WorksheetsGeologic History
Total questions: 31
Worksheet time: 31mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which type of dating method can be used on rock layers by applying the Law of Superposition?
a)
relative dating
b)
absolute dating
c)
radioactive dating
d)
radiometric dating
2.
Scientists use radioactive decay to measure...
a)
relative time
b)
absolute time
c)
half-lives
d)
time of day
3.
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
4.
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
5.
According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
6.
Scientists use radioactive decay to measure...
a)
relative time
b)
absolute time
c)
half-lives
d)
time of day
7.
The length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay is its...
a)
era
b)
age
c)
half-life
d)
eon
8.
How does absolute age differ from relative age?
a)
only absolute dating indicates which rock is older than another
b)
only absolute dating finds the age in years
c)
only relative dating finds the age in years
9.
Which type of dating method can be used on rock layers by applying the Law of Superposition?
a)
relative dating
b)
absolute dating
c)
radioactive dating
d)
radiometric dating
10.
states that the geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two features
a)
law of horizontality
b)
cross cutting relationships
c)
law of superposition
d)
uniformitarianism
11.
What element is usually used to date fossils?
a)
uranium-235
b)
carbon-14
c)
mercury-203
d)
thorium-234
12.
All plants and ANIMALS contain carbon.
a)
True
b)
False
13.
Which of the following correctly lists the layers in order from oldest to youngest?
a)
A, B, C, D, E
b)
E, B, C, D, A
c)
E, D, C, B, A
d)
C, B, A, D, E
14.
Traces or remains of organisms that lived long ago
a)
Fossil
b)
Unconformity
c)
Superposition
d)
Column
15.
In which kind of rock do we usually find a fossil?
a)
sedimentary rock
b)
metamorphic rock
c)
igneous rock
16.
Which animal part would most likely form a fossil?
a)
Muscle
b)
Fur
c)
Lung
d)
Bone
17.
How does the law of crosscutting explain the age of a fault?
a)
The fault is younger than the rocks above it.
b)
The fault is younger than the rocks it cuts through.
c)
The fault is older than the rocks above it.
d)
The fault is older than the rocks it cuts through.
18.
How does sedimentary rock usually form?
a)
Vertically
b)
Diagonally
c)
Folding
d)
Horizontally
19.
Letter "F" is a....
a)
inclusion
b)
intrusion
c)
fault
d)
unconformity
20.
Geologists use radioactive dating to determine THE ABSOLUTE AGE OF ROCKS.
a)
True
b)
False
21.
The original element that undergoes radioactive decay is known as the...
a)
daughter element
b)
half-life
c)
parent element
d)
carbon-14
22.
Layer B on side #1 (left) is a match to which layer on side #2 (right)?
a)
z
b)
y
c)
w
d)
there is no match
23.
Which fossil is the youngest?
a)
a
b)
b
c)
c
d)
d
24.
What is the largest division of time?
a)
eon
b)
epoch
c)
era
d)
period
25.
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
26.
The _____ is an ideal sequence of rock layers that contains all of the known fossils and rock formations on Earth arranged from oldest to youngest.
a)
nondeposition column
b)
geologic column
c)
angular unconformity
d)
disturbed rock column
27.
Which division on the geologic time scale is the shortest?
a)
geologic time
b)
era
c)
eon
d)
period
28.
Which type of rock is best for radiometric dating?
a)
Sedimentary
b)
Metamorphic
c)
Igneous
d)
All
29.
What percentage of unstable atoms remain after 2 half lives?
a)
100%
b)
50%
c)
25%
d)
33%
30.
Geology is the study of
a)
history
b)
fossils
c)
rocks
d)
volcanoes
31.
A basic scientific principle that applies everywhere and in all situations based on observations
a)
Law
b)
Theory
c)
Hypothesis
d)
Science
100 %
