fossils -t2

Multiple Choice

Which type of rock is most likely to contain fossils?

• Sedimentary rock

• Igneous rock

• Metamorphic rock

• Volcanic rock

Open Ended

Describe how scientists determine the relative age of fossils found in rock layers.

Open Ended

Explain why fossils are rarely found in igneous rocks.

Open Ended

How old is this fossil?

Multiple Choice

Which type of rock is best for preserving fossils?

• Igneous rock

• Metamorphic rock

• Sedimentary rock

• Volcanic rock

Multiple Select

Which of the following are steps in the formation of a fossil?

• An animal dies and sinks to the ocean floor

• The skeleton gets covered by sediments

• Layers of sediment build up and turn to rock

• The animal is eaten by predators and disappears

Open Ended

What happens when an organism is buried by sediment?

Open Ended

What is the role of faults and igneous intrusions in determining the relative age of rock layers?

Multiple Choice

Which method tells the sequence of geological events without providing exact dates?

• Absolute-age dating

• Relative-age dating

• Radiometric dating

• Fossil correlation

Multiple Choice

Based on the rock layers shown in the second image, which formation is the oldest?

• Carmel Formation

• Navajo Sandstone

• Kaibab Formation

• Kayenta Formation

Open Ended

Explain how relative dating helps scientists determine the age of fossils found in different rock layers.

Multiple Choice

Which process is illustrated by the transformation of nitrogen atoms into carbon-14 atoms in living organisms?

• Photosynthesis

• Beta decay

• Radioactive decay

• Metamorphism

Open Ended

How do scientists use the 'clocks' in rocks to determine the absolute age of a rock?