Unit 1 - Earth's History

Which of these provides the BEST evidence that the distribution of Earth’s oceans has changed over time?

• Hot spots on the ocean floors

• seismic activity along plate boundaries

• sediment buildup on continental slope

• marine fossils found on land masses

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which method would be BEST for scientists to use to determine the absolute age of a Precambrian igneous rock?

• index fossils

• law of superposition

• radiometric dating

• law of original horizontality

Scientists estimate that if index fossils were deposited during a certain time frame, then the entire rock layer was also deposited at the same time.

A scientist finds Trophite fossils. According to the chart above, in what era and period was this rock layer deposited?

• Cenozoic era; Tertiary period

• Mesozoic era; Triassic period

• Paleozoic era; Permian period

• Paleozoic era; Mississippian period

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A teacher gave students this diagram of rock layers. The teacher directed the students to determine the relative age of each rock layer based only on the information presented in the diagram.

Which method can BEST be used by the students to determine the relative age of these layers?

• radiometric dating

• rock type evaluation

• the law of superpostion

• principle of uniformitarianism

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Certain fossils can be used to help determine the age of the rock layer in which the fossils are found. Which type of fossil is BEST to use when making this determination?

• marine mammal fossil

• swamp fern fossil

• trace fossil

• index fossil

Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

• Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.

• n undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.

• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.

• Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

How do scientists know that some mountains were once at the bottom of an ocean?

• Freshwater rivers flow to the ocean.

• Saltwater fish are found in some mountain streams.

• Dinosaur bones have been discovered in the mountains.

• Marine fossils have been found on the peaks of some mountains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A scientist finds the bones of a dinosaur. What could help the scientist determine the approximate age of the dinosaur bones?

• the birds living in the area of the bones

• the weather conditions in the area of the bones

• the kinds of trees living in the area of the bones

• the index fossils in the area of the bones

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which is a process that allows scientists to compare rock layers with others in a sequence to determine their age?

• radiometric dating

• absolute dating

• relative dating

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

If a metamorphic rock contains an intrusion of igneous rock, which rock is the oldest?

• The igneous rock is older.

• The rocks are the same age.

• The metamorphic rock is older.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4