Catastrophism and Gradualism Concepts

What is Catastrophism?

• A theory that the Earth has been shaped by gradual processes over millions of years.

• A theory that the Earth has been shaped by sudden, short-lived, and violent events, such as natural disasters.

• A belief that the Earth is static and unchanging over time.

• A concept that suggests all geological features are a result of human activity.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

How do natural disasters relate to the concept of Catastrophism?

• Natural disasters are unrelated to Catastrophism.

• Natural disasters can cause rapid and significant changes to the Earth's landscape.

• Natural disasters are always predictable and preventable.

• Natural disasters only occur in specific regions of the world.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

What is the impact of global warming on extinction rates?

• Global warming has no effect on extinction rates.

• Global warming can lead to habitat loss, changes in food availability, and increased competition, contributing to higher extinction rates among species.

• Global warming only affects marine species, not terrestrial ones.

• Global warming decreases competition among species, leading to lower extinction rates.

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NGSS.HS-LS4-5

What is Gradualism?

• A theory that changes in the Earth's surface occur rapidly due to volcanic activity.

• A theory that changes in the Earth's surface occur slowly over long periods of time through processes like erosion, sedimentation, and plate tectonics.

• A method of measuring the age of rocks based on radioactive decay.

• A concept that suggests the Earth's surface remains unchanged over time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

What is the significance of the Law of Superposition?

• It states that all rock layers are the same age.

• It indicates that the oldest layers are at the top and the youngest are at the bottom.

• It helps determine the relative ages of rock layers by stating that the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

• It suggests that sedimentary rocks can be dated using radiometric methods.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Can you give an example of a catastrophic event?

• A meteor impact, which can lead to mass extinctions and significant geological changes.

• A heavy rainstorm that causes minor flooding.

• A small earthquake that causes no damage.

• A sunny day with clear skies.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

What is a supervolcano?

• A small volcano that erupts frequently and mildly.

• A large volcano that can produce extremely large and explosive eruptions, significantly impacting the environment and climate.

• A type of volcano that only erupts underwater.

• A volcano that has not erupted in the last thousand years.

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

What role do ice ages play in Gradualism?

• They cause rapid geological changes.

• They represent long-term climatic changes that gradually shape the Earth's surface through processes like glaciation.

• They have no significant impact on the Earth's surface.

• They only affect the climate without altering the landscape.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

What are some examples of events that may cause mass extinctions?

• Volcanic eruptions

• Global warming

• Ocean acidification

• Meteor showers

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

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What is an index fossil?

• A fossil that is used to define and identify a particular time period in the geological time scale.

• A fossil that is commonly found in multiple locations around the world.

• A fossil that is used to determine the exact age of a rock layer.

• A fossil that is only found in sedimentary rocks.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4