Fossils were discovered in four different sedimentary rock layers as shown below: Which best describes the age of the fish relative to the age of the fern and the age of the shell?

The fish is younger than the fern, but older than the shell.

The fish is older than both the fern and the shell.

The fish is younger than both the fern and the shell.

The fish is older than the fern, but younger than the shell.

Which statement is true?

Absolute geologic dating and relative geologic dating are two methods used by scientists to determine the age of geologic evidence.

The oldest layers of rock and soil are closest to the surface of the earth.

The youngest layers of rock and soil are farther away from the surface of the earth.

Carbon-14 dating is an example of relative dating, and the law of superposition is an example of absolute dating.

What is the best description for how trace fossils are different from fossils of an organism's remains?

Trace fossils are fossilized tracks and other evidences of an organism's activity.

Trace fossils are fossilized waste of an animal.

Trace fossils are parts of the original organism.

An undisturbed rock column contains a fossil of a reptile species in the lowest rock layer, an index fossil that was present 1 million years ago in the middle rock layer, and a fossil of a clam species in the top rock layer. Which statement is most likely correct?

There was a desert habitat before a marine habitat that formed the rock layers in the column.

The index fossil formed when a desert habitat made rock layers in the column.

There was a marine habitat over one million years ago that formed rock layers in the column.

There was a desert habitat more recently that one million years ago that formed rock layers in the column.

The diagram shows where fossils of two organisms were found in rock layers. Which conclusion does this diagram best support?

Organism Y lived before Organism X because Organism Y was found in an older rock layer.

The earthquake that caused the fault most likely killed both organisms because the fossils formed during the time of the earthquake.

The fault formed while Organism X was living and after Organism Y had died because the fault is located between the two fossils.

Both organisms lived at the same time because the fossils they formed were found in rock layers of about the same depth.

Which makes a good index fossil?

a fossil that lived during only one geologic time period

a fossil not commonly found in rocks

a fossil that lived throughout geologic time

a fossil that lived during three geologic time periods

A scientist finds an index fossil in layers of rock in both Africa and South America. What does this indicate about the ages of the rocks?

The rocks are approximately the same age.

The South American rock is older.

The rocks are younger than the fossils.

Studies of snail fossils in Egypt indicate that areas of Egypt that are now desert were once thriving savannahs approximately 130,000 years ago. What does the presence of these fossils indicate about the area of Egypt that was thriving 130,000 years ago?

There was more humidity in the air.

There were fewer nutrients in the soil.

There was more snowfall in the region.

There was less solar radiation in the region.

The level of carbon dioxide in an ice core is higher at the top than farther down. What can most likely be determined from this?

There was a global cooling period followed by a global warming period.

The landmass moved further toward the equator.

There was a global warming period followed by a global cooling period.

The diagram shows fossil samples found in four layers of sedimentary rock. Which can most likely be concluded about the area where the samples were found?

It was formed millions of years ago.

May fossils of large amphibians were found in an area that is currently barren desert. Which is most likely true?

The climate of the area was once much wetter than it is now.

Amphibians were once better at surviving in dry environments.

The amphibians migrated there after a catastrophic event destroyed their habitats.

The amphibians are not native to the area and their bones were brought there by other animals.

Why are fossils most likely found in sedimentary rock samples?

Sedimentary rocks are formed in layers that trap the material for fossilization

More plants and animal species grow on sedimentary rocks.

Sedimentary rocks preserve fossils with intense heat and pressure.

Sedimentary rocks are much stronger than igneous or metamorphic rocks and protect the samples.

Researchers are investigating whether dinosaurs were endothermic like birds. Which evidence from the fossil record could be effectively compared with modern day evidence to support this hypothesis?

consumption of the same plant species

tree rings indicating the return of a similar climate

An ice core shows increasing levels of carbon dioxide over the last 100 years. Which best explains the high levels of carbon dioxide found in the ice core?

Temperatures over the last century have been growing warmer.

Temperatures over the last century have been growing colder.

The region was covered by seawater at some time in the last century.

The region has received higher amounts of precipitation over the last century.

What do earthquakes tell scientists about the history of the planet?

The continents of the Earth are continually moving.

Earth's climate is constantly changing.

Dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago.

The oceans are much deeper today than millions of years ago.

