Deck 4: The Habitability of Earth

Question 1

What do we mean by the "fossil record"?

A) rocks from earlier periods of the Earth's history
B) samples of meteorites that fell to Earth early in its history
C) remains of ancient organisms preserved in rocks
D) an album by the Rolling Stones

Answer 1

remains of ancient organisms preserved in rocks

Question 2

Rocks are found on the surface of another planet which appear to have once been transformed at high temperatures and pressures deep within the planet. Given this, they are most likely to be classified as

A) igneous
B) meteoritic
C) sedimentary
D) metamorphic

Answer 2

metamorphic

Question 3

When an igneous rock is eroded and then becomes deposited at the bottom of an ocean it turns into

A) a metamorphic rock
B) a meteorite
C) another igneous rock
D) a sedimentary rock

Answer 3

a sedimentary rock

Question 4

When an igneous rock is melted and then re-solidifies it turns into

A) a meteorite
B) a sedimentary rock
C) another igneous rock
D) a metamorphic rock

Question 5

What do we mean by the "geological record"?

A) rocks from earlier periods of the Earth's history
B) samples of meteorites that fell to Earth early in its history
C) remains of ancient organisms preserved in rocks
D) an album by the Rolling Stones

Question 6

Rocks are found on the surface of another planet which appear to have been formed at the bottom of an ancient ocean. Given this, they are most likely to be classified as

A) metamorphic
B) igneous
C) meteoritic
D) sedimentary

Question 7

Which component of Earth's geology is believed to have been largely responsible for the long-term climate stability that has allowed life to evolve?

A) global magnetism
B) seismic activity
C) plate tectonics
D) erosion and weathering

Question 8

When a metamorphic rock is eroded and then becomes deposited at the bottom of an ocean it turns into

A) a meteorite
B) an igneous rock
C) a sedimentary rock
D) another metamorphic rock

Question 9

When heat and pressure are applied to an igneous rock it turns into

A) another sedimentary rock
B) an igneous rock
C) a meteorite
D) a metamorphic rock

Question 10

Which component of Earth's geology has helped to shield the Earth's atmosphere from energetic particles of solar wind from the Sun which would have gradually stripped it away into space?

A) volcanism
B) seismic activity
C) plate tectonics
D) global magnetism

Question 11

When heat and pressure are applied to a sedimentary rock it turns into

A) a metamorphic rock
B) a meteorite
C) another sedimentary rock
D) an igneous rock

Question 12

If the entire history of the Earth was scaled to a time line the length of a football field, human civilization would occupy what proportion of the field?

A) a sliver no thicker than a piece of paper
B) a silver no thicker than an atom
C) about a quarter of the field
D) about a half of the field

Question 13

Which of the following statements correctly describe the word geology?

A) The study of worlds with solid surfaces
B) The study of the Earth
C) The study of the processes and features that shape worlds
D) All of the statements describe the word geology

Question 14

Rocks are found on the surface of another planet which appear to have been formed from the solidification of molten lava. Given this, they are most likely to be classified as

A) meteoritic
B) metamorphic
C) sedimentary
D) igneous

Question 15

How are the "geological record" and the "fossil record" related?

A) the geological and fossil records are completely unrelated
B) the fossil record is part of the geological record
C) the geological record is part of the fossil record
D) the geological record and the fossil record are just different names for the same thing

Question 16

The Earth owes its habitability primarily to

A) the chemical composition of its surface
B) a combination of its size and its distance from the Sun
C) its size only
D) its distance from the Sun only

Question 17

When a sedimentary rock is melted and then re-solidifies it turns into

A) an igneous rock
B) a meteorite
C) a metamorphic rock
D) another sedimentary rock

Question 18

When a metamorphic rock is melted and then re-solidifies it turns into

A) an igneous rock
B) a sedimentary rock
C) a meteorite
D) another metamorphic rock

Question 19

In geology, a crystal of a particular chemical composition or structure is referred to as a

A) rock
B) fossil
C) mineral
D) stone

Question 20

Which of the following processes is believed to have been an important source of the Earth's atmosphere?

