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WorksheetsEarth Science, Chapter 8, The Rock Record, Pre Assessment
Total questions: 22
Worksheet time: 44mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The time required for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down by radioactive decay to form a daughter isotope is called what?
a)
uniformitarianism
b)
relative age
c)
half-life
d)
radioactive dating
2.
The trace or remains of an organism that lived long ago, most commonly preserved in sedimentary rock
a)
varve
b)
index fossil
c)
trace fossil
d)
fossil
3.
Which of the following is a method of determining the absolute age of an object by comparing the relative percentages of a radioactive (parent) isotope and a stable (daughter) isotope?
a)
radiometric dating
b)
uniformitarionism
c)
law of superposition
d)
paleontology
4.
A principle that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic processes is called...
a)
paleontology
b)
law of superposition
c)
relative age
d)
uniformitarianism
5.
The age of an object in relation to the ages of other objects is known as what?
a)
relative age
b)
absolute age
c)
half-life
d)
unconformity
6.
What is the scientific study of fossils called?
a)
uniformitarianism
b)
unconformity
c)
paleontology
d)
radiometric dating
7.
What is a fossilized mark that formed in sedimentary rock by the movement of an animal on or within soft sediment called?
a)
index fossil
b)
fossil
c)
trace fossil
d)
varve
8.
A break in the geologic record created when rock layers are eroded or when sediment is not deposited for a long period of time is called what?
a)
law of crosscutting relationships
b)
unconformity
c)
radiometric dating
d)
varve
9.
The numeric age of an object or event, often stated in years before the present, as established by an absolute-dating process such as radiometric dating is known as what?
a)
half-life
b)
varve
c)
relative age
d)
absolute age
10.
What is a fossil that is used to establish the age of a rock layer because the fossil is distinct, abundant, and widespread and the species that formed that fossil existed for only a short span of geologic time?
a)
index fossil
b)
trace fossil
c)
fossil
d)
varve
11.
The diagram shows a cross section of rocks beside a highway. Which rock type is the oldest?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
12.
Which type of absolute dating is used for organic specimens.
a)
carbon-14 dating
b)
plutonium dating
c)
potassium-argon dating
d)
uranium dating
13.
What type of rocks are fossils usually found in?
a)
igneous
b)
metamorphic
c)
sedimentary
14.
Evidence of pre-existing organisms, usually plants or animals is called a _________.
a)
captive
b)
fossil
c)
organ
d)
specimen
15.
Evidence of an animal other than the animal itself is called a _____ fossil.
a)
cast
b)
mold
c)
plain
d)
trace
16.
According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
17.
Which principle helped you determine that E is younger than D?
a)
principle of superposition
b)
principle of original horizontality
c)
principle of inclusions
d)
principle of cross cutting relationships
18.
What is the oldest rock in this diagram?
a)
B
b)
H
c)
I
d)
R
19.
Which rock layer or intrusion is the youngest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
20.
Put these layers and features in order from oldest to youngest.
a)
A,E,B,D,C
b)
C,B,D,E,A
c)
C,B,A,E,D
d)
C,B,A,D,E
21.
Which is younger, the fault or the intrusion?
a)
The Fault
b)
The Intrusion
22.
According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found
a)
At the top of the rock layers
b)
Near the bottom of the rock layers
c)
In the middle of the rock layers
d)
Somewhat near the surface
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