Question 1

Glacial striations on the continental landmasses provide evidence

Accepted Answer

A) that Hawaii was once joined to Alaska. 
B) of the direction of Pleistocene ice flow. 
C) that the Cenozoic was a very cool time. 
D) that Baja California was once joined to Mexico. 
A) that Hawaii was once joined to Alaska. 
B) of the direction of Pleistocene ice flow. 
C) that the Cenozoic was a very cool time. 
D) that Baja California was once joined to Mexico.

Question 2

Pangaea formed during the Paleozoic and broke up in the Mesozoic. Of all the former continental unions that existed in Paleozoic time, only that of

Accepted Answer

A) Australia and Antarctica has survived to the present time. 
B) Africa and India has survived to the present time. 
C) North and South America has survived to the present time. 
D) Europe and Asia has survived to the present time. 
A) Australia and Antarctica has survived to the present time. 
B) Africa and India has survived to the present time. 
C) North and South America has survived to the present time. 
D) Europe and Asia has survived to the present time.

Question 3

The San Andreas Fault was created

Accepted Answer

A) during the Cenozoic. 
B) by the collision of the westward moving North American Plate and the Pacific ridge. 
C) by the same tectonic activity that formed the Gulf of California. 
D) by Cenozoic tectonic activity that also formed the Gulf of California as the North American Plate collided with the Pacific ridge. 
A) during the Cenozoic. 
B) by the collision of the westward moving North American Plate and the Pacific ridge. 
C) by the same tectonic activity that formed the Gulf of California. 
D) by Cenozoic tectonic activity that also formed the Gulf of California as the North American Plate collided with the Pacific ridge.

Question 4

The San Andreas fault is still active today as the northwest moving

Accepted Answer

A) North American Plate grinds against the southwest moving Pacific Plate. 
B) Pacific Plate grinds against the southwest moving North American Plate. 
A) North American Plate grinds against the southwest moving Pacific Plate. 
B) Pacific Plate grinds against the southwest moving North American Plate.

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 breakup of Pangaea began in the Mesozoic era

Accepted Answer

A) during the Jurassic. 
B) during the Triassic. 
C) at the end of the Triassic. 
D) at the end of the Ordovician. 
A) during the Jurassic. 
B) during the Triassic. 
C) at the end of the Triassic. 
D) at the end of the Ordovician.

Question 7

The Permian period experienced major extinctions, which may have been due to

Accepted Answer

A) global warming. 
B) the emergence of the reptile. 
C) the breakup of Pangaea. 
D) the formation of Pangaea. 
A) global warming. 
B) the emergence of the reptile. 
C) the breakup of Pangaea. 
D) the formation of Pangaea.

Question 8

The break-up of Pangaea had worldwide consequences with the exception of

Accepted Answer

A) the lowering of sea level. 
B) a rise in sea level. 
C) the divergence and evolution of new species. 
D) climate change. 
A) the lowering of sea level. 
B) a rise in sea level. 
C) the divergence and evolution of new species. 
D) climate change.

Question 9

The birth of the San Andreas Fault corresponds to the collision of

Accepted Answer

A) the Pacific Plate and the Hawaiian islands. 
B) the Pacific ridge system and North America. 
C) the movement of the Pacific Plate over a turbulent zone. 
D) India and Eurasia. 
A) the Pacific Plate and the Hawaiian islands. 
B) the Pacific ridge system and North America. 
C) the movement of the Pacific Plate over a turbulent zone. 
D) India and Eurasia.

Question 10

Going from oldest to youngest, the three periods of the Mesozoic are

Accepted Answer

A) Triassic, Jurassic ,and Permian. 
B) Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous. 
C) Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. 
D) Cretaceous, Permian, and Jurassic. 
A) Triassic, Jurassic ,and Permian. 
B) Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous. 
C) Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. 
D) Cretaceous, Permian, and Jurassic.

