Question 1

One reason that Catastrophism was popular was ________.

Accepted Answer

A) Ussher's estimated age of the earth required catastrophic events to form mountains and canyons 
B) Hutton's observations of great geologic time could not explain the rise of mountains or formation of deep canyons 
C) everyone loves a disaster and as a result,the hypothesis that supported disasters was a favorite 
D) there were many real catastrophes,like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,to support the Catastrophism idea 
A) Ussher's estimated age of the earth required catastrophic events to form mountains and canyons 
B) Hutton's observations of great geologic time could not explain the rise of mountains or formation of deep canyons 
C) everyone loves a disaster and as a result,the hypothesis that supported disasters was a favorite 
D) there were many real catastrophes,like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,to support the Catastrophism idea

Question 2

Which of the following best characterizes an angular unconformity?

Accepted Answer

A) Tilted strata lie below the unconformity; bedding in younger strata above is parallel to the unconformity. 
B) Horizontal lava flows lie below the unconformity and horizontal; sedimentary strata lie above. 
C) The discordant boundary between older strata and an intrusive body of granite. 
D) Tilted strata that lie below the unconformity are truncated at the unconformity,and strata above the unconformity are also tilted and truncated,but at a different angle 
A) Tilted strata lie below the unconformity; bedding in younger strata above is parallel to the unconformity. 
B) Horizontal lava flows lie below the unconformity and horizontal; sedimentary strata lie above. 
C) The discordant boundary between older strata and an intrusive body of granite. 
D) Tilted strata that lie below the unconformity are truncated at the unconformity,and strata above the unconformity are also tilted and truncated,but at a different angle

Question 3

Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?

Accepted Answer

A) John Wesley Powell,nineteenth century 
B) William Smith,eighteenth century 
C) John Stuart Priestly,nineteenth century 
D) Nicolaus Steno,seventeenth century 
A) John Wesley Powell,nineteenth century 
B) William Smith,eighteenth century 
C) John Stuart Priestly,nineteenth century 
D) Nicolaus Steno,seventeenth century

Question 4

The term Mesozoic refers to life forms intermediate in complexity between early and much later,more modern-looking life forms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

An unconformity involving older metamorphic rocks and younger sedimentary strata is termed a nonconformity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

What is the inert gas,daughter product of the radioactive isotope,K-40?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the inert gas,daughter product of...

Question 7

The radioactive isotope,potassium-40,has argon-40 as a daughter product.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

You observe a distinct,red sandstone rock body about 50 m thick that is depositionally overlain by a red shale with interbedded gypsum and you follow this boundary in the rock bodies for 1 km until you cross a fault which has displaced the boundary between the two rock bodies.You walk along the fault and see a boundary between a 50 m thick red sandstone and overlying red shale interbedded with gypsum.You conclude ________.

Accepted Answer

A) this is impossibly complex; the fault broke up all the rocks 
B) this new exposure of sandstone,shale and gypsum must be a different age rock unit 
C) the stratigraphic section must have been inverted by the deformation; the rocks are upside down 
D) the second exposure of sandstone,shale and gypsum correlates to the first,and the boundary between the sandstone and shale is the same stratigraphic horizon 
A) this is impossibly complex; the fault broke up all the rocks 
B) this new exposure of sandstone,shale and gypsum must be a different age rock unit 
C) the stratigraphic section must have been inverted by the deformation; the rocks are upside down 
D) the second exposure of sandstone,shale and gypsum correlates to the first,and the boundary between the sandstone and shale is the same stratigraphic horizon

Question 9

In a given area where you have little knowledge of the local geology (rocks types,fossils,etc.),what type of unconformity would be the most difficult to recognize in an exposed sequence of rocks? Why?

Accepted Answer

Disconformity becaus

Question 10

In the late 1700s James Hutton published his important work titled ________.

Accepted Answer

A) Catastrophism 
B) Principles of Geology 
C) Modern Earth Science 
D) Theory of the Earth 
A) Catastrophism 
B) Principles of Geology 
C) Modern Earth Science 
D) Theory of the Earth

Question 11

The ratio of parent to daughter isotopes in a radioactive decay process is 0.40.How many half-lives have elapsed since the material was 100% parent atoms?

Accepted Answer

A) less than l 
B) more than 3 
C) between l and 2 
D) between 2 and 3 
A) less than l 
B) more than 3 
C) between l and 2 
D) between 2 and 3

Question 12

Rare,but complete preservation of fossils occurs in ________.

Accepted Answer

A) limestone 
B) shale 
C) amber 
D) mudstone 
A) limestone 
B) shale 
C) amber 
D) mudstone

Question 13

One type of fossil that can preserve details of organic soft parts is ________.

Accepted Answer

A) permineralization 
B) cast 
C) coprolites 
D) carbonized imprints 
A) permineralization 
B) cast 
C) coprolites 
D) carbonized imprints

Question 14

All of geologic time prior to the beginning of the Paleozoic era is commonly referred to as the ________ era.

Accepted Answer

The answer of All of geologic time prior to the...

Question 15

In the last 20 years geologists have begun measuring accumulation of Helium (He)in some minerals because these minerals can retain He at temperatures up 100-200°C.The "date" gives a time when the material cooled below the temperature where the helium began to be retained,which is related to the depth of the material.Where do you think the He comes from that allows this technique to work?

Accepted Answer

A) the atmosphere,like carbon-14 
B) the sun 
C) beta decay of some radioactive element 
D) alpha decay of some radioactive element 
A) the atmosphere,like carbon-14 
B) the sun 
C) beta decay of some radioactive element 
D) alpha decay of some radioactive element

Question 16

Which type of unconformity would generally indicate the greatest amount of erosion prior to deposition of the overlying rocks?

Accepted Answer

A) nonconformity 
B) angular unconformity 
C) disconformity 
D) buttress unconformity 
A) nonconformity 
B) angular unconformity 
C) disconformity 
D) buttress unconformity

Question 17

Which radioactive decay used for radiometric dating is not an isotope that was generated during nuclear synthesis in the star that went supernova and its products became our solar system?

Accepted Answer

A) 238U 
B) 147Sm 
C) 40K 
D) 14C 
A) 238U 
B) 147Sm 
C) 40K 
D) 14C

Question 18

If you observe an angular unconformity,you would infer that the region had experienced ________.

Accepted Answer

A) deposition in shallow water,uplift or lowering of sea level enough to expose the rocks to erosion and non-deposition for a period of time,and subsequent resubmergence of the remaining sedimentary units where they experience new deposition 
B) uplift and tilting of sedimentary units that exposes them to erosion over a period of time with subsequent renewed deposition 
C) intrusion of igneous rocks into a depositional setting,forcing the sedimentary layers upward and possibly deforming them,followed by subsidence of the remaining sedimentary layers and renewed deposition. 
D) deposition of sedimentary layers on crystalline igneous or metamorphic rocks that are exposed at the surface of the earth 
A) deposition in shallow water,uplift or lowering of sea level enough to expose the rocks to erosion and non-deposition for a period of time,and subsequent resubmergence of the remaining sedimentary units where they experience new deposition 
B) uplift and tilting of sedimentary units that exposes them to erosion over a period of time with subsequent renewed deposition 
C) intrusion of igneous rocks into a depositional setting,forcing the sedimentary layers upward and possibly deforming them,followed by subsidence of the remaining sedimentary layers and renewed deposition. 
D) deposition of sedimentary layers on crystalline igneous or metamorphic rocks that are exposed at the surface of the earth

Question 19

What fundamental concept states that in a horizontal sequence of conformable sedimentary strata,each higher bed is younger than the bed below it?

Accepted Answer

A) law of original correlation 
B) theory of correlative deposition 
C) law of superposition 
D) theory of superstition 
A) law of original correlation 
B) theory of correlative deposition 
C) law of superposition 
D) theory of superstition

Question 20

Visualize five horizontal sedimentary strata exposed in a cliff or canyon wall identified by consecutive numbers,1 being the lowest bed and 5 being the highest.Which of the following statements concerning the strata is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Bed 5 is the oldest. 
B) Beds l and 3 are older than bed 4. 
C) Bed 4 is older than bed 2. 
D) Bed 3 is older than beds 2 and 4. 
A) Bed 5 is the oldest. 
B) Beds l and 3 are older than bed 4. 
C) Bed 4 is older than bed 2. 
D) Bed 3 is older than beds 2 and 4.

Exam 11: Geologic Time

One reason that Catastrophism was popular was ________.

Which of the following best characterizes an angular unconformity?

Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?

The term Mesozoic refers to life forms intermediate in complexity between early and much later,more modern-looking life forms.

An unconformity involving older metamorphic rocks and younger sedimentary strata is termed a nonconformity.

What is the inert gas,daughter product of the radioactive isotope,K-40?

The radioactive isotope,potassium-40,has argon-40 as a daughter product.

In a given area where you have little knowledge of the local geology (rocks types,fossils,etc.),what type of unconformity would be the most difficult to recognize in an exposed sequence of rocks? Why?

In the late 1700s James Hutton published his important work titled ________.

The ratio of parent to daughter isotopes in a radioactive decay process is 0.40.How many half-lives have elapsed since the material was 100% parent atoms?

Rare,but complete preservation of fossils occurs in ________.

One type of fossil that can preserve details of organic soft parts is ________.

All of geologic time prior to the beginning of the Paleozoic era is commonly referred to as the ________ era.

Which type of unconformity would generally indicate the greatest amount of erosion prior to deposition of the overlying rocks?

Which radioactive decay used for radiometric dating is not an isotope that was generated during nuclear synthesis in the star that went supernova and its products became our solar system?

If you observe an angular unconformity,you would infer that the region had experienced ________.

What fundamental concept states that in a horizontal sequence of conformable sedimentary strata,each higher bed is younger than the bed below it?

Visualize five horizontal sedimentary strata exposed in a cliff or canyon wall identified by consecutive numbers,1 being the lowest bed and 5 being the highest.Which of the following statements concerning the strata is true?

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Weathering, soil, and Mass Wasting

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, deserts, and Wind

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition,structure,and Temperature

Moisture, clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Weather

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origin of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light,astronomical Observations,and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

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