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Geological Time Scale and Fossils

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 54mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Principle of original horizontality
a)
unreformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the one above
b)
layers of sediment are generally deposited in a horizontal position
c)
fragments of one rock unit that have been enclosed within another
d)
geologic features that cut across rocks must form after the rocks they cut through
2.
Principle of cross-cutting relationships
a)
 geologic features that cut across rocks must form after the rocks they cut through
b)
 fragments of one rock unit that have been enclosed within another
c)
layers of sediment are generally deposited in a horizontal position
d)
unreformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the one above
3.
What are  Molds and Casts?
a)
shell or another structure buried in sediment then dissolved by groundwater, a mold is created
b)
indirect evidence of life
c)
fine sediment encasing an organism, over time pressure squeezes out liquid and gases and a thin carbon layer is left behind
d)
 harden resin of ancient trees
4.
What  is  Amber?
a)
harden resin of ancient trees
b)
shell or another structure buried in sediment then dissolved by groundwater, a mold is created
c)
indirect evidence of life  Tracks, burrows, coprolites(fossilized scat), gastroliths (polished stomach stones)
d)
mineral-rich groundwater permeates porous tissue (bone/wood), minerals will fall out of solution and fill pores
5.
What  are  Trace Fossils?
a)
indirect evidence of life  Tracks, burrows, coprolites(fossilized scat), gastroliths (polished stomach stones)
b)
 harden resin of ancient trees
c)
mineral-rich groundwater permeates porous tissue (bone/wood), minerals will fall out of solution and fill pores
d)
shell or another structure buried in sediment then dissolved by groundwater, a mold is created
6.
What  are  Index Fossils?
a)
widespread geographically and limited to a short span of geologic time
b)
1700s specific types of fossils found in certain sedimentary layers and not in others
c)
Fossils document the evolution of life through time
d)
Allows us to recognize what intervals of time are not represented by strata and thus missing from fossil record
7.
Which fossil is a replica of the original shape of the organism?
a)
cast
b)
mold
c)
trace
d)
preserved remains
8.
How old do Paleontologists believe the Earth is?
a)
2015 years old
b)
3.6 billion years old
c)
4.6 billion years old
d)
4.6 million years old
9.
The Geologic Time Scale is a record of what?
a)
old geologists
b)
sweet geology music
c)
the known history of rocks and fossils
d)
a list of every living thing ever
10.
A bug stuck in amber is an example of what type of fossil?
a)
cast
b)
mold
c)
trace
d)
preserved remains
11.
What type of rock do fossils form in?
a)
Igneous
b)
Sedimentary
c)
Metamorphic
d)
Classic
12.
The fossil record shows that life on Earth has changed over time.  For example, paleontologists have found that older rocks contain fossils of
a)
organisms that are more complex than those alive today
b)
both simple and complex organisms
c)
only organisms that are alive today
d)
organisms that are simpler than those alive today
13.
The Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic are divisions in the geologic time scale called ____
a)
centuries
b)
layers
c)
periods
d)
eras
14.
Relative dating of rock layers tells us that the deeper we dig, _______.
a)
the younger the rocks get
b)
the smellier the rocks get
c)
the harder the rocks get
d)
the older the rocks get
15.
What is a fossil?
a)
any dead organism
b)
the preserved remains or traces of an organism
c)
a perfect copy of a rock
d)
an unusual type of rock
16.
Which of the following is NOT an example of a fossil?
a)
a petrified dinosaur bone
b)
a footprint captured in mud
c)
a seashell found on the beach
d)
an insect stuck in amber
17.

What classifies a mass extinction?

a)

Only 5% of species go extinct.

b)

Massive flooding due to hurricanes.

c)

Happens in a relatively short period of time and is global

d)

There have never been any mass extinctions on Earth.

18.

Which is the most recent era of time- the one that we are currently in?

a)

Mesozoic

b)

Cenozoic

c)

Paleozoic

d)

Precambrian

19.

Is characterized by the formation of modern continents and the diversification of mammals and plants

a)

periods

b)

Cenozoic Era

c)

unijforitarianism

d)

key bed

20.

Is characterized by the development of flying reptiles, birds, and flowering plants, and by the appearance and extinction of dinosaurs

a)

Precambrian time

b)

fossil

c)

classificaion

d)

Mesozoic Era

21.

Great explosion of life at the beginning of the era and ends with the largest mass extinction in the history of our planet

a)

epoch

b)

c;lassification

c)

Paleozoic Era

d)

relative age

22.

