WorksheetsHW #3 -- The Fossil Record
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 13mins
The number of years that have passed since the rock formed is the rock's...
relative age
law of superposition
absolute age
index fosil
The age of a rock compared to the ages of other rocks is the rock's...
absolute age
geologic age
sedimentary age
relative age
A formation of igneous rock on Earth's surface is known as...
a gap
an intrusion
a fault
an extrusion
Geologists use the law of ___ to determine the relative ages of sedimentary rock layers.
superposition
gravity
motion
radioactive dating
A mass of igneous rock below the Earth's surface is called a(n)...
intrusion
fault
isotope
index fossil
Why do some organisms never turn into fossils?
They are far too large to be buried in the ground.
They are made mostly of soft tissues.
They contain too much protein to be preserved.
They contain chemicals that prevent the hardening of their bodies.
What is the relative age of a rock?
its age compared with the ages of other rocks
less than the age of the fossils the rock contains
the number of years since the rock formed
its age based on how much caron-14 the rock contains
What is the time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample of a radioactive element to decay?
relative age
potassium-argon date
absolute age
half-life
Why do geologists use radioactive dating?
to determine the relative ages of rock layers
to tell the difference between molds and casts
to tell where one soil horizon ends and the next one begins
to determine the absolute ages of rocks
Which statement supports the law of superposition?
Rock layers at the bottom of an undisturbed formation are always the oldest.
Fossils found in deep rock layers will be younger than those in higher up ones.
No matter the position of a rock layer, it will have the same relative age as others.
The amount of carbon found in deep rock layers will be less than that found at the surface.
A hollow area in sediment in the shape of an organism or part of an organism is a ___.
cast
mold
trace fossil
petrified fossil
A solid copy of the shape of an organis is a ___.
mold
carbon film
cast
fossil record
Which type of fossils provide evidence of the activities of ancient organisms?
molds and casts
trace fossil
petrified fossils
carbon films
Which of the following substances is NOT able to preserve entire organisms?
sticky tar
liquid water
amber
ice
The number of years that have passed since the rock formed is the rock's ___.
relative age
law of superposition
absolute age
index fossil
The age of a rock compared to the ages of other rocks is the rock's ___.
absolute age
geologic age
sedimentary age
relative age
A gap in the geologic record that occurs when sedimentary rocks cover an eroded surface is called a(n) ___.
intrusion
uncomformity
fault
extrusion
The time it takes for half of a radioactive element's atoms to decay is its ___.
era
half-life
relative age
absolute age
While hiking in a mountainous area, you find a fish fossil in exposed sedimentary rock. What could this fossil evidence indicate about Earth's history?
The rock layer was once the bottom of a lake.
The fish was dropped by a bird that flew by in ancient times.
In ancient times, fish lived on dry land.
Earth's history is very short.
What is the correct order in which the rock layers shown formed?
E, C, B, D, A
A, D, B, C, E
A, B, C, D, E
D, E, C, B, A
What is the correct order in which the rock layers and features formed/occurred?
C, B, A, D, E
E, D, A, B, C
A, B, C, D, E
C, D, B, A, E
While taking a family trip to Arizona, you take a tour of the "forest" of petrified wood found in the area. What could this fossil evidence indicate about Earth's history?
The area was once a forest.
The wood is from an ancient indigenous group.
The wood was left behind by campers.
The area was once underwater.
Which of the following animals would LEAST likely become fossilized?
an earthworm
a fish
a sea turtle
an alligator
Which of the following is NOT a condition necessary for most fossils to form?
the organism must die
the organism must be quickly buried in sediment
the organism must have some hard body parts
the organism must have lived 64 million years ago
Trilobite fossils are considered index fossils because they...
...are found all over Earth.
...represent an organism that existed for a geologically short period of time.
...can be used to compare the relative ages of different rock layers.
All three answers are true.
