A geologist studies a cliff and finds a layer of sandstone, typically formed on beaches, directly underneath a layer of shale, typically formed in deep water. What is the most likely event this transition indicates?

A significant drop in sea level

The formation of a mountain range

What is the direct cause for the formation of a new, distinct rock layer on top of an existing one?

The temperature of the Earth's core increasing

A change in the type of sediment being deposited

A shift in the planet's magnetic field

The weight of the atmosphere compressing the ground

Continuous and steady sediment deposition

The slow cooling of underground magma

A random collection of minerals

The total age of the planet Earth

A specific period of time and environment

The exact date of a major earthquake

The area was once a dry, arid desert

The location was covered by a warm, shallow sea

A glacier once carved through the region

It was the site of an ancient, dense forest