History of Earth Topic Test

Why is it important for geologists to use both relative and absolute ages to determine the age of rocks?

• Scientists want to learn about the age of rocks.

• Scientists need only one way to determine the age of rocks.

• Scientists may not be able to determine the absolute age of some rocks.

• Scientists can tell the age of rocks using the law of superposition.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Thomas was interested in how the disruption of rock layers can be used to find a rock’s age. Which of the following are examples of how rock layers may be disturbed or changed? Choose the three that apply.

• A. igneous intrusion

• B. superposition

• C. extrusion

• D. fault

• E. fossil formation

Index fossils are used by scientists to determine the age of rocks because they:

• Are found only in specific layers and time periods

• Are present in all rock layers

• Change rapidly over time

• Are found only in volcanic rocks

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

After looking at the diagrams below, Sara noticed that the rock layers at Location 4 differed from those of the other three locations. What likely occurred at Location 4?

• Layer B isn't shown due to the absence of index fossils.

• Location 4 held index fossils similar to the other locations.

• Location 4 had heavy erosion, and soon a layer of rock will be deposited on top of it.

• Layer B eroded away, and layers C and D were deposited on top of layer A at a later time.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Emily was interested in how geologists date rocks, and she learned about two methods. She learned that potassium-40 is used to find the (a)   of ancient rocks, because it has a long (b)   . Carbon-14 is used for dating much (c)   rocks due to its shorter (d)   .

• age

• half-life

• recent

• period

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Nikki was putting together a presentation about the geologic time scale to share in class. What is the purpose of the geologic time scale?

• to organize and sequence events by eras and periods in the different divisions of time and to serve as a timeline

• to show the evolution of life forms and to model how those life forms behaved and what they ate

• to organize and sequence events in the history of Earth and to serve as a model for a vast amount of time covered

• to determine the relative ages of rocks and when and how they formed to create a timeline of their development

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Isabella’s part in a group project on the history of Earth was researching and presenting on the Precambrian time. Which two phrases best characterize the Precambrian time?

• a time of great evolutionary change

• a time when Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and continents were forming

• a time when mammals and birds first appeared

• a time when dinosaurs dominated Earth

Daniel recently read a news article about geologists updating the geologic time scale. This happens when new physical evidence is discovered. Which of the following would provide physical evidence that could change the divisions on the geologic timeline?

• the discovery of ancient ruins buried deep in ocean floor sediments

• the discovery of fossilized microorganisms in ocean floor sediments

• the discovery of evidence of humans who lived long ago

• the discovery of evidence of different kinds of rocks that recently appeared

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Mass extinctions are events that result in the widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth. What are possible causes and consequences of a mass extinction?

• Volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts, and climate change; loss of species and ecosystem disruption

• Gradual evolution of new species; increase in biodiversity

• Seasonal changes; migration of animals

• Daily weather changes; adaptation of plants

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Why do so few fossils from the Precambrian time on the geologic timeline exist?

• A. Single-celled organisms don't form fossils.

• B. The single-celled organisms died out before any fossils were formed.

• C. The time was so long ago that most fossils may have been destroyed.

• D. The time was long ago, and the fossils are so deeply buried that they haven't been discovered.