NEW
Font size
S
M
L
XL
WorksheetsEarth's History Unit 9 Exam
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
A 10 million year old fossil of an urchin was discovered at a stream site near Charleston. The fossil was likely formed when a tsunami buried the urchin under many layers of mud and silt which compacted the urchin nearly flat. Over time, these layers formed sedimentary rock and left an organic impression.
How would the fossil be classified?
How would the fossil be classified?
a)
Mold fossil
b)
Petrified fossil
c)
Preserved fossil
d)
Trace fossil
2.
Which length of geologic time is associated with the appearance of humans?
a)
Cambrian Period
b)
Cenozoic Era
c)
Mesozoic Era
d)
Precambrian Era
3.
Which statement about extinction in Earth's history is correct?
a)
Animals only started becoming extinct over the past 5 million years when they were hunted by humans
b)
Earth has warmed steadily throughout its history and slowly causing species to become extinct.
c)
Extinction events are always negative because they eliminate all species of life on Earth when they occur.
d)
Natural extinctions have occurred throughout Earth's geologic history from a variety of causes.
4.
How do scientists use ice cores?
a)
to determine the age of preserved fossils
b)
to determine past earthquake activity
c)
to determine past climate conditions
d)
to determine the age of deposited sediment
5.
The diagram above represents a section of undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock in North Carolina and shows the location of fossils of several closely related species. Which statement below is accurate about species A, B, and C?
a)
Species B is more abundant than species C.
b)
Species C existed before species B.
c)
Species A and B are genetically identical.
d)
Species B evolved from species A.
6.
Which rock layer is the youngest?
NOTE: Layer 6 is cutting through layers 1, 4, and 2 ONLY
NOTE: Layer 6 is cutting through layers 1, 4, and 2 ONLY
a)
Layer 1
b)
Layer 6
c)
Layer 5
d)
Layer 3
7.
Which of the following is true about the rock layer above?
a)
Layer 6 is older than layers 1, 2, and 4 because the igneous rock is cutting through these layers.
b)
Layer 3 is older than layer 6 because igneous intrusions are always youngest.
c)
Layer 6 is older than layer 5 because it does not cut through 5.
d)
The fossil in layer 3 is younger than layer 6 because lava came before fossils.
8.
In general, the law of superposition states that in an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each layer is:
a)
about the same age.
b)
older than the one above it.
c)
older than the one below it.
d)
thicker than the one above it.
9.
Which best describes a fossil that helps determine the relative age of a rock layer?
a)
Trace fossil
b)
Index fossil
c)
Radioactive fossil
d)
Unconformity fossil
10.
Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?
a)
Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.
b)
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers
c)
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.
d)
Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rocks.
11.
In northern Canada archaeologists have discovered the remains of what appears to be a new species of dinosaur. They are particularly interested in learning more about how this species moved and traveled when it was alive. Which type of fossil would be most beneficial for them to discover?
a)
carbonized
b)
preserved
c)
petrified
d)
trace
12.
A scientist finds the bones of a dinosaur. What could help the scientist determine the approximate age of the dinosaur bones?
a)
The birds living in the area of the bones
b)
The weather conditions in the area of the bones
c)
The kinds of trees living in the area of the bones
d)
The index fossil in the area of the bones
13.
Fossils of shellfish and snails are commonly found in the Las Vegas valley. What can you infer about the environmental conditions in the Las Vegas valley millions of years ago? The Las Vegas valley ___________.
a)
was always a desert.
b)
was once a forest.
c)
once contained a glacier.
d)
once contained a shallow sea.
14.
Scientists find dinosaur fossils in the bottom rock layers of a cliff and mammal fossils in the middle rock layer of the cliff. Which could best be concluded from this evidence?
a)
Dinosaurs ate plants
b)
Dinosaurs were eaten by mammals
c)
Dinosaurs lived on earth before mammals
d)
Dinosaurs and mammals lived at the same time
15.
Which division of the geologic time scale makes up MOST of Earth’s History?
a)
Precambrian
b)
Mesozoic
c)
Cenozoic
d)
Paleozoic
16.
The geologic time scale is divided by major changes or events such as…
a)
Mass extinctions
b)
The development of one new species
c)
The extinction of one species
d)
A small temperature change
17.
What percentage of all the species that ever lived on Earth has become extinct?
a)
Nearly 50%
b)
Nearly 60%
c)
Nearly 75%
d)
More than 99%
18.
Which of the following shows the divisions of the geologic time scale in correct order of decreasing lengths of time, from the longest interval to the shortest?
a)
eon – epoch – period – era
b)
era – period – epoch – eon
c)
eon – era – period – epoch
d)
era – eon – epoch – period
19.
What can be concluded from the locations of the index fossils in the rock layers at the three different regions?
a)
Rock layers A, Y, and P are approximately the same age.
b)
Rock layers B, Y, and Q are approximately the same age.
c)
Rock layers C, Z, and P are approximately the same age.
d)
Rock layers D, Z, and S are approximately the same age.
20.
The moa is an extinct, 12-foot-tall, flightless bird native to New Zealand. These preserved moa footprints represent what type of fossil?
a)
cast fossil
b)
mold fossil
c)
petrified fossil
d)
trace fossil
Reset
