SOLVED

11) What fundamental concept states that in a horizontal sequence of conformable sedimentary strata, each higher bed is younger than the bed below it? A) law of original correlation B) theory of correlative deposition C) law of superposition D) theory of superstition 12) What of the following refers to the investigative process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas? A) super matching B) correlation C) strata indexing D) cross-access dating 13) The ________ is the idea or concept that ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and that the contained assemblage of fossils can determine geologic ages of strata. A) principle of cross correlation B) law of fossil regression C) law of correlative indexing D) principle of faunal succession 14) Which of the following is an essential characteristic of an index fossil? A) The organism lived only in specific environments such as beaches or estuaries. B) The organism only lived for a short period of geologic time. C) The fossils are exceptionally abundant and well preserved. D) The fossils occur in deep-water marine sediments, but the organism actually lived in the sunlit, surface layer of the ocean. 15) By applying the law of superposition ________ dates can be determined. A) conventional B) radiometric C) relative D) both relative and radiometric 16) The era of “ancient life” is the ________ era. A) Cenozoic B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Precambrian 17) About 88 percent of geologic time is represented by the time span called the ________. A) Paleozoic B) Precambrian C) Mesozoic D) Phanerozoic 18) What is the age of the Earth accepted by most scientists today? A) 6.4 billion years B) 4.5 million years C) 4.5 billion years D) 6.4 million years 19) Which of the following describes radioactive decay by beta particle emission? A) The atomic number of the daughter isotope is one more than the parent; the mass numbers are the same. B) The mass number of the daughter isotope is one more than the parent, and both isotopes have the same atomic number. C) The daughter isotope has an atomic number two less than the parent and a mass number four less. D) The daughter isotope has an atomic number one less than the parent and a mass number two less. 20) The half-life of carbon-14 is about 6000 years. Assume that a sample of charcoal formed by burning of living wood 15,000 years ago. How much of the original carbon-14 would remain today? A) more than one-half B) between one-fourth and one-eighth C) between one-half and one-fourth D) between one-half and one-third