Quiz about Relative Dating and Laws of Stratigraphy

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Law of superposition

Answer

Law of crosscutting

Answer

Relative Dating

Answer

Unconformity

Question 2

A break in the geologic record that is made when rock layers are eroded over a long period of time

Accepted Answer

Unconformity

Answer

Law of Superposition

Answer

Law of Crosscutting

Answer

Relative Dating

Question 3

How does the law of crosscutting explain the age of a fault?

Accepted Answer

The fault is younger than the rocks it cuts through.

Answer

The fault is younger than the rocks above it.

Answer

The fault is older than the rocks above it.

Answer

The fault is older than the rocks it cuts through.

Question 4

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 5

Relative dating of rock layers tells us that the deeper we dig, _______.

Accepted Answer

the older the rocks get

Answer

the younger the rocks get

Answer

the smellier the rocks get

Answer

the harder the rocks get

Question 6

Which of the following is the oldest?

Accepted Answer

Layer E

Answer

Layer L

Answer

Intrusion D

Answer

Intrusion H

Question 7

How does sedimentary rock usually form?

Accepted Answer

Horizontally

Answer

Vertically

Answer

Diagonally

Answer

Folding

Question 8

Letter "F" is a....

Accepted Answer

fault

Answer

inclusion

Answer

intrusion

Answer

unconformity

Question 9

The rock formation labeled "P" is a(n)...

Accepted Answer

intrusion

Answer

fault

Answer

inclusion

Answer

unconformity

Question 10

What is the most recent event?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

E

Answer

B

Answer

D

Question 11

What rock in the Oldest?

Accepted Answer

Conglomerate

Answer

Shale

Answer

Breccia

Answer

Sandstone

Question 12

What is the last event to happen?

Accepted Answer

Faulting

Answer

Deposition of Breccia

Answer

Igneous Intrusion

Answer

Deposition of Limestone

Question 13

What is the most recent event to happen?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

D

Question 14

The Law of Superposition states that younger rocks lie _________ older ones.

Accepted Answer

above

Answer

below

Answer

mixed within

Answer

all the time to

Question 15

The Law of Crosscutting states that a fault or intrusion is __________ than the bodies of rock it cuts through.

Accepted Answer

younger

Answer

older

Answer

funnier

Answer

nastier

Question 16

How have the rocks been disturbed?

Accepted Answer

tilting

Answer

folding

Answer

faulting

Answer

igneous intrusion

Question 17

How have the rocks been disturbed?

Accepted Answer

folding

Answer

tilting

Answer

faulting

Answer

igneous intrusion

Question 18

Which layer is the oldest ?

Accepted Answer

E

Answer

A

Answer

D

Answer

F

Question 19

Which letter indicates an igneous intrusion?

Accepted Answer

D

Answer

A

Answer

C

Answer

E

Question 20

A is older than layer C

Accepted Answer

FALSE

Answer

TRUE

Question 21

The fault is older than layer B.

Accepted Answer

FALSE

Answer

TRUE

Question 22

Relative dating determines the...

Accepted Answer

age of fossils compared to others

Answer

precise age of fossils

Answer

climate fossils survived in

Answer

movement of continents

Question 23

Used to determine whether an object is older or younger than other objects

Accepted Answer

Relative Dating

Answer

Superposition

Answer

Fossil

Answer

Unconformity

Question 24

Traces or remains of organisms that lived long ago

Accepted Answer

Fossil

Answer

Unconformity

Answer

Superposition

Answer

Column

Question 25

An ordered arrangement of rock layers that is based on the relative ages of the rocks

Accepted Answer

Geologic Column

Answer

Superposition

Answer

Unconformity

Answer

Layered

Question 26

How does the law of crosscutting explain the age of a fault?

Accepted Answer

The fault is younger than the rocks it cuts through.

Answer

The fault is younger than the rocks above it.

Answer

The fault is older than the rocks above it.

Answer

The fault is older than the rocks it cuts through.

Question 27

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 28

How do geologists use relative dating?

Accepted Answer

Placing rocks in order from youngest to oldest

Answer

Placing rocks in order by minerals they contain

Answer

Classifying rocks by different textures

Answer

Classifying rocks by different isotopes

Question 29

The Geologic Time Scale is a record of what?

Accepted Answer

the known history of rocks and fossils

Answer

old geologists

Answer

sweet geology music

Answer

a list of every living thing ever

Question 30

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

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

F

Answer

E

Answer

B

Question 31

Which of the following correctly lists the layers in order from oldest to youngest?

Accepted Answer

E, B, C, D, A

Answer

A, B, C, D, E

Answer

E, D, C, B, A

Answer

C, B, A, D, E

Question 32

Which property of fossils allows scientists to determine the relative ages of rock layers?

Accepted Answer

Fossils show change over time as species evolve

Answer

Fossils form from the remains of living things

Answer

Fossils can be analyzed to determine their exact ages

Answer

Fossils are usually found in sedimentary rock

Question 33

How do scientists use fossils to determine the relative ages of rock layers?

Accepted Answer

by comparing fossils in many different rock layers

Answer

by comparing all the fossils in one rock layer

Answer

by determining the positions of fossils in many different rock layers

Answer

by locating other areas of the world where the same fossils are found

Question 34

What states that a fault or a body of rocks must be younger than any feature or layer of rock that the fault or rock body cuts through?

Accepted Answer

Law of crosscutting

Answer

Unconformity

Answer

Intrusion

Answer

Law of superposition

Question 35

Scientists use radioactive decay to measure...

Accepted Answer

absolute time

Answer

relative time

Answer

half-lives

Answer

time of day

Question 36

The length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay is its...

Accepted Answer

half-life

Answer

era

Answer

age

Answer

eon

Question 37

How does absolute age differ from relative age?

Accepted Answer

only absolute dating finds the age in years

Answer

only absolute dating indicates which rock is older than another

Answer

only relative dating finds the age in years

Question 38

What element is usually used to date fossils?

Accepted Answer

carbon-14

Answer

uranium-235

Answer

mercury-203

Answer

thorium-234

Question 39

How old is the Earth?

Accepted Answer

4.6 billion years

Answer

1.4 billion years

Answer

4.6 million years

Answer

6000 years

Question 40

Small pieces of older igneous rock (E) found within a layer of younger sedimentary rock is an example of which principle?

Accepted Answer

principle of inclusions

Answer

principle of superposition

Answer

principle of cross-cutting relationships

Answer

principle of original horizontality

Question 41

A dike (B) cutting through several layers of older rock, and lying underneath several layers of younger rock is an example of which principle?

Accepted Answer

principle of cross-cutting relationships

Answer

principle of inclusions

Answer

principle of superposition

Answer

principle of original horizontality

Question 42

How does absolute age differ from relative age?

Accepted Answer

only absolute dating finds the age in years

Answer

only absolute dating indicates which rock is older than another

Answer

only relative dating finds the age in years

Question 43

Which of the following is the oldest?

Accepted Answer

Layer E

Answer

Layer L

Answer

Intrusion D

Answer

Intrusion H

Question 44

Trilobites are good index fossils because.... (pick the best answer).

Accepted Answer

abundant, widespread geographically, and only lived a short time

Answer

abundant, large

Answer

only lived for a short time period

Answer

were large
carbonized

Question 45

Which fossil would make a good index fossil?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

C

Answer

D

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