Earth History Test

Which of the following eras is known as the “Age of Mammals”?

• Precambrian

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

The half-life of a radioactive element, such as carbon-14, is the time it takes for half of the atoms of the element to decay. How many half-life periods have passed if a fossil contains 1/8 of the original amount of carbon-14?

• 3

• 4

• 5

• 6

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

The carbon in all living things includes the common isotope carbon-12 as well as the radioactive isotope carbon-14. When an organism dies, it stops taking in carbon. The carbon-14 it contains breaks down into another element, while the carbon-12 it contains remains constant. Half of the atoms in a sample of carbon-14 decay every 5700 years. Thus, the half-life of carbon-14 is 5700 years. Measurements of a fossilized skull indicate that it has a carbon-14/carbon-12 ratio that is equal to about 1/8 that of the skulls of present-day animals. Approximately how old is the skull?

• 5700 years old

• 11,400 years old

• 17,100 years old

• 22,800 years old

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

In what type of rock would a geologist MOST likely find evidence of ancient life?

• sedimentary

• igneous

• metamorphic

• volcanie

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What can be used to find the exact age of a rock specimen?

• law of superposition

• index fossils

• radioactive dating

• carbon dating

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

• Trace fossils are fossilized tracks, feces, and other evidences of an organism’s activity.

• Trace fossils are the preserved body of an organism.

• Trace fossils are hardened parts of the original organism.

• Trace fossils are the carbon film left by the decaying organism.

Which is used to find the relative age of a rock?

• composition of rock layers

• position of rock layers

• carbon-14 dating

• uranium dating

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which makes a good index fossil?

• a fossil not commonly found in rocks

• a fossil that lived throughout geologic time

• a fossil that lived during three geologic time periods

• a fossil that lived during only one geologic time period

Which of these would help determine the changes in a plant species over geologic time?

• examining the number of plants in a given area

• examining the type of animals that eat the plant

• examining the type of seeds the plant produces

• examining the fossil record of the plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The ichthyornis was a type of bird that lived over 65 million years ago. It lived near the sea and hunted for fish over the water. Fossils have been found in Kansas, many miles from the present-day ocean. Which explanation is most likely for this situation?

• the sea level has changed over time

• disease caused the birds to go extinct

• the birds migrated inland over time

• predator animals hunted the birds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3