Quiz: The Fossil Record

Which best describes a fossil that was discovered in rock at the base of a cliff?

• It is most likely an index fossil.

• It is likely younger than a fossil discovered halfway up the cliff.

• It is likely older than a fossil discovered in rock at the top of the cliff.

• It is likely younger than a fossil discovered in rock at the top of the cliff.

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Which is not an accurate statement about the fossil record?

• The fossil record represents less than one percent of all of the species that ever lived.

• Land organisms are more likely to fossilize than aquatic organisms.

• It is rare for the remains of a soft-bodied organism to become a fossil.

• Most fossils are found in sedimentary rock.

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How does relative dating help determine the age of a fossil?

• It gives us the exact date an organism lived.

• It allows us to study the radioactive elements to determine the age.

• It determines whether a fossil formed before or after another fossil.

• It compares a fossil with its current living relatives and studies the differences.

The diagram shows a portion of the fossil record in sedimentary rock. Different rock layers and fossils are clearly visible. Which statement is true of the fossils and rock layers shown in the diagram?

• Layer A contains the most recently formed rocks and fossils.

• Layer B contains the second-oldest rocks and fossils.

• The rocks and fossils in layer B are older than those in layer D.

• The rocks and fossils in layer D are the most recently formed.

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Juan is studying fossils. His teacher wrote the following statements on the board and asked the students to put them in the correct order to describe how fossils are formed. Which is the correct order of events for fossil formation?

• Sediment begins to cover the organism’s skeleton.

• Sediment builds up and turns to rock.

• Layers of sediment bury the entire skeleton.

• An organism dies, and its body begins to decompose.

Which method is commonly used in absolute dating to determine the age of rocks?

• Radiometric techniques

• Stratigraphy

• Carbon dating

• Magnetic polarity

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The unique information from trace fossils and coprolites can help scientists infer is...

• The behavior and diet of an organism.

• Only the physical appearance of an organism.

• The climatic conditions during the organism's lifetime.

• The geological age of the organism.

Most fossils form when organisms that die become buried in sediments

• True
• False

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Why is the fossil record considered incomplete?

• All organisms have been fossilized.

• Many fossils have been destroyed by geological processes.

• Fossils are only found in igneous rocks.

• Fossils are evenly distributed across all rock layers.

According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found 

• At the top of the rock layers
• Near the bottom of the rock layers
• In the middle of the rock layers
• Somewhat near the surface

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