History of Earth-Savvas

Why is it important for geologists to use both relative and absolute ages to determine the age of rocks?

• Scientists want to learn about the age of rocks.

• Scientists need only one way to determine the age of rocks.

• Scientists may not be able to determine the absolute age of some rocks.

• Scientists can tell the age of rocks using the law of superposition.

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How are rock layers disturbed or changed? Choose the three that apply.

• igneous instrusion

• superposition

• igneous extrusion

• fault

• fossil formation

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What are index fossils? Check ALL that apply.

• Index fossils are widely geographically distributed

• Index fossils are only in a small area

• Index fossils occur in a geologically short period of time

• Index fossils must occur in all rock layers

• Gingko biloba is an excellent index fossil since it still exists today

What is the purpose of the geologic time scale?

• to organize and sequence events by eras and periods in the different divisions of time and to serve as a timeline

• to show the evolution of life forms and to model how those life forms behaved and what they ate

• to organize and sequence events in the history of Earth and to serve as a model for a vast amount of time covered

• to determine the relative ages of rocks and when and how they formed to create a timeline of their development

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Which two phrases best characterize the Precambrian time?

• a time of great evolutionary change

• a time with multiple periods in it

• a time of few fossils

• a time that covers 88 percent of Earth's history

• a time of complex and diverse species

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Which of the following could provide physical evidence that could change the divisions on the geologic timeline?

• the discovery of ancient ruins that have slid into the ocean

• the discovery of fossilized microorganisms in ocean floor sediments

• the discovery of evidence of humans who lived long ago

• the discovery of evidence of different kinds of rocks that recently appeared

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Check ALL true statements about what mass extinctions are, and the possible causes and consequences of a mass extinction.

• Mass extinctions cause many types of life to die out

• Mass extinctions are localized with no long-lasting effects

• Mass extinctions may be caused by extreme climate changes or disasters.

• Mass extinctions leave room for new species to develop

• Mass extinctions prevent new species from developing

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Why do so few fossils from the Precambrian time on the geologic timeline exist?

• Single-celled organisms don't ever form fossils.

• The single-celled organisms died out before any fossils were formed.

• Any fossils formed may have been destroyed since it was so long ago

• Fossils formed so long ago that they have been pushed to the center of the Earth.

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Reed was completing his homework about Earth's earliest life forms. He learned that life forms exploded and thrived in the early Paleozoic era during the Cambrian period. This time is known as the "Cambrian explosion" because so many new organisms appeared in a geologically short time. The Cambrian explosion may have occurred due to

• greater availability of resources

• the growth of humans

• a mass extinction coming

• fewer resources

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Rose was reading about the early giant mammals. She learned that several types of giant mammals thrived during the Paleogene and Neogene periods. For what reason might these giant mammals have flourished (been highly successful) at the time?

• At this time, forests thinned and grass and ground plants grew in place of trees.

• At this time, the climate warmed and reduced the kinds of food available.

• Giant mammals had multiple predators and moved slowly due to their size.

• Giant mammals had little need for large amounts of food.

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