The K-T boundary is the geologic stratum that separates the Cretaceous period, which ended sixty-five million years ago with the extinction of the dinosaurs, from the Tertiary period. A student reads the following statement: Despite the fact that iridium is much less abundant on Earth than gold, clay located at the K-T boundary contains at least twice as much iridium than gold. How does this statement support the theory that an asteroid impacted Earth about sixty-five million years ago?

by supporting the hypothesis that an asteroid impact would alter Earth's landmass

by supporting the hypothesis that an asteroid impact would change Earth's climate

by providing evidence that the iridium was toxic to the species on Earth at that time

Which best explains the significance of the trilobite as an index fossil?

They are fossils that indicate a certain era in geologic time.

They were the first fossils to be discovered.

They are fossils that represent many different life-forms.

They were the only fossils found outside the United States.

Fossils of the fern Glossopteris have been found in the continents of South America, Africa, Asia, and Antarctica. The seeds of this fern were too small to be dispersed by wind. Which is best indicated by the presence of Glossopteris on these continents?

The landmasses were joined together in pre-historic times.

Glossopteris was versatile enough to adapt to all climates.

Fossils were much better preserved in the southern continents.

The northern climate regions were not suitable for plant growth.

When two fish die, Fish A sinks to the bottom of a lake and Fish B washes up on the rocky lake shore. Why is a fossil more likely to form from the body of Fish A than from the body of Fish B?

Sediments in the water will quickly cover the fish.

Soft parts of the fish will decay more quickly in the water.

Scavengers in the water will eat the remains of the fish.

Currents in the water will move the fish.

Trilobites are extinct animals that lived in the oceans. Fossils of these animals can be found in dry areas such as Cincinnati. What does this indicate?

Cincinnati was once covered by the ocean where trilobites lived.

Trilobites now live underground.

Trilobites are the ancestors of jellyfish.

The environment changed, creating small saltwater lakes in Cincinnati.

Geologic Time and Processes

Quiz

•

Science

•

8th Grade

•

Practice Problem

•

Hard

•

NGSS

MS-ESS1-4, MS-LS4-1, MS-ESS2-3

+10

Standards-aligned

Charles Martinez

Used 1+ times

FREE Resource

45 questions

Show all answers

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

On a geological dig, two fossil samples were found in different rock layers in the same area. One fossil was found in a rock layer that was located below the other. Which can be concluded about the relative ages of the fossils?

The fossil found in the lower layer is older than the one found above it.

The fossils were found in the same area, so they are the exact same age.

The fossil found in the lower layer is younger than the one found above it.

The fossils are differeent ages, but it cannot be determined which is older or younger.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Which are scientists most likely to use to estimate the age of Earth?

rock layers

soil samples

organic fossils

water samples

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Based on the law of superposition, which best describes the ages of four undisturbed rock layers relative to one another?

All of the layers of rock were deposited at about the same time and are about the same age.

The youngest rock layer is found on top, and the older layers are closer to the center of Earth

The oldest rock layer is found on top, and the younger layers are closer to the center of Earth.

The youngest rock layer is found on the bottom, followed by the oldest layer, and then younger layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Why is petrified wood considered to be a fossil?

it was once living matter.

It is composed of hardened wood.

It is made entirely of rock material.

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Carbon 14 has a half life of 5,730 years. If a fossil sample has 25% of the original Carbon 14 in it, how old is the fossil?

5,730 years old

11,460 years old

17,190 years old

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Which best explains the use of radioactive dating?

to determine the presence of index fossils

to determine the relative age of a rock layer

to determine the absolute age of a rock layer

to determine changes in the surface of the Earth

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

2 mins • 1 pt

Which describes the best use of Carbon-14 in collecting geologic evidence?

to compare the decay of uranium to lead

to date artifacts less than 50,000 years old

to date sedimentary rock layers

to identify index fossils

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Geologic Time and Processes

45 questions

On a geological dig, two fossil samples were found in different rock layers in the same area. One fossil was found in a rock layer that was located below the other. Which can be concluded about the relative ages of the fossils?

Which are scientists most likely to use to estimate the age of Earth?

Based on the law of superposition, which best describes the ages of four undisturbed rock layers relative to one another?

Why is petrified wood considered to be a fossil?

Carbon 14 has a half life of 5,730 years. If a fossil sample has 25% of the original Carbon 14 in it, how old is the fossil?

Which best explains the use of radioactive dating?

Which describes the best use of Carbon-14 in collecting geologic evidence?

Fossils were discovered in four different sedimentary rock layers as shown below: Which best describes the age of the fish relative to the age of the fern and the age of the shell?

The figure below shows a wall of the Grand Canyon. The most recent rocks of the Grand Canyon formed during which Geologic Period?

The half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 billion years. An igneous rock is found with 25% potassium-40. What is the absolute age of this rock?

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