Geological History and Evolution

What is the best description for how trace fossils are different from fossils of organism's remains?

• Trace fossils are fossilized tracks & other evidences of an organism's activity.
• Trace fossils are fossilized waste of an animal.
• Trace fossils are parts of the original organism.

Around which landforms can scientists most likely find igneous rock?

• cliffs
• faults
• mountains
• volcanoes

Which best describes how ice cores are important to the study of geologic history?

• They show unconformities, which signal changes in deposition.
• They hold index fossils, which are used to date the different ice cores.
• They contain evidence showing changes in the atmospheric composition over time.
• They follow the Law of Superposition, which gives reasons for extinctions of species

If a metamorphic rock contains an intrusion of igneous, which rock is the oldest?

• The igneous rock is older.
• The rocks are the same age.
• The metamorphic rock is older.

Which are scientists most likely to use to estimate the age of Earth?

• rock layers
• soil samples
• organic fossils
• water samples

Which is the most likely reason scientists would want to analyze the air trapped in an ice core?

• to study how much oxygen was in the ice
• to learn how the atmosphere has changed over time
• to determine how many gas bubbles were present in the air
• to study how many animals lived on Earth when the ice was formed

Where is evidence most often found to represent a record of Earth's history?

• air, lava, & fossils
• water, air & rocks
• lava, water & ice cores
• rocks, fossils & ice cores

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

• by hardening and cementing of layers of sediment
• by fossils getting buried in various layers of sediment
• by cooling and hardening of hot molten rock from inside the Earth

Which makes a good index fossil?

• a fossil not commonly found in rocks
• a fossil that lived throughout geologic time
• a fossil that lived during three geologic time periods
• a fossil that lived during only one geologic time period

Which is the most accurate method scientists can use to estimate Earth's age.

• relativism
• superposition
• relative dating
• radioactive dating