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WorksheetsGeo-Earth History
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The major source of oxygen in Earth’s Early Proterozoic atmosphere is inferred to have been produced by
a)
oceanic cyanobacteria
b)
outgassing from volcanic eruptions
c)
radioactive decay in Earth’s inner core
d)
evaporation of ocean water
2.
The diagram below represents three bedrock outcrops. The layers have not been overturned. Letters A through E identify different rock layers. Fossils found in the rock layers are shown.
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
3.
Which geologic event occurred in New York State at approximately the same time as the extinction of dinosaurs and ammonoids?
a)
Formation of the Queenston Delta
b)
Deposition of the sands and clays underlying Long Island
c)
Initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean
d)
Advance and retreat of the last continental ice sheet
4.
Volcanic ash deposits found in the geologic record are most useful in correlating the age of rock layers if the volcanic ash was distributed over a
a)
Large area during a short period of time
b)
Large area during a long period of time
c)
Small area during a short period of time
d)
Small area during a long period of time
5.
The cross section represents four different rock units. The symbol for contact metamorphism is shown in the cross section. What metamorphic rock will be formed in rock layer C?
a)
1 Marble
b)
2 Quartzite
c)
3 Anthracite coal
d)
4 Slate
6.
The table below shows the radioactive decay of carbon-14. Part of the table has been left blank. After 22,800 years, approximately what percentage of the original carbon-14 remains?
a)
15%
b)
12.5%
c)
6.25%
d)
3.125%
7.
Which event is generally accepted as the cause of the mass extinction that occurred 65.5 million years ago?Question*
a)
Volcanic eruption
b)
Continental collision
c)
Asteroid impact
d)
Sea-level change
8.
The geologic cross section below includes an unconformity and an igneous intrusion. Which two events produced the geologic unconformity in the rock record?
a)
Intrusion of magma, followed by contact metamorphism
b)
Intrusion of magma, followed by erosion of rock layers
c)
Erosion of rock layers, followed by deposition of more sediments
d)
Erosion of rock layers, followed by intrusion of magma
9.
The timeline below represents time on Earth from the beginning of the Paleozoic Era (A) to the present (B). Which numbered position best represents the time when humans first appeared in the fossil record?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
10.
The cross sections below represent three outcrops, labeled I, II, and III, containing some New York State index fossils. The rock layers have not been overturned. When the rock layers in the three outcrops are correlated, the oldest layer is the
a)
Shale layer in outcrop I
b)
Siltstone layer in outcrop II
c)
Limestone layer in outcrop III
d)
Conglomerate layer in outcrop III
11.
Radioactive decay of 40K atoms in an igneous rock has resulted in a ratio of 25 percent 40K atoms to 75 percent 40Ar and 40Ca atoms. How many years old is this rock?
a)
0.3 _ 109 y
b)
1.3 _ 109 y
c)
2.6 _ 109 y
d)
3.9 _ 109 y
12.
Which lettered boundary is most likely another unconformity? The cross section below represents several rock units within Earth’s crust. Letter A represents Earth’s surface. Letters B, C, and D indicate boundaries between rock units. One of the unconformities is labeled.
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
13.
Scientists infer that oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere did not exist in large quantities until after
a)
The first multicellular, soft-bodied marine organisms appeared on Earth
b)
The initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean
c)
The first sexually reproducing organisms appeared on Earth
d)
Photosynthetic cyanobacteria evolved in Earth’s oceans
14.
The photograph below shows rock layers separated by unconformity XY. Which sequence of events most likely produced this unconformity?
a)
Uplift and erosion of bedrock, followed by subsidence and more deposition
b)
Intrusion of magma into preexisting rock, causing contact metamorphism
c)
Eruption of a volcano, spreading lava over horizontal sedimentary rock layers
d)
Separation of one rock layer, by movement along a plate boundary
15.
The geologic cross section below shows rock layers that have not been overturned. The fault is older than the
a)
Slate
b)
Marble
c)
Unconformity
d)
Shale
16.
The bedrock cross section below contains rock formations A, B, C, and D. The rock formations have not been overturned. Which sequence represents the relative ages of these rock formations, from oldest to youngest?
a)
B → A → C → D
b)
B → D → C → A
c)
D → C → A → B
d)
D → B → A → C
17.
Four rock outcrops, labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4, found within the same plateau, are represented below. Index fossils found in some of the rock layers are shown. The rock layers have not been overturned. Which rock layer is the youngest?
a)
sandstone in outcrop 1
b)
breccia in outcrop 2
c)
conglomerate in outcrop 3
d)
sandstone in outcrop 4
18.
During which geologic epoch do scientists infer that the earliest grasses first appeared on Earth?
a)
Holocene
b)
Pleistocene
c)
Oligocene
d)
Eocene
19.
Base your answers to questions 91 through 93 on the rock columns below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The rock columns represent four widely separated locations, W, X, Y, and Z. Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent fossils. The rock layers have not been overturned. Which numbered fossil best represents an index fossil?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
20.
Which rock layer is the oldest?
a)
tan sandstone
b)
gray limestone
c)
green shale
d)
black shale
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