Week 8 Review Quiz

Which best describes how ice cores are important to the study of geologic history?

• They show unconformities, which signal changes in deposition.

• They hold index fossils, which are used to date the different ice cores

• They contain evidence showing changes in the atmospheric composition over time

Which characteristic of an index fossil makes it most useful in relative dating of rock layers and other fossils?

• existence was brief

• lived a long time

• lived in certain areas

Some scientists think that all life evolved from a common ancestor. Which provides evidence that this may be true?

• analogous structures of organisms

• homologous structures of organisms

• extinction of many varieties of plant species

• existence of many varieties of bacteria species

It is possible to hypothesize how a particular group of organisms evolved by arranging fossils in a chronological sequence. Where would the oldest fossils be found?

• the deepest rock layer

• the most shallow rock layer

• the rock layer with the greatest variety of fossils

• the rock layer containing fossils with the most complex structures

Which organisms are most closely related based on comparison of anatomical structures?

• jellyfish and clam

• snake and worm

• pig and human

• bid and bee

Which of the following orders the rock layers accurately from oldest to youngest?

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

• 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

• 2, 3, 4, 5, 1

• 1, 2, 3, 5, 4

Which of these rock layers is relatively the newest?

• Kaibab formation
• Zoraster Granite
• Redwall limestone
• Unkar group

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

By determining the age of fossils, scientists can reconstruct the history of life on Earth

• True
• False

Scientists have compiled fossil records over several continents. Which statement best explains the pattern in the diagram

• The animals migrated over time looking for food

• The organisms shown on the map lived after Pangaea

• These species were found on each continent because they were native to all continents

• The organisms lived when the continents were connected