Earth Science Quiz

In which type of rock are fossils most likely to be found?

• Sedimentary

• Igneous extrusive

• Metamorphic

• Igneous intrusive

Which of these is the best indication of the relative age of a rock layer?

• The thickness of the layer

• The position of the layer compared to other layers

• The chemical makeup of the layer

• The distance the layer extends over the Earth

According to the graph on the right, a piece of timber containing one-eighth of the amount of carbon-14 that is found in a living tree died about how many years ago?

• 11,400 years

• 17,100 years

• 22,800 years

• 5,700 years

Of the following, the largest division on the geologic time scale is

• An eon

• An epoch

• A period

• An era

Which vertebrate did not live during the time of the dinosaurs (the Mesozoic Era)?

• Whale

• Shark

• Turtle

• Crocodile

In which province would clay, sand, and gravel deposits be found?

• Coastal Plain

• Appalachian Plateau

• Valley and Ridge

• Blue Ridge

Many quarries in Virginia produce crushed stone. What industry uses the most crushed stone?

• Electronics

• Construction

• Steel

• Plastics

What is an index fossil and why is it important?

• A fossil that is rare and hard to find

• A fossil that is found in every rock layer

• A fossil that is found in a specific geographic area

• A fossil that is used to date rocks

What is the approximate air pressure at an altitude of 22 kilometers?

• 120 millibars

• 40 millibars

• 200 millibars

• 400 millibars

What is the result of the air ascending, then descending over the mountains?

• Heavy rains on the west side of the mountains and year-round snow on the east side

• Desert on the east and west sides of the mountains and heavy rains on top of the mountains

• Heavy rains on the west side of the mountains and desert on the east side

• Desert on the west side of the mountains and heavy rains on the east side