Quiz about Earth's History

Question 1

What is the primary method used to determine the relative age of rock layers?

Accepted Answer

Law of Superposition

Answer

Radiometric dating

Answer

Fossil correlation

Answer

Stratigraphy

Question 2

Which process involves the breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition?

Accepted Answer

Physical weathering

Answer

Chemical weathering

Answer

Erosion

Answer

Deposition

Question 3

What is the name of the supercontinent that existed approximately 335 million years ago?

Accepted Answer

Pangaea

Answer

Gondwana

Answer

Laurasia

Answer

Eurasia

Question 4

Which of the following is a result of plate tectonics?

Accepted Answer

Formation of mountains

Answer

Creation of river valleys

Answer

Erosion of coastlines

Answer

Weathering of rocks

Question 5

How does the geologic time scale help scientists?

Accepted Answer

It organizes Earth's history into manageable sections.

Answer

It predicts future geological events.

Answer

It measures the speed of tectonic plate movement.

Answer

It determines the chemical composition of rocks.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the process of erosion?

Accepted Answer

The movement of sediment from one place to another

Answer

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces

Answer

The formation of new rock layers

Answer

The chemical alteration of minerals

Question 7

How do fossils provide evidence for past plate motions?

Accepted Answer

By showing similar species on continents now separated by oceans

Answer

By showing the age of the rocks they are found in

Answer

By indicating the climate of the past

Answer

By revealing the types of organisms that lived in different areas

Question 8

Which geoscience process is responsible for the creation of the Grand Canyon?

Accepted Answer

River erosion

Answer

Volcanic activity

Answer

Glacial movement

Answer

Tectonic uplift

Question 9

Analyze the diagram of rock strata. Which layer is the oldest?

Accepted Answer

Bottom layer

Answer

Top layer

Answer

Middle layer

Answer

Cannot be determined

Question 10

Construct an explanation for how the distribution of fossils supports the theory of continental drift.

Accepted Answer

Similar fossils are found on continents that are now widely separated.

Answer

Fossils are found only in specific regions.

Answer

Fossils are found in the same rock layers worldwide.

Answer

Fossils are only found in oceanic regions.

Question 11

What evidence from rock strata can be used to construct a scientific explanation of Earth's history?

Accepted Answer

The types of fossils found in the layers

Answer

The color of the rocks

Answer

The thickness of the layers

Answer

The mineral composition of the rocks

Question 12

How do geoscience processes at different scales affect Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

They can cause significant changes over long periods.

Answer

They only affect small areas over short periods.

Answer

They have no impact on Earth's surface.

Answer

They only occur in specific regions.

Question 13

Interpret the data on the distribution of seafloor structures to provide evidence of past plate motions.

Accepted Answer

Seafloor structures align with current tectonic plate boundaries.

Answer

Seafloor structures are randomly distributed.

Answer

Seafloor structures show no pattern related to plate motions.

Answer

Seafloor structures are only found near continents.

Question 14

Explain how the geologic time scale is constructed using evidence from rock strata.

Accepted Answer

By dating the fossils found within the rock layers

Answer

By measuring the temperature of the rocks

Answer

By analyzing the chemical composition of the rocks

Answer

By observing the color changes in the rock layers

Question 15

Evaluate the impact of weathering and erosion on the formation of landscapes over time.

Accepted Answer

They gradually shape and alter landscapes.

Answer

They have minimal impact on landscapes.

Answer

They create new landscapes rapidly.

Answer

They only affect coastal regions.

Question 16

Analyze the seashell found in the white layer.  Which statement is true of the rock layer that contains this fossil?

Accepted Answer

It is older than the layers above it.

Answer

It could also contain a fossil from the bottom layer.

Answer

It is older than the layers below it.

Answer

It is younger than the layers above it.

Question 17

What are the relative ages of the features in order from oldest to youngest?

Accepted Answer

Limestone, Siltstone, Fault, Basalt

Answer

Limestone, Basalt, Fault, Siltstone

Answer

Siltstone, Fault, Basalt, Limestone

Answer

Limestone, Fault, Basalt, Siltstone

Question 18

Which of the following orders the rock layers accurately from oldest to youngest?

Accepted Answer

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Answer

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Answer

2, 3, 4, 5, 1

Answer

1, 2, 3, 5, 4

Question 19

Fossils were discovered in four different sedimentary rock layers as shown below: Which best describes the age of the fish relative to the age of the fern and the age of the shell?

Accepted Answer

The fish is younger than the fern, but older than the shell.

Answer

The fish is older than both the fern and the shell.

Answer

The fish is younger than both the fern and the shell.

Answer

The fish is older than the fern, but younger than the shell.

Question 20

_{Which rock layer in the diagram seems to be the oldest?}

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

F

Answer

E

Answer

B

Question 21

When igneous rock breaks apart (weathers), it forms ___________.

Accepted Answer

sediments

Answer

sedimentry rocks

Answer

metamorphic rocks

Answer

crystals

Question 22

What is underground molten rock?

Accepted Answer

Magma

Answer

Lava

Answer

Soil

Answer

Intrusive

Question 23

Geologic Time is broken down into smaller parts called eons, ____, periods, and epochs.

Accepted Answer

eras

Answer

decades

Answer

lightyears

Answer

points

Question 24

Jellyfish are one of the oldest species on Earth. In what time period does science say they first appear?

Accepted Answer

Precambrian Era

Answer

Paleozoic Era

Answer

Mesozoic Era

Answer

Cenozoic Era

Question 25

Humans came into existence...

Accepted Answer

Quite recently

Answer

Right after dinosaurs

Answer

At the beginning

Answer

In the middle

Question 26

Paleozoic, Mesozoic & Cenozoic are all

Accepted Answer

Eras

Answer

Epochs

Answer

Periods

Answer

Eons

Question 27

This is a picture of glacier scars found in Africa.  What are these evidence for?

Accepted Answer

Africa was once in an area of the Earth that had a very cold climate

Answer

Africa has always been near the equator

Answer

The continents have not moved

Answer

sea floor spreading

Question 28

The idea that the continents move around the Earth's surface is called?

Accepted Answer

continental drift

Answer

Pangea

Answer

plate tectonics

Answer

sea-floor spreading

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