Exploring Earth's History: From Rock Strata to Plate Tectonics

What is the outermost layer of the Earth called?

• Mantle

• Core

• Crust

• Inner Core

Answer explanation

The outermost layer of the Earth is called the crust. It is the solid surface layer where we live, while the mantle and core are located beneath it.

Which of the following best describes an unconformity in rock layers?

• A continuous sequence of sedimentary layers

• A gap in the geological record

• A layer of igneous rock

• A fossilized plant

Answer explanation

An unconformity represents a gap in the geological record, indicating a period where no sediment was deposited or erosion occurred, unlike a continuous sequence of layers.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

How do index fossils help scientists date rock strata?

• By providing a direct measurement of the rock's age

• By indicating the relative age of the rock layers

• By showing the exact location of the rock formation

• By identifying the type of rock present

Answer explanation

Index fossils help scientists date rock strata by indicating the relative age of the rock layers. These fossils are from organisms that lived during specific time periods, allowing for correlation between different locations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which process can cause tilting of rock layers?

• Erosion

• Folding

• Intrusion

• Weathering

Answer explanation

Folding is a geological process that occurs when rock layers are subjected to stress, causing them to bend and tilt. This is distinct from erosion, intrusion, and weathering, which do not primarily cause tilting.

Explain how cross-cutting relationships can be used to determine the relative ages of rock layers.

• Older layers are always on top of younger layers.

• A fault or intrusion is younger than the layers it cuts through.

• Layers are deposited horizontally and remain undisturbed.

• Fossils are found only in the oldest layers.

Answer explanation

Cross-cutting relationships state that a fault or intrusion is younger than the layers it disrupts. This principle helps geologists determine the relative ages of rock layers by identifying which features cut through others.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What evidence supports the theory of Continental Drift?

• Similar fossils found on different continents

• The presence of mountains on Earth

• The existence of oceans

• The rotation of the Earth

Answer explanation

The presence of similar fossils on different continents supports the theory of Continental Drift, as it suggests these continents were once connected, allowing species to inhabit them before drifting apart.

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Describe how plate tectonics is related to the movement of continents.

• Plate tectonics causes continents to remain stationary.

• Plate tectonics explains the movement of continents over time.

• Plate tectonics is unrelated to continental movement.

• Plate tectonics only affects oceanic plates.

Answer explanation

Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that describes the large-scale movement of Earth's lithosphere, which explains how continents drift and change position over geological time.

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Using evidence from rock strata, how can scientists organize Earth's history into a geologic time scale?

• By guessing the age of rocks

• By using the sequence of rock layers and fossils

• By measuring the temperature of rocks

• By observing the color of rocks

Answer explanation

Scientists organize Earth's history into a geologic time scale by using the sequence of rock layers and fossils. This method allows them to determine the relative ages of rocks and the organisms that lived during different periods.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Make a claim about how the continents were once connected using evidence from rock formations.

• Continents have always been separate.

• Similar rock formations and fossils on different continents suggest they were once connected.

• Continents are connected by bridges.

• Continents are connected by ocean currents.

Answer explanation

The presence of similar rock formations and fossils on different continents indicates they were once part of a larger landmass, supporting the idea of continental drift and that continents were once connected.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which point is the crust?

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