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WorksheetsFossils, Relative, and Absolute Ages
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 50mins
Which fossil organism is best represented in the Paleozoic Era?
The diagram shows a cross section of the layers of a sedimentary rock with some fossils in it.
Assume that the rock layers have been preserved in their original sequence, which fossil is the oldest?
The geologic cross section diagram shows undisturbed rock layers with index fossils from two regions (A and B). The two index species are identified in the index fossil key.
Which answer option correctly describes the relative ages of the rock layers in the diagram?
- Layer 6 is older than Layer 3.
- Layer 2 is younger than Layer 4.
- Layer 6 is older than Layer 3.
- Layers 2 and 4 are the same age.
- Layer 6 is younger than layer 3.
- Layers 2 and 4 are the same age.
- Layer is younger than layer 3.
- Layer 2 is older than layer 4.
A scientist studies a geologic cross section of rock layers in a region. The rock layers have not been disturbed by any faulting, folding, or tilting.
Which statement is a correct inference?
Each rock layer is older than the one below it.
The youngest rock layer is found at the bottom.
Each rock layer is younger than the one below it.
The oldest rock layer will contain the most fossils.
A researcher is studying undisturbed, horizontal, sedimentary rock layers in a region. The rock layers have no igneous intrusions. He observes that some of the rock layers contain various kinds of fossils.
How can the researcher use the fossil evidence to help determine the ages of the rock layers?
He can list the number of fossils present in each rock layer and then use the geologic law of uniformitarianism.
He can compare the complexity of index fossils within the rock layers and then use the geologic principle of original horizontality.
He can analyze the depth at which different fossils are present and then use the geologic principle of cross-cutting relationships.
He can research the age of any index fossils found in the rock layers and then use the geologic law of superposition.
The diagram shows Fossil A and Fossil B. Assume that Fossil A is typically found in rock layers that are far above the rock layers containing Fossil B.
Based upon the positions of Fossils A and B, which inference is best ?
Fossil A must have evolved from Fossil B.
Fossil B existed in greater numbers than Fossil A.
Fossils A and B lived during the same period of geologic time.
Fossils A and B lived during different periods of geologic time.
Examine the geologic cross section.
Geologists can use different kinds of dating methods to determine the ages of rocks and rock layers. If geologists are only observing the layers as shown in the diagram (and no further lab testing is performed), which kind of dating method is being used to learn about Earth's history in this example?
absolute dating
radiometric dating
relative dating
carbon dating
The diagram is a geologic cross section showing sedimentary rock layers with an igneous intrusion.
Which layer of rock is the youngest ?
layer W
layer X
layer Y
layer Z
The diagram shows three sedimentary rock layers and an igneous intrusion.
What is the relative age of igneous intrusion W?
Igneous intrusion W is younger than sedimentary rock layers Z and X, but its relative age to layer Y cannot be determined.
Igneous intrusion W is younger than sedimentary rock layers Y and Z but older than layer X.
Igneous intrusion W is older than sedimentary rock layers Z and X, but its relative age to layer Y cannot be determined.
Igneous intrusion W is older than sedimentary rock layers Y and X but younger than layer Z.
The diagram shows the same rock layers in 1938 and in 2013.
What could have caused the change in position of layer X?
Deposition added layers of material under layer X.
Volcanic activity added layers of material on top of layer X.
Erosion removed material from the layers above layer X.
Organisms removed material from under layer X.
A student collects two types of sedimentary rocks during a field trip. He wants to compare their masses.
What is the best way to compare the masses?
Observe the rocks’ sizes and estimate which is heavier.
Hold each rock in either hand at the same time and compare their masses.
Use the same hand to lift each rock one at a time and estimate which is heavier.
Measure the mass of both rocks using a balance and then compare their values.
A group of researchers excavated a piece of sedimentary rock and studied its composition. What can the researchers understand from the study?
how organisms built their shelters in the rocks
how life forms on Earth changed over time
how plants grew inside the spaces between the rocks
how some animals preyed on others for food
The diagram represents the rock layers and fossils found in four separate rock outcrops.
Which fossil is the best index fossil?
Which method describes a way of arranging fossils in chronological order?
comparing the fossils with other similar living species
arranging the fossils on the basis of their sizes and masses
correlating each fossil to the rock layer in which it was found
evaluating the condition of the fossils when they are discovered
The image shows the unturned layers of sedimentary rocks with embedded fossils.
A student labels the fossils from 1 to 4. What could be true about the fossils?
Fossil 1 is younger than fossil 2.
Fossil 1 is older than fossil 4.
Fossil 3 is older than fossil 2.
Fossil 3 is younger than fossil 4.
The image shows a trace fossil of a leaf that a scientist found.
What information does the leaf fossil most likely provide?
The plants were not a dominant species in the past.
Insects that fed on plant leaves were present in the past.
Plants from the past and present-day plants have no similarities.
The environment in the past was not suitable for the growth of plants.
Which method describes a way of arranging related fossils in order of evolution?
arranging the fossils on the basis of their sizes and masses
evaluating the condition of the fossils when they are discovered
comparing each fossil to the rock layer in which it was found and correlating that to the number of fossils in each layer
correlating each fossil to the rock layer in which it was found and comparing anatomical structures in each fossil
Upon examining the fossil layers collected from outcrops of three different regions, a researcher concluded that some of the layers contained index fossils. The images show the index fossil key and the fossil layers from the three outcrops.
Which rock layers are likely the same age?
rock layer A and rock layer Z
rock layer A and rock layer P
rock layer C, rock layer R, and rock layer Y
rock layer C, rock layer R, and rock layer Y rock layer B, rock layer Q, and rock layer X
A geologist is studying a geologic cross section of rock layers in a national park. The rock layers appear to be well preserved and undisturbed.
Which statement best identifies the oldest rock layer in the cross section?
The oldest rock layer is the top layer of the cross section.
The oldest rock layer is above the bottom layer of the cross section.
The oldest rock layer is the bottom layer of the cross section.
The oldest rock layer is above the middle layer of the cross section.
Researchers have discovered fossils of tropical trees and ferns in modern-day Greenland and Antarctica. What can be inferred from this evidence?
Greenland and Antarctica once had tropical climates.
Ocean currents carried the floating fossils to Greenland and Antarctica.
Migratory birds carried the seeds of the trees and ferns from the tropics
The tropical trees and ferns adapted to the colder northern and southern climates.
The diagram shows a geologic cross section of rock layers in a region.
Which geologic event happened most recently ?
folding of rock layers W, Y, and X
intrusion of igneous rock Z
faulting of rock layers V, W, Y, and X
intrusion of rock layer Y
The diagram shows a geologic cross-section from a region.
What are the relative ages of the rocks from oldest to youngest ?
W, V, X, Z, and Y
W, Y, V, X, and Z
W, V, X, Y, and Z
W, V, Y, X, and Z
Around 250 million years ago at the end of the Permian Period, 90 percent of the planet’s species became extinct. One of the major causes of the mass extinction is believed to be massive volcanic eruptions. These giant eruptions added large amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
How would these additional gases contribute to the mass extinctions?
depletion of the ozone layer
decrease in the amount of rainfall
change in the composition of the sea shelves
increase in the temperature of the atmosphere
During the Quaternary Period around 2.5 million years ago, large sheets of ice began to appear in the Northern Hemisphere. At this time, mammals like mammoths, rhinos, and bisons were very large and had thick coats of hair. About 10,000 years ago, the climate began to warm up and glaciers started to melt.
How did this change most likely affect Earth’s mammals over time?
The large mammals could not adapt to changes in temperature.
The large mammals underwent mutation to form smaller animals.
The large mammals lost their thick coats to survive the warm climate.
The large mammals started to migrate to the equatorial regions of Earth.
Use the table that shows the emergence of different life forms across different periods of the geologic time scale to answer this question.
Which event triggered the emergence of large mammals in the Tertiary Period?
appearance of man
extinction of dinosaurs
development of grasslands
rise of modern birds
