Geologic History Vocabulary

The definition of absolute dating is:

• A method of determining the age of an object in years.

• A technique used to estimate the relative age of fossils.

• A process of arranging geological events in a sequence.

• A way to measure the decay of radioactive isotopes.

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Catastrophism in geologic history refers to:

• a theory that Earth's features are mostly accounted for by gradual, continuous processes

• The idea that Earth's history has been characterized by a series of extreme, rapid, worldwide events.

• a theory that Earth's features are mostly accounted for by extraterrestrial impacts

• a theory that Earth's features are mostly accounted for by human activities

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The concept of continental drift explains the movement of which of the following?

• Oceans

• Continents

• Mountains

• Rivers

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An eon in geologic terms is:

• a period of one million years

• the largest division of geologic time

• a period of one thousand years

• a division of time shorter than an era

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Define the term era in the context of geologic history.

• the second-longest division in the geologic time scale, measured in tens- to hundreds-of-millions of years

• A specific year in the calendar used by geologists.

• A type of rock formation found in a specific region.

• A method of dating fossils using radioactive isotopes.

Index fossils are used to:

• fossils of organisms belonging to species that existed in large numbers for a relatively short amount of geologic time; used to date the rocks in which they are found

• Identify the type of rock

• Measure the temperature of the past

• Predict future geological events

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A mid-ocean ridge is:

• a deep trench in the ocean floor

• an oceanic rift zone that consists of long mountain chains with a central rift valley; divergent boundary

• a flat plain on the ocean floor

• a coral reef system

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What is meant by the term period in geology?

• A division of time in the geological time scale.

• A type of rock formation.

• A method of dating fossils.

• A type of mineral found in the Earth's crust.

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Explain the concept of relative dating.

• Relative dating is a method of determining the age of a fossil by comparing its placement with that of fossils in other layers of rock.

• Relative dating is a technique used to determine the absolute age of a rock or fossil.

• Relative dating involves the use of radiometric techniques to date rocks and fossils.

• Relative dating is a method that uses the decay of isotopes to determine the age of rocks.

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Seafloor spreading is a geological process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge.

• A process of mountain formation

• A process of oceanic crust formation at mid-ocean ridges

• A process of erosion on the seafloor

• A process of sediment deposition

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