioactive decay. 
B) repeated intrusions of igneous rock. 
C) a buried surface of erosion. 
D) the result of repeated volcanic action.

Question 15

Which isotopes are most appropriate for dating formations from the following ages: (a)the early Precambrian; (b)the Mesozoic; (c)the late Pleistocene?

Accepted Answer

For the early Precambrian, use uranium-2

Question 16

What is the evidence that a meteorite impact caused the great extinction at the end of the Mesozoic?

Accepted Answer

The concentration of iridium at the Cret

Question 17

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 18

Fossils can be used to determine the relative age of rock layers because they are

Accepted Answer

A) found in a definite order. 
B) deposited horizontally, one fossil at time. 
C) radioactive. 
D) found in sedimentary rocks. 
A) found in a definite order. 
B) deposited horizontally, one fossil at time. 
C) radioactive. 
D) found in sedimentary rocks.

Question 19

The breakup of Pangaea began in the Mesozoic era

Accepted Answer

A) with the rifting apart of North America and Africa. 
B) with the collision of North America with Africa.. 
C) with the formation of the Himalayan Mountains. 
D) at the end of the Ordovician. 
A) with the rifting apart of North America and Africa. 
B) with the collision of North America with Africa.. 
C) with the formation of the Himalayan Mountains. 
D) at the end of the Ordovician.

Question 20

The principle of faunal succession states that

Accepted Answer

A) fossil organisms follow one another in a definite, irreversible time sequence. 
B) rock cycling may dislodge and relocate fossils, making their age difficult to determine. 
C) fossils are always older than the rock in which they are found. 
D) fossils are ordained. 
A) fossil organisms follow one another in a definite, irreversible time sequence. 
B) rock cycling may dislodge and relocate fossils, making their age difficult to determine. 
C) fossils are always older than the rock in which they are found. 
D) fossils are ordained.

Exam 23: Geologic Timereading the Rock Record

The climatic zones of Pangaea ranged from

How do geologists determine the relative ages of different rocks?

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

On what four assumptions is the principle of faunal succession based?

Earth's first atmosphere was rich in water vapor but poor in free oxygen. The atmosphere became more oxygenated with the

Life forms in the Precambrian included

The process where an element spontaneously changes into a different element (transmutation)by a change in the nucleus of an atom is called

A radiometric date is determined from mica that has been removed from a rock. What does the date signify if the mica is found in granite? What does the date signify if the mica is found in schist?

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

The formation of the early Appalachian Mountains began as a result of tectonic activity during the

The oldest known fossils of single-celled organisms are

The principle of original horizontality states that each

Which relative dating principle states that in an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each layer is older than the one above and younger than the one below?

An unconformity can be interpreted as

Which isotopes are most appropriate for dating formations from the following ages: (a)the early Precambrian; (b)the Mesozoic; (c)the late Pleistocene?

What is the evidence that a meteorite impact caused the great extinction at the end of the Mesozoic?

The idea of uniformitarianism suggests that

Fossils can be used to determine the relative age of rock layers because they are

The breakup of Pangaea began in the Mesozoic era

The principle of faunal succession states that

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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