Geologic History Vocabulary Quiz

What is a long mountain chain with a central rift valley in the ocean called?

• Mid-Ocean Ridge

• Seafloor Spreading

• Continental Drift

• Uniformitarianism

What is the term for the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges?

• Uniformitarianism

• Seafloor Spreading

• Catastrophism

• Continental Drift

What is a division of geologic time within an era?

• Period

• Eon

• Era

• Epoch

What is the longest division of time in geology?

• Eon

• Era

• Period

• Epoch

What principle states that Earth's geologic processes occur at consistent rates over time?

• Uniformitarianism

• Catastrophism

• Seafloor Spreading

• Continental Drift

What term describes the movement of Earth's continents?

• Continental Drift

• Mid-Ocean Ridge

• Seafloor Spreading

• Eon

What are fossils of organisms that existed in large numbers for a short geologic time used for?

• Index Fossils

• Absolute Dating

• Relative Dating

• Superposition

Which division of geologic time spans tens to hundreds of millions of years?

• Era

• Eon

• Period

• Epoch

The top rock layer and its fossils is the youngest and the bottom layer with its fossils is the oldest. This is an example of relative age dating.

• Rock Layer Theory

• Law of Superposition

• Chronological Record

• Law of Rock of Ages

Which idea suggests that Earth's history has been marked by rapid, worldwide events?

• Catastrophism

• Uniformitarianism

• Continental Drift

• Seafloor Spreading