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Earth Science 101 Practice Test: Geologic Time
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Earth Science 101 Practice Test: Geologic Time
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25 Questions

1. About 88 percent of geologic time is represented by the time span called the ________.
2. The ________ is the idea or concept that ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and that the contained assemblage of fossils can determine geologic ages of strata?
3. Which of the following describes radioactive decay by beta particle emission?
4. The ratio of parent to daughter isotopes in a radioactive decay process is 0.40. How many half-lives have elapsed since the material was 100% parent atoms?
5. Who made the first clear statement of the law of superposition? When?
6. Which of the following is not a very long-lived, radioactive isotope?
7. By applying the law of superposition ________ dates can be determined.
8. A worm would stand a poor chance of being fossilized because ________.
9. Which of the following geologic observations would not bear directly on working out the sequence of geologic events in an area?
10. The era of ancient life" is the ________ era."
11. Which of the following denotes the divisions of the geologic time scale in correct order of decreasing lengths of time beginning with the longest time interval and ending with the shortest?
12. What is the age of the Earth accepted by most scientists today?
13. Assume that man's recorded history can be stretched back to 4600 years before the present. This is approximately what fraction of geologic time?
14. Catastrophism ________.
15. Assume that you have just examined several flat-lying sedimentary layers. After much study you determine that there is a considerable span of time for which no sedimentary rock layer exists at this site. You have just discovered a(n) ________.
16. The era known as the age of mammals" is the ________."
17. Which of the following is an essential characteristic of an index fossil?
18. Consider the names of the eras in the geologic time scale. What is meant by zoic"?"
19. Who is credited with formulating the doctrine of uniformitarianism?
20. Which of the following refers to the investigative process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas?
21. Visualize five horizontal sedimentary strata exposed in a cliff or canyon wall identified by consecutive numbers, 1 being the lowest bed and 5 being the highest. Which of the following statements concerning the strata are true?
22. Which of the following best characterizes an angular unconformity?
23. The subdivision of the geologic time scale that represents the longest time span is called a(n) ________.
24. When a radioactive isotope decays by electron capture, the electron ________.
25. ________ is an erosional contact between tilted, older strata below and horizontal, younger strata above.

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