How Relative Dating and Fossils Reveal Earth's History:

Which fossil is the oldest, and why?

• 4. Fish fossil, because it is in the top layer

• 3. Long fossil, because they are large

• 1. Trilobite fossil, because it is in the bottom layer

• D. All fossils are the same age

Is the fault older or younger than the fossils in the Layers?

• The fault is older because it cuts through the fossils

• The fault is younger because it cuts through all the layers

• The fault and fossils are the same age

• It is impossible to tell

Which 2 layers are the same age?

• A. 1 & 6

• B. 2 & 9

• C. 5 & 7

• D. 3 & 8

What do the fossils in these layers tell us about the past environments?

• A. The area was always a desert

• B. The area changed from land to water over time

• C. The area was always underwater

• D. The fossils do not provide environmental information

What is the correct sequence of events?

• A. Fossils formed → intrusion occurred → layers were deposited

• B. Layers were deposited → fossils formed → intrusion occurred

• C. Intrusion occurred → fossils formed → layers were deposited

• D. Intrusion occurred → layers were deposited → fossils formed

What does finding the same fossil in different columns of rock tell us?

• A. The layers with the same fossil are the same age

• B. The layers with the same fossil were formed in different environments

• C. The fossil is not useful for determining age

• D. The fossil was moved to both layers by erosion