Evolution and fossils

Traces of starch from wild barley (Hordem) and wheat (Triticum) species were found on a 23 000-year-old seed-grinding stone used by ancient humans in Israel. The method which would have been used to date these ancient starch grains is

• radioactive carbon-14 dating

• radioactive uranium-235 dating.

• relative dating by comparing rock strata.

• the use of a molecular clock.

An index fossil may be used for identifying

• the oldest rocks in a series of strata.

• the age of rocks from the Jurassic period only

• the absolute age of a sedimentary rock stratum.

• sedimentary rocks of the same age in different locations

Which of these organisms from the diagram would make the most suitable index fossil?

• Gastropod

• Crinoid

• Ammonite

• Trilobite

Which of these organisms is the oldest?

• Coral

• Crinoid

• Ammonite

• Trilobite

States that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed

• Law of crosscutting
• Law of superposition
• Relative Dating
• Unconformity

The best index fossils have which two traits?

• widespread geographically, long lifespan
• widespread geographically, short lifespan
• specific place, long lifespan
• specific place, short lifespan

What type of fossil is most likely shown in this picture?

• Mold Fossil
• Cast Fossil
• Preserved Remains
• Mineral Replacement

The feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx is sometimes called the “first bird” because the winged creature was the first to show an evolutionary link between birds and reptiles. Archaeopteryx is an example of

• an index fossil

• a transitional fossil

• a coprolite

• a trace fossil

The preserved evidence of an animal’s activity or behaviour, rather than the remains of the animal itself are called what type of fossils?

• Mineralised fossils

• Trace fossils

• Casts

• Molds

The Australian Sheep Breeding Values is a genetic selection program aimed at improving traits such as growth rate, wool quality, fibre diameter and parasite resistance.

The effect of selective breeding programs such as this one on the genetic variation of a population over time is best explained by

• an increase in the gene pool through the selection of alleles that enhance the survival of a population

• a decrease in the gene pool of the population through the selection of particular alleles by humans

• no change to the allele frequency due to the bottleneck event taking place within this population

• an increase in gene flow leading to an increase in the variety of alleles