Why do many geologists study layers of strata?
They are interested in the exploitation of fossil fuels.
They are interested in determining how dinosaurs went extinc
They want to learn more about the history of the Earth.
They hope to discover Greek-era ruins.
Which of the following would NOT be a good trait for an index fossil?
It is found in only a small portion of geologic history.
It is easy to tell which species it is.
It is difficult to miss when looking for fossils.
It is found in only one place in the world.
A particular radioactive isotope has a half-life of 200 years. At what time will there be 25% of the isotope left?
1,400 years
800 years
600 years
400 years
What relatively recent epoch ended roughly 12,000 years ago?
The Holocene Epoch
The Miocene Epoch
The Pliocene Epoch
The Pleistocene Epoch
Which geological principle only applies to sedimentary rock layers?
Original horizontality
Succession
Superposition
cutting
Rock Strata A contains Fossil X. It is below Rock Strata C which contains Fossil Z. Rock Strata B contains Fossil Y. It is above Rock Strata C. Which of the following is the correct order of the fossils (from oldest to youngest)?
Y, X, Z
X, Y, Z
X, Z, Y
Z, X, Y
The best conditions for preservation of soft tissues are _____ temperatures and _____ air.
warm; humid
warm; dry
cold; dry
cold; humid
The statement Rock A is seventeen years old is an example of _____.
radiometric dating
numerical dating
relative dating
strata dating
If Sedimentary Layer A occurs above Sedimentary Layer C and Sedimentary Layer B is below Sedimentary Layer C, which of the following is the correct order of the layers (from oldest to youngest)?
B, C, A
A, B, C
C, A, B
C, B, A
A geologist who asserts that evolution patterns in the Earth occur following a consistent pattern over long periods of time belongs to what family of theorists?
Uniformitarian
Catastrophism
Progressive
Utilitarian
Which of the following terms is used to describe the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by releasing radiation?
Radioactive stabilization
Radioactive explosion
Radiocentric decay
Radioactive decay
Which of the following is the term used for the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by releasing radiation?
Gamma ray reduction
Radioactive decay
Radioactive detection
Radioactive neutralization
Today, geologists believe mostly in _____, with a little bit of _____.
catastrophism; uniformitarianism
catastrophism; evolution
evolution; catastrophism
uniformitarianism; catastrophism
The statement Rock A is fifty years older than Rock B is an example of _____.
radiometric dating
fossil dating
numerical dating
relative dating
Any fault lines or igneous intrusions that cut across a set of rock strata must be _____ that set of rock.
creating an inclusion in
younger than
older than
the same age as
What characteristics are observed via correlation, which is a relative dating process used in determining the age of rock layers?
None of these answers are correct.
Observing similarities types fossils at different locations
Observing similarities in weather patterns
Observing similar vegetation patterns
The Mesozoic Era was the Age of Dinosaurs, and the current Cenozoic Era is the Age of _____.
Ice
Mammals
Humans
Birds
An interface between discontinuous layers of rock is called _____.
an unconformity
an intrusion
an inclusion
a cross-cut
Not all parts of a creature are likely to be fossilized. Paleontologists typically find fossils made from a creature's _____.
Teeth
Bones
Shells
All answers choices are correct
Rapid burial protects a deceased body from all of the following EXCEPT:
trampling
temperature fluctuations
mud
weathering
A large nucleus may get to a more stable state by emitting two protons and two neutrons. This describes which type of radioactive decay?
Alpha Decay
Delta Decay
Gamma Decay
Beta Decay
If Fossil A is found in a lower rock layer, and Fossil B is found in an upper rock layer, then Species A most likely _____.
evolved from Species B
existed for a relatively short period of time
existed less recently than Species B
existed more recently than Species B
The change from catastrophism to uniformitarianism made scientists decide that Earth must be _____ than previously thought.
older
less populated
more populated
younger
A scientist would not be able to use radiocarbon dating to find the age of which of the following samples?
Tissue from a human body found in 16th-century burial
Stone from a 1,000-year-old settlement
Cloth from an ancient garment found in 500-year-old burial
Wood from a 2,000-year-old settlement