1 multiple choice 1 point what is the correct order of events for the above geologic cross - section? (start with the oldest event.) e - d - a - b - c c - b - a - d - e c - a - b - e - d c - b - a - e - d

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# Brief Explanations:
To determine the order of geologic events, we use the principle of superposition (older layers are below younger ones) and cross - cutting relationships (a feature that cuts another is younger).
1. First, identify the oldest layer. Layer C is at the bottom, so it is the oldest (deposition of C).
2. Then layer B is deposited on top of C, so B is younger than C (deposition of B).
3. Next, layer A is deposited on top of B, so A is younger than B (deposition of A).
4. Then, the fault E cuts through A, B, and C, so E is younger than A, B, and C (formation of fault E).
5. Finally, the dike D cuts through A, B, and E? No, looking at the cross - section, D cuts through A, B, and C, but after E? Wait, no. Wait, D is a dike. Wait, the correct sequence: C (oldest, deposited first), then B (deposited on C), then A (deposited on B), then E (fault cuts A, B, C), then D (dike? Wait, no, in the options, the correct sequence should be C - B - A - E - D? Wait, no, let's re - evaluate. Wait, the options: Let's check the options. The second option is C - B - A - D - E? No, the fourth option is C - B - A - E - D. Wait, the cross - cutting: E is a fault, D is a dike. A fault (E) that cuts through layers is younger than the layers it cuts. A dike (D) that cuts through the fault (E) would be younger than E. Wait, in the diagram, D cuts through E? Wait, no, looking at the diagram, D is a dike that goes through A, B, and C, and E is a fault that cuts through A, B, C, and D? Wait, no, maybe I got it wrong. Wait, the correct order using superposition and cross - cutting:
- Deposition of C (oldest, at the bottom).
- Deposition of B (on top of C).
- Deposition of A (on top of B).
- Then, fault E forms (cuts A, B, C) – so E is younger than A, B, C.
- Then, dike D forms (cuts E? No, in the diagram, D is a dike that is offset by E? Wait, no, maybe D is a dike that was intruded before E? No, the fault E cuts through D? Wait, the diagram shows E as a fault line, and D as a dike. If E cuts through D, then E is younger than D. But that contradicts. Wait, maybe the correct order is C (oldest), B (next), A (next), then D (intrusion), then E (fault). But the options don't have that. Wait, the options are:
1. E - D - A - B - C (wrong, E can't be oldest)
2. C - B - A - D - E (D before E? If E is a fault that cuts D, then E is younger than D, so D is older than E, so this could be wrong)
3. C - A - B - E - D (wrong, A can't be before B, superposition says B is below A, so B is older than A)
4. C - B - A - E - D (C (oldest), B (next), A (next), E (fault, cuts A, B, C), D (dike, cuts E? So D is younger than E). Wait, but in the diagram, D is a dike that is offset by E? No, maybe D is a dike that was intruded, then E faulted it. So the order is C (deposited), B (deposited on C), A (deposited on B), D (intruded through A, B, C), then E (faulted, cutting D, A, B, C). But that would be C - B - A - D - E, but that's the second option. Wait, I'm confused. Wait, the key is superposition (older layers below) and cross - cutting (a feature that cuts is younger). So:
- Layers: C (bottom, oldest), B (above C), A (above B). So C is older than B, older than A.
- Then, D is a dike that intrudes through A, B, C – so D is younger than A, B, C (because it cuts them).
- Then, E is a fault that cuts through A, B, C, and D – so E is younger than D (because it cuts D).
But the options don't have C - B - A - D - E as the correct? Wait, no, the second option is C - B - A - D - E, and the fourth is C - B - A - E - D. Wait, maybe I made a mistake in identifying D and E. Maybe D is a sedimentary layer? No, D looks like a dike (igneous intrusion). Wait, the correct answer among the options: Let's check the options again. The fourth option is C - B - A - E - D. Wait, no, let's think about the cross - cutting. If E is a fault that cuts through A, B, C, and D is a dike that cuts through E, then D is younger than E. So the order would be C (oldest), B, A, E (fault), D (dike, younger than E). So the sequence is C - B - A - E - D, which is the fourth option. Wait, but maybe D is a sedimentary layer? No, D looks like an igneous intrusion. Wait, maybe the diagram has D as a sedimentary layer? No, the color and pattern of D suggest it's an intrusion. Anyway, based on the options and the principles, the correct order should be C - B - A - E - D? Wait, no, the second option is C - B - A - D - E. I think I messed up. Wait, let's start over.
