Fossils and Rocks

How are rock layers arranged in terms of age?

• Youngest on the bottom to oldest on the top

• Oldest on the bottom to youngest on the top

• Most dense to least dense

• Least dense to most dense

What can scientists learn from the position of fossils in rock layers?

• The color of the fossils

• The relative age of the fossils

• The exact year the fossil was formed

• The fossil's weight

If a fossil is found in a lower rock layer than another fossil, what does this indicate?

• The lower fossil is older

• The lower fossil is younger

• The fossils are the same age

• The fossils are unrelated

Which rock layer contains the most diverse set of fossils?

• The top layer

• The middle layer

• The bottom layer

• All layers contain the same diversity

What is the principle of superposition?

• Younger rock layers are always below older layers

• Older rock layers are always below younger layers

• All rock layers form at the same time

• Fossils are evenly distributed in all rock layers

What happens to a species that is no longer found in newer rock layers?

• It has migrated

• It has evolved into a new species

• It has gone extinct

• It has become more common

Which of the following statements is true about fossil E if it is found at the same level as fossil A?

• Fossil E is older than fossil A

• Fossil E is younger than fossil A

• Fossil E and A are the same relative age

• Fossil E is not a real fossil

Which type of rock is most likely to contain fossils?

• Igneous rock

• Sedimentary rock

• Metamorphic rock

• Volcanic rock

What does the fossil record primarily show?

• Evidence of past life and evolution

• Only the strongest species survive

• That all fossils are the same age

• That dinosaurs were the first life forms

What can scientists infer if fossils of shelled organisms disappear from the fossil record after the middle rock layer?

• They went extinct after the middle layer formed

• They moved to a different location

• They became plants

• They were never in that area