Quiz about Earth's History - Quiz #1

Question 1

What is a principal that states that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic processes.

Accepted Answer

Uniformitarianism

Answer

Catastrophism

Answer

Unconformity

Answer

Angular Unconformity

Question 2

A fossilized mark that is formed in soft sediment by the movement of an animal.

Accepted Answer

Trace Fossil

Answer

Mold

Answer

Cast

Answer

Index Fossil

Question 3

A fossil that is found in the rock layers of only one geologic age and that is used to establish the age of the rock layers.

Accepted Answer

Index Fossil

Answer

Trace Fossil

Answer

Mold

Answer

Cast

Question 4

Any method of determining whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objects.

Accepted Answer

Relative Dating

Answer

Absolute Dating

Answer

Isotope

Answer

Speed Dating

Question 5

A break in the geologic record created when rock layers are eroded or when sediment is not deposited for a long period of time.

Accepted Answer

Unconformity

Answer

Disconformity

Answer

Monoconformity

Answer

Angular Unconformity

Question 6

Any method of measuring the age of an event or object in years.

Accepted Answer

Absolute Dating

Answer

Relative Dating

Answer

Speed Dating

Answer

Isotope

Question 7

An atom that has the same number of protons as the other atoms of the same element but has a different number or neutrons.

Accepted Answer

Isotope

Answer

Radio Active Decay

Answer

Half-life

Answer

Full-life

Question 8

The process in which a radioactive isotope tends to break down into a stable isotope of the same element or another element.

Accepted Answer

Radioactive Decay

Answer

Isotope

Answer

Half-life

Answer

Full-life

Question 9

The scientific study of fossils.

Accepted Answer

Paleontology

Answer

Geology

Answer

Biology

Answer

Anthropology

Question 10

A method of determining the age of an object by estimating the relative percentages of a radioactive isotope and a stable isotope.

Accepted Answer

Radiometric dating

Answer

Half-life

Answer

Isotope

Answer

Periodic Table of the Elements

Question 11

A mark or cavity made in a sedimentary surface by a shell or other body.

Accepted Answer

Mold

Answer

Cast

Answer

Trace Fossil

Answer

Index Fossil

Question 12

The remains or physical evidence of an organism preserved by geological processes.

Accepted Answer

Fossil

Answer

Amber

Answer

Rock

Answer

Mineral

Question 13

The time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo radioactive decay.

Accepted Answer

half-life

Answer

isotope

Answer

full-life

Answer

biological decay

Question 14

A principle that states geologic change occurs suddenly.

Accepted Answer

Catastrophism

Answer

Catastrophe

Answer

Uniformitarianism

Answer

Uniform

Question 15

A type of fossil that forms when sediments fill in the cavity left by a decomposed organism.

Accepted Answer

Cast

Answer

Mold

Answer

Trace Fossil

Answer

Index Fossil

Question 16

A principle that states that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed.

Accepted Answer

Superposition

Answer

geology

Answer

The geologic column

Answer

The fossil record

Question 17

Check all examples of uniformitarianism

Accepted Answer

erosion

Accepted Answer

weathering

Accepted Answer

tectonic plate movement

Accepted Answer

deposition

Answer

volcanic eruption

Question 18

Check all of the examples of catastrophism

Accepted Answer

tornado

Accepted Answer

volcanic eruption

Accepted Answer

hurricane

Answer

weathering

Answer

erosion

Question 19

________________ states that the Earth has gone through short, sudden, and worldwide events which cause large scale disruptions.

Accepted Answer

Catastrophism

Answer

Uniformitarianism

Answer

Gradualism

Answer

Law of Superposition

Question 20

Which of the following may help cause mass extinctions?

Accepted Answer

all of these

Answer

global warming

Answer

global cooling

Answer

asteroids striking the Earth

Question 21

Describes a group of living things that are no longer living.

Accepted Answer

extinct

Answer

fossil

Answer

endangered

Answer

dinosaur

Question 22

The hardened remains of a living thing that died long ago.

Accepted Answer

fossil

Answer

extinct

Answer

endangered

Answer

minerals

Question 23

In which kind of rock do we usually find a fossil?