Informal unit of geologic time consisting of the first three eons during which Earth formed and became habitable

a)

original horizontality

b)

Precambrian time

c)

fossil index

d)

era

23.

The remains or traces of an organism preserved from the geologic past

a)

fossil

b)

classification

c)

geological time scale

d)

correlation

24.

A fossil that is associated with a particular span of geological time

a)

classification

b)

key bed

c)

fossil index

d)

original horizontality

25.

Establishing the order of past geologic events

a)

index fossil

b)

periods

c)

Relative age dating

d)

correlation

26.

Stating that in any undisturbed sequence of rocks deposited in layers, the youngest layer is on top and the oldest on bottom, each layer being younger than the one beneath it and older than the one above it

a)

epoch

b)

classification

c)

index fossil

d)

Law of superposition

27.

Method that enables scientists to determine the actual age of certain rocks and other objects

a)

stratigraphy

b)

Absolute age dating

c)

geological time scale

d)

Precambrian time

28.

The theory that changes in the Earth’s crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes

a)

periods

b)

relative age

c)

absolute age

d)

Uniformitarianism

29.

Is a principle of geology that states that the geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two features

a)

fossil index

b)

periods

c)

cross cutting relationships

d)

classification

30.

Which fossil is the youngest?

a)

fossil A

b)

fossil B

c)

fossil C

d)

fossils A and B are the same age

31.

London is studying the geological time scale. Which era would London find Humans in?

a)

Precambrian

b)

Cenozoic

c)

Paleozoic

d)

Mesozoic

32.

Ramiro is studying the Mesozoic era. Which two living things would he find in this era?

a)

flowers

b)

amphibians

c)

dinosaurs

d)

coral reef

e)

humans

33.

Which type of fossil preservation is shown above?

a)

carbon film

b)

trace fossil

c)

original remains

d)

perminerailzed remains

34.

Scientists have found large groups of fossils of marine organisms on mountaintops. What does this tell scientists about the past?

a)

That these rocks must have been moved there by some one else.

b)

That these rocks were always above the surface of an ocean

c)

That these organisms left the ocean and climbed to the top of an inland mountain to die

d)

That these rocks were once below the surface of an ocean

35.

Scientists can estimate the ages of rock if they contain certain __________.

a)

carbons

b)

sediments

c)

index fossils

d)

minerals

36.

According to the diagram, which of the following statements is true?

a)

Fossil C and D are the same age.

b)

Fossil C is younger than Fossil D

c)

Fossil B is youngest

d)

Fossil A is oldest.

37.

In what era did the first land plants appear?

a)

Silurian

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Paleozoic

38.

What is an unconformity?

a)

A layer of sedimentary rock

b)

A layer of rocks with unusual fossils

c)

An intrustion

d)

A missing time or gap in the rock record because of erosion

39.
An igneous rock layer formed when magma hardens beneath Earth's surface.
a)
extrusion
b)
index fossil
c)
intrusion
d)
unconformity
40.
The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?
a)
The absolute age of rock layers
b)
The age of fossils
c)
The relative age of rock layers
d)
the super powers of rocks
41.
Why is the fossil record incomplete?
a)
fossils get eroded away over time
b)
most organisms never became fossils
c)
scavengers and decomposers eat them too quickly
d)
all of the above
42.
Which of the following correctly lists the layers of rock in order from youngest to oldest?
a)
A, B, C, D, E
b)
B, C, D, E, A
c)
E, D, A, B, C
d)
C, B, A, D, E
43.
Which layer is the oldest and youngest?
a)
C and B
b)
C and E
c)
D and E
d)
A and B
44.
Which layer is a result of an igneous intrusion?
a)
B
b)
C
c)
D
d)
E
45.
Which of the following is the oldest?
a)
Layer L
b)
Intrusion D
c)
Intrusion H
d)
Layer E
46.
Letter "F" is a....
a)
inclusion
b)
intrusion
c)
fault
d)
unconformity 
47.
The rock formation labeled "P" is a(n)...
a)
fault
b)
intrusion
c)
inclusion
d)
unconformity
48.

Scientists often use "mya" as an abbreviation for

a)

Molecular Yields of Absolute

b)

Meters You Access

c)

Millions of Years Ago

d)

Money You should Accept

49.

The time span that lasted the longest was the?

a)

Phanerozoic

b)

Pre-Cambrian

c)

Proterozoic

d)

Paleozoic

50.

The pink highlighted portion refers to _____ on the geological time scale.

a)

Eons

b)

Eras

c)

Periods

d)

Epochs

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