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Fossils & Geologic History

Total questions: 31

Worksheet time: 16mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following most likely results in the formation of a fossil?

a)

A clam is eaten by a large predatory fish.

b)

A clam is washed up onto the beach.

c)

A clam lies exposed on the surface of the sea floor.

d)

A clam is buried by a mudslide.

2.

From the diagram, which statement about crinoids, echinoids and blastoids is correct?

a)

They all existed in the Devonian Period.

b)

All have decreased in number over time.

c)

They came into existence during the same geologic period.

d)

All are now extinct.

3.

Identify the geologic time in which humans appeared

a)

Cenozoic Era

b)

Mesozoic Era

c)

Paleozoic Era

d)

Precambrian Time

e)

Phanerozoic Eon

4.

Identify the geologic time which was the age of the dinosaurs

a)

Cenozoic Era

b)

Mesozoic Era

c)

Paleozoic Era

d)

Precambrian Time

e)

Phanerozoic Eon

5.

Identify the geologic time which was mostly ocean life

a)

Cenozoic Era

b)

Mesozoic Era

c)

Paleozoic Era

d)

Precambrian Time

e)

Phanerozoic Eon

6.

Identify the geologic time was first life

a)

Cenozoic Era

b)

Mesozoic Era

c)

Paleozoic Era

d)

Precambrian Time

e)

Phanerozoic Eon

7.

What was the major event that separated Precambrian Time from the Phanerozoic

a)

Extinction of dinosaurs and many other species

b)

Extenction of trilobites and mony other marine animals

c)

The transition from one-celled organisms to multi-celled organisms

d)

First birds

e)

First fish

8.

What marked the end of the Paleozoic and the start of the Mesozoic

a)

Extinction of dinosaurs and many other species

b)

Extenction of trilobites and mony other marine animals

c)

The transition from one-celled organisms to multi-celled organisms

d)

First birds

e)

First fish

9.

What marked the end of the Mesozoic and the start of the Cenozoic

a)

Extinction of dinosaurs and many other species

b)

Extenction of trilobites and mony other marine animals

c)

The transition from one-celled organisms to multi-celled organisms

d)

First birds

e)

First fish

10.

First Fish

a)

Ordovician

b)

Jurassic

c)

Pennsylvanian

d)

Quaternary

e)

Devonian

11.

First Birds

a)

Ordovician

b)

Jurassic

c)

Pennsylvanian

d)

Quaternary

e)

Devonian

12.

Humans Develop

a)

Ordovician

b)

Jurassic

c)

Pennsylvanian

d)

Quaternary

e)

Devonian

13.

First Reptiles

a)

Ordovician

b)

Jurassic

c)

Pennsylvanian

d)

Quaternary

e)

Devonian

14.

First Insect Fossils

a)

Ordovician

b)

Jurassic

c)

Pennsylvanian

d)

Quaternary

e)

Devonian

15.

Fossils of fish in the mountains of Virginia indicate

a)

ancient glacial advance

b)

movement of fossils by tourists

c)

ancient sandstorms

d)

ancient marine environments

16.

Which layer is the oldest

a)

w

b)

x

c)

y

17.

Virginia has fossil evidence all over the state dating back 500 million years, most of which are marine type fossils.

Select all of the statements that are true.

a)

There were never any parts of Virginia that were covered by water for long periods of time.

b)

The most common type of fossils found in Virginia are that of seashells.

c)

Large areas of Virginia were once covered by water for long periods of time.

d)

The most common type of fossil found in Virginia are of dinosaurs that lived on land.

e)

Virginia was once covered by massive volcanoes.

18.

Fossil remains of previous life forms can be preserved in all of the following EXCEPT

a)

lava pits

b)

tar sands

c)

ice

d)

sedimentary rocks

19.

Which of the following is most likely to indicate the type of environment that an animal fossilized in a rocks most likely lived in?

a)

The thickness of the rock

b)

The type of fossils found in the rock

c)

Number of other fossils found in the rock

d)

The color of the rock with the fossils in it

20.

Fossils are not found as

a)

casts

b)

living organisms

c)

preserved remains

d)

molds

21.

The Scientific Law that tells us the oldest rock layers will be on the lowest level of sedimentary formations is called

a)

Cross Cutting Relationships

b)

Uniformitarianism

c)

Superposition

d)

Gravity

22.

The Scientific Law that tells us any feature that cuts across a body of sediment or rock is younger than the body of sediment or rock that it cuts across

a)

Cross Cutting Relationships

b)

Uniformitarianism

c)

Superposition

d)

Gravity

23.

The half-life of this sample is

a)

5,700 years

b)

11,400 years

c)

17,100 years

d)

25,00 years

24.

If a sample has been dated to be 11,400 years old how many half-life has Carbon-14 gone through?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

25.

The oldest rock layer is

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

e)

E

26.

The youngest rock layer is

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

e)

E

27.

What is the correct sequence old to young -

a)

A, D, E, B, C

b)

B, E, D, A, C

c)

C, B, A, E, D

d)

D, A, E, B, C

e)

E, D, A, B, C

28.

According to scientists, what did the first life on Earth most

likely resemble?

a)

Ancient bony armored fish.

b)

Single celled organisms that most likely resembled algae.

c)

Modern day plants with flowers like daises.

d)

Early dinosaurs, like the Spondylosoma.

29.

What is oldest M or D

a)

M

b)

D

30.

What is oldest C or A

a)

C

b)

A

31.

What is oldest E or H

a)

E

b)

H