Fossil Records

Question 1

catastrophism

Answer 1

the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted chiefly from sudden violent and unusual events.

Question 2

paleontology

Answer 2

the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.

Question 3

relative dating

Answer 3

the science of determining the relative order of past events without necessarily determining their absolute age

Question 4

absolute dating

Answer 4

the process of determining an age on a specified chronology in archaeology and geology

Question 5

superpostition

Answer 5

the action of placing one thing on or above another, especially so that they coincide

Question 6

isotope

Answer 6

each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and hence differ in relative atomic mass but not in chemical properties; in particular, a radioactive form of an element.

Question 7

radioactive

Answer 7

emitting or relating to the emission of ionizing radiation or particles

Question 8

half-life

Answer 8

the time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its original value

Question 9

fossil

Answer 9

the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.

Question 10

trace fossil

Answer 10

a fossil of a footprint, trail, burrow, or other trace of an animal rather than of the animal itself.

Question 11

mold

Answer 11

one of the structures certain fungi can form

Question 12

cast

Answer 12

The mineralized sediment that fills the mold recreates the shape of the remains

Question 13

unconformity

Answer 13

compliance with standards, rules, or laws

Question 14

mass extinction

Answer 14

The extinction of a large number of species within a relatively short period of geological time

Question 15

Jurassic period

Answer 15

a time of significant global change in continental configurations, oceanographic patterns, and biological systems

Question 16

Cretaceous period

Answer 16

between 145.5 and 65.5 million years ago,

Question 17

Devonian period

Answer 17

Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic

Question 18

Quaternary Period

Answer 18

the third and last of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era

Question 19

Permian period

Answer 19

the last period of the Paleozoic Era

Question 20

Uniformitarianism

Answer 20

the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes