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Geological History

Total questions: 88

Worksheet time: 1hrs 19mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The study of the nonliving things that the Earth is made of. It is the study of rocks in the Earth’s crust.

a)

geology

b)

geophysics

c)

googlology

d)

paleontology

2.

The concept that the oldest rock layers are at the bottom of a sequence with younger rock layers deposited on top of them.

a)

relative dating

b)

superposition

c)

rock strata

d)

core sample

3.

It is used to figure out a sequence of geological events from the evidence left behind in the rock.

a)

relative dating

b)

superposition

c)

rock strata

d)

core sample

4.

The remains or physical evidence of an organism preserved by geologic formation.

a)

rock strata

b)

paleontology

c)

fossil

d)

geology

5.

The study of the changes in Earth's life over space and time through the study of rock units and the fossils contained within them.

a)

lithology

b)

geology

c)

mineralogist

d)

paleontology

6.

A layer of rock or soil, that was formed at the Earth's surface. It has characteristics that make it look different from other layers.

a)

color strata

b)

core sample

c)

rock strata

d)

geological strata

7.

A cylinder of rock that is obtained by drilling into the rock it came from. It can show the different types of layers in a rock, what it is made of, and whether valuable minerals or substances exist in the rock.

a)

color strata

b)

core sample

c)

rock strata

d)

geological strata

8.

Fossil impressions filled with minerals or sediments.

a)

rock strata

b)

core sample

c)

cast

d)

mold

9.

A fossil impression.

a)

rock strata

b)

core sample

c)

cast

d)

mold

10.

The mineralized remains of organisms and the rock layers in which they are found

a)

Fossil

b)

Rock Strata

c)

Fossil Record

d)

Stratigraphy

11.

The sedimentary layers of rock in Earth

a)

Fossil Record

b)

Rock Strata

c)

Geological time scale

d)

Fossil

12.

The study of rock layers

a)

Rock Strata

b)

Geological time scale

c)

Stratigraphy

d)

Eras

13.

The preserved remains or trace of an Organism

a)

Fossil

b)

Fossil Record

c)

Rock Strata

d)

Eras

14.

The measurement to describe the timing and relationship of the events that have occurred throughout Earth's History is called

a)

Geological time scale

b)

Rock Strata

c)

Fossil record

d)

Stratigraphy

15.

A very long span of geological time

a)

Eras

b)

Eon

c)

Geological time scale

d)

Fossil record

16.

within the layers of sedimentary rock, the youngest layer is at the top. Each layer below is older.

a)

Rock Strata

b)

Law of Superposition

c)

Fossil record

d)

Eras

17.

Earth has a _____ year history

a)

4.6 billion

b)

8.2 million

c)

4 trillion

18.

The youngest fossils are found in the ____ layer of the fossil record.

a)

top

b)

middle

c)

bottom

19.

The oldest fossils are found in the _____ layer of the fossil record.

a)

top

b)

middle

c)

bottom

20.

An intrusion is created when molten rock pushes its way into rock layers already formed.

a)

True

b)

False

21.

Look at the picture to determine when the basaltic intrusion occurred

a)

after limestone was deposited

b)

before granite was formed

c)

before limestone was deposited

d)

before all three layers were formed

22.

Which answer best explains the lack of fossilized skeletons in the lowest rock layers?

a)

development of fossilized skeletons occurred after rock layers were formed

b)

fossilized skeletons are only found in the oldest rocks

c)

fossilized skeletons are typically crushed if other rock layers are above it

23.

Analyses provide only relative dates, not an absolute scale.

a)

True

b)

False

24.

What do scientists study to help determine the geological history of the Earth? Select two

a)

Rock Strata

b)

Fossil Records

c)

Eras

d)

Law of Superposition

25.

A human's arm, cat's leg, and a bat's wing:

a)

have similar bones arranged in similar order

b)

share many similarities with insects

c)

have nothing in common

d)

all have the exact same function

26.

If two embryos look very similar, what does that tell you about a common ancestor?

a)

The two organisms are NOT closely related

b)

The two organisms are closely related

c)

Embryos have nothing to do with evidence

27.

A change over time, the process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms

a)

evolution

b)

embryo

c)

homologous structure

d)

fossil record

28.

Organisms in their very early stage of development before they are born are called:

a)

vestigial structures

b)

embryos

c)

anatomy

d)

Pangaea

29.

The __________ shows a historical sequence of life documented by scientists and shows that organisms have changed over time.

a)

Origins of Species

b)

fossil record

c)

embryo

d)

Continental Drift

30.

The whale is related to a land mammal that once walked on land and slowly evolved to live in the water.

a)

True

b)

False

31.

The earliest embryos of a human and a pig look similar, so they are closely related.

a)

False

b)

True

32.

The earliest embryos of a human and a fish look different, so they are most closely related.

a)

True

b)

False

33.

The wings of a butterfly and the wings of a bird have a similar function (job), yet have very different structures (parts). These structures are called:

a)

vestigial structures

b)

analogous structures

c)

homologous structures

d)

embryonic structures

34.

A record of the geologic events and life forms in Earth's history.

a)

anatomy

b)

relative age

c)

evolution

d)

geological time scale

35.

Index fossils

a)

are found in rock layers

b)

are widely distributed

c)

represent an organism that existed for a geologically short period of time

d)

all of above

36.

The age of a rock given as the exact number of years since the rock formed

a)

law of superposition

b)

absolute age

c)

relative age

d)

evolution

37.

The age of a rock compared to the ages of other rocks is the rock's

a)

absolute age

b)

sedimentary age

c)

metamorphic age

d)

relative age

38.

The geological principal that states that in horizontal layers of sedimentary rock, each layer is older than the the layer above it and younger than the layer below it.

a)

folding

b)

intrusion

c)

law of superposition

d)

metamorphic age

39.

The idea that the continents are slowly moving over Earth's surface

a)

law of superposition

b)

evolution

c)

continental drift

d)

absolute age

40.

When the continents were joined together in a supercontinent, or single landmass about 300 million years ago.

a)

Pangaea

b)

continental drift

c)

evolution

d)

All of the above

41.

A scientist who studies fossils to learn about organisms that lived long ago.

a)

evolution

b)

paleontologist

c)

meteorologist

d)

podiatrist

42.

Evidence to support that the continents move include:

a)

land features

b)

climate

c)

fossils

d)

All of the above

43.

Hypothesized that all the continents were once joined together:

a)

Charles Darwin

b)

Issac Newton

c)

Alfred Wegener

d)

Thomson Jefferson

44.

The study of the structure/parts of living things.

a)

fossil record

b)

Anatomy

c)

Pangaea

d)

evolution

45.
Which best describes a fossil that helps determine the relative age of a rock layer?
a)
trace fossil
b)
index fossil
c)
radioactive fossil
d)
unconformity fossil
46.
How old do Paleontologists believe the Earth is?
a)
2015 years old
b)
3.6 billion years old
c)
4.6 billion years old
d)
4.6 million years old
47.

The idea that the oldest sedimentary rock layers are found at the bottom of a geologic structure is called...

a)

the Theory of Evolution

b)

Relative Dating

c)

Uniformitarianism

d)

Law of Superposition

48.
What type of rock do fossils form in?
a)
Igneous
b)
Sedimentary
c)
Metamorphic
d)

Basalt

49.
The index fossil of a type of trilobite is discovered in layer A of a set of rock layers found at three different sites of a field investigation. Which conclusion can be made about the rocks in layer A at all three sites?
a)
The rocks are all different ages
b)
The rocks are all about the same age
c)
The rocks were formed from melting magma
d)
The rocks were formed during a catastrophic event
50.
The ______________ era covers almost 90% of earth's history.
a)
Paleozoic 
b)
Mesozoic 
c)
Cenozoic
d)
Precambrian 
51.
Dinosaurs ruled this era.
a)
Paleozoic 
b)

Mesozoic

c)

Precambrian

d)

Cenozoic

52.

Impressions of leaves are recognized as evidence of which pre-existing life?

a)

animals

b)

plants

c)

plants and animals

d)

neither plants nor animals

53.

Trace fossils are recognized as evidence of which pre-existing life?

a)

animals

b)

plants

c)

animals and plants

d)

Neither animals nor plants

54.

Which factor is the most accurate in determining the absolute age of two rocks?

a)

vertical position

b)

the presence of unconformities

c)

radioactive dating of each layer

d)

comparing fossils in the layers

55.

Which example is a trace fossil?

a)

dinosaur footprint

b)

dinosaur bone

c)

dinosaur egg

d)

shark tooth

56.

Which type of fossils are used to identify specific time periods?

a)

index fossil

b)

trace fossil

c)

body fossil

d)

all fossils

57.

Which example is a trait of an index fossil?

a)

resembles a living species

b)

found in a limited area

c)

found in a limited time span

d)

a particular kind of organism

58.

Which series of words describes lengths of geologic time from shortest to longest?

a)

eon <

era <

period

b)

era <

period <

eon

c)

period <

era <

eon

d)

era <

eon <

period

59.

