Table 1: Geologic Time Scale

 

LISTENING COMPREHENSION

5.1. You will hear a radio report about fossils. Answer statements 1-10 by writing T (for True) and F (for False):

1. Fossils are restricted to sedimentary rocks, as well as igneous and metamorphic.

2. The process of fossilization takes place over long periods of time.

3. Oxygen plays an important role in the process of fossilization.

4. Fossils are usually preserved in different rocks.

5. Diagenesis is known as reduction, accompanied by some chemical reactions.

6. Coal was formed as a result of carbonization.

7. Fossils are simply interesting and beautiful structures.

8. The word fossil refers to anything in the ground.

9. Petrifaction has the same meaning as fossils.

10. Fossils can be divided into several groups.

 

5 .2. Listen to the report once more. Then, for statements 11-20, complete the notes that summarize what the speaker says. You will need to write a word or a short phrase in each box.

11. The Latin word fodere means                                                                  .

                                                   

12. The term fossil means the direct evidence of                                    life.

 

13. Fossils are usually found in                                                          .

 

14. The process of                          takes place over a long time.

 

15. The organisms begin                                 after death.

 

16. The process of                            takes place in the presence of oxygen.

 

17. The process of                           takes place in the absence of oxygen.

 

18. The hard parts of organisms resist                                                   .

 

19. The fossils are covered by layers of                                               .

 

20.                            is the increase of pressure in the pore spaces o

WATCH THE VIDEO

5.1 Geologic Time-the Earth in Context

                                (Relative dating/ absolute dating)

 5.1.1Before- watching

Look through the following words and revise their meanings. Pay attention to the pronunciation of the following words.

5.1.2.While-watching

 1. State whether the following statements are T (True) or F (False)

1. There are two types of dating.

2. Dating is important for geologists to construct time lines.

3. Relative dating is more significant than absolute dating.

4. There is no difference between relative dating and absolute dating.

5.    Relative dating puts events in sequential order.

6. Absolute dating does not pinpoint the more exact dates.

Choose the correct variant to the following questions.

1. What is the age of Earth’s history?

       (A) 4.6 million                   (B) 4.6 billion        (C) 4,600

2. Humans are compared to

       (A) mere pups        (B) puppies                        (C) baby puppies

3. How long have humans been around on the Earth?

       (A) 0.1%                            (B) 10%                             (C) 1%

4. What do geologists construct when studying the rocks on Earth?

       (A) data                             (B) record                          (C)outline

5. How many types of dating are there?

       (A) 3                                  (B) 2                                  (C) 1

6. Dating is used to construct

       (A) time lines         (B) time intervals               (C) time periods

7. What events come first?

       (A) the youngest                (B) the middle ones (C) the oldest

8. What is relative dating?

(A) it puts events in sequential order

(B) it puts dates to rocks

(C) it pinpoints dates more exactly

9. Which of the dating is more important?

       (A) neither                         (B) both                             (C) only one

10. What do geologists study?

       (A) Earth                (B) other planets                (C) geology

5.1.3After-watching

 1. Insert prepositions where necessary.

Geologists study (1) ______ the Earth. (2)_____ doctors the geologists have specialties. (3)____ example, some (4)_____ focus the oceans, others on the interior (6)____ the Earth. Some even study other planets. Geology has many separated (7) ____ two broad categories: historical geology and physical geology.

Historical geologists look (8) ______ the formation and evolution of the Earth and life (9) _________ earth.

 Physical geologists study what materials the Earth’s is made (10) ________ and what’s happening (11) ______ and (12) ______ the Earth’s surface.

Most introductory geology classes focus (13) __________ physical geology. So, we’ll do that too. Now, when we talk (14) ________the time on Earth before humans (B.H.) were (15) ______, we’re talking about a long, long, long time. I mean long, really long. You wouldn’t even believe how long. Anyway, here is one way to think (16) _____ geologic time.

Use the following words to define the terms:

Relative dating-

 

Absolute dating-

 

chronological                                 geological                                      the

arrangement                                              years                                              of

ages                                                           expressed                                                                                                                                                                    without

scale                                                          formation                                      to

rocks                                                         units                                              in

absolute                                                     time                                               their

fossils                                            rock

events                                            usually

reference                                                   fossil

geological                                                  age

with respect

 

3. Answer the following questions:

1. What type of geologists studies the formation and evolution of the Earth and life on earth?

2. What is the Earth’s age compared to?

3. How old are humans according to the video?

4. How is it necessary to memorize the scale of geological time?

5. What did geologists construct by studying the rocks on Earth?

6. What is the purpose of relative dating?

7. What is the absolute dating?