Exploring Earth's Geologic Time Scale

Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

• Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.

• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.

• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.

• Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What is the most recent eon in the geological time scale?

• Cenozoic eon

• Mesozoic eon

• Paleozoic eon

• Phanerozoic eon

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

How old do Paleontologists believe the Earth is?

• 2019 years old

• 3.6 billion years old

• 4.6 billion years old

• 4.6 million years old

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which type of dating method can be used on rock layers by applying the Law of Superposition?

• relative dating

• absolute dating

• radioactive dating

• radiometric dating

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What are the relative ages of the features in order from oldest to youngest?

• Limestone, Basalt, Fault, Siltstone

• Siltstone, Fault, Basalt, Limestone

• Limestone, Fault, Basalt, Siltstone

• Limestone, Siltstone, Fault, Basalt

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which fossil is the youngest?

• fossil A

• fossil B

• fossil C

• fossils A and B are the same age

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Lava that reaches the surface becomes an extrusion by cooling and solidifying. Will this layer be the __oldest__ layer or the __youngest__ layer?

• oldest layer

• youngest layer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Look at the diagram, what layer did animal E first show up in?

• Layer #4

• Layer #5

• Layer #6

• Layer #8

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which of the following occurred relatively most recently?

• Fault A

• Intrusion B

• Folding

• Intrusion D

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What are the oldest fossils and why?

• B, C- because they are closest to the top

• A, B- because they are closest to the bottom

• They are all the same age- because they are all found on layer 2

• A, B- because they are found closest to the top

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4