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Earth History Review

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of these is not related to the geologic time scale?

a)

Eon

b)

Era

c)

Period

d)

Century

2.

Which of these is the longest time?

a)

Eon

b)

Era

c)

Period

d)

Epoch

3.

How old is the Earth?

a)

4.6 Billion Years Old

b)

4.6 Million Years Old

c)

1 Billion Years Old

d)

2020 Years Old

4.

Which type of fossil is used to date other fossils and rocks?

a)

Cast

b)

Preserved

c)

Carbonized

d)

Index

5.

Which statement is an example of absolute age?

a)

this fossil is the same age as that fossil

b)

that fossil is 65,000 years old

c)

Layer A is the oldest

d)

my son is older than my daughter

6.

What are fossilized organisms that lived only during a very specific time period and are found on multiple continents that are used to help date other fossils.

a)

trilobites

b)

trace fossils

c)

index fossils

d)

transitional fossils

7.

Which fossil in the layers above would make the best index fossil?

a)

D

b)

A

c)

B

d)

C

8.

Which is the correct order of era's from oldest to youngest.

a)

Pre-Cambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic

b)

Cenozoic, Pre-Cambrian, Mesozoic, Cenozoic

c)

Pre-Cambrian, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Paleozoic

d)

Paleozoic, Pre-Cambrian, Cenozoic, Mesozoic

9.

Scientists know the Nautilus lived between 56 and 200 million years ago. What could you predict about the age of the snail based on this information.

a)

The "snail" also lived between 56 and 200 million years

b)

The "snail" could have lived about 50 million years ago

c)

The "snail" could have lived about 150 million years ago.

d)

The "snail" is older than the "Nautilus"

10.

What is the correct order of events from oldest to most recent?

a)

B,C,D,A,E

b)

A,B,D,C,E

c)

C,D,B,E,A

d)

B,D,A,E,C

11.
During which era/eon did the dinosaurs live and die?
a)
Paleozoic
b)
Pre-Cambrian
c)
Mesozoic
d)
Cenozoic
12.
What kind of rock do we usually find fossils in?
a)
igneous
b)
sedimentary
c)
metamorphic
13.
According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
14.

In this rock layer diagram there is a fault at E and an intrusion at D. Which occurred first?  How do you know?

a)
Intrusion D occurred first because the instrusion has been moved by the fault.
b)
The fault occurred first because it has moved the intrusion D.
c)
Intrusion D occurred first because it can be seen in all of the rock layers.
d)
Fault E occurred first because it is a normal fault.
15.

Look at the diagram, what layer did animal E first show up in?

a)

Layers #4

b)

Layers #5

c)

Layers #6

d)

Layers #8

16.
In rock layers, jellyfish fossils are found lower than trilobite fossils, and trilobite fossils are found lower than ammonite fossils. What can be determined from this information?
a)
Trilobites existed before jellyfish and ammonites.
b)
Jellyfish existed before trilobites and ammonites. 
c)
Ammonites existed before trilobites and jellyfish.
d)
Jellyfish, trilobites, and ammonites lived together.
17.
Which of the following orders the rock layers accurately from oldest to youngest?
a)
F, E, D, C, B, A
b)
A, B, C, D, E, F
c)
D, A, B, C, E, F
d)
F, E, A, B, C, D
18.

Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

a)

Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth's age, much like the rings of a tree

b)

In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks

c)

In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rocks, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers

d)

Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than the surrounding rock.

19.

How do scientists know that some mountains were once at the bottom of an ocean?

a)

Freshwater rivers flow to the ocean

b)

Saltwater fish are found in some mountain streams

c)

Dinosaur bones have been discovered in the mountains

d)

Marine fossils have been found on the peaks of some mountains

20.

Look at the fossils trapped in each strata. During its time, which fossil lived for the longest time? there is an error in this formation, but it doesn't affect your answer.

a)
b)
c)
d)
21.

This red hot rock is a lava flow that originated deep underground and has reached Earth's surface. As it cools, it will harden to form what type of rock?

a)

metamorphic

b)

igneous

c)

sedimentary

22.

What type of rock is formed deep underground from Earth's heat and pressure?

a)

igneous rock

b)

sedimentary rock

c)

metamorphic rock

23.
Occurs when a species( organism) dies out and no longer lives on the planet. 
a)
Extinction 
b)
Fossil 
c)
Epoch 
d)
Relative Age
24.

method of determining the age based on measuring radioactive elements

a)

radioactive dating

b)

relative dating

c)

teenage dating

d)

no dating

25.

Ice core

a)

A long cylinder of ice obtained from drilling through ice caps used to study past climates and atmospheres

b)

broken ice chips that are best used to cool grape soda

c)

atoms that don't move and remain electrons when exposed to nuclear physical changes

d)

a lot of reading. Did you read this one too? Good, cause the answer is all about climates and atmosphere

26.

