#1
What is the primary goal of geological time classification?
To determine the age of the Earth
To study past climates
To understand the history of life on Earth
To locate natural resources
#2
What is the principle of original horizontality in sedimentary rock layers?
Sediments are deposited horizontally in layers
Sediments are deposited vertically in layers
Sediments are deposited in a chaotic manner
Sediments are deposited in a circular pattern
#3
Which scientist proposed the concept of uniformitarianism in geology?
Nicholas Steno
James Hutton
Charles Lyell
William Smith
#4
What is the principle of superposition in relative dating?
Sedimentary rocks are deposited horizontally
Younger rocks are always found below older rocks
The Earth's magnetic field changes over time
Fossils from younger rocks are found above fossils from older rocks
#5
Who developed the concept of index fossils for dating rock layers?
William Smith
Nicholas Steno
Charles Lyell
John Joly
#6
Who is known as the father of modern stratigraphy?
Charles Lyell
James Hutton
Nicholas Steno
William Smith
#7
What is an unconformity in geological terms?
A layer of sedimentary rock
A gap in the rock record
A type of volcanic rock
An earthquake fault
#8
What is the significance of the Anthropocene epoch?
It marks the rise of human influence on the Earth's geology
It signifies the mass extinction of dinosaurs
It represents the formation of the first continents
It marks the end of the Ice Age
#9
Which era witnessed the first appearance of complex multicellular life forms?
Precambrian Era
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
#10
What is the principle of cross-cutting relationships in geology?
Younger rocks are always found below older rocks
Faults and intrusions are younger than the rocks they affect
Sedimentary rocks are deposited horizontally
The Earth's magnetic field changes over time
#11
Which epoch is characterized by the development of modern humans (Homo sapiens)?
Pleistocene Epoch
Holocene Epoch
Miocene Epoch
Oligocene Epoch
#12
What is the half-life of Carbon-14 used in radiocarbon dating?
5,730 years
1 million years
100,000 years
500 years
#13
Which geologic era is known as the 'Age of Dinosaurs'?
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
Precambrian Era
#14
What is the principle of faunal succession used in relative dating?
Fossils from younger rocks are found above fossils from older rocks
Sedimentary rocks are deposited horizontally
The Earth's magnetic field changes over time
Radioactive decay of isotopes
#15
Which radioactive isotope is commonly used for radiometric dating of rocks and minerals?
Carbon-14
Uranium-238
Potassium-40
Lead-206
#16
What is the primary difference between relative dating and absolute dating in geology?
Relative dating uses radioactive isotopes, while absolute dating relies on fossil records
Relative dating provides an estimate of the age, while absolute dating gives an exact age
Relative dating is more accurate than absolute dating
Absolute dating relies on the Law of Superposition
#17
Who proposed the theory of plate tectonics?
Alfred Wegener
Charles Darwin
Isaac Newton
Marie Curie
#18
What is the primary difference between an eon and an era in geological time classification?
An eon is smaller than an era
An era is larger than an eon
An eon is the largest subdivision, while an era is smaller
An era is the largest subdivision, while an eon is smaller
#19
Which geological era is characterized by the appearance of abundant marine life and the first land-dwelling organisms?
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
Precambrian Era