Biology: Fossils and Dating Methods

What is the primary focus of paleontologists when they are digging in the dirt?

• Discovering new plant species

• Searching for ancient artifacts

• Looking for fossils

• Finding precious metals

Which of the following conditions is NOT necessary for fossil formation?

• Rapid burial

• Presence of sediment

• High temperature

• Low oxygen environment

What type of fossil provides insight into the behavior of extinct organisms?

• Trace fossils

• Impression fossils

• Body fossils

• Index fossils

In relative dating, what principle helps determine the age of fossils?

• Newer rock layers form above older ones

• Older rock layers form above newer ones

• Rock layers form randomly

• Newer rock layers form below older ones

What is an index fossil?

• A fossil that is only found in volcanic ash

• A fossil that is easily identifiable and widespread

• A fossil that is found only in one location

• A fossil that is found in the deepest rock layers

What is the main advantage of absolute dating over relative dating?

• It is easier to perform

• It is more accurate for all fossils

• It requires less equipment

• It provides a more precise age in years

Which element is commonly used for dating relatively young fossils?

• Potassium

• Carbon-14

• Argon

• Uranium

What is the half-life of carbon-14?

• 5,730 years

• 60,000 years

• 1.3 billion years

• 1,300 years

For dating very old fossils, which isotope is used?

• Carbon-14

• Potassium

• Uranium

• Argon

What will the next lesson focus on?

• The study of living organisms

• The history of life on Earth

• The process of mummification

• The discovery of new fossils