Historical Geology

According to the Earth Science Reference Tables, between

which two cities in New York State would the oldest surface

bedrock be found?

• Syracuse and Albany

• Utica and Binghamton

• Plattsburgh and Watertown

• Jamestown and Rochester

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

During which period was most of the surface bedrock that

separates the Adirondacks from the Catskills formed? [Refer

to the Earth Science Reference Tables.]

• Precambrian

• Jurassic

• Ordovician

• Triassic

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What does the unconformity (buried erosional surface) at

line XY represent?

• proof that no deposition occurred between the

  Cambrian and Carboniferous periods

• overturning of the Cambrian and Carboniferous rock

  layers

• a time gap in the rock record of the area

• an area of contact metamorphism

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

According to the Earth Science Reference Tables, studies

of the rock record suggest that

• humans first appeared at the time of the intrusion of the

  Palisades sill

• the period during which humans have existed is very

  brief compared to geologic time

• evidence of the existence of humans is present over

  much of the geologic past

• the earliest humans lived at the same time as the

  dinosaurs

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which rock unit is the youngest?

• shale

• sandstone

• limestone

• basalt

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Why are ancient volcanic ash deposits important to

geologists?

• They form resistant rock layers containing fossils.

• They are easily dated using carbon-14.

• They serve as good geological time makers.

• They indicate major areas where earthquakes occurred.

Living corals are found in warm shallow seas. Coral fossils

have been found in the sedimentary rocks of Alaska. These

findings suggest that

• ocean currents carried the coral to Alaska

• coral usually develops in cold climates

• Alaska's cold climate fossilized the coral

• Alaska once had a tropical marine environment

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

For which segment of the Earth's geologic history are fossils

rarely found?

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

• Paleozoic

• Precambrian

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which feature in a rock layer is older than the rock layer?

• mineral veins

• igneous intrusions

• rock fragments

• faults

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Unless a series of sedimentary rock layers has been

overturned, the bottom rock layer usually

• is the oldest

• contains the greatest variety of minerals

• contains fossils

• has the finest texture

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4