Question

from Geology of Big Bend

The chaotic appearance of this jumbled landscape
presented substantial challenges to the first geologists
who attempted to map the very complex geologic
history of this area. It should be of little surprise to
anyone that initial hypotheses explaining geological
events here have been subjected to challenge and
revision as the area has undergone continuous study.
The geological history of Big Bend will continue to
evolve as we make new discoveries and are able to
more accurately piece together this magnificent story.
Big Bend National Park has often been described
as a "geologist's paradise," but it has also been called a
"geologist's nightmare."... Rock strata [are] exposed
at odd angles, standing vertical, or turned completely
upside down. Rocks often appear to be completely
displaced and do not "fit" within the areas in which
they are found. Clearly there have been many geologic
processes and forces at work over a vast expanse of
time. This makes the interpretation of Big Bend's
geologic history very difficult.
(from "Geology of Big Bend" by National Park Service)
This sentence is from the passage.
"Big Bend National Park has often been described as a 'geologist's paradise,' but
it has also been called a 'geologist's nightmare." (Paragraph 2)
What do the contrasting phrases geologist's paradise and geologist's nightmare
mean in this passage?
1. The area includes new rock formations, but they are difficult to access.
2. The area reveals past geological events, but they are difficult to explain.
3. The area is changing, making rock formations difficult to date accurately.
4. The area has irregular topography, making exploration slow and difficult.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

2. The area reveals past geological events, but they are difficult to explain.