Exam prep

Sedimentary rocks record past geological events and ____.

• written history

• changing life forms of the past

• astronomical milestones of the past

• Earth’s circumference and diameter in the past

In what type of rocks would geologists most likely find evidence of past life forms?

• igneous rocks

• metamorphic rocks

• volcanic rocks

• sedimentary rocks

The geological processes that shape Earth’s features today ____.

• are basically the same as they were in the geologic past

• are much different than thousands of years ago

• did not operate in the distant past

• became important only several hundred years ago

What scientist is credited with proposing the principle of uniformitarianism?

• James Hutton

• William Smith

• John Wesley Powell

• Nicolaus Steno

The physical, chemical, and biological laws that operate today have also operated in the geologic past. This statement relates to the principle of ____.

• superposition

• cross-cutting relationships

• uniformitarianism

• correlation

According to the principle of cross-cutting relationships, an intrusive rock body is ____.

• deposited as sedimentary layers

• always made of the same materials as rock around it

• older than the rocks into which it intrudes

• younger than the rocks into which it intrudes

Nicolaus Steno proposed the most basic principle of relative dating, the law of ____.

• correlation

• fossil succession

• superposition

• gravity

The dating process that places geologic events in proper sequence is referred to as a ____.

• radiometric dating

• relative dating

• numerical dating

• temporary dating

What is the youngest feature shown in Figure 12-1?

• rock layer J

• rock layer A

• fault M

• igneous intrusion L

A break that separates older metamorphic rocks from younger sedimentary rocks immediately above them is a type of unconformity called a(n) ____.

• disconformity

• nonconformity

• angular unconformity

• conformity