Question 1

Tectonic forces are an example of
A) exogenic processes.
B) endogenic processes.
C) both exogenic and endogenic processes.
D) neither exogenic nor endogenic processes.

Accepted Answer

Tectonic forces are related to the movement and deformation of the Earth's crust and are caused by internal processes like mantle convection, which makes it an example of endogenic processes.

Question 2

Which of the following is correct in regards to the geologic time scale?
A) An epoch is composed of one or more periods.
B) The largest defined unit is an eon or, according to some, a supereon.
C) An era is the smallest unit of geologic time.
D) Every period is composed of 2 epochs.

Accepted Answer

The largest defined unit in the geologic time scale is an eon, and in some classifications, a supereon is used to group multiple eons.

Question 3

When geologists conclude that the Grand Canyon sequence of rocks was formed through hundreds of millions of years of deposition, mountain building, and erosion, they are basing this conclusion on the principle of ________ which states that ________.
A) catastrophism; most rock formations were created as a result of supernatural processes
B) catastrophism; a single, large flood was responsible for the creation of the rock sequence
C) uniformitarianism; all geologic processes take immense amounts of time to occur and always occur at the same rate
D) uniformitarianism; the geologic processes that operated in the past are the same as those that operate today, and they occurred in accordance with the same laws of nature that are operating today

Accepted Answer

Geologists use the principle of uniformitarianism, which states that the geologic processes that operated in the past are the same as those that operate today, and they occurred in accordance with the same laws of nature that are operating today. This principle allows geologists to infer the age and history of a rock sequence by studying the processes that formed it and how those processes continue to shape the Earth's surface today.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of the principle of uniformitarianism?
A) It is not possible to know how Earth processes have changed overtime, therefore it is not possible to deduce how Earth's ancient landforms evolved.
B) The processes by which streams carve valleys at present are the same as those that carved valleys 500 millions years ago.
C) Catastrophic events, such as major landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic episodes, are the primary drivers of geomorphological change.
D) The Earth's geological history is mostly uniform and homogenous, existing now as it mostly always has with the exception of minor recent changes.

Accepted Answer

The principle of uniformitarianism suggests that the same geologic processes that operate today have also operated in the past, and therefore the present is the key to the past. Choice B reflects this principle by stating that the processes by which streams carve valleys now are the same as those that did so millions of years ago, implying that the same natural laws have operated over time.

Question 5

The Precambrian Eon encompasses what percentage of Earth's total history?
A) 0.04 %
B) 5%
C) 11.7%
D) 88.3%

Accepted Answer

The Precambrian Eon encompasses approximately 88.3% of Earth's total history.

Question 6

Boundaries between intervals of the geological time scale are determined by
A) dividing the time range of the interval by the number desired subdivisions, thereby creating equal intervals between the divisions.
B) Major events in the Earth's history, such as major extinctions.
C) using a quantile method whereby the number of years in each subdivision is determined by dividing the number of years by the desired number of classes.
D) Climatic periods based on paleoclimatological reconstructions.

Accepted Answer

Boundaries between intervals of the geological time scale are determined by major events in the Earth's history, such as major extinctions. These events are used as reference points to divide the history of the Earth into different intervals, such as the Permian-Triassic boundary or the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. This method is based on significant changes in the composition and diversity of life, as well as changes in the Earth's climate and geology, that mark important transitions in the history of our planet.

Question 7

Which of the following is correct regarding the geologic time scale?
A) The Jurassic period occurred during the Paleozoic era.
B) Over 87 percent of Earth's history has elapsed during the more recent Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic eras.
C) The bulk of Earth's history has occurred during the Precambrian eon.
D) We live in the Tertiary period.

Accepted Answer

The bulk of Earth's history has occurred during the Precambrian eon, which lasted from about 4.6 billion years ago to 541 million years ago. The Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras make up only about 13 percent of Earth's history.

Answer: D 
 We do not live in the Tertiary period. The Tertiary period, which lasted from 65 million to 2.6 million years ago, is now recognized as part of the larger Cenozoic era. We currently live in the Quaternary period of the Cenozoic era.

Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 8

Which of the following is not an example of an age-relationship based on absolute dating?
A) The oldest known rocks on Earth are 3.96 billion years old.
B) The Vishnu schist at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is 2 billion years old.
C) The dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago.
D) The Coconino formation in the Grand Canyon is older than the Kaibab formation.

Accepted Answer

Option D is an example of a relative age relationship, not absolute dating. Relative dating involves determining the chronological order of events based on their position in the geological record, while absolute dating gives a numerical age to a rock or fossil. Option D describes the relative order of two rock formations, and not their numerical ages. Options A, B, and C are all examples of absolute dating.

Question 9

The scientific study of rock strata (layers) is known as ________ and based on the principle of ________.
A) stratigraphy; superposition
B) geomorpholy; uniformitarianism
C) Paleontology; catostrophism
D) Paleogeography; plate tectonics

Accepted Answer

The scientific study of rock strata is known as stratigraphy, and it is based on the principle of superposition, which states that the oldest layer is at the bottom, and the youngest layer is at the top. Geomorphology is the study of landforms, and uniformitarianism is the principle that the same geological processes that occur today have been occurring throughout history. Paleontology is the study of fossils, and catastrophism is the idea that major geological events have occurred suddenly and dramatically. Paleogeography is the study of the physical features of ancient Earth, and plate tectonics is the theory that the Earth's crust is made up of plates that move and interact with each other.

Question 10

The principle that the same physical processes currently active in the environment were operating throughout Earth's history is known as
A) uniformitarianism.
B) catastrophism.
C) parallelism.
D) statis.

Accepted Answer

Uniformitarianism is the principle that the same physical processes that are observed in the present have been operating throughout Earth's history. It suggests that geological and evolutionary processes occur at a gradual and uniform rate, rather than sudden and catastrophic events (as proposed by catastrophism). Parallelism is not a widely recognized principle in geology, and statis (or steady-state) is not related to the concept of maintaining the same physical processes throughout Earth's history.

Question 11

Which of the following is an endogenic process?
A) weathering
B) stream deposition
C) volcanism
D) glacial erosion

Accepted Answer

Endogenic processes originate from forces within the Earth, such as tectonic activity and volcanic eruptions. Therefore, the best choice for an endogenic process is C) volcanism. Weathering and glacial erosion are examples of exogenic processes, which originate from external forces such as wind and water. Stream deposition is also an exogenic process, as it involves the movement and deposition of sediment by flowing water.

Question 12

In terms of dating of specific rocks, structures, or landscapes, numerical age refers to
A) the age of geological features based on isotopic dating techniques.
B) the approximate age of geological features based on the period or epoch in which they occurred. For instance, noting a feature is from the Cretaceous.
C) a range of numeric values in which a features was likely formed and based on several lines of evidence, such as paleoclimatic and paleobotanical reconstructions.
D) the age of one feature with respect to another within a sequence of events and deduced from the positions of rock strata above and below one another.

Accepted Answer

Numerical age refers to the precise age of a geological feature based on isotopic dating techniques. This method involves calculating the age of a sample by measuring the decay of certain isotopes and their half-lives. This provides a numeric value for the age of the sample, allowing for precise dating of specific rocks, structures, or landscapes.

Question 13

The subfield of geography and geology concerned with the study of the origins, evolutions, form, and spatial distribution of the Earth's landforms is
A) geophysics.
B) lithology.
C) geomorphology.
D) Pedology.

Accepted Answer

Geomorphology is the subfield of geography and geology that deals with the study of landforms, their origins, evolution, form, and spatial distribution. Geophysics is concerned with the physical properties and processes of the Earth, while lithology is the study of rocks and their properties. Pedology is the study of soils.

Question 14

Which of the following is incorrectly matched?
A) endogenic - internal processes
B) exogenic - external processes
C) radioactive decay heat - exogenic energy source
D) weathering - exogenic breaking and dissolving the crust

Accepted Answer

Radioactive decay heat is an endogenic energy source, not exogenic.

Question 15

Earth's magnetic poles
A) are fixed.
B) are migrating approximately 55 to 60 km (34 to 37 mi) per year.
C) are perfectly aligned with Earth's axis.
D) are misaligned from Earth's axis by 23.5 degrees.

Accepted Answer

Earth's magnetic poles are not fixed and do migrate approximately 55 to 60 km (34 to 37 mi) per year. This movement is known as magnetic drift. While Earth's magnetic poles are misaligned from Earth's axis, the angle is not 23.5 degrees.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of an age-relationship based on relative dating?
A) Australopithecines were alive 3.2 million years ago.
B) The Neanderthals became extinct 35,000 years ago.
C) Australopithecines evolved before Homo erectus.
D) Clovis points have been dated at 11,000 years old in North America.

Accepted Answer

Relative dating determines the age of an artifact, fossil or rock based on the age relationship to other objects. In this case, the age of Australopithecines is determined based on the fact that they evolved before Homo erectus, which makes choice C the correct answer. Choices A and B are absolute dating techniques and choice D is a specific date obtained through radiocarbon dating, which is also an absolute dating technique.

Question 17

Uniformitarianism assumes that
A) Earth is quite young and is shaped by dramatic events.
B) catastrophic episodes have regularly occurred.
C) the same physical processes we see today are a key to understanding the processes that have been operating throughout geologic time.
D) mountains, plains, and canyons formed by catastrophic events.

Accepted Answer

Uniformitarianism is the idea that the same physical processes we observe today have always been operating throughout Earth's history. This idea assumes that Earth is old and that slow, gradual processes are responsible for shaping the planet's surface features. It is the opposite of the idea that catastrophic events are responsible for the majority of Earth's features (choice B and D).

Question 18

Which of the following plays a role in the shaping of Earth's surface?
A) gravity
B) the action of wind, water, and ice
C) the radioactive decay of atoms
D) gravity, wind, water, and ice, and radioactive decay
E) gravity and wind, water, and ice only

Accepted Answer

All of the listed factors play a role in shaping Earth's surface. Gravity causes erosion and weathering, wind, water, and ice physically reshape the land through erosion, deposition, and weathering, and radioactive decay contributes to the heat and pressure that drives tectonic activity and volcanic eruptions.

Question 19

In terms of dating of specific rocks, structures, or landscapes, relative age refers to
A) the age of geological features based on isotopic dating techniques.
B) the approximate age of geological features based on the period or epoch in which they occurred. For instance, noting a feature is from the Cretaceous.
C) the inability to ascertain exact age through isotopic methods and the necessity to provide a date range for such features.
D) the age of one feature with respect to another within a sequence of events and deduced from the positions of rock strata above and below one another.

Accepted Answer

Relative age refers to the age of one feature with respect to another within a sequence of events and deduced from the positions of rock strata above and below one another. It is based on the principle of superposition, which states that in an undisturbed sequence of layers, the youngest layer is on top and the oldest layer is on bottom. It does not provide an exact age, but rather a relative age.

Question 20

Which of the following is an exogenic process?
A) earthquakes
B) volcanism
C) flows of heat and materials in the mantle
D) weathering

Accepted Answer

Exogenic processes are the external processes that occur on or near the Earth's surface. Weathering is a prime example of an exogenic process as it involves the breakdown and decay of rocks and minerals due to atmospheric, biological, and chemical factors. Earthquakes and volcanism are endogenic processes that occur within the Earth's interior, while flows of heat and materials in the mantle are also endogenic as they involve the movement of material within the Earth's interior.

Quiz 12: The Dynamic Planet

Tectonic forces are an example of

Which of the following is correct in regards to the geologic time scale?

When geologists conclude that the Grand Canyon sequence of rocks was formed through hundreds of millions of years of deposition, mountain building, and erosion, they are basing this conclusion on the principle of which states that .

Which of the following is an example of the principle of uniformitarianism?

The Precambrian Eon encompasses what percentage of Earth's total history?

Boundaries between intervals of the geological time scale are determined by

Which of the following is correct regarding the geologic time scale?

Which of the following is not an example of an age-relationship based on absolute dating?

The scientific study of rock strata (layers) is known as and based on the principle of .

The principle that the same physical processes currently active in the environment were operating throughout Earth's history is known as

Which of the following is an endogenic process?

In terms of dating of specific rocks, structures, or landscapes, numerical age refers to

The subfield of geography and geology concerned with the study of the origins, evolutions, form, and spatial distribution of the Earth's landforms is

Which of the following is incorrectly matched?

Earth's magnetic poles

Which of the following is an example of an age-relationship based on relative dating?

Uniformitarianism assumes that

Which of the following plays a role in the shaping of Earth's surface?

In terms of dating of specific rocks, structures, or landscapes, relative age refers to

Which of the following is an exogenic process?