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Geologic Time Scale Practice

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Which layer is the oldest?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
2.

Radioactive Dating is one way that scientists can determine absolute age. The type that scientists use specifically to age fossils (once living organisms) is with the ​ (a)   method.

Choose from the below words
Carbon-14
Uranium-238
Potassium-40
Sodium-24
Iodine-131
3.

​ ​ (a)   is the type of dating that allows scientists to know the exact age of a fossil or rock.

Choose from the below words
Absolute Dating
Relative Dating
4.

Match the following

a)

Fossils are the ____, imprints, or traces of once-living organisms preserved in rock.

1.

remains

b)

A ___ may tell a geologist when, where, and how an organism lived.

2.

fossil

c)

A ___ is the cavity left behind in the rock after an organism's hard part has dissolved.

3.

mold

d)

The ___ parts of organisms are most likely to become fossils.

4.

hard

5.

How is the geological time scale divided?

a)

Into eras, periods, and epochs based on significant events in Earth's history.

b)

Solely based on the types of rocks found in each layer of the Earth's crust.

c)

According to the dominant species of flora and fauna present during different times.

d)

Based on the magnetic reversals found in the ocean floor.

6.
A scientist says that layers Y and M are the same age. How does he know this?
a)
They are found in the same type of rock.
b)
They are the lowest layers.
c)
They have the same type of fossil.
d)
They are near each other.
7.

Determining the order of events and the relative age of rocks by examining the position of rocks in a sequence is called ____.

a)

absolute dating

b)

radiometric dating

c)

relative dating

d)

radiocarbon dating

8.

Approximately how old is Earth?

a)

12 billion years old

b)

4.6 billion years old

c)

2 million years old

d)

65 million years old

9.

The break up of this super continent at the end of the mesozoic era, created large amounts of diversity on Earth

a)

pangea

b)

panthalsia

c)

gondwana

d)

laurasia

10.

What classifies a mass extinction?

a)

Only 5% of species go extinct.

b)

Massive flooding due to hurricanes.

c)

Happens in a relatively short period of time and is global

d)

There have never been any mass extinctions on Earth.

11.
There have been _____ mass extinction events in Earth's history.
a)
3
b)
4
c)
5
d)
2
12.
What type of rock do fossils form in?
a)
Igneous
b)
Sedimentary
c)
Metamorphic
d)
Classic
13.

The hypothesis that evolution of a species occurs in periods of rapid change separated by periods of little or no change is called

a)

divergence

b)

gradualism

c)

punctuated equilibrium

d)

isolation

14.

The hypothesis that evolution of a species occurs gradually over time as a slow and constant process is known as

a)

speciation

b)

punctuated equilibrium

c)

gradualism

d)

microevolution

15.

Which era is known as the "age of reptiles/dinosaurs"?

a)
Paleozoic Era
b)
Cenozoic Era
c)
Mesozoic Era
d)
Precambrian Era
16.

The Cenozoic Era is known for/as

a)

The age of the dinosaurs.

b)

The earliest era where prokaryotic life dominated the waters.

c)

Life moving from water to land. Reptiles start to be seen.

d)

The current era and is dominated by mammals.

17.

The Precambrian Era is known for/as

a)

The age of the dinosaurs.

b)

The earliest era where prokaryotic life dominated the waters.

c)

Life moving from water to land. Reptiles start to be seen.

d)

The current era and is dominated by mammals.

18.

The Paleozoic Era is known for/as

a)

The age of the dinosaurs.

b)

The earliest era where prokaryotic life dominated the waters.

c)

Life moving from water to land. Reptiles start to be seen.

d)

The current era and is dominated by mammals.