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Fossils in Rock Layers

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is a fossil?

a)

An animal that has died

b)

The remains or imprint of an animal or plant life that has been preserved

c)

A plant that was eaten by an animal

2.

Which rock layer is probably the oldest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

3.

Which rock layer is probably the youngest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

4.

A fish fossil was found in layer A. What does this tell us about the possible history of this area?

a)

Fish used to live on land there

b)

This area has always been land

c)

That area used to be underwater

d)

Layer A is currently covered in water

5.

What do fossils tell us?

a)

The Earth's history

b)

The Earth's future

c)

The Earth's current period

6.

True or False: ALL dead plants/animals become fossils.

a)

True

b)

False

7.
Which layer is the oldest? 
a)
c
b)
a
c)
b
d)
d
8.
What fossil is the oldest?
a)
d
b)
b
c)
a
d)
c
9.
What layer is the youngest?
a)
a
b)
l
c)
d
d)
z
10.
What fossil is the youngest?
a)
b
b)
a
c)
c
d)
d
11.

Describes a group of living things that are no longer living.

a)

fossil

b)

extinct

c)

endangered

d)

dinosaur

12.

The hardened remains of a living thing that died long ago.

a)

fossil

b)

extinct

c)

endangered

d)

minerals

13.
The diagram shows layers of sedimentary rock and examples of the fossils each layer contains, Which layer contains the oldest fossils? 
a)
A. Layer 2
b)
B. Layer 4
c)
C. Layer 1
d)
D. Layer 3
14.

Several layers of rock are illustrated in their unchanged positions. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the data in this illustration?

a)

Rock layer W is the oldest of all the rock layers shown.

b)

Rock layer X was formed just before rock layer Y.

c)

Rock layer Y is twice as old as rock layer W.

d)

Rock layer Z is the oldest of all the rock layers shown.

15.

Which type of animal's fossil would indicate that the area was once an ocean?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

16.

The picture shows some fossils of shellfish that were found in a rock layer on a mountainside.

What is the most likely reason they were found in the rock layer?

a)

Shellfish lived on dry land long ago.

b)

Fossils last longer when they form a mountain.

c)

People left the shells on the mountainside.

d)

The rock layer was once part of the sea floor.

17.

What evidence would prove that this place was once underwater?

a)

early birds

b)

shark tooth

c)

dinosaur tooth

d)

early horses

18.

Which layer of sedimentary rock is the youngest (newest)?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

19.

Which fossil is the oldest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

20.

Which fossil is the youngest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

21.

Based on the image, what type of environment did this animal live in?

a)

Desert

b)

Forest

c)

Ocean

d)

Grassland

22.

The diagram above shows layers of sedimentary rock in the Earth’s crust. In which layer of rock should a scientist expect to find the oldest fossils?

a)

Layer M

b)

Layer N

c)

Layer O

d)

Layer P

23.

This picture shows layers of the earth and the fossils found in each. The youngest fossils would be found in-

a)

top layers of rock

b)

the middle rock layers

c)

the bottom layers of rock

d)

every layer

24.

The diagrams represent the rock layers and fossils found in 4 different samples pulled from the earth.


Which fossil appears to be the youngest?

a)
b)
c)
d)
25.

This diagrams shows layers of sedimentary rock and the fossils found in each. Which fossil was formed most recently?

a)
b)
c)
d)
26.

The image shows four fossils buried in sedimentary rock layers. Which fossil is the oldest?

a)
b)
c)
d)