Quiz about Geologic History

Question 1

During which period did the earliest insects appear on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Silurian

Answer

Jurassic

Answer

Ordovician

Answer

Devonian

Question 2

When did a mass extinction of dinosaurs and many land plants occur?

Accepted Answer

65.5 mya

Answer

251 mya

Answer

300 mya

Answer

440 mya

Question 3

Which group of organisms is still in existence today?

Accepted Answer

Crinoids

Answer

Graptolites

Answer

Eurypterids

Answer

Trilobites

Question 4

Which letter best represents an index fossil?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

D

Question 5

Evidence indicates that 251 million years ago a mass extinction of many life-forms occurred on Earth. Which form of life became extinct at this time?

Accepted Answer

trilobites

Answer

dinosaurs

Answer

mammoths

Answer

eurypterids

Question 6

The diagram below represents three bedrock outcrops. The layers have not been overturned. Letters A through E identify different rock layers. Fossils found in the rock layers are shown.

Which fossil could be classified as an index fossil?

Accepted Answer

Option C is correct

Answer

A.

Answer

B.

Answer

D.

Question 7

The geologic time scale is divided into units of time based on

Accepted Answer

fossil evidence

Answer

seismic data

Answer

global temperature

Answer

absolute dating techniques

Question 8

We know the folding of these rock layers occurred AFTER they were deposited due to the principle of:

Accepted Answer

Original Horizontality

Answer

Lateral Continuity

Answer

Superposition

Answer

Crosscutting Relationships

Question 9

We know oldest rock layers are always on the bottom and youngest are on top due to the principle of

Accepted Answer

Superposition

Answer

Lateral Continuity

Answer

Crosscutting Relationships

Answer

Original Horizontality

Question 10

The diagram to the right shows a geologic cross section. Letters A through D represent different rock units.

Which sequence correctly shows the age of the lettered rock units, from oldest to youngest?

Accepted Answer

D C B A

Answer

A B C D

Answer

C D A B

Answer

D B A C

Question 11

Valcouroceras is a New York State index fossil. Which mountain-building event occurred in New York State during the time when Valcouroceras was living in oceans covering parts of New York State?

Accepted Answer

Taconian orogeny

Answer

Alleghenian orogeny

Answer

Acadian orogeny

Answer

Grenville orogeny

Question 12

During which period in geologic history did the uplifting of the Adirondack Mountains begin?

Accepted Answer

Cretaceous

Answer

Quarternary

Answer

Triassic

Answer

Cambrian

Question 13

Which characteristics make a good index fossil?

Accepted Answer

lived over a LARGE area for a short time

Answer

lived over a small area for a short time

Answer

lived over a LARGE area for a LONG time.

Answer

lived over a small area for a LONG time.

Question 14

Volcanic ash deposits found in the geologic record are most useful in correlating the age of rock layers if the volcanic ash was distributed over a

Accepted Answer

large area during a short period of time

Answer

large area during a long period of time

Answer

small area during a short period of time

Answer

small area during a long period of time

Question 15

Potassium-40 is useful for radioactive dating of the Palisades sill because the half-life of potassium-40

Accepted Answer

remained constant during the radioactive decay process

Answer

decreased as the amounts of ⁴⁰Ar and ⁴⁰Ca in the sill increased

Answer

increased as pressure from the overlying sedimentary rock increased

Answer

was shortened by the high temperature of the magma that formed the sill

Question 16

A graph of the radioactive decay of carbon-14 is shown in the diagram.

Which graph below correctly shows the accumulation of nitrogen-14, the decay product of carbon-14, over the same period?

Accepted Answer

Option C is correct

Answer

A.

Answer

B.

Answer

D.

Question 17

Which geologic event occurred in New York State at approximately the same time as the extinction of dinosaurs and ammonoids?

Accepted Answer

deposition of the sands and clays underlying Long Island

Answer

formation of the Queenston Delta

Answer

initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean

Answer

advance and retreat of the last continental ice sheet

Geologic History

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