wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Unit 6 Fossil Record

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The idea that younger layers of rock will be on top of older layers is the

a)

law of gravitation

b)

law of superposition

c)

law of crosscutting

d)

law of motion

2.

The law of crosscutting states that any feature of rock strata that cuts across another feature must be ___________

a)

older

b)

younger

c)

less radioactive

d)

larger

3.

The theory of ________________ refers to the idea that slow changes to Earth's surface, such as ice ages and plate tectonic motion, were primarily responsible for the changes on Earth.

a)

gradualism

b)

catastrophism

c)

evolution

d)

gravitation

4.

The theory of ________________ refers to the idea that sudden or rapid changes to Earth's surface, such as natural disasters like asteroid strikes or volcanic eruptions, were the driving force of change on Earth.

a)

gradualism

b)

catastrophism

c)

evolution

d)

gravitation

5.

layers of rock are known as

a)

debris

b)

strata

c)

fossils

d)

gradualism

6.

Comparative anatomy uses ____________________ structures to show that two species share a common ancestor.

a)

homologous

b)

embryology

c)

analytical

d)

heterozygous

7.

Where are fossils LEAST likely to form?

a)

in water

b)

in rich soil

c)

in sand

d)

in sap

8.

a type of fossil that includes the actual remains of an organism preserved in tar is

a)

an inclusion fossil

b)

a trace fossil

c)

a mold fossil

d)

a cast fossil

9.

fossilized footprints are considered

a)

inclusion fossils

b)

mold fossils

c)

cast fossils

d)

trace fossils

10.

stone copies of dinosaur bones created from a mold fossil are called

a)

trace fossils

b)

cast fossils

c)

inclusion fossils

d)

mold fossils

11.

What is the most accurate method to determine the absolute age of a fossil?

a)

radioactive dating

b)

index fossils in the same layer

c)

law of superposition

d)

the birth certificate

12.

A good index fossil must be __________.

a)

abundant

b)

rare

c)

found in multiple layers

d)

difficult to identify

13.

What evidence tells us that an asteroid killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago?

a)

extinction occurred very slowly for the dinosaurs since they are found in many layers

b)

there is a giant crater off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula that is 65 million years old.

c)

extinction occurred rapidly for all organisms on Earth

d)

volcanic ash is found in layers that correspond with the end of the Paleozoic era

14.

Which of the following is least likely to lead to a mass extinction event?

a)

a stable climate with little environmental change

b)

an asteroid striking the planet

c)

hot spot volcanoes

d)

a hurricane

15.

In the rock strata shown, where would the most complex life forms be found?

a)

with ammonites

b)

with brachiopods

c)

with trilobites

d)

with euryptids

16.

What pattern would be shown in the fossil record of these rock strata?

a)

slow changes over time

b)

a decrease in the number of fossils over time

c)

an increase in the number of fossils over time

d)

the same fossils can be found in every layer

17.

homologous structures like those shown in the picture are evidence

a)

of common descent

b)

of gravitational force

c)

that these organisms had different ancestors

d)

that these organisms are the same species

18.

According to the homologous structures shown, which organism is most closely related to the bat?

a)

bird

b)

human

19.

The embryos of different species in the diagram start out looking very similar. What does this mean?

a)

they share a common ancestor

b)

they are unrelated species

c)

they all take the same amount of time to grow

d)

they all end up being the same size

20.

Which species is most closely related to the snake?

a)

lizard

b)

crocodile

c)

bird

d)

tuatara

21.

which organisms have retractable claws

a)

leopard and wolf

b)

house cat and leopard

c)

horse and wolf

d)

leopard and tortoise

22.

What feature is present in both primates and birds?

a)

hair

b)

opposable thumbs

c)

amniotic egg

d)

egg shells

23.

which organisms have hair but are not bipedal?

a)

amphibians

b)

birds

c)

prosimians

d)

humans