Question

1. the laws of stratigraphy help geologists make inferences about the earths past. for example, the law of superposition states that older rocks are typically found farther down, and younger rocks are typically found toward the top. imagine finding a dinosaur fossil in a layer of rock above another layer that has a trilobite fossil. you might infer from the law of superposition that the trilobite fossil is older. the law of lateral continuity states that layers of rock extend over large areas. imagine finding rock layers that are similar in other ways but are now separated by a valley. you might infer from the law of lateral continuity that those areas used to be continuous.

how does the author support the statement that the laws of stratigraphy help geologists make inferences?
a. by using statistics, including the number of times geologists use the laws of stratigraphy every day
b. by using specific examples of inferences that could be made using two laws of stratigraphy
c. by quoting a famous geologist who describes how the law of lateral continuity led to the discovery of the trilobite
d. by describing what we would not know without these laws

Explanation:

The passage gives two examples - one for the law of superposition (dinosaur and trilobite fossils) and one for the law of lateral continuity (separated rock - layers) - to show how geologists make inferences using stratigraphy laws.

Answer:

B. by using specific examples of inferences that could be made using two laws of stratigraphy