Module 8

Question 1

1a. Define: Index fossils

Answer 1

Fossils that are assumed to represent a certain period in earth’s crust

Question 2

1b. Define: Geological column

Answer 2

A theoretical picture in which layers of rock from around the world are meshed together into a single, unbroken record of earth’s past

Question 3

1c. Define: The Theory of Evolution

Answer 3

A theory stating that all life on this earth has one (or a few) common ancestor(s) that existed a long time ago

Question 4

2. How are index fossils used by uniformitarian geologists?

Answer 4

to determine what time period a layer of rock represents

Question 5

3. Explain, in your own words, how the geological column is constructed.

Answer 5

by comparing layers of rock found in various parts of the world; using index fossils and the Principle of Superposition, geologists order the layers into one, big column that represents all of the earth’s geological history

Question 6

4. Is it possible to go somewhere in the world and see all major layers of the geological column and its fossils in one geological formation?

Answer 6

no

Question 7

5. (See figure 8.2 on page 189) According to the uniformitarian view, which creatures lived on earth first: trilobites or fish?

Answer 7

trilobites

Question 8

6. (See figure 8.2 on page 189) If a paleontologist finds only fossil algae in a layer of rock, roughly how old does the paleontologist think the rocks are?

Answer 8

550 millions years old or older

Question 9

7. (See figure 8.2 on page 189) A geological formation with only two layers of rock is studied. One has fossils of mammals only, and the other has fossils of fish only. According to uniformitarian assumptions, which layer should be on the bottom and which should be on the top?

Answer 9

the layer with fish should be on the bottom, and the layer with mammals should be on top

Question 10

8. Why is the geological column considered evidence for evolution?

Answer 10

it indicates that early in earth’s history, there were only simple life forms; as time went on, the geological column indicates that more and more complex life forms started to appear

Question 11

9. Why is the geological column not really evidence for evolution?

Answer 11

it is not real; since it is constructed with assumptions, the evidence is only good if the assumptions are valid

Question 12

10. What do the data from Mount Saint Helens tell us about the time it takes to form stratified rocks?

Answer 12

stratified rock can form rapidly

Question 13

11. If you see a canyon with a river flowing at the bottom of it, should you assume that the river eroded the canyon?

Answer 13

no

Question 14

12. On a geological scale, was the Mount Saint Helens eruption a major catastrophe? What does that tell you about the kinds of geological formations that could be formed in a major catastrophe?

Answer 14

minor; this tell us that a major catastrophe would most likely result in larger deposits of stratified rocks and larger canyons

Question 15

13. What did the Mount Saint Helens eruption have that a major flood would also have?

Answer 15

mudflows

Question 16

14. What is so important about the Cumberland Bone Cave when it comes to the question of uniformitarianism versus catastrophism?

Answer 16

it is excellent evidence for a worldwide flood and is a major problem for the uniformitarian viewpoint

Question 17

15. Do fossils require millions of years to form?

Answer 17

no

Question 18

16. What is a paraconformity?

Answer 18

an unconformity that does not really exist in a geological formation but uniformitarians believe must exist because of the fossils found in the formation

Question 19

17. List at least 4 problems with uniformitarianism as discussed in the text.

Answer 19

a. There are too many fossils in the fossils record.
b. Fossils such as Tyrannosaurus rex bone that contains soft tissue are hard to understand in the uniformitarian framework.
c. Fossil graveyards with fossils from many different climates are hard to understand in the uniformitarian view.
d. Index fossils are called into question by the many creatures we once thought were extinct but we now know are not.
e. Uniformitarians must assume the existence of paraconformities
f. Uniformitarians must believe that evolution occurred, and there is no evidence for evolution

Question 20

18. What are the three problems with catastrophism that were discussed?

Answer 20

a. Catastrophists have offered no good explanation for the existence of unconformities between rock layers laid down by the Flood.
b. Catastrophists cannot explain certain fossil structures that look like they were formed under “normal” living conditions which would not exist during the Flood.
c. Catastrophists have not yet explained the enormous chalk deposits we find in terms of the Flood.

Question 21

19. Why does the fossil record offer no evidence for evolution?

Answer 21

The fossil record contains no fossils that are undeniable intermediate links.

Question 22

20. Why does the fossil record offer evidence for the idea that God created each plant and animal individually?

Answer 22

The fossil record contains no fossils that are undeniable intermediate links.