For each question below, choose the letter corresponding to the BEST answer.
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1 | |
"Geological processes operating at the present time are the same processes that have operated in the past" is a statement of:
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| | A) | the Principle of Faunal Succession. |
| | B) | the Principle of Uniformitarianism. |
| | C) | the Principle of Original Horizontality. |
| | D) | the Principle of Cross-cutting Relationships. |
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2 | |
If rock A cross-cuts rock B, then rock A is:
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| | A) | on top of rock B. |
| | B) | the same age as rock B. |
| | C) | younger than rock B. |
| | D) | older than rock B. |
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3 | |
Which of the following is a method of correlation?
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| | A) | similar fossil assemblages |
| | B) | physical continuity |
| | C) | similarity of rock types |
| | D) | All of these can be used for correlation. |
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4 | |
Eras of the Standard Geologic Time Scale are subdivided into:
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| | A) | Ages. |
| | B) | Epochs. |
| | C) | Eons. |
| | D) | none of these |
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5 | |
Which subdivision of geologic time is the longest?
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| | A) | Miocene Epoch |
| | B) | Teritiary Period |
| | C) | Mesozoic Era |
| | D) | Precambrian |
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6 | |
Which is a useful radioactive decay scheme?
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| | A) | K40/Ar40 |
| | B) | U238/Pb206 |
| | C) | U235/Pb207 |
| | D) | all of these |
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7 | |
Radiocarbon dating is a useful technique for all samples below except:
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| | A) | granite. |
| | B) | shells. |
| | C) | bone. |
| | D) | wood. |
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8 | |
Radon is a gas derived from the natural radioactive decay of:
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| | A) | Lead |
| | B) | Potassium |
| | C) | Plutonium |
| | D) | Uranium |
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9 | |
Concentrations of radon are highest in areas where the bedrock is:
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| | A) | black shale. |
| | B) | phyllite. |
| | C) | basalt. |
| | D) | sandstone. |
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10 | |
Which of the following is not a type of unconformity?
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| | A) | angular unconformity |
| | B) | uniformity |
| | C) | disconformity |
| | D) | nonconformity |
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11 | |
A geologist could use the Principle of Inclusions to determine the relative age of:
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| | A) | shale layers. |
| | B) | xenoliths. |
| | C) | metamorphism. |
| | D) | fossils. |
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12 | |
A contact between parallel sedimentary rock layers that records missing geologic time is:
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| | A) | a nonconformity. |
| | B) | a uniformity. |
| | C) | an angular unconformity. |
| | D) | a disconformity |
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13 | |
The oldest abundant fossils of multicellular life forms are observed in rocks from:
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| | A) | The Paleocene Epoch. |
| | B) | The Cambrian Period. |
| | C) | The Mesozoic Era. |
| | D) | The Archean Eon. |
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14 | |
Geologists are reasonably convinced that Earth is:
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| | A) | 45,000,000 yrs.old. |
| | B) | 455,000,000 yrs. old. |
| | C) | 4,550,000,000 yrs. old. |
| | D) | 4,550,000,000,000 yrs. old. |
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15 | |
Methods used by geologists to determine the general sequence of geologic events from oldest to youngest are known as:
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| | A) | relative dating |
| | B) | general dating. |
| | C) | absolute dating. |
| | D) | geochronology. |
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16 | |
Undisturbed sedimentary rock layers occur in horizontal layers. This is a statement of:
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| | A) | The Principle of Faunal Succession. |
| | B) | The Principle of Original Horizontality. |
| | C) | The Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships. |
| | D) | The Principle of Superposition. |
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17 | |
In the 1600’s, Archbishop Ussher declared that:
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| | A) | organisms had changed over time. |
| | B) | Earth history could be understood by observing modern processes. |
| | C) | Earth was, perhaps, "millions" of years old. |
| | D) | Earth was created in 4004 B.C. |
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18 | |
James Hutton was:
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| | A) | a university professor. |
| | B) | the founder of modern Geology. |
| | C) | a Scotsman. |
| | D) | all of these |
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19 | |
In the late 1700’s, Hutton declared that:
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| | A) | Earth history could be understood by studying modern geologic processes. |
| | B) | Earth could be “millions” of years old. |
| | C) | Earth's history showed "...no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end..." |
| | D) | all of these. |
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20 | |
Which of the following will affect the half-life of a radioactive element?
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| | A) | the half-life of a radioactive element is invariant |
| | B) | bombardment of Earth by cosmic rays |
| | C) | extreme heat deep within the Earth |
| | D) | extreme pressure deep in the Earth |
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