A technique used to determine the actual age of a fossil

a)

relative dating

b)

absolute dating or radioactive dating

c)

rock layers

d)

index fossils

27.
The Era when humans first appeared was...
a)
Cenozoic
b)
Mesozoic
c)
Paleozoic
d)
Precambrian
28.
The time span that lasted the longest was the...
a)
Precambrian
b)
Paleozoic
c)
Mesozoic
d)
Cenozoic
29.
When did the Precambrian era begin
a)
66 mya
b)
4.6 bya
c)
540 mya
d)
245 mya
30.
A rock is formed by the cementing layers of sediment. What type of rock is formed?
a)
Igneous
b)
Volcanic
c)
Metamorphic
d)
Sedimentary
31.
What role do faults play in the Law of Superposition?
a)
Faults create new types of rock.
b)
Faults are younger than the layers they cut through.
c)
Faults are the same age as the layers they cut through.
32.
Which theory does evidence found in sedimentary rocks best support?
a)
Most organisms from Earth's history still exist.
b)
Organisms have not changed significantly over time.
c)
All organisms from Earth's history have become extinct.
d)
Organisms have evolved from simple to complex forms.
33.

A scientist finds Trophite fossils. According to the chart above, in what era and period were these rock layers deposited?

a)

Cenozoic Era; Tertiary Period

b)

Mesozoic Era; Triassic Period

c)

Paleozoic Era; Permian Period

d)

Paleozoic Era; Mississippian Period

34.

Scientists have identified four sedimentary rock layers from an archaeological dig as shown above. Which is most likely the oldest sedimentary rock layer?

a)

Layer R

b)

Layer S

c)

Layer T

d)

Layer U

35.

A geologist uncovered a fossil while digging in the side of a hill. He hypothesized that it was MOST likely from the end of the Paleozoic era or the beginning of the Mesozoic era. How old would the fossil have to be dated in order to support his hypothesis?

a)

100 million years old

b)

225 million years old

c)

400 million years old

d)

550 million years old

36.

The figure below shows a wall of the Grand Canyon. The most recent rocks of the Grand Canyon formed during which geologic period?

a)

Permian

b)

Devonian

c)

Cambrian

d)

Precambrian

37.

What is the best scenario from the fossils in the rock layers?

a)

Fossil C came after Fossil A

b)

Fossil B came before Fossil D

c)

Fossil D came before Fossils C,B, and A

d)

Fossil A is the oldest

38.

Place the layers and the fault in order from OLDEST to YOUNGEST.

a)

D, Q, A, Z, L, Fault

b)

Fault, D,Q, A, Z, L

c)

L, Z, A, Fault, Q, D

d)

D, Q, Fault, A, Z, L

39.

What type of event usually marks the end of an Era

a)

A Mass Extinction

b)

A Quinceanera

c)

An earthquake

d)

A Volcanic Eruption

40.

Scientists know the Nautilus lived between 56 and 200 million years ago. What could you predict about the age of the snail based on this information.

a)

The "snail" also lived between 56 and 200 million years

b)

The "snail" could have lived about 50 million years ago

c)

The "snail" could have lived about 150 million years ago.

d)

The "snail" is older than the "Nautilus"

41.
Which fossil would make a good index fossil?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
42.
What are the relative ages of the features in order from oldest to youngest?
a)
Limestone, Basalt, Fault, Siltstone
b)
Siltstone, Fault, Basalt, Limestone
c)
Limestone, Fault, Basalt, Siltstone
d)
Limestone, Siltstone, Fault, Basalt
43.

The diagram below represents a stack of rock layers. These layers have not changed position since they formed. If the age of layer 4 is 400 million years and the age of layer 1 is 500 million years, then the age of Layer 2 is

a)

younger than 400 million years.

b)

400 million years.

c)

older than 500 million years.

d)

between 400 million and 500 million years.

44.

Four fossils were discovered in sedimentary rock layers as shown in the table. Which of the following best describes the age of the shell relative to the age of the fish, and the age of the bone?

a)

The shell is older than the fish, and younger than the bone.

b)

The shell is older than the fish, and the same age as the bone.

c)

The shell is younger than the fish, and the same age as the bone.

d)

The shell is the same age as the fish, and younger than the bone.

45.

A geologist uncovered a fossil while digging in the side of a hill. He hypothesized that it was MOST likely from the end of the Paleozoic era or the beginning of the Mesozoic era. How old would the fossil have to be dated in order to support his hypothesis?

a)

100 million years old

b)

225 million years old

c)

400 million years old

d)

550 million years old

46.

This type of fossil provides evidence of the activities of ancient organisms; examples include marks left by footprints or tails

a)

mold

b)

carbon film

c)

trace

d)

cast

47.

Which best describes intrusions in rock layers?

a)

fossil rock

b)

sedimentary rock

c)

metamorphic rock

d)

igneous rock

48.

How do ice cores indicate volcanic eruptions on Earth?

a)

The cores show evidence of repeated melting and freezing

b)

The cores show evidence of being frozen at cooler temperatures

c)

The cores contain evidence of gases and ash

d)

The cores contain evidence of dead animals and vegetation

49.

If a scientist found a fish fossil in the desert, what can they infer?

a)

An animal ate the fish.

b)

The water covered the area long ago.

c)

Today's fish looks the same

d)

The fish is endangered.

50.

The diagram below shows two sections of rock layers found several miles apart.

Based upon the information in the diagram, which conclusion can best be made?


a)

The rock layers contained fossils identical to each other.

b)

Rock layers are laid down from the youngest to the oldest.

c)

Rock layers containing similar fossils were formed at the same time.