Relative and Absolute Dating

True or False: Index fossils are used to determine the absolute age of rock layers.

• True

• False

Which type of fossil is formed when minerals replace all or part of an organism?

• Trace fossil

• Mold fossil

• Cast fossil

• Petrified fossil

Which of the following is NOT a criterion for a fossil to be considered an index fossil?

• It must have lived for a long period of time.

• It must be easily recognizable.

• It must be abundant in the fossil record.

• It must be widespread geographically.

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

• A
• B
• C

What is the primary reason sedimentary rocks are important for understanding Earth's history?

• They contain fossils that provide evidence of past life.

• They are the most abundant type of rock on Earth.

• They are resistant to weathering and erosion.

• They form the Earth's core.

What is amber primarily composed of?

• Tree sap

• Mineral deposits

• Volcanic ash

• Animal bones

True or False: The geologic record can help scientists to determine past environment and climate conditions.

• True
• False
• Maybe
• Sometimes

• The rock layers contained fossils identical to each other.

• Rock layers are laid down from the youngest to the oldest.

• Rock layers containing similar fossils were formed at the same time.

Which of the following processes is involved in the formation of a cast fossil?

• The organism decays and leaves an impression.

• The organism is preserved in amber.

• Minerals fill the mold left by the organism.

• The organism is frozen in ice.

True or False: Uniformitarianism suggests that the present is the key to the past.

• True

• False