Which theory holds that Earth's surface features were formed by catastrophic events, such as a biblical flood?

• A. Uniformitarianism
• B. Catastrophism
• C. Isostasy
• D. Creationism

Answer: (B)

Catastrophism is the idea that Earth's surface features were formed by dramatic, short-term events such as floods, massive eruptions, or other rapid upheavals. This fits the description of features created by catastrophic events, like a biblical flood, because the emphasis is on abrupt, large-scale changes rather than slow, gradual processes.

Uniformitarianism, by contrast, argues that the same slow, everyday processes we observe today have shaped the Earth over long timescales. Isostasy explains the vertical movement of crust due to loading and unloading, not the broad formation of landscapes by sudden events. Creationism is a belief about origins, not a mechanism describing how surface features were formed. So catastrophism is the best match.