Question 1

Numerical ages for recent geologic events can sometimes be determined by the study of ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   layering (growth lines)  in shells
B)   annual growth rings in trees
C)   seasonal layering in glacial ice
D)   all of the aboveE) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 2

Which statement best summarizes the development of the geologic time scale?

Accepted Answer

A)   Numerical ages for rocks were known well before the relative sequence of sedimentary layers was established.
B)   Relative ages for sedimentary strata were known well before accurate numerical dates for these rocks could be provided.
C)   Names of relative ages (such as Silurian)  and accurate numerical dates for these ages appeared at about the same time.D) None of the above
E) B) and C)

Question 3

Basaltic clasts within the conglomerate have been radiometrically dated to 50 million years ago (Eocene Epoch of the Tertiary Period) .Is this a reliable age for the conglomerate?

Accepted Answer

A)   Yes.
B)   No, this age is likely too old.
C)   No, this age is likely too young.
D)   No, basalt never contains minerals bearing radioactive isotopes.E) None of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 4

Numerical ages for boundaries between time units on the geologic time scale primarily resulted from the study of ____________,in conjunction with relative age data.

Accepted Answer

A)   fossil content and spatial relationships among igneous rocks
B)   fossil content and spatial relationships among sedimentary rocks
C)   radiometric dating of igneous rocks
D)   radiometric dating of sedimentary rocksE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 5

When an unstable isotope decays,the daughter isotope that results is always a stable isotope.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In an unweathered sample of igneous rock,the ratio of an unstable isotope to its stable daughter isotope is 1/15.If no daughters were present at the time the rock cooled below closure temperature,and the half-life of the reaction is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

Accepted Answer

A)   200 million years
B)   400 million years
C)   750 million years
D)   none of the aboveE) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 7

Which of the following is always the same for multiple isotopes of a single element?

Accepted Answer

A)   atomic number
B)   atomic mass number
C)   tendency to decay radioactively
D)   none of the aboveE) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 8

Concerning relative ages of the granite and sandstone,____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the granite must be older, according to the principle of superposition
B)   the sandstone must be older, according to the principle of superposition
C)   the granite must be older, according to the principle of components
D)   their relative ages cannot be determined from the information givenE) B) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 9

Within the world's sedimentary rocks,fossils ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   are rarely, if ever, found
B)   are randomly distributed
C)   occur in an ordered sequenceD) A) and B)
E) None of the above

Question 10

Which of the following geologic principles is NOT a result of gravity?

Accepted Answer

A)   original horizontality
B)   cross-cutting relationships
C)   original continuity
D)   superpositionE) C) and D)
F) None of the above B

Question 11

Period names on the geologic time scale,such as Devonian and Permian,provide examples of ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   relative age
B)   numerical ageC) A) and B)
D) undefined A

Question 12

Uniformitarianism is succinctly summarized by which phrase?

Accepted Answer

A)   The future is the key to the present.
B)   The present is the key to the past.
C)   The past is the key to the present.
D)   The present is the key to the future.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 13

The basalt body is best described as a ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   pluton
B)   sill
C)   dike
D)   laccolithE) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 14

Contact #3 is both a ____________ at various points.

Accepted Answer

A)   conformable contact and an unconformity
B)   fault and an unconformity
C)   nonconformity and an angular unconformity
D)   disconformity and a nonconformityE) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 15

The surface below sedimentary rocks that overlie igneous or metamorphic rocks is termed a(n) ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   disconformity
B)   angular unconformity
C)   nonconformityD) B) and C)
E) A) and C)

Question 16

Concerning the relative ages of the basalt and the fault,____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the fault must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships
B)   the basalt must be older, according to the principle of cross-cutting relationships
C)   the basalt must be older, according to the principle of original horizontality
D)   their relative ages cannot be determined from the information givenE) B) and C)
F) B) and D)

Question 17

Contact #1 is an example of a(n) ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   conformable sedimentary contact
B)   fault
C)   baked contact
D)   unconformityE) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 18

Which statement about contact #3 is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)   It and contact #2 once formed a continuous unconformity.
B)   It was once elevated farther above contact #2, but faulting has brought them closer together.
C)   It presents an example of an angular unconformity.
D)   It must be younger than the conglomerate, due to the principle of baked contacts.E) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 19

As understood by modern geologists,the principle of uniformitarianism implies that ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the Earth has always had the same basic appearance that it has today, with the distributions of ocean basins and continents identical to what we see today
B)   igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are uniformly mixed throughout the crust of the Earth
C)   physical processes observed today (such as erosion and volcanic eruption)  have been active in the past and are responsible for the geologic history we see preserved in the rock record
D)   physical processes observed today (such as erosion and volcanic eruption)  have been occurring throughout Earth history at constant rates; for example, no eruption in geologic time would have been greater than the 1815 Tambora eruptionE) None of the above
F) All of the above C

Question 20

Concerning relative ages of the shale and sandstone,____________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the shale must be older, according to the principle of superposition
B)   the sandstone must be older, according to the principle of superposition
C)   the shale must be older, according to the principle of components
D)   their relative ages cannot be determined from the information givenE) B) and C)
F) B) and D)

Exam 10: Deep Time: How Old Is Old

Numerical ages for recent geologic events can sometimes be determined by the study of ____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement best summarizes the development of the geologic time scale?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Basaltic clasts within the conglomerate have been radiometrically dated to 50 million years ago (Eocene Epoch of the Tertiary Period) .Is this a reliable age for the conglomerate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Numerical ages for boundaries between time units on the geologic time scale primarily resulted from the study of ____________,in conjunction with relative age data.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When an unstable isotope decays,the daughter isotope that results is always a stable isotope.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In an unweathered sample of igneous rock,the ratio of an unstable isotope to its stable daughter isotope is 1/15.If no daughters were present at the time the rock cooled below closure temperature,and the half-life of the reaction is 50 million years,how old is the rock?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is always the same for multiple isotopes of a single element?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Concerning relative ages of the granite and sandstone,____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Within the world's sedimentary rocks,fossils ____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following geologic principles is NOT a result of gravity?

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Period names on the geologic time scale,such as Devonian and Permian,provide examples of ____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Uniformitarianism is succinctly summarized by which phrase?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The basalt body is best described as a ____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Contact #3 is both a ____________ at various points.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The surface below sedimentary rocks that overlie igneous or metamorphic rocks is termed a(n) ____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Concerning the relative ages of the basalt and the fault,____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Contact #1 is an example of a(n) ____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement about contact #3 is correct?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

As understood by modern geologists,the principle of uniformitarianism implies that ____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Concerning relative ages of the shale and sandstone,____________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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B

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A

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C

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