Quiz about Geological History of Earth

Question 1

The diagram here provides information on when the fossils of certain organisms are found in the fossil record. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the data in this diagram?

Accepted Answer

Trilobites and dinosaurs did not live at the same time.

Answer

Jellyfish and trilobites never competed for resources.

Answer

Most mammals are in competition with birds for resources.

Answer

Mammals did not appear until after the dinosaurs are extinct.

Question 2

The illustration here shows rock layers in their original order, along with a fracture in some rock layers caused by an earthquake. Based on the evidence in the illustration, an earthquake occurred -

Accepted Answer

before layer X was created.

Answer

before layer W was created.

Answer

after layer Y was deposited.

Answer

after layer Z was deposited.

Question 3

The illustration below shows rock layers from three different locations and fossils the rock layers contain. The fossils are all trilobites, ancient organisms that were different over time. Which conclusion can be drawn from the information in the illustration?

Accepted Answer

The trilobite Asaphidae appeared most recently of those shown here.

Answer

The trilobite Cyclopygidae appeared most recently of those shown here.

Answer

The trilobite Ceratopigidae appeared before all the others.

Answer

The trilobite Remopleiridae is the olderst of all the trilobites.

Question 4

The earth is ______________of years old

Accepted Answer

Billions

Answer

Hundreds

Answer

Millions

Answer

Trillions

Question 5

What type of event usually marks the end of an Era

Accepted Answer

A Mass Extinction

Answer

A Quinceanera

Answer

An earthquake

Answer

A Volcanic Eruption

Question 6

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

Accepted Answer

The relative age of rock layers

Answer

The absolute age of rock layers

Answer

The exact, absolute age of fossils

Answer

the super powers of rocks

Question 7

According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

C

Question 8

The disappearance of a species.

Accepted Answer

Extinction

Answer

Evolution

Answer

Migration

Answer

Mutation

Question 9

What type of rock do fossils form in?

Accepted Answer

Sedimentary

Answer

Igneous

Answer

Metamorphic

Answer

Classic

Question 10

Which scientific principal states that younger rock layers are generally deposited on top of older rock layers

Accepted Answer

Superposition

Answer

Evolution

Answer

Original Horizontality

Answer

Inclusion

Question 11

Which is younger: A or D?

Accepted Answer

D

Answer

A

Answer

Both are the same

Question 12

The time scale of Earth History is called the:

Accepted Answer

Geologic Time Scale

Answer

Earth Time Scale

Answer

Earth History Time Scale

Answer

Radiometric Time Scale

Question 13

According the graph, a piece of timber containing one-fourth of the amount of carbon-14 that is found in a living tree, died about how many years ago?

Accepted Answer

11,400 years

Answer

22,800 years

Answer

5,700 years

Answer

17,100 years

Question 14

A sample of a radioactive element has a mass of 100 g. How much parent and daughter materials are in the sample after two half-lives?

Accepted Answer

parent = 25g; daughter = 75g

Answer

parent = 35 g; daughter = 65 g

Answer

parent = 80 g; daughter = 80 g

Answer

parent = 60 g; daughter = 20 g

Question 15

Absolute age is determined by...

Accepted Answer

radiometric dating

Answer

the other rocks around it

Answer

the law of superposition

Question 16

Absolute age...

Accepted Answer

gives a number

Answer

compares age (older/younger)

Question 17

To be considered an index fossil, it had to have lived for a relatively short period of time.

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 18

Which of these makes a good Index Fossil?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

C

Answer

D

Question 19

If you found an index fossil in a layer of rock in Montana and a similar fossil in a layer of rock in Texas, you would know that:

Accepted Answer

the fossils and rock layers are the same age

Answer

the fossils from Montana are older

Answer

the fossils from England are older

Answer

none of the above

Question 20

When did a mass extinction of dinosaurs and many land plants occur?

Accepted Answer

65.5 mya

Answer

251 mya

Answer

300 mya

Answer

440 mya

Question 21

The best index fossils have which two traits?

Accepted Answer

widespread geographically, existed for a relatively short geologic time span.

Answer

widespread geographically, existed for a relatively long geologic time span.

Answer

specific place, long lifespan

Answer

specific place, short lifespan

Question 22

What is the best reason that fossil #4 is NOT a good index fossil?

Accepted Answer

it is not short-lived (it is in too many layers)

Answer

It is not widespread

Answer

It is in half of the outcrops

Question 23

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 24

_{Which rock layer contains the newest fossils?}

Accepted Answer

F

Answer

E

Answer

B

Answer

C

Question 25

According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found

Accepted Answer

Near the bottom of the rock layers

Answer

At the top of the rock layers

Answer

In the middle of the rock layers

Answer

Somewhat near the surface

Question 26

Which fossil makes the best index fossil?

Accepted Answer

trilobite

Answer

ammonite

Answer

brachiopod

Answer

shark

Answer

all four are good index fossils

Question 27

What letter would be the best example of an index fossil?

Accepted Answer

W

Answer

X

Answer

Z

Answer

Y

Question 28

Index fossils must be _____ and easily recognizable.

Accepted Answer

distinctive

Answer

old

Answer

new

Answer

alive

Question 29

Index fossils are _____ widespread.

Accepted Answer

globally

Answer

never

Answer

locally

Answer

possibly

Question 30

Index fossils are _____

Accepted Answer

abundant

Answer

scarce

Answer

local

Answer

clay

Question 31

Index fossils are limited to a _____ period of geologic time

Accepted Answer

short

Answer

long

Answer

extended

Answer

extinct

Question 32

Preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past.

Accepted Answer

fossil

Answer

vertebrate

Answer

carbon film

Answer

invertebrate

Question 33

The fossil record shows that horseshoe crabs have existed with very little change for about 1 billion years. Would horseshoe crabs be useful as an index fossil?

Accepted Answer

No, because they were around for TOO LARGE of an amount of time

Answer

Yes, because they were around for a very long time

Answer

No, because horseshoe crabs can never be used as index fossils

Answer

Yes, because horseshoe crabs can always be used as index fossils

Question 34

According to the image below, which fossil is the BEST index fossil?

Accepted Answer

Ammonite

Answer

Coral

Answer

Crinoid

Answer

Fern

Answer

Gastropod

Question 35

Use your Stratigraphic Model to estimate Period and age of this fossil.

Accepted Answer

Silurian Period

(444 mya-419 mya)

Answer

Cambrian Period

(541 mya - 485 mya)

Answer

Permian Period

(299 mya- 252 mya)

Answer

Jurassic Period

(201 mya - 145 mya)

Question 36

Use your Stratigraphic Model. About how old is the Conglomerate Rock layer?

Accepted Answer

Devonian Period

(419 mya - 359 mya)

Answer

Neogene Period

(23 mya - 2.6 mya)

Answer

Permian Period

(299 mya -252 mya)

Answer

Silurian Period

(444 mya - 419 mya)

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