Earth's History Test Practice

The diagram pictured shows:

• a series of rock layers

• evidence of past life

• both answers

• none of the options listed

Of the fossils shown, which one is the oldest?

• dinosaurs

• trilobites

• early horses

• armored fish

To determine the time span during which this species of ammonite lived, you should:

• measure the diameter of the ammonite.

• measure how far below the surface the fern imprints were found.

• compare the ammonite fossil to the fern fossil.

• compare these rock layers to similar layers from other locations.

Studying series of rock layers provides evidence for which of the following?

• Geologic Time Scale

• Mohs Scale

• Law of Time and Space

• Law of Gravity

The age of the Earth is closest to ______________ years.

• 4.6 thousand

• 4.6 million

• 4.6 billion

• 4.6 trillion

The diagram pictured represents fossils in three stratigraphic columns. What is the most likely age of these organisms from oldest to youngest?

• trilobite, gastropod, ammonite, fern

• fern, ammonite, gastropod, trilobite

• ammonite, gastropod, trilobite, fern

• fern, trilobite, gastropod, ammonite

What role do faults play in the Law of Superposition?

• Faults create new types of rock.

• Faults are younger than the layers they cut through.

• Faults are the same age as the layers they cut through.

• Faults are older than the layers they cut through.

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.

• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rocks, 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.

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

• A
• B
• C

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