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Earth's evolution and relative dating

Total questions: 36

Worksheet time: 44mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
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
2.
Which of the following is the oldest?
a)
Layer L
b)
Intrusion D
c)
Intrusion H
d)
Layer E
3.
Used to determine whether an object is older or younger than other objects
a)
Superposition
b)
Relative Dating
c)
Fossil
d)
Unconformity
4.

What is the most recent event?

a)

E

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

5.
According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
6.
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
7.

What is the approximate age of Earth?

a)

4.6 billion years

b)

4.6 million years

c)

46,000 years

d)

4,600 years

8.

Use the passage to answer: Which scientific theory was supported by this evidence?

a)

the theory of spontaneous generation, which states that matter can form and appear anywhere

b)

the big bang theory, which states that at one point the universe was one confined to a single point

c)

the continental drift theory, which states that all of the continents were once joined together and drifted apart to their current locations

d)

the expanding Earth theory, which states that the position and movement of continents is dependent on the volume of the planet increasing

9.

Index fossils are used to date rock strata that would otherwise be very difficult to date. Which of these statements describes a key characteristic of index fossils?

a)

They existed in a unique location

b)

They are present in very small numbers.

c)

They existed for a short span of time.

d)

They are similar to other fossils

10.

According to the law of superposition, which of the following is true about the layers in location 2?

a)

Layer Z has the darkest color, so it must be the oldest, and layer X has the lightest color, so it must be the newest.

b)

Layer Z has the largest fossils, so it is the oldest, and layer W has the fewest fossils, so it is the newest.

c)

Layer W is on the top, so it is the newest, and layer Z is on the bottom, so it is the oldest.

d)

Layer Z is on the bottom, so it is the newest, and layer W is on the top, so it is the oldest

11.

What is the method of measuring age that gives the most precise results?

a)

radioactive dating, when scientists measure the levels of an isotopic element inside of an object

b)

relative dating, when scientists fill an object with carbon and measure how much will fit

c)

rate of sedimentation, which dates layers of Earth based on their thickness

d)

law of superposition, which dates layers of Earth based on their order

12.

Scientists think the continents once formed a large, single landmass that broke apart and the continents slowly drifