25 POINTS AND QUICKLY AND CORRECTLY 2. What can geologists conclude about an area where only very large balanced rocks exist?

There has never been an earthquake
It would be a good place to build a bridge or dam
Large earthquakes have occurred there.
The rocks have been standing there for a very long time.

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3. The author compares the rocks to “giant brown marshmallows” (lines 78–79) in order to help readers picture their

shape.
texture.
size
location.

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4. What evidence does Rood give to support his claim that the rocks were carved during the last Ice Age?

There were more earthquakes then.
The bedrock was weaker then.
There was more water then.
There were more rocks then.

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5. What evidence supports the statement that the boulder is “sitting in its original birthplace” (lines 127–128)?

The boulder is about the size of a refrigerator.
The boulder is on the side of a mountain, where it could have rolled into place
The layer of quartz in the bedrock is tilted, like an hour hand at 8 o’clock.
The vein of quartz on the boulder lines up with the one on the bedrock.

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6. What does the author mean when he says, “the rock is getting sunburned” (line 143)?

The rock is changing color.
The rock is being eroded.
The rock is being split apart.
The rock is being hit by cosmic rays.

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Vocabulary

Choose the answer that best explains the meaning of each underlined word.

7. A gully is

a deep ditch
a swift stream.
a large rock.
a gentle slope

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8. Bedrock is rock that is located

where earthquakes have not occurred.
under the sand, soil, and gravel
in the desert.
on top of the soil.

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9. A gradual change takes place

very rapidly.
little by little.
invisibly.
with difficulty

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10. A coincidence is something that is

expected..
intentional.
disturbing.
accidental.

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Written Response

Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the essay.

11. How does measuring the amount of beryllium-10 help scientists determine the age of a rock?

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12. Why does the author call Richard Brune’s method “less destructive” than actually knocking over rocks (line 193)?

and all of them quickly and correctly please