Earth History List A Vocab Quiz

Which layer of the Earth is described as the soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move?

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

• Mesosphere

• Outer core

How is a cast fossil formed?

• By the decay of organic material

• When a mold is filled with sand or mud that hardens

• Through volcanic activity

• By the compression of plant material

Which era began about 66 million years ago and is known as the "Age of Mammals"?

• Mesozoic Era

• Paleozoic Era

• Cenozoic Era

• Precambrian Era

What is the central part of the Earth below the mantle called?

• Crust

• Core

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

During which era did mammals become the dominant life form?

• Paleozoic Era

• Mesozoic Era

• Cenozoic Era

• Precambrian Era

What is the process called when a fossil is formed by a mold being filled with minerals?

• Petrification

• Cast formation

• Carbonization

• Fossilization

Which layer of the Earth is known for being the thinnest?

• Core

• Mantle

• Crust

• Asthenosphere

What is an index fossil?

• A fossil used to determine the age of a rock layer

• A fossil found only in volcanic rocks

• A fossil that is always found in sedimentary rocks

• A fossil that indicates the presence of water

What is a mold fossil?

• A fossil that forms from volcanic ash

• A space in a rock shaped like a living thing

• A fossil that is always found in ice

• A fossil that contains actual remains of organisms

What major event marks the end of the Mesozoic Era?

• The rise of mammals

• The extinction of dinosaurs

• The formation of the first continents

• The development of the first plants