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Earth History Quiz

Quiz by Deborah Roll

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20 questions
Show answers
  • Q1
    Which undisturbed rock layers are most likely to contain fossils similar to modern organisms?
    Layers deep down
    Layers near the ocean
    Layers on top
    Layers near volcanoes
    30s
  • Q2
    2. Scientists find dinosaur bones in the BOTTOM rock layers of a cliff and fossils of mammals in the middle layers in the cliff. Which could best be concluded from this evidence? (draw a picture- it will help you!)
    Dinosaurs and mammals lived at the same time
    Dinosaurs ate plants
    Dinosaurs were eaten by mammals
    Dinosaurs lived on Earth before mammals.
    30s
  • Q3
    3. Which rule states that undisturbed rock layers are found with the oldest layers deeper down and the youngest layers on top?
    Law of Cross-Cutting
    Law of Superposition
    Law of Original Horizontality
    30s
  • Q4
    4. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope with a half life of 5.730 years. After 11.640 years, what percentage of the Carbon-14 would be left? (remember you start with 100%) remember the graph we drew at the beginning.
    25%
    12.5%
    50%
    6.25%
    30s
  • Q5
    5. What are index fossils useful to geologists?
    They allow geologists to find the exact area where the organism died
    They allow geologists to find the absolute ages of rocks.
    They allow the geologist to find the relative age of rocks.
    120s
  • Q6
    6. What do the first three eras of the geological time scale have in common?
    Each ended in a mass extinction.
    Mammals were present in each one.
    Conditions of the Earth's atmosphere were the same throughout all three.
    Humans were present in each era.
    120s
  • Q7
    7. How do trace fossils differ from other types of fossils, like cast or mold fossils?
    Trace fossils are the remains of the organisms organs, not its bones.
    Trace fossils are NOT the remains of the organisms itself, the other fossils are the remains.
    Trace fossils are remains of the organisms bones, not its organs.
    Trace fossils are the remains of the organisms itself; the other fossils are not.
    120s
  • Q8
    8. A scientist finds the bones of a dinosaur. What could help the scientist determine the RELATIVE age of the bones?
    The index fossils found in the same layer of rock as the dinosaur bones.
    Weather conditions in the area where the bones were found.
    The amount of radioactive isotopes present in the surrounding rock layers.
    The birds living in the area where the bones were found.
    120s
  • Q9
    9. A fault cuts across 4 rock layers. Which of the following is true?
    The fault is older than all 4 of the rock layers.
    The fault is older than the bottom two layers, but newer than the upper two layers.
    The fault is younger than all of the 4 rock layers
    120s
  • Q10
    10. Over the course of the Earth's history, life has...........
    become more complex over time.
    Moved from living only on land to living only in the water.
    Become simpler over time
    Stayed the same over time
    120s
  • Q11
    11. Which of the following is most likely to be used as an index fossil?
    Corals found in one rock layer world wide.
    Bird feather fossils found in all rock layers in one area.
    Dinosaur bones from many different ti8me periods
    Footprints of different types of dinosaurs
    120s
  • Q12
    12. In which type of rock are fossils most likely to form?
    Metamorphic, because of the pressures involved.
    Sedimentary,, because layers of sediment are laid down over the organisms.
    Igneous, because of the heat involved in making a fossil.
    Fossils form equally well in all kinds of rock.
    120s
  • Q13
    13. Climatologist study the history of Earth's changing climate. Which of the following would a climatologist most likely look for as evidence?
    Ice cores
    Radioactive isotopes
    Petrified fossils
    Trace fossils
    120s
  • Q14
    14. Why are trilobites used as index fossils so often?
    They lived for only a short period of time.
    They have been present for all of Earth's history.
    They are found in ancient oceans
    They are found only in North America
    120s
  • Q15
    15. How are relative dating and absolute dating different from each other?
    Absolute dating involves looking at drawings of rock layers more than relative dating does.
    Relative dating involves more measurement and calculation than absolute dating
    Relative dating provides an exact age while absolute dating does not.
    Absolute dating provides an exact age while relative dating does not.
    120s

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