Fossils and Paleontology Quiz

What is a fossil?

• A hollow area in sediment shaped like an organism.

• Well-preserved remains or traces of living things.

• A thin layer of carbon left on rock.

• A break in Earth's crust.

Which type of fossil is formed when minerals replace part or all of an organism?

• Mold

• Cast

• Petrified Fossil

• Trace Fossil

What does the Law of Superposition state?

• Faults are always younger than the rocks they cut through.

• The oldest rock layer is at the bottom in undisturbed sedimentary layers.

• Lava hardens on Earth's surface.

• Magma pushes into rock below the surface.

What is the difference between relative age and absolute age?

• Relative age is the number of years since a rock formed, while absolute age compares a rock's age to other rocks.

• Relative age compares a rock's age to other rocks, while absolute age is the number of years since a rock formed.

• Relative age is the age of fossils, while absolute age is the age of rocks.

• Relative age is determined by fossils, while absolute age is determined by rock layers.

What is the role of a paleontologist?

• To study the Earth's crust and faults.

• To study fossils and the history of life on Earth.

• To study the formation of igneous rocks.

• To study the relative and absolute age of rocks.

What is the primary purpose of index fossils in geology?

• To determine the absolute age of rock layers

• To help determine the relative age of rock layers

• To identify the chemical composition of rocks

• To study the erosion process in rock layers

What does an unconformity in the geologic record indicate?

• A continuous sequence of rock layers

• A gap in the geologic record due to erosion

• The presence of radioactive elements in rocks

• The folding of rock layers

What is radioactive decay?

• The process of rocks breaking into smaller pieces

• The breakdown of atoms into other elements

• The folding of rock layers over time

• The erosion of rock layers due to water

What does the term "half-life" refer to in radioactive dating?

• The time needed for half of radioactive atoms to decay

• The time required for rocks to erode completely

• The time taken for rock layers to fold

• The time needed for stable elements to form

How do scientists use radioactive elements in dating rocks?

• By comparing radioactive elements to stable elements

• By measuring the erosion rate of rocks

• By analyzing the folding patterns of rock layers

• By studying the chemical composition of rocks