Which unit of geologic time is the longest?

a)

eon

b)

epoch

c)

era

d)

period

60.

Which unit of geologic time is the shortest?

a)

period

b)

era

c)

epoch

d)

eon

61.

How old do scientists believe the Earth is?

a)

4.6 million years old

b)

4.9 billion years old

c)

4.6 billion years old

d)

4.9 million years old

62.

Division of Earth's history into time units based largely on the types of life forms that lived only during certain periods.

a)

Phanerozoic Eon

b)

Geologic Time Scale

c)

Era

d)

Single Cellular

63.

What was the DOMINANT organism(s) of the Paleozoic Era?

a)

Single celled organisms

b)

Dinosaurs

c)

Plants and animals

d)

Mammals

64.

What was the DOMINANT organism(s) of the Precambrian Time/Era?

a)

Single celled organisms

b)

Plants and animals

c)

Dinosaurs

d)

Mammals

65.

What was the DOMINANT organism(s) of the Mesozoic Era?

a)

Single celled organisms

b)

Dinosaurs

c)

Plants and animals

d)

Mammals

66.

What was the DOMINANT organism(s) of the Cenozoic Era?

a)

Single celled organisms

b)

Plants and animals

c)

Mammals

d)

Dinosaurs

67.

Which era are we currently in?

a)

Precambrian Time

b)

Cenozoic Era

c)

Paleozoic Era

d)

Mesozoic Era

68.

Put the eras in the correct order from OLDEST to YOUNGEST.

a)

Precambrian Time, Paleozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Cenozoic Era

b)

Precambrian Time, Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era

c)

Paleozoic Era, Precambrian Time, Mesozoic Era, Cenozoic Era

d)

Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, Precambrian Time

69.
States that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed
a)
Law of crosscutting
b)
Law of superposition
c)
Relative Dating
d)
Unconformity
70.
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.
71.
Analyze the seashell found in the white layer.  Which statement is true of the rock layer that contains this fossil?
a)
It could also contain a fossil from the bottom layer.
b)
It is older than the layers below it.
c)
It is younger than the layers above it.
d)
It is older than the layers above it.
72.
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
73.
According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found 
a)
At the top of the rock layers
b)
Near the bottom of the rock layers
c)
In the middle of the rock layers
d)
Somewhat near the surface
74.
Which of the following is the oldest?
a)
Layer L
b)
Intrusion D
c)
Intrusion H
d)
Layer E
75.

Layer B on side #1 (left) is a match to which layer on side #2 (right)?

a)

z

b)

y

c)

w

d)

there is no match

76.

Which layer is OLDER? Fault E or Intrusion D?

a)

Fault E

b)

Intrusion D

77.
A break in the geologic record that is made when rock layers are eroded over a long period of time
a)
Law of Superposition
b)
Law of Crosscutting
c)
Relative Dating
d)
Unconformity
78.
Which rock layer contains the newest fossils?
a)
F
b)
E
c)
B
d)
C
79.
Which fossil makes the best index fossil?
a)
Fossil 1
b)
Fossil 2
c)
Fossil 3
d)
None follow all of the rules
80.

What is the best reason that fossil #4 is NOT a good index fossil?

a)

It is not widespread

b)

it is not short-lived (in numerous layers)

c)

It is in half of the outcrops

81.

Which of the follow is INCORRECT about an index fossil?

a)

The fossil must have lived only during a short part of the Earth's history.

b)

Many fossils of the organism must be found in the rock layers.

c)

The fossil must be found over a wide area of the Earth and be unique.

d)

The fossil must only be found in one area.

82.
Which layer is the oldest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
83.
Why is D younger than B?
a)
D had to be there for B to intrude
b)
D and B happened at the same time
c)
B was laid on top of D
d)
B had to be there for D to intrude
84.
How old do Paleontologists believe the Earth is?
a)
2015 years old
b)
3.6 billion years old
c)
4.6 billion years old
d)
4.6 million years old
85.

Which fossil makes the best index fossil?

a)

ammonite

b)

brachiopod

c)

trilobite

d)

shark

e)

all four are good index fossils

86.

Scientist who studies prehistoric life

a)

geologist

b)

biologist

c)

paleontologist

d)

cardiologist

87.
What is extinction?
a)
When a species no longer exists
b)
The quality or state of having many different forms
c)
The arrangement of things in the order which they occurred
d)
Layers of rock that are successfully deposited on top of each other and are distinguishable
88.

The formation of fossils as stone replaces decaying tissues

a)

Extinction

b)

Petrification

c)

Glacial Period

d)

Sedimentary Layers

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