Quiz about Fossils, Relative, and Absolute Ages

Question 1

Which fossil organism is best represented in the Paleozoic Era?

Accepted Answer

Option A is correct

Answer

B.

Answer

C.

Answer

D.

Question 2

The diagram shows a cross section of the layers of a sedimentary rock with some fossils in it.

Assume that the rock layers have been preserved in their original sequence, which fossil is the oldest?

Accepted Answer

Option C is correct

Answer

A.

Answer

B.

Answer

D.

Question 3

The geologic cross section diagram shows undisturbed rock layers with index fossils from two regions (A and B). The two index species are identified in the index fossil key.

Which answer option correctly describes the relative ages of the rock layers in the diagram?

Accepted Answer

Layer 6 is older than Layer 3.
Layers 2 and 4 are the same age.

Answer

Layer 6 is older than Layer 3.
Layer 2 is younger than Layer 4.

Answer

Layer 6 is younger than layer 3.
Layers 2 and 4 are the same age.

Answer

Layer is younger than layer 3.
Layer 2 is older than layer 4.

Question 4

A scientist studies a geologic cross section of rock layers in a region. The rock layers have not been disturbed by any faulting, folding, or tilting.

Which statement is a correct inference?

Accepted Answer

Each rock layer is younger than the one below it.

Answer

Each rock layer is older than the one below it.

Answer

The youngest rock layer is found at the bottom.

Answer

The oldest rock layer will contain the most fossils.

Question 5

A researcher is studying undisturbed, horizontal, sedimentary rock layers in a region. The rock layers have no igneous intrusions. He observes that some of the rock layers contain various kinds of fossils.

How can the researcher use the fossil evidence to help determine the ages of the rock layers?

Accepted Answer

He can research the age of any index fossils found in the rock layers and then use the geologic law of superposition.

Answer

He can list the number of fossils present in each rock layer and then use the geologic law of uniformitarianism.

Answer

He can compare the complexity of index fossils within the rock layers and then use the geologic principle of original horizontality.

Answer

He can analyze the depth at which different fossils are present and then use the geologic principle of cross-cutting relationships.

Question 6

The diagram shows Fossil A and Fossil B. Assume that Fossil A is typically found in rock layers that are far above the rock layers containing Fossil B.

Based upon the positions of Fossils A and B, which inference is best ?

Accepted Answer

Fossils A and B lived during different periods of geologic time.

Answer

Fossil A must have evolved from Fossil B.

Answer

Fossil B existed in greater numbers than Fossil A.

Answer

Fossils A and B lived during the same period of geologic time.

Question 7

Examine the geologic cross section.

Geologists can use different kinds of dating methods to determine the ages of rocks and rock layers. If geologists are only observing the layers as shown in the diagram (and no further lab testing is performed), which kind of dating method is being used to learn about Earth's history in this example?

Accepted Answer

relative dating

Answer

absolute dating

Answer

radiometric dating

Answer

carbon dating

Question 8

The diagram is a geologic cross section showing sedimentary rock layers with an igneous intrusion.

Which layer of rock is the youngest ?

Accepted Answer

layer W

Answer

layer X

Answer

layer Y

Answer

layer Z

Question 9

The diagram shows three sedimentary rock layers and an igneous intrusion.

What is the relative age of igneous intrusion W?

Accepted Answer

Igneous intrusion W is younger than sedimentary rock layers Z and X, but its relative age to layer Y cannot be determined.

Answer

Igneous intrusion W is younger than sedimentary rock layers Y and Z but older than layer X.

Answer

Igneous intrusion W is older than sedimentary rock layers Z and X, but its relative age to layer Y cannot be determined.

Answer

Igneous intrusion W is older than sedimentary rock layers Y and X but younger than layer Z.

Question 10

The diagram shows the same rock layers in 1938 and in 2013.

What could have caused the change in position of layer X?

Accepted Answer

Erosion removed material from the layers above layer X.

Answer

Deposition added layers of material under layer X.

Answer

Volcanic activity added layers of material on top of layer X.

Answer

Organisms removed material from under layer X.

Question 11

A group of researchers excavated a piece of sedimentary rock and studied its composition. What can the researchers understand from the study?

Accepted Answer

how life forms on Earth changed over time

Answer

how organisms built their shelters in the rocks

Answer

how plants grew inside the spaces between the rocks

Answer

how some animals preyed on others for food

Question 12

The diagram represents the rock layers and fossils found in four separate rock outcrops.

Which fossil is the best index fossil?

Accepted Answer

Option D is correct

Answer

A.

Answer

B.

Answer

C.

Question 13

Which method describes a way of arranging fossils in chronological order?

Accepted Answer

correlating each fossil to the rock layer in which it was found

Answer

comparing the fossils with other similar living species

Answer

arranging the fossils on the basis of their sizes and masses

Answer

evaluating the condition of the fossils when they are discovered

Question 14

The image shows the unturned layers of sedimentary rocks with embedded fossils.

A student labels the fossils from 1 to 4. What could be true about the fossils?

Accepted Answer

Fossil 1 is older than fossil 4.

Answer

Fossil 1 is younger than fossil 2.

Answer

Fossil 3 is older than fossil 2.

Answer

Fossil 3 is younger than fossil 4.

Question 15

The image shows a trace fossil of a leaf that a scientist found.

What information does the leaf fossil most likely provide?

Accepted Answer

Insects that fed on plant leaves were present in the past.

Answer

The plants were not a dominant species in the past.

Answer

Plants from the past and present-day plants have no similarities.

Answer

The environment in the past was not suitable for the growth of plants.

Question 16

Which method describes a way of arranging related fossils in order of evolution?

Accepted Answer

correlating each fossil to the rock layer in which it was found and comparing anatomical structures in each fossil

Answer

arranging the fossils on the basis of their sizes and masses

Answer

evaluating the condition of the fossils when they are discovered

Answer

comparing each fossil to the rock layer in which it was found and correlating that to the number of fossils in each layer

Question 17

Upon examining the fossil layers collected from outcrops of three different regions, a researcher concluded that some of the layers contained index fossils. The images show the index fossil key and the fossil layers from the three outcrops.

Which rock layers are likely the same age?

Accepted Answer

rock layer A and rock layer Z

Answer

rock layer A and rock layer P

Answer

rock layer C, rock layer R, and rock layer Y

Answer

rock layer C, rock layer R, and rock layer Y rock layer B, rock layer Q, and rock layer X

Question 18

A geologist is studying a geologic cross section of rock layers in a national park. The rock layers appear to be well preserved and undisturbed.

Which statement best identifies the oldest rock layer in the cross section?

Accepted Answer

The oldest rock layer is the bottom layer of the cross section.

Answer

The oldest rock layer is the top layer of the cross section.

Answer

The oldest rock layer is above the bottom layer of the cross section.

Answer

The oldest rock layer is above the middle layer of the cross section.

Question 19

Researchers have discovered fossils of tropical trees and ferns in modern-day Greenland and Antarctica. What can be inferred from this evidence?

Accepted Answer

Greenland and Antarctica once had tropical climates.

Answer

Ocean currents carried the floating fossils to Greenland and Antarctica.

Answer

Migratory birds carried the seeds of the trees and ferns from the tropics

Answer

The tropical trees and ferns adapted to the colder northern and southern climates.

Question 20

The diagram shows a geologic cross section of rock layers in a region.

Which geologic event happened most recently ?

Accepted Answer

intrusion of igneous rock Z

Answer

folding of rock layers W, Y, and X

Answer

faulting of rock layers V, W, Y, and X

Answer

intrusion of rock layer Y

Question 21

The diagram shows a geologic cross-section from a region.

What are the relative ages of the rocks from oldest to youngest ?

Accepted Answer

W, V, Y, X, and Z

Answer

W, V, X, Z, and Y

Answer

W, Y, V, X, and Z

Answer

W, V, X, Y, and Z

Question 22

Use the table that shows the emergence of different life forms across different periods of the geologic time scale to answer this question.

Which event triggered the emergence of large mammals in the Tertiary Period?

Accepted Answer

extinction of dinosaurs

Answer

appearance of man

Answer

development of grasslands

Answer

rise of modern birds

Fossils, Relative, and Absolute Ages

25 questions

Which fossil organism is best represented in the Paleozoic Era?

The diagram shows a cross section of the layers of a sedimentary rock with some fossils in it.

Assume that the rock layers have been preserved in their original sequence, which fossil is the oldest?

The geologic cross section diagram shows undisturbed rock layers with index fossils from two regions (A and B). The two index species are identified in the index fossil key.

Which answer option correctly describes the relative ages of the rock layers in the diagram?

A scientist studies a geologic cross section of rock layers in a region. The rock layers have not been disturbed by any faulting, folding, or tilting.
Which statement is a correct inference?

A researcher is studying undisturbed, horizontal, sedimentary rock layers in a region. The rock layers have no igneous intrusions. He observes that some of the rock layers contain various kinds of fossils.
How can the researcher use the fossil evidence to help determine the ages of the rock layers?

The diagram shows Fossil A and Fossil B. Assume that Fossil A is typically found in rock layers that are far above the rock layers containing Fossil B.

Based upon the positions of Fossils A and B, which inference is best ?

The diagram is a geologic cross section showing sedimentary rock layers with an igneous intrusion.

Which layer of rock is the youngest ?

The diagram shows three sedimentary rock layers and an igneous intrusion.

What is the relative age of igneous intrusion W?

The diagram shows the same rock layers in 1938 and in 2013.

What could have caused the change in position of layer X?

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Fossils, Relative, and Absolute Ages

25 questions

Which fossil organism is best represented in the Paleozoic Era?

The diagram shows a cross section of the layers of a sedimentary rock with some fossils in it.Assume that the rock layers have been preserved in their original sequence, which fossil is the oldest?

The geologic cross section diagram shows undisturbed rock layers with index fossils from two regions (A and B). The two index species are identified in the index fossil key.Which answer option correctly describes the relative ages of the rock layers in the diagram?

A scientist studies a geologic cross section of rock layers in a region. The rock layers have not been disturbed by any faulting, folding, or tilting.Which statement is a correct inference?

A researcher is studying undisturbed, horizontal, sedimentary rock layers in a region. The rock layers have no igneous intrusions. He observes that some of the rock layers contain various kinds of fossils.How can the researcher use the fossil evidence to help determine the ages of the rock layers?

The diagram shows Fossil A and Fossil B. Assume that Fossil A is typically found in rock layers that are far above the rock layers containing Fossil B.Based upon the positions of Fossils A and B, which inference is best ?

The diagram is a geologic cross section showing sedimentary rock layers with an igneous intrusion.Which layer of rock is the youngest ?

The diagram shows three sedimentary rock layers and an igneous intrusion.What is the relative age of igneous intrusion W?

The diagram shows the same rock layers in 1938 and in 2013.What could have caused the change in position of layer X?