Unit 2 Poss. Test Questions

Question 1

What is the concept of “Deep Time”?

Answer 1

“Deep Time” is a concept that Earth has had a multi-billion year history.

Question 2

What sets the study of geology apart from all other sciences except Astronomy?

Answer 2

Applying vast amounts of time (billions of years) to scientific principles sets geology apart from all other sciences except astronomy.

Question 3

Compare absolute age dating to relative age dating.

Answer 3

• Relative Age Dating is placing events in sequential order (first, second, etc.)
• Absolute or Actual Age Dating is specific dates or specific units of time.

Question 4

What type of time indicator are fossils - relative time or absolute time?

Answer 4

Relative Time.

Question 5

What are the three characteristics of a guide fossil?

Answer 5

• Easy to identify.
• Geographically widespread.
• Existed only for a relatively short time period.

Question 6

Which two geologic principles were used to create the first maps of the Earth’s history?

Answer 6

• The Principle of Superposition and the Principle of Fossil Succession and logic were used in constructing the first geologic time scales.
• In turn these principles were also used to create a composite geologic map of the Earth’s history.

Question 7

What is the main difference between ‘Time Units’ and ‘Time Stratigraphic Units’?

Answer 7

• A Time Unit is an interval of relative time based on specific fossil assemblages.
• Time Stratigraphic Units are units of rocks (layers of rocks) that were deposited during specific relative time intervals (according to the fossil record).

Question 8

Place the following in order from the longest to shortest time intervals: Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs, and Ages.

Answer 8

Eons, Era, Periods, Epochs, Age

Question 9

Sort the names in correct order, from oldest to youngest, for the four Eons.

Answer 9

• Phanerozoic - Visible life.
• Proterozoic - Protezoa, unicellular and multi-cellular life.
• Archean - most oldest known rocks, unicellular life.
• Hadean - Found in meteorites.

Question 10

How are the Eras generally separated or classified?

Answer 10

Eras are generally separated by catastrophic life extinctions boundaries.

Question 11

List the names in correct order, from oldest to youngest, the three Eras of the Phanerozoic Eon.

Answer 11

• Cenozoic (Ceno = younger) - Mammals, flowers, birds
• Mesozoic (Meso = middle) - Dinosaurs
• Paleozoic (Paleo = older) - Early life, evolution

Question 12

Eras are subdivided into multiple time units called _____?

Answer 12

Eras are subdivided into multiple time units called Periods.

Question 13

What are the three modifiers used to divide a Time unit?

Answer 13

• Late (last)
• Middle
• Early (first)