Which term is another name for uniformitarianism?

Which term is another name for uniformitarianism?

• A. Catastrophism
• B. Neptunism
• C. Evolution
• D. Gradualism

Answer: (D)

Uniformitarianism is the idea that Earth’s features are shaped by slow, continuous processes acting over long times, the same processes we observe today. The term that expresses this same idea is gradualism, which means slow, steady change over time. Early geologists like Hutton and Lyell argued that weathering, erosion, sedimentation, and other everyday processes, acting over vast periods, can account for the geological record. Catastrophism describes sudden, dramatic events; neptunism is an outdated theory about rock formation from ocean matter; evolution concerns biological change. So the right term for uniformitarianism is gradualism.

Uniformitarianism is the idea that Earth’s features are shaped by slow, continuous processes acting over long times, the same processes we observe today. The term that expresses this same idea is gradualism, which means slow, steady change over time. Early geologists like Hutton and Lyell argued that weathering, erosion, sedimentation, and other everyday processes, acting over vast periods, can account for the geological record. Catastrophism describes sudden, dramatic events; neptunism is an outdated theory about rock formation from ocean matter; evolution concerns biological change. So the right term for uniformitarianism is gradualism.