Science Lesson 1 Book 1

What is the principle of superposition?

• The oldest layers are at the top

• The oldest layers are at the bottom

• Layers are formed sideways

• Layers form in random order

What does the principle of original horizontality state about rock layers?

• Layers are deposited vertically

• Layers are deposited horizontally

• Layers are not continuous

• Layers form from the bottom up

How does the principle of cross-cutting relationships help determine the age of rock layers?

• Older layers cut through younger layers

• Younger layers cut through older layers

• Faults are always older than rock layers

• All layers are the same age

What are inclusions, and what do they tell us about the relative age of rocks?

• Inclusions are younger than the surrounding rock

• Inclusions are older than the surrounding rock

• Inclusions are the same age as the surrounding rock

• Inclusions don’t affect relative age

How does lateral continuity help geologists understand rock formations?

• Rock layers are not continuous across different areas

• Rock layers extend sideways in all directions

• Rock layers are formed by earthquakes

• Rock layers are only found in one location

What is relative-age dating, and how does it differ from absolute-age dating?

• Relative-age dating gives a specific number of years

• Absolute-age dating compares rocks to one another

• Relative-age dating determines which rocks are older or younger

• Absolute-age dating is always inaccurate

What is the significance of fossils found in rock layers?

• Fossils indicate the exact age of the rock

• Fossils help determine the relative age of the rock

• Fossils are always found in the top layers

• Fossils are only found in marine environments

What do mass extinctions in the fossil record indicate about Earth’s history?

• Sudden disappearance of many species

• Gradual changes in species

• A slow decline in biodiversity

• A continuous presence of similar organisms

How do fossils provide clues about ancient environments?

• Fossils show the exact age of a rock

• Fossils indicate the type of environment where organisms lived

• Fossils are only found in tropical areas

• Fossils are formed by earthquakes

What is the principle of uniformitarianism, and how does it help scientists study Earth’s past?

• It states that Earth’s processes have always been slow

• It shows that present processes are different from past processes

• It suggests that the same processes shaping Earth today also occurred in the past

• It claims that natural processes occur randomly