Fossil Test

_{Which rock layer contains the newest fossils?}

• F
• E
• B
• C

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

• At the top of the rock layers
• Near the bottom of the rock layers
• In the middle of the rock layers
• Somewhat near the surface

The best index fossils have which two traits?

• widespread geographically, long lifespan
• widespread geographically, short lifespan
• specific place, long lifespan
• specific place, short lifespan

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

• The absolute age of rock layers
• The age of fossils
• The relative age of rock layers
• the super powers of rocks

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

• A
• B
• C

What does a paleontologist do?

• study the history of life on Earth and organisms that lived long ago

• study the history of basketball

• study animals in zoos

• study different kinds of food

The amount of time it takes for half of the particles of an element to decay is called:

• Absolute Age

• Half-Life

• Radioactivity

How is radioactive dating used to determine the absolute age of rocks?

• The percent of radioactive parent isotopes remaining in the rock is compared to the amount of stable daughter isotopes that are present
• it compares the radioactive isotope in a younger layer of rock to an older layer
• isotopes of different compounds are compared
• daughter isotopes are compared to sister isotopes

The diagram shows a cross section of the layers of a sedimentary rock with some fossils in it.

Assume that the rock layers have been preserved in their original sequence, which fossil is the oldest?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Which of the following can be learned by using the fossil record?

• When organisms changed or evolved

• when organisms appeared on Earth

• when organisms became extinct

• All the above