Age of Rocks and Geologic Time Scale

Multiple Choice

Which of the following orders the rock layers accurately from oldest to youngest?

• A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H
• B, F, G, C, D, H, A, E
• B, G, C, D, E, H, A, F
• F, A, H, E, D, C, G, B

Multiple Choice

Which of the following orders the rock layers accurately from youngest to oldest?

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
• 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
• 2, 3, 4, 5, 1
• 1, 2, 3, 5, 4

Multiple Choice

Which fossil is relatively the oldest?

• Trilobite
• Ammonite
• Crinoid
• Gastropod

Multiple Choice

Which of the following orders the rock layers accurately from oldest to youngest?

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

Multiple Choice

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

• The absolute age of rock layers

• The age of fossils

• The relative age of rock layers

• the super powers of squirrels

Multiple Choice

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

• At the top of the rock layers
• Near the bottom of the rock layers
• In the middle of the rock layers
• Somewhat near the surface

Multiple Choice

Which of the following occurred relatively most recently?

• Basalt intrusion
• Breccia
• Conglomerate
• Sandstone

Multiple Choice

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

• A
• B
• C

Multiple Choice

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

• The absolute age of rock layers
• The age of fossils
• The relative age of rock layers
• the super powers of rocks

Multiple Choice

Which of the following happened in first?

• Deer
• Dog
• Human
• Bear

Multiple Choice

Rock layer D is _______________ than rock layer C but _______________ than rock layer E.

• older, younger

• younger, older

Multiple Choice

Rock layer C is _______________ than rock layer D but _______________ than rock layer B.

• older, younger

• younger, older

Multiple Choice

Place the following in order starting with the OLDEST
1  Paleozoic
2  Cenozoic
3  Precambrian
4  Mesozoic

• 1 3 2 4 
• 3 1 4 2
• 4 3 2 1 
• 2 3 1 4

Multiple Choice

Which period are we currently in?

• Quaternary
• Holocene
• Jurassic
• Tertiary

Multiple Choice

Jellyfish are one of the oldest species on Earth. In what time period did they first appear?

• Precambrian

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

Multiple Choice

Dinosaurs, small mammals, and birds are found in this time period

• Precambrian

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

Multiple Choice

Saying you are older than your sister is an example of _______.

• absolute age

• relative age

Multiple Choice

The end of life for a group of organisms, usually a species, is called a ___________.

• wipeout

• mass extinction

• meteorite

• dying off

Multiple Choice

How long ago did the Earth form?

• 4,600 years ago

• 460,000 years ago

• 4.6 billion years ago

Multiple Choice

What era did trilobites, fishes, and other marine organisms dominate?

• Precambrian

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

Multiple Choice

Which era is the most recent, the one that we are currently in?

• Mesozoic

• Paleozoic

• Cenozoic

• Precambrian

Multiple Choice

What does absolute age tell about a rock layer or fossil?

• Abundant

• The exact age of a fossil determined by radiometric dating or the half life of radioactive elements.

• The age of one rock layer or fossil compared to another.

• Wide geographic distribution