Question 11

The first reptiles occurred during the

Accepted Answer

A) Tertiary. 
B) Ordovician. 
C) Triassic. 
D) Carboniferous. 
A) Tertiary. 
B) Ordovician. 
C) Triassic. 
D) Carboniferous.

Question 12

What type of igneous formation would agree with the principle of superposition?

Accepted Answer

Lava flows. When volcanoes or

Question 13

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 14

The Precambrian witnessed the development of

Accepted Answer

A) the first atmosphere. 
B) the ozone layer. 
C) photosynthesis. 
D) photosynthesis, an oxygenated atmosphere, and the ozone layer. 
A) the first atmosphere. 
B) the ozone layer. 
C) photosynthesis. 
D) photosynthesis, an oxygenated atmosphere, and the ozone layer.

Question 15

Sea level fluctuated several times during the Paleozoic. Which of the following is NOT a representative factor for sea level rise in the Paleozoic?

Accepted Answer

A) Melting of continental glaciers. 
B) Ocean basins stood high on the asthenosphere due to active seafloor spreading. 
C) Ocean basins stood high on the asthenosphere due to slow but continuous seafloor convergence. 
D) The breakup of the Precambrian supercontinent 
A) Melting of continental glaciers. 
B) Ocean basins stood high on the asthenosphere due to active seafloor spreading. 
C) Ocean basins stood high on the asthenosphere due to slow but continuous seafloor convergence. 
D) The breakup of the Precambrian supercontinent

Question 16

The most noteworthy event that occurred during the Pleistocene was the

Accepted Answer

A) emergence of the early humans. 
B) ice age. 
C) appearance of the grasslands. 
D) divergence of horses. 
A) emergence of the early humans. 
B) ice age. 
C) appearance of the grasslands. 
D) divergence of horses.

Question 17

In what way could sea level rise? Is this likely to happen in the future? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A rise in sea level could be caused by a

Question 18

Coal beds are formed from the accumulation of plant material that becomes trapped in swamp floors. Yet coal deposits are present in the continent of Antarctica, where no swamps or vegetation exists. How can this be?

Accepted Answer

During the Paleozoic, the present-day co

Question 19

What does the principle of superposition say about the ages of rocks?

Accepted Answer

The oldest rock in a

Question 20

Changes in Earth's history are recorded

Accepted Answer

A) in the rock record. 
B) in magnetic tape at the bottom of the oceans. 
C) by rocks at the Library of Congress. 
D) Moon rocks. 
A) in the rock record. 
B) in magnetic tape at the bottom of the oceans. 
C) by rocks at the Library of Congress. 
D) Moon rocks.

Exam 23: Geologic Timereading the Rock Record

Glacial striations on the continental landmasses provide evidence

Pangaea formed during the Paleozoic and broke up in the Mesozoic. Of all the former continental unions that existed in Paleozoic time, only that of

The San Andreas Fault was created

The San Andreas fault is still active today as the northwest moving

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 breakup of Pangaea began in the Mesozoic era

The Permian period experienced major extinctions, which may have been due to

The break-up of Pangaea had worldwide consequences with the exception of

The birth of the San Andreas Fault corresponds to the collision of

Going from oldest to youngest, the three periods of the Mesozoic are

The first reptiles occurred during the

What type of igneous formation would agree with the principle of superposition?

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

The Precambrian witnessed the development of

Sea level fluctuated several times during the Paleozoic. Which of the following is NOT a representative factor for sea level rise in the Paleozoic?

The most noteworthy event that occurred during the Pleistocene was the

In what way could sea level rise? Is this likely to happen in the future? Why or why not?

Coal beds are formed from the accumulation of plant material that becomes trapped in swamp floors. Yet coal deposits are present in the continent of Antarctica, where no swamps or vegetation exists. How can this be?

What does the principle of superposition say about the ages of rocks?

Changes in Earth's history are recorded

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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