Earth's History and Diversity of Life Review

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.

Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

• Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.
• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.
• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.
• Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.

A scientist finds the bones of a dinosaur. What could help the scientist determine the approximate age of the dinosaur bones?

• the birds living in the area of the bones
• the weather conditions in the area of the bones
• the kinds of trees living in the area of the bones
• the index fossils in the area of the bones

Scientists find dinosaur fossils in the bottom rock layers of a cliff and mammal fossils in the middle rock layer of the cliff. Which could best be concluded from this evidence?

• Dinosaurs ate plants.
• Dinosaurs were eaten by the mammals.
• Dinosaurs lived on Earth before the mammals.
• Dinosaurs and mammals lived at the same time.

The diagram shows layers of rock A, B, C, D and igneous intrusion E.  Which sequence below correctly lists the rock layers in order from the first rock layer formed to the last rock layer formed?

• D, C, B, E, A
• A, B, C, D, E
• E, D, C, B, A
• A, E, B, C, D

The diagram shows where fossils of two organisms were found in rock layers.
Which conclusion does this diagram best support?

• The earthquake that caused the fault most likely killed both organisms because the fossils formed during the time of the earthquake.
• Organism Y lived before Organism X because Organism Y was found in an older rock layer.
• Both organisms lived at the same time because the fossils they formed were found in rock layers of about the same depth.
• The fault formed while Organism X was living and after Organism Yhad died because the fault is located between the two fossils.

Which is a process that allows scientists to compare rock layers with others in a sequence to determine their age?

• radoimetric dating
• ice cores
• absolute dating
• relative dating 

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

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

Scientists studying rock layers classify the top layer as the most recent, followed by older layers that are uncovered as they dig deeper. Which law explains this method of relative dating?

• law of geologic continuity
• law of universal position
• law of lateral continuity
• law of superpositiolaw of superposition

How are trilobite fossils helpful in understanding the distribution of living things throughout Earth’s history?

• Trilobites lived in all the ancient oceans and in varying depths of water.
• Trilobites were found worldwide and are signature creatures of the Paleozoic Era.
• The soft tissue of trilobites preserved well and began the expansion of biological diversity.
• There were many different species of trilobites, and they existed in varying shapes and sizes.