8.3.1 Geological History of Earth Practice 3

The law of superposition states...

• older fossils are always in the top rock layer.

• younger fossils are always in the bottom rock layer.

• it is impossible to determine the age of fossils no matter what.

• the oldest fossils are found in the bottom rock layer.

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What does the geological time scale tell us about the Earth?

• We can measure Earth's age by looking at rock strata.

• Rock strata cannot tell us the age of the Earth.

• It tells us the EXACT age of all rock layers in an area.

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What is a fossil?

• Type of watch brand.

• The remains or impression of an dead organism.

• A type of rock found deep in the Earth.

• The bones of an animal that died within a certain time period.

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Which rock layer developed MOST RECENTLY?

• Layer A

• Layer B

• Layer C

• Layer D

• Layer E

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Which TWO characteristics describe an INDEX FOSSIL?

• found in more than 1 rock layer

• found in ONLY 1 rock layer

• more than 1 fossil

• all fossils are index fossils

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What is an intrusion?

• A rock that gets stuck within another rock.

• A rock layer that forces itself through other rock layers.

• The very top layer of the Earth.

• A crack between rock layers.

What is a fault?

• When a rock pushes through other rock layers.

• When you make a mistake.

• A break or crack in rock layers.

• A formation of a rock layer over time.

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The diagram here provides information on when the fossils of certain organisms are found in the fossil record. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the data in this diagram?

• Jellyfish are the youngest living organisms that ever existed.

• Trilobites and dinosaurs did not live at the same time.

• Most mammals are in competition with birds for resources.

• Mammals did not appear until after the dinosaurs went extinct.

Answer explanation

Pay close attention to the height of each bar on this graph. Notice that the trilobite and dinosaur bars DO NOT overlap each other. This must mean these two organisms lived at different times!

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Look at the rock strata diagram. Which fossil is an index fossil?

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