Index Fossils and the Geologic Time Scale Quiz

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The best index fossils have which two traits?

• widespread geographically, long lifespan
• widespread geographically, short lifespan
• specific place, long lifespan
• specific place, short lifespan

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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

• A
• B
• C

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

_{Which rock layer in the diagram seems to be the oldest?}

• F
• E
• B
• A

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

a fossil that is used to establish the age of a rock layer because the fossil is distinct, abundant, and widespread and the species that formed that fossil existed for only a short span of geologic time

• index fossil

• fossil record

• fossil

• relative age

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

age of mammals that lasted from 65 million years ago to the present; the era of modern life

• Cenozoic Era

• Mesozoic Era

• epoch

• period

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

a particular period in geologic history (for example, Cambrian, Devonian, Jurassic, Tertiary)

• epoch

• era

• period

• Cenozoic era

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

a historical sequence of life indicated by fossils found in layers of Earth's crust

• fossil

• geologic time scale

• species

• fossil record

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

a particular period in geologic history, typically the smallest classification

• era

• period

• epoch

• Cenozoic Era

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which period are we currently in?

• Quaternary
• Holocene
• Jurassic
• Tertiary

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4