Unit 4 Rocks and Fossils Review for Unit Assessment

Based on the characteristics of the rock, which method of dating would be the least accurate?

• radioactive dating because the faulting of the rock will make it difficult to use relative dating

• carbon dating because the faulting of the rock will make it difficult to use absolute dating

• the law of superposition because the folding of the rock will make it difficult to use relative dating

• the law of superposition because the folding of the rock will make it difficult to use absolute dating

Which method for measuring the age of Earth and its parts uses relative dating?

• carbon dating

• radioactive dating

• the law of superposition

• the law of conservation of mass

Why do geologists use a variety of methods to date rocks on Earth?

• Many events in Earth's history caused rocks that formed on Earth to form on the Moon.

• Many events in Earth's history caused rocks that formed on Earth's surface to form in Earth's inner core.

• Different events in Earth's history caused different rocks to form on Earth's surface.

• There are not enough differences among the events that caused rocks to form on Earth's surface.

How would a geologist determine whether the water in the lake was always fresh water, or whether the lake used to be a saltwater marsh?

• determine the species of fossils in Layers B and C

• determine the species of fossils in Layers A and B

• determine the species of fossils in Layers A and C

• determine the species of fossils in Layers A, B, and C

A geologist determines the age of a rock by comparing the amount of radioactive material with the amounts of its decay products. How could a geologist best use information from one rock to learn about the time period over which a canyon formed?

• The geologist could compare the age of one rock with the age of Earth.

• The geologist could compare the age of one rock with the ages of rocks from another canyon.

• The geologist could compare the age of one rock with the ages of many living plants.

• The geologist could compare the age of one rock with the ages of many nearby rocks.

Which method determines the relative age of Earth's sedimentary layers based on their organization?

• rate of sedimentation

• law of superposition

• radioactive dating

• fossil comparison

In an area where a river has cut deep into Earth's surface, several layers of different rock are exposed. Which of the following statements most likely describes the oldest rock layer?

• A. It is composed of igneous intrusive rock.

• B. It contains the highest density of fossils.

• C. It is the bottommost layer.

• D. It is the thickest layer.

Which method of dating will be the most accurate for fossils found near a fault line?

• carbon dating because it is a method of relative dating

• carbon dating because it is a method of absolute dating

• the law of superposition because it is a method of relative dating

• the law of superposition because it is a method of absolute dating

Which methods for measuring the age of Earth and its parts use absolute dating?

• radioactive dating and carbon dating

• carbon dating and historical research

• the law of superposition and radioactive dating

• the law of conservation of mass and carbon dating

Which method of dating relies on the remains of once-living organisms?

• radioactive dating

• law of superposition

• rate of sedimentation

• fossil comparison