WorksheetsFossils and Geologic Time Scale
Total questions: 58
Worksheet time: 1hrs 1mins
a model scientists use to describe the timing of events and the relationships between those events in earth’s history.
geologic time scale
era
period
epoch
when minerals replace the remains and they become rock; things like wood.
Petrified
Mold
Cast
Index
Trace Fossil
when the shell remains and the contents dissolve
Petrified
Mold
Cast
Index
Trace Fossil
when the mold becomes filled with minerals that are not a part of the original organism.
Petrified
Mold
Cast
Index
Trace Fossil
a fossil found in a narrow time range but widely distributed around the earth; used to date rock layers.
Petrified
Mold
Cast
Index
Trace Fossil
fossilized mark that is formed in soft sediment by the movement or actions of an animal.
Petrified
Mold
Cast
Index
Trace Fossil
What Era were mammals first seen?
Precambrian
Paleozoic
Mesozoic
Cenozoic
According to paleontologists, how old is the Earth?
3.5 Billion Years Old
543 Million Years Old
57 Million Years Old
4.6 Billion Years Old
Age of fish and amphibians
extinction
paleozoic era
fossil record
Precambrian era
Greatest mass extinction of all time - ended the Paleozoic era
extinction
Paleozoic era
geologic time scale
Permian extinction
age of mammals that lasted from 65 million years ago to the present; the era of modern life
Cenozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
epoch
period
the trace or remains of an organism that lived long ago, most commonly preserved in sedimentary rock
fossil record
geologic time scale
species
fossil
Age of reptiles (dinosaurs) Scientists believe that it ended due to a meteorite hitting the Earth, causing a thick layer of dust/dirt cloud (causing an ice age) due to the sun not being able to reach Earth's surface
Cenozoic Era
Paleozoic Era
Precambrian Time
Mesozoic Era
Which of the following is NOT an example of a fossil?
a petrified dinosaur bone
a footprint captured in mud
a seashell found on the beach
an insect stuck in amber
Index fossils exist in only one layer of rock and then do not appear in other layers. These fossils help scientists determine
the age other fossils that come before and after it.
what the name of the fossil is
Index fossils can be found in the same rock unit worldwide.
true
false
Uniformitarianism is the principle that states geological events ( earthquakes,volcanoes ) have occurred in the ____ and will occur in the present and future.
past
core
What is the leading cause of mass extinctions of life on Earth?
Mass extinctions are most commonly caused by a dramatic change in some part of the earth system that affects key populations of organisms.
Mass extinctions are most commonly by the shock wave from the collision of a comet or meteoroid with the Earth.
Mass extinctions are most commonly by radiation poisoning from the Sun's solar winds.
Mass extinctions are most commonly by floods that cover all of the land masses on the planet.
Select all of the characteristics of index fossils:
easily recognizable
abundant
wide geographic distribution
live a long time
Humans appeared in the _____ Era.
Cenozoic
Paleozoic
Mesozoic
Devonian
Fossils provide evidence for all of the following EXCEPT for _____.
changes in the Earth's surface
how the Earth originally formed
how environments on Earth have changed over time
how groups of organisms have changed over time
Which of these pictures is an example of a trace fossil?
According to the fossil record, _____ were probably the earliest life forms.
bacteria
plants
sponges
worms
Why did the sponges and worms from Precambrian time leave few fossils?
there were not many sponges and worms
they burned up in magma
they only have soft body parts
rocks did not form at that time
Sometimes a fossil is formed as a result of the movement of an organism in soft sediment. Which of these are two kinds of trace fossils?
Shells and bones
Tracks and burrows
A bee and a beetle in amber
Petrified and mummified fossils
Max is studying fossils. His teacher wrote the following statements on the board and asked the students to put them in the correct order to describe how fossils are formed.
- Minerals seep into the organism's body and replace it with stone.
- The organism completely decomposes, leaving behind an imprint.
- An organism dies, and its body is covered with a layer of sediment.
- Time passes, and sediment layers continue to build up on the organism.
Which is the correct order of events for fossil formation?
1, 3, 2, 4
2, 3, 4, 1
3, 2, 1, 4
3, 4, 1, 2
The table shows some of the major events in Earth's history according to the fossil record. Which event marks the end of Precambrian Time?
Extinction of the dinosaurs
first animals with exoskeletons appear
largest mass extinction in Earth's history
formation of Earth
When scientists studied geological columns from different parts of the world, they discovered something interesting: the fossils of dinosaurs and many groups of reptiles and marine invertebrates disappeared at the top of the Mesozoic Era. What is the most likely explanation of this evidence?
The organisms evolved very quickly into new organisms.
Organisms likely migrated to different parts of the world.
The areas no longer had the circumstances needed for fossilization.
An extinction event caused many of the organisms to die off.
A fossil formed when minerals replace all or part of an organism is called a ___________.
petrified fossil
mold
cast
trace fossil
What are mass extinctions typically followed by?
periods of rapid growth in Earth's biodiversity
periods of rapid decline in Earth's biodiversity
water-dwelling animals thrive
land-dwelling animals thrive
Of the 5 mass extinctions that scientists believe have occurred, which event was the largest?
Ordovician-Silurian
Late Devonian
Permian-Triassic
Triassic-Jurassic
What do scientists believe is often the cause of mass extinctions?
Small changes to local environments
Large changes to global environments
Large changes to local environments
Small changes to global environments
What are the Cambrian and Ordovician Periods, of the Paleozoic Era, often called?
Age of Invertebrates
Age of Fish
Age of Amphibians
Age of Reptiles
Which of the following lists the four major subdivisions of Earth's history in correct order from broadest to most specific?
Epoch, Period, Era, Eon
Eon, Era, Epoch, Period
Era, Eon, Period, Epoch
Eon, Era, Period, Epoch
What are the Carboniferous and Permian Periods, of the Paleozoic Era, often called?
Age of Fish
Age of Amphibians
Age of Reptiles
Age of Invertebrates
Which extinction is considered the largest mass extinction in Earth's history? Basically 96% of all species on Earth disappeared.
Ordovician Extinction
Devonian Extinction
Permian Extinction
Triassic Extinction
Cretaceous Extinction
According to most scientists, what is the ultimate cause of most mass extinctions?
overhunting
evolution of new species to replace old ones
major change in environment or climate
asteroid impact
There have been 5 mass extinctions in Earth's history. Which of the following answer choices was a cause of these extinctions?
increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere
an asteroid impact
melting of glaciers and rising sea levels
widespread volcanic activity
All of them
There have been 5 mass extinctions in Earth's history. Which of the following mass extinctions occurred first?
End Permian
Triassic
Late Devonian
End Ordovician
A comet or asteroid impact on the earth is a frequently suggested cause for many of the mass extinctions. For which of the major mass extinctions does the most evidence exist that this was the main trigger for the event?
End Permian
Cretaceous (KT Event)
Late Devonian
Triassic
The environmental changes at the very end of the Devonian period significantly impacted shallow warm waters. Which community of species living at the time would have been most impacted?
small mammals
freshwater tetrapods
terrestrial plants
fish and corals
Put the Extinctions in the correct order. (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
from most farthest away to the most recent.
After a mass extinction, what is a common pattern seen in the fossil record?
Rapid diversification of surviving species
Immediate appearance of new species
No significant changes in biodiversity
Decrease in the size of surviving species