A) outgassing by volcanoes on the Earth's surface
B) gas trapped from the solar nebula
C) matter blasted from the surface of the Moon
D) charged particles trapped from the Sun

Question 21

Limestone is a common type of

A) metamorphic rock
B) meteoritic rock
C) igneous rock
D) sedimentary rock

Question 22

Mineralogical analysis of a rock can tell us

A) the detailed geological history of the rock
B) what the rock is made of
C) when the rock formed
D) the temperature and pressure conditions under which it formed

Question 23

In alpha decay,

A) a proton turns into a neutron
B) a neutron turns into a proton
C) a proton turns into an electron
D) a helium nucleus is ejected

Question 24

A fossil is found in a layer of strata above another layer dated at 10 million years and below another layer dated at 5 million years. From this we can deduce the age of the fossil to be

A) older than 10 million years
B) younger than 5 million years
C) we can tell nothing about the fossil's age from this data
D) between 5 and 10 million years old

Question 25

The method of dating the ages of rock and fossils using isotopic abundances is referred to as

A) radiometric dating
B) speed dating
C) dendrochronology
D) radiochronology

Question 26

Fragments of rocks formed due to erosion settle out to form layers of

A) sediment
B) precipitate
C) deposit
D) residuum

Question 27

A fossil is found in a layer of strata below one layer dated at 8 million years. From this we can deduce the age of the fossil to be

A) between 7 and 8 million years old
B) we can tell nothing about the fossil's age from this data
C) older than 8 million years
D) younger than 7 million years

Question 28

A radioactive isotope is

A) an unstable nucleus that gives off radio waves
B) a nucleus that formed from the fusion of two other nuclei
C) a stable nucleus that is formed from the fission of a large unstable nucleus
D) an unstable nucleus that spontaneously breaks apart

Question 29

Fossils are found

A) mostly in igneous rocks
B) in all kinds of rocks with equal probability
C) mostly in sedimentary rocks
D) only in metamorphic rocks

Question 30

In electron capture,

A) a proton turns into a neutron
B) a helium nucleus is ejected
C) a proton turns into an electron
D) a neutron turns into a proton

Question 31

Different layers of sedimentary rocks deposited over time are referred to as

A) veins
B) strata
C) seams
D) beds

Question 32

Basalt is a common type of

A) meteoritic rock
B) sedimentary rock
C) igneous rock
D) metamorphic rock

Question 33

In radioactive decay, the changed nucleus after decay is referred to as the

A) daughter isotope
B) parent isotope
C) mother-in-law isotope
D) progenitor isotope

Question 34

Granite is a common type of

A) meteoritic rock
B) metamorphic rock
C) igneous rock
D) sedimentary rock

Question 35

A fossil is found in a layer of strata above one layer dated at 2 million years. From this we can deduce the age of the fossil to be

A) we can tell nothing about the fossil's age from this data
B) younger than 2 million years
C) between 2 and 3 million years old
D) older than 3 million years

Question 36

Isotopic analysis of a rock can tell us

A) what the rock is made of
B) the detailed geological history of the rock
C) the temperature and pressure conditions under which it formed
D) when the rock formed

Question 37

Sandstone is a common type of

A) meteoritic rock
B) sedimentary rock
C) metamorphic rock
D) igneous rock

Question 38

Chemical analysis of a rock can tell us

A) when the rock formed
B) the detailed geological history of the rock
C) what the rock is made of
D) the temperature and pressure conditions under which it formed

Question 39

In radioactive decay, the original nucleus before decay is referred to as the

A) daughter isotope
B) parent isotope
C) mother-in-law isotope
D) progenitor isotope

Question 40

In beta decay,

A) a neutron turns into a proton
B) a helium nucleus is ejected
C) a proton turns into an electron
D) a proton turns into a neutron

Question 41

In which type of radioactive decay does the atomic number of the parent nucleus change?

A) the atomic number changes in all three types of decay
B) electron capture
C) beta decay
D) alpha decay

Question 42

If originally there were X atoms of radioactive isotope present and now there are only X/2 atoms, how many half-lives have elapsed?

A) 3
B) 1
C) 4
D) 2

Question 43

The radioactive isotope ¹³¹I (atomic number 53) decays to the isotope ¹³¹Xe (atomic number 54). What type of radioactive decay is this?

A) electron capture
B) electron ionization
C) beta decay
D) alpha decay

Question 44

Which type of rock is the easiest to date radiometrically?

A) sedimentary
B) all three types of rock are equally easy to date
C) metamorphic
D) igneous

Question 45

A radioactive isotope with an atomic number of 90 undergoes beta decay. What is the atomic number of the daughter nucleus?

A) 89
B) 91
C) 92
D) 88

Question 46

The radioactive isotope ²²⁶Ra (atomic number 88) decays to the isotope ²²²Rn (atomic number 86). What type of radioactive decay is this?

A) beta decay
B) electron ionization
C) electron capture
D) alpha decay

Question 47

If originally there were X atoms of radioactive isotope present and now there are only X/4 atoms, how many half-lives have elapsed?

A) 1
B) 4
C) 2
D) 3

Question 48

A rock sample contains 1/8 micrograms of the parent radioactive isotope Al-26 and 7/8 micrograms of its daughter isotope Mg-40. If the half-life of this decay is approximately 700,000 years, how old is this rock?

A) 2.1 million years
B) 2.8 million years
C) 1.4 million years
D) 700,000 years

Question 49

Radioactive decay is

A) deterministic
B) relativistic
C) atomistic
D) probabilistic

Question 50

A rock sample contains 1/2 microgram of the parent radioactive isotope U-235 and 1/2 microgram of its daughter isotope Pb-207. If the half-life of this decay is 700 million years, how old is this rock?

A) 1400 million years
B) 2100 million years
C) 700 million years
D) 350 million years

Question 51

A radioactive isotope with an atomic number of 37 undergoes electron capture. What is the atomic number of the daughter nucleus?

A) 35
B) 34
C) 38
D) 36

Question 52

What do we mean by the half-life of a radioactive isotope?

A) it is the amount of time a person can be exposed to radiation without getting sick
B) it is the time for half the number of radioactive nuclei to become stable nuclei
C) it is the amount of time for half of the nuclei to become radioactive
D) it is the time for half the number of radioactive nuclei to decay

Question 53

A rock sample contains 1/4 micrograms of the parent radioactive isotope K-40 and 3/4 micrograms of its daughter isotope Ar-40. If the half-life of this decay is 1.25 billion years, how old is this rock?

A) 5.00 billion years
B) 3.75 billion years
C) 1.25 billion years
D) 2.50 billion years

Question 54

If originally there were X atoms of radioactive isotope present and now there are only X/8 atoms, how many half-lives have elapsed?

A) 3
B) 1
C) 4
D) 2

Question 55

The radioactive isotope ⁷Be (atomic number 4) decays to the isotope ⁷Li (atomic number 3). What type of radioactive decay is this?

A) electron capture
B) beta decay
C) electron ionization
D) alpha decay

Question 56

Which type or types of rock cannot be dated radiometrically?

A) igneous and metamorphic
B) sedimentary
C) metamorphic
D) igneous

Question 57

A radioactive isotope with an atomic number of 92 undergoes alpha decay. What is the atomic number of the daughter nucleus?

A) 93
B) 90
C) 91
D) 94

Question 58

In which type or types of radioactive decay does the mass number of the parent nucleus not change?

A) electron capture only
B) beta decay only
C) alpha decay only
D) beta decay and electron capture

Question 59

If originally there were X atoms of radioactive isotope present and now there are only X/16 atoms, how many half-lives have elapsed?

A) 4
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3

Question 60

You chemically analyze a small sample of a meteorite. K-40 and Ar-40 are present in a ratio of approximately 1.65 units of K-40 atoms to 8.35 units of gaseous Ar-40 atoms. How old is the meteorite given the half-life of this decay is 1.25 billion years?

A) 1.25 billion years
B) 5.00 billion years
C) 2.75 billion years
D) 3.25 billion years

Question 61

The Earth's geological time scale is divided into four main

A) epochs
B) periods
C) eras
D) eons

Question 62

An estimate of the minimum age of the solar system can made by measuring the ages of

A) zircon crystals
B) meteorites
C) comets
D) asteroids

Question 63

The Phanerozoic eon is divided into three main

A) epochs
B) periods
C) eras
D) ages

Question 64

The division of the geological history of the Earth into sets of distinct intervals is referred to as the geological

A) time scale
B) record
C) spectrum
D) ladder

Question 65

The earliest geological period in the Phanerozoic eon was the

A) Cambrian
B) Triassic
C) Tertiary
D) Permian

Question 66

In which eon of Earth's history did dinosaurs and mammals first appear?

A) Hadean
B) Archean
C) Phanerozoic
D) Proterozoic

Question 67

In which eon of Earth's history did the heavy bombardment occur?

A) Hadean
B) Archean
C) Phanerozoic
D) Proterozoic

Question 68

Fossils of early life are very difficult to identify in very old rocks because early life

A) was very simple and microscopic in size
B) was not made of organic material that could be replaced by minerals
C) was so different to life found on Earth today that we are not capable of identifying it
D) did not leave behind any fossilized remains

Question 69

Radiometric dating of a rock reveals an age of 1.52 billion years. Given that the half-life of the parent isotope used is 14.0 billion years, what percentage of the parent isotope is still present in the rock?

A) 92.8%
B) 10.9%
C) 76.4%
D) 7.26%

Question 70

Tiny grains of zirconium silicate (zircons) found embedded in sedimentary rocks have been radiometrically dated to what age?

A) 4.57 billion years ago
B) 3.85 billion years ago
C) 4.38 billion years ago
D) 4.02 billion years ago

Question 71

Although fossils can be made in numerous ways, only a tiny fraction of living organisms leave behind any kind of fossil remnant because

A) most minerals that replace organic material are soluble in water and so dissolve away
B) the vast majority of dead organisms decay long before any mineral replacement can occur
C) the organic material is destroyed by radioactivity
D) they are destroyed by geological processes before mineral replacement can occur

Question 72

The oldest intact rocks found on Earth date back to approximately

A) 4.57 billion years ago
B) 3.85 billion years ago
C) 4.38 billion years ago
D) 4.02 billion years ago

Question 73

Fossils typically contain little or no organic matter because

A) the organic matter has been destroyed when the rock containing the fossil was melted deep within the Earth's crust
B) over time inorganic minerals have gradually replaced the organic matter
C) the organic matter has radioactively decayed into inorganic matter
D) ancient organisms contained little organic matter

Question 74

The Earth's geological history is divided into how many eons?

A) 4
B) 1
C) 3
D) 2

Question 75

The geological record contains fewer older rocks than younger rocks because older rocks

A) are mostly found deep within the Earth
B) have been transformed by life processes that have occurred inside them
C) have been destroyed by geological processes like plate tectonics and erosion
D) have been destroyed by recent meteorite impacts

Question 76

In which eon of Earth's history did life originate?

A) Proterozoic
B) Phanerozoic
C) Archean
D) Hadean

Question 77

At the start of which eon of Earth's history do we find the earliest evidence of life?

A) Phanerozoic
B) Proterozoic
C) Archean
D) Hadean

Question 78

Isotopic analysis of meteorites suggests the Earth and the rest of the solar system formed

A) 3.85 billion years ago
B) 4.57 billion years ago
C) 4.38 billion years ago
D) 4.02 billion years ago

Question 79

Geological eras are subdivided into

A) eons
B) periods
C) epochs
D) ages

Question 80

In the geology, the term "Precambrian" refers to

A) the eon immediately preceding the Phanerozoic eon
B) all eons preceding the Phanerozoic eon
C) the eon immediately preceding the Proterozoic eon
D) all eons preceding the Proterozoic eon