Earth's History Test

Which term describes age of a rock compared to another?

• absolute age

• relative age

• unconformity

• radioactive dating

Which term describes a gap in the geologic record due to erosion?

• absolute age

• relative age

• unconformity

• radioactive dating

How do scientists determine the history of Earth?

• guessing

• looking in books

• using rocks and fossils

• using computers and pencils

Which conclusion can be drawn about the age of layer A?

• It is older than layer B

• It is more recent than layer B

• It is more recent than intrusion D

• It is older than layer C

Eras and periods are...

• divisions of the geologic time scale

• absolute times

• relative times

• parts of the school day

Earth formed approximately ___ billion years ago.

• 3.5

• 4.6

• 5.7

• 6.8

Relative dating uses the ___ of superposition.

Which layer in the picture is probably the youngest?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

During the Paleozoic Era there was explosion of life in the oceans. Most of the continents were covered in warm, shallow seas. What is true about life on Earth at this time?

• flowering plants appeared

• fish emerged during this time

• first small dinosaurs appeared

• reptiles became most abundant animals

Fossils can help us understand Earth's past.

• True

• False