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