Question 1

Finding several species of fossils, rather than just one, in the same rock layer is more useful to geologists because:

Accepted Answer

A)   It indicates the sediments must have been deposited at the same time when all the species were present.
B)   If some of the fossils are broken, others could be used as index species.
C)   If the conditions were not right for fossilization for one species, maybe the conditions were better for other fossil species.

Question 2

Which of the following might help determine the age of the volcanic features in this figure?

Accepted Answer

A)   numeric ages
B)   how well the shapes of the volcanoes are preserved
C)   how well developed soil is on the lava flows
D)   all of these

Question 3

This photograph shows an upper light-colored conglomerate and a lower dark basalt. Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   the conglomerate is older because it overlies the dark basalt
B)   the conglomerate is younger because it contains clasts of the dark basalt
C)   the basalt is younger because it is crosscut by fractures filled with conglomerate
D)   none of these

Question 4

What kind of geologic feature is shown in this photograph?

Accepted Answer

A)   contact metamorphism
B)   unconformity
C)   desert varnish
D)   desert pavement
E)   none of these

Question 5

This figure shows the main subdivisions of the geologic timescale. Which of these is the Mesozoic?

Accepted Answer

A)   A
B)   B
C)   C
D)   D

Question 6

What type of feature is shown in this photograph of Siccar Point, Scotland?

Accepted Answer

A)   monocline
B)   thrust fault
C)   normal fault
D)   unconformity

Question 7

If the contact between the upper light-colored sedimentary layers and the lower dark-colored metamorphic rocks is a depositional contact, what type of feature is present?

Accepted Answer

A)   a surface representing missing geologic time
B)   an angular unconformity
C)   an ancient erosion surface
D)   all of these

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT something we can learn by determining isotopic ages?

Accepted Answer

A)   the age of a volcanic eruption
B)   the age when a rock is uplifted toward the surface
C)   the age of material from which clasts in a sedimentary rock were derived
D)   the cooling history by using different types of isotopic ages
E)   we can determine all of these

Question 9

A hypothesis that explains how new organisms or new characteristics can appear suddenly in the fossil record is called:

Accepted Answer

A)   punctuated equilibrium
B)   natural selection
C)   evolution

Question 10

This figure shows two sections of rocks. What is the youngest unit?

Accepted Answer

A)   unit 1
B)   unit 4
C)   unit 6
D)   unit 9
E)   none of these

Question 11

The fossil fern in this photograph probably indicate that the rock was deposited:

Accepted Answer

A)   by the wind
B)   in the deep ocean
C)   in the shallow ocean
D)   on land

Question 12

This photograph shows an upper unit with fragments and a lower unit with tilted layers. Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   the upper unit is younger because it is on top
B)   the upper unit is younger because it contains pieces of the underlying unit
C)   the lower unit is older because it was tilted and eroded before deposition of the upper unit
D)   all of these

Question 13

Which principle of relative dating can be used to determine when the minerals associated with the granite intrusion in the diagram formed?

Accepted Answer

A)   cross-cutting relations
B)   superposition
C)   original horizontality
D)   inclusions

Question 14

This figure shows the geologic timescale. Which period listed below would be part of the Paleozoic?

Accepted Answer

A)   Permian
B)   Pennsylvanian
C)   Mississippian
D)   Cambrian
E)   all of these

Question 15

This figure shows the geologic timescale. Which period listed below would be part of the Paleozoic?

Accepted Answer

A)   Neogene
B)   Paleogene
C)   Jurassic
D)   Triassic
E)   Cambrian

Question 16

In which of the following time periods did coral, clams, fish, plants and insects become abundant?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

Where are the oldest rocks in the column of sedimentary rocks shown in the diagram?

Accepted Answer

A)   At the bottom
B)   At the top
C)   In the middle

Question 18

Which numbered feature in this figure is the oldest?

Accepted Answer

A)   the upper volcanic unit 1) 
B)   limestone 2) 
C)   sandstone 3) 
D)   metamorphic rocks 4) 
E)   granite 5)

Question 19

Early Earth would have been inhospitable to many life forms of today because:

Accepted Answer

A)   the atmosphere lacked oxygen
B)   the seas were warmer
C)   the sunlight was weaker

Question 20

Which of the following chapters in geologic time occurred before there were abundant animals with hard parts?

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 9: Geologic Time

In which of the following time periods did coral, clams, fish, plants and insects become abundant?

Correct Answer
verified

Which numbered feature in this figure is the oldest?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

What kind of geologic feature is shown in this photograph?

Correct Answer
verified

This photograph shows an upper unit with fragments and a lower unit with tilted layers. Which of the following statements is true?

Correct Answer
verified

Early Earth would have been inhospitable to many life forms of today because:

Correct Answer
verified

This figure shows two sections of rocks. What is the youngest unit?

Correct Answer
verified

Which principle of relative dating can be used to determine when the minerals associated with the granite intrusion in the diagram formed?

Correct Answer
verified

This figure shows the geologic timescale. Which period listed below would be part of the Paleozoic?

Correct Answer
verified

Finding several species of fossils, rather than just one, in the same rock layer is more useful to geologists because:

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following might help determine the age of the volcanic features in this figure?

Correct Answer
verified

If the contact between the upper light-colored sedimentary layers and the lower dark-colored metamorphic rocks is a depositional contact, what type of feature is present?

Correct Answer
verified

This figure shows the geologic timescale. Which period listed below would be part of the Paleozoic?

Correct Answer
verified

A hypothesis that explains how new organisms or new characteristics can appear suddenly in the fossil record is called:

Correct Answer
verified

What type of feature is shown in this photograph of Siccar Point, Scotland?

Correct Answer
verified

This figure shows the main subdivisions of the geologic timescale. Which of these is the Mesozoic?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is NOT something we can learn by determining isotopic ages?

Correct Answer
verified

The fossil fern in this photograph probably indicate that the rock was deposited:

Correct Answer
verified

Where are the oldest rocks in the column of sedimentary rocks shown in the diagram?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following chapters in geologic time occurred before there were abundant animals with hard parts?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 9: Geologic Time

In which of the following time periods did coral, clams, fish, plants and insects become abundant?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which numbered feature in this figure is the oldest?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

This photograph shows an upper light-colored conglomerate and a lower dark basalt. Which of the following statements is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What kind of geologic feature is shown in this photograph?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

This photograph shows an upper unit with fragments and a lower unit with tilted layers. Which of the following statements is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Early Earth would have been inhospitable to many life forms of today because:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

This figure shows two sections of rocks. What is the youngest unit?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which principle of relative dating can be used to determine when the minerals associated with the granite intrusion in the diagram formed?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

This figure shows the geologic timescale. Which period listed below would be part of the Paleozoic?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Finding several species of fossils, rather than just one, in the same rock layer is more useful to geologists because:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following might help determine the age of the volcanic features in this figure?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If the contact between the upper light-colored sedimentary layers and the lower dark-colored metamorphic rocks is a depositional contact, what type of feature is present?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

This figure shows the geologic timescale. Which period listed below would be part of the Paleozoic?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A hypothesis that explains how new organisms or new characteristics can appear suddenly in the fossil record is called:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What type of feature is shown in this photograph of Siccar Point, Scotland?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

This figure shows the main subdivisions of the geologic timescale. Which of these is the Mesozoic?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is NOT something we can learn by determining isotopic ages?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The fossil fern in this photograph probably indicate that the rock was deposited:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Where are the oldest rocks in the column of sedimentary rocks shown in the diagram?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following chapters in geologic time occurred before there were abundant animals with hard parts?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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