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8.E.2 Earth's History

Quiz by Amy Lowder

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22 questions
Show answers
  • Q1
    Radioactivity of a rock can be used to identify
    the rate the rock was formed
    the types of fossils in the rock
    the mass of the rock
    the absolute age of the rock
    45s
  • Q2
    Several fossils of marine organisms were discovered in a desert. What is the best explanation?
    Erosion created a sandy desert.
    The land was once under water.
    A catastrophe occured.
    The climate changed.
    45s
  • Q3
    Many scientists attribute the disappearance of the dinosaurs to an asteroid striking Earth. Which evidence supports this theory?
    The asteroid melted glaciers, causing floods that destroyed dinosaur habitat.
    The asteroid caused fires and wiped out the food supply.
    Continents were broken apart by the collision, eliminating the dinosaur habitat.
    Clouds of dust, smoke and ash filled Earth's atmosphere, blocking sunlight, reducing plant life and causing a decrease in Earth's temperature.
    45s
  • Q4
    What is an index fossil?
    bones of animals found in only one, specific location
    a fossil of an organism that lived during a relatively short period of time, was found in many places and was once abundant on Earth.
    cast fossils that can be found in all rock layers
    a fossil that was rare and preserved in ice
    45s
  • Q5
    Ice cores are important to the study of geologic history because
    they follow the Law of Superposition, which explains the extinction of ancient species
    they hold index fossils which can be used to determine relative age of rock layers
    they contain evidence showing changes in the composition of atmospheric gases, the presence of past volcanic debris and possible signs of global warming
    they show unconformities in rock layers which signal changes in erosion and deposition
    45s
  • Q6
    Scientists theorize that horses evolved from a much smaller, but structurally similar ancestor that changed over time
    by learning about selective breeding
    by studying different types of rock formations
    by observing the behavior of modern horses
    by examining fossil records
    45s
  • Q7
    What could help a scientist determine the relative age of newly discovered dinosaur bones?
    the ice cores found in the habitat where the bones were discovered
    the index fossils found in the area where the bones were discovered
    the amount of Carbon found in the rocks surrounding the bones
    the kinds of plants living in the area where the bones were discovered
    45s
  • Q8
    Evidence of earthquakes that have occurred throughout Earth's history can most often be found
    in desert environments
    along fault lines
    where rivers meet the ocean
    along the ocean shorelines
    45s
  • Q9
    What do transitional fossils best support?
    the Law of Superpostion
    the Theory of Geological Evolution
    the Law of Conservation of Matter
    the Theory of Biological Evolution
    45s
  • Q10
    Fossils of the same land-dwelling animals were found on the continents of South America and Africa. What does the evidence suggest?
    The two continents were once joined in part of a larger continent.
    The animals swam from one continent to the other.
    The animals developed on the two continents at the same time.
    The continents were once connected by a land bridge.
    45s
  • Q11
    Fossils of tropical plants were found on an island in the Arctic Ocean. What can best be concluded from this discovery?
    Ocean currents carried the plants to the island.
    Spores of plants drifted by air currents to the island.
    The island drifted from a tropical region to its present location.
    The seeds of plants have been carried to the island by migratory birds.
    45s
  • Q12
    Which best explains how geologic time scales can help scientists study the evolution of life on Earth?
    They correlate the existence of life on Earth with geological events.
    They show that geological features have evolved at the same rate as organisms.
    They describe the existence of rocks before there was life on Earth.
    They compare the life histories of species that have used rocks as habitats.
    45s
  • Q13
    This diagram shows a cross section of land that has not been overturned and includes an intrusion. What can be concluded about the intrusion?
    Question Image
    It is younger than all of the rock layers.
    It is the same age as the rock layer containing fossils.
    It is older than the fossils in the cross section.
    It is the oldest of all the rock layers.
    45s
  • Q14
    A scientist hypothesizes that a large volcanic eruption caused a change in global temperature. Which information gained from ice cores is most useful in supporting the scientist's hypothesis?
    estimates of natural radioactivity
    levels of nitrates in the ocean
    amounts of atmospheric dust
    levels of dissolved oxygen
    45s
  • Q15
    Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?
    In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.
    Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1 million years of Earth's age.
    Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.
    In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.
    45s

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