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Geo Evo Quiz 2026

Total questions: 48

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What did Alfred Wegener propose?

a)

Continental Drift Theory

b)

Theory of Plate Tectonics

c)

Theory of Natural Selection

d)

The Snowball Theory

2.

Trilobites are especially useful as index fossils because...

a)

They were alive for a brief time and distributed worldwide

b)

They were alive for a brief time and found only in a limited area

c)

They were alive for an extended time and distributed worldwide

d)

They were alive for an extended time and found only in a limited area

3.

How does the Law of Superposition show geological evolution?

a)

The youngest rock is on the bottom and the oldest layer is on the top

b)

The youngest layer is in the middle and the oldest layer is on the top

c)

The oldest layer is on the bottom and the youngest layer is on top

d)

There is no difference in the position of the layers in regards to age

4.

How long ago was the formation of the Earth and moon?

(a)  

5.

The Law of Superposition provides the ____ of the rocks and fossils while radioactive dating provides the ___ of rocks and fossils.

a)

absolute age/relative age

b)

relative age/absolute age

6.

According to the geologic time scale, which part of Earth's history spanned the longest amount of time?

a)

Cenozoic

b)

Precambrian

c)

Paleozoic

d)

Mesozoic

7.

A fossil found in a narrow time range, but widely distributed around the Earth is called a(n)

(a)  

8.

Theory that states that the gradual shifting of Earth’s plates causes continents to change their global positions

a)

Theory of plate tectonics

b)

Theory of continental drift

c)

Law of Superposition

d)

Theory of natural selection

9.

This "activity" is responsible for creating new islands in Hawaii.

a)

Unconformity

b)

Hot Spots

c)

Uniformitarianism

d)

Mass Extinction

10.

A gap in the rock record is called an

(a)  

11.

The order of the geologic time scale is: eon, era, period, epoch

a)

True

b)

False

12.

Fossils form in igneous rock.

a)

True

b)

False

13.

At divergent boundaries, two tectonic plates come together and push against each other.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

Soft parts, like skin and hair, frequently become fossils.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

What layer of rock in the picture is the oldest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

D

d)

E

16.

Which event happened the most recent?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

D

d)

E

17.

What event is considered an unconformity?

a)

C

b)

D

c)

B

d)

A

18.

This era is the “Age of Mammals”

a)

Precambrian

b)

Paleozoic

c)

Mesozoic

d)

Cenozoic

19.

This is the current era.

a)

Precambrian

b)

Paleozoic

c)

Mesozoic

d)

Cenozoic

20.

What determines a new division on the geologic time scale?

a)

A fixed amount of time

b)

When the average temperature on Earth changes by 5 degrees

c)

Major events on Earth

21.

A preserved fossil can be found in ice, amber, or tar.

a)

True

b)

False

22.

A cast is a 3D shape that is left in rock.

a)

True

b)

False

23.

Original remains are actual body or body parts that became a fossil.

a)

True

b)

False

24.

Knowing the order of events is what type of dating?

a)

Relative dating

b)

Actual dating

c)

Radioactive dating

d)

Guessing

25.

When radioactive dating a fossil, what isotope is used?

a)

Carbon-12

b)

Carbon-14

c)

Uranium-238

d)

Uranium-382

26.

What must be true for a fossil to be considered an index fossil?

a)

Widely distributed

b)

Lived for a short span of time

c)

Easy to identify

d)

All of the above

27.

What is the most accurate method scientists use to predict the age of Earth

a)

relative dating of rock layers

b)

comparing the ages of different fossils

c)

radioactive dating of rocks

d)

investigating core samples from the arctic

28.

Pangaea is/was a

a)

supercontinent

b)

greek god

c)

tropical plant

29.

A mass extinction is...

a)

the emergence of a new life species

b)

the loss of a large species

c)

the emergence of a new, large species

d)

the loss or death of many different species

30.

This type of plate boundary creates mountains because the plates are pushing together.

a)

Convergent

b)

Transform

c)

Divergent

31.

At this type of plate boundary, new crust is created because the plates are moving away from each other.

a)

Convergent

b)

Transform

c)

Divergent

32.

What evidence supports the idea that mountains were once underwater?

a)

The presence of volcanic ash

b)

The discovery of dinosaur bones

c)

The existence of glaciers

d)

The presence of marine fossils on rock formations

33.

The preserved remains of once living organisms are called...

(a)  

34.

The fish is YOUNGER than which fossil?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

35.

The fish is OLDER than which fossil(s)?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

36.

Which organism evolved first?

a)

reptile

b)

amphibian

c)

insect

d)

fish

37.

According to the fossil record, dinosaurs and humans existed on Earth at the same time.

a)

True

b)

False

38.

What evidence did Alfred Wegener use for his theory of plate tectonics?

a)

continents and fossils fitting together/matching up

b)

mountain ranges line up across continents

c)

evidence of past ecosystems/climate

d)

all of the above

39.

Any rock that forms from another rock as a result of changes in heat or pressure (or both) is a:

a)

chemical rock

b)

igneous rock

c)

sedimentary rock

d)

metamorphic rock

40.

Geologists have classified rocks into three major groups of rocks which are:

a)

inorganic, organic and chemical rocks

b)

igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

c)

metamorphic, chemical and non chemical rocks

d)

sedimentary, inorganic and igneous rocks

41.
Fossils are only found in
a)
Sedimentary rocks
b)
Foliated Metamorphic rocks
c)
Igneous Rocks
d)
Nonfoliated Metamorphic rocks
42.
The process by which metamorphic rocks are formed...
a)
heat and pressure
b)
erosion and deposition
c)
melting and cooling
43.
This rock started as molten magma. What type of rock is this?
a)
Sedimentary
b)
Igneous
c)
Metamorphic
44.

What are fossils?

a)

the oldest layers of rock in a region

b)

living creatures with habitats in or around rocks

c)

preserved remains or traces of once living things

d)

objects that people of long ago left behind as artifacts

45.

Index fossils are used by geologists to

a)

match rocks of the same age in different regions

b)

determine the relative age of rocks in one place

c)

identify organisms that did not leave fossil evidence behind

d)

determine why some organisms became extinct

46.
A record of the geologic events and life forms in Earth's history.
a)
index fossil
b)
half-life
c)
radioactive dating
d)
geologic time scale
47.
In horizontal layers of sedimentary rock, each layer is older than the layer above it.
a)
mass extinct
b)
geologic time scale
c)
era
d)
law of superposition
48.

How does the law of crosscutting explain the age of a fault?

a)

The fault is younger than the rocks above it.

b)

The fault is younger than the rocks it cuts through.

c)

The fault is older than the rocks above it.

d)

The fault is older than the rocks it cuts through.