Principle of superposition: In undisturbed layers, the oldest is at the bottom. So C is at the bottom, so C is oldest. Then B is above C, so B is younger than C. Then A is above B, so A is younger than B. Now, cross - cutting: A feature that cuts through layers is younger than the layers it cuts. So E is a fault that cuts through A, B, C – so E is younger than A, B, C. D is a dike (or a fault - related feature) that cuts through E? No, in the diagram, D is a layer that is offset by E. Wait, E is a fault, so it displaces D. So D was there before E, and E faulted it. So D is older than E. So the order is: C (oldest), B, A, D (intrusion or deposition), then E (fault). But the options have C - B - A - D - E (second option) and C - B - A - E - D (fourth). If D is older than E (because E faults D), then D is before E. So the sequence would be C - B - A - D - E. But that's the second option. But the fourth option is C - B - A - E - D. I'm confused. Wait, maybe the diagram shows that E is a fault that cuts through D, so E is younger than D. So D is older than E. So the order is C (oldest), B, A, D, E. So the second option: C - B - A - D - E. But the options are:
1. E - D - A - B - C (wrong)
2. C - B - A - D - E (maybe correct)
3. C - A - B - E - D (wrong, A can't be before B)
4. C - B - A - E - D (wrong, E before D)
5. (the last option is C - B - A - E - D? Wait, the last option is "C - B - A - E - D"? Wait, the user's options: Let me check the user's options again. The user wrote:
- E - D - A - B - C
- C - B - A - D - E
- C - A - B - E - D
- C - B - A - E - D
Ah, the fourth option is C - B - A - E - D. Wait, maybe I was wrong about D and E. Maybe E is a fault that is older than D? No, cross - cutting says the cutter is younger. So if D cuts E, D is younger. If E cuts D, E is younger. In the diagram, E is a black line (fault) that cuts through D (the gray layer). So E cuts D, so E is younger than D. So D is older than E. So the order is C (oldest), B, A, D (older than E), E (younger than D). So the sequence is C - B - A - D - E, which is the second option. But that contradicts my earlier thought. Wait, maybe D is a sedimentary layer. If D is a sedimentary layer, then it was deposited after A? No, D is below A? No, in the diagram, D is a gray layer that is above B and below A? No, the diagram shows A as the top layer (yellow), B as the pink layer below A, C as the blue layer below B, D as a gray layer that goes through A, B, and C, and E as a black fault line that goes through A, B, C, and D. So E cuts through D, so E is younger than D. So the order is:
1. Deposition of C (oldest, bottom layer).
2. Deposition of B (on top of C).
3. Deposition of A (on top of B).
4. Intrusion of D (cuts through A, B, C – so D is younger than A, B, C).
5. Formation of fault E (cuts through D, so E is younger than D).
So the sequence is C - B - A - D - E, which is the second option. But the user's options: the second option is "C - B - A - D - E", the fourth is "C - B - A - E - D". I think I made a mistake in the cross - cutting. If E cuts through D, then E is younger than D, so D is older than E, so the order is C - B - A - D - E. So the correct option is the second one? Wait, no, the fourth option is C - B - A - E - D. I'm really confused. Wait, maybe the diagram has D as a fault and E as a dike? No, the labels are E (fault) and D (dike). Anyway, based on the principles, the correct order should be C (oldest), then B, then A, then D (intrusion), then E (fault). So the answer is the second option: C - B - A - D - E? Wait, no, the options are:
1. E - D - A - B - C (incorrect, E can't be oldest)
2. C - B - A - D - E (possible)
3. C - A - B - E - D (incorrect, A can't be before B)
4. C - B - A - E - D (possible)
5. (the last one is C - B - A - E - D? Wait, the user's last option is "C - B - A - E - D". Wait, maybe the fault E is older than the dike D. If D cuts through E, then D is younger than E. So E is older than D. So the order would be C - B - A - E - D. So E is formed after A, B, C, and D is formed after E. So that would be C (oldest), B, A, E (fault), D (dike). So the fourth option: C - B - A - E - D. I think that's the correct one. Because if E is a fault that cuts through A, B, C, and D is a dike that cuts through E, then D is younger than E. So the sequence is C (oldest), B, A, E (fault, younger than A, B, C), D (dike, younger than E). So the correct option is C - B - A - E - D, which is the fourth option.
# Answer: C - B - A - E - D

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