Accepted Answer

sedimentary rock

Answer

metamorphic rock

Answer

igneous rock

Question 24

Which of the following would be an example of absolute age?

Accepted Answer

Fossil A is 10 million years old

Answer

Fossil A is older than Fossil B

Answer

Fossil A and Fossil B are the same age

Question 25

Which layer formed first?

Accepted Answer

Rock Layer Z

Answer

Rock Layer W

Answer

Rock Layer X

Answer

Rock Layer Y

Question 26

What are the oldest fossils and why?

Accepted Answer

A, B- because they are closest to the bottom

Answer

B, C- because they are closest to the top

Answer

They are all the same age- because they are all found on layer 2

Answer

A, B- because they are found closest to the top

Question 27

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

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

C

Question 28

This fossil is an example of________

Accepted Answer

frozen remains

Answer

trace fossil

Answer

carbonized fossil

Answer

tar pit fossil

Question 29

The remains, or traces on once-living organisms are called fossils.

Accepted Answer

true

Answer

false

Question 30

Preserved footprints, or fossilized scat are examples of _________

Accepted Answer

trace fossils

Answer

carbonized fossils

Answer

cast fossils

Answer

mold fossils

Question 31

A carbonized fossil is quickly buried and flattened by the pressure of the sediments on top of it.  What remains is____________________

Accepted Answer

Carbon Film

Answer

Just bones

Answer

a trace fossil

Answer

amber

Question 32

What type of fossil is shown here found in hardened tree sap known as amber?

Accepted Answer

preserved remains

Answer

mold fossil

Answer

carbon film

Answer

trace fossil

Question 33

Which type of fossil is shown on the LEFT side of this image?

Accepted Answer

Cast fossil

Answer

Mold fossll

Answer

Trace fossil

Answer

Preserved remains

Question 34

Fossils are more likely to form from...

Accepted Answer

Animals with hard shells.

Answer

Jelly fish

Answer

Soft body parts

Answer

Digestive Systems

Question 35

Fossils are more likely to form from...

Accepted Answer

Quickly buried remains

Answer

Slowly buried remains

Answer

Remains that are never buried

Question 36

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

Accepted Answer

The relative age of rock layers

Answer

The absolute age of rock layers

Answer

The age of fossils

Answer

the super powers of squirrels

Question 37

According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found

Accepted Answer

Near the bottom of the rock layers

Answer

At the top of the rock layers

Answer

In the middle of the rock layers

Answer

Somewhat near the surface

Question 38

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

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

C

Question 39

Which of the following correctly lists the layers in order from oldest to youngest?

Accepted Answer

E, B, C, D, A

Answer

A, B, C, D, E

Answer

E, D, C, B, A

Answer

C, B, A, D, E

Question 40

What is the oldest layer in the outcrop?

Accepted Answer

E

Answer

B

Answer

C

Answer

D

Question 41

What is the youngest layer in the outcrop?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

C

Answer

D

Question 42

Which best describes a fossil that helps determine the relative age of a rock layer?

Accepted Answer

index fossil

Answer

trace fossil

Answer

radioactive fossil

Answer

unconformity fossil

Question 43

Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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

Answer

In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rocks, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.

Answer

Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.

Question 44

Scientists use radioactive decay to measure...

Accepted Answer

absolute time

Answer

relative time

Answer

half-lives

Answer

time of day

Question 45

The length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay is its...

Accepted Answer

half-life

Answer

era

Answer

age

Answer

eon

Question 46

How does absolute age differ from relative age?

Accepted Answer

only absolute dating finds the age in years

Answer

only absolute dating indicates which rock is older than another

Answer

only relative dating finds the age in years

Question 47

Radiometric dating is possible because the rates of decay of radioactive isotopes _____.

Accepted Answer

are constant

Answer

change over time

Answer

change from place to place

Answer

vary widely

Question 48

If the half-life of a radioactive group of atoms is 100 years, then how old is the rock if there have been two half-lives?

Accepted Answer

200 years

Answer

25 years

Answer

400 years

Answer

800 years

Earth's History - Quiz #1

Create a free account and access millions of resources

Similar Resources on Wayground

Popular Resources on Wayground

Discover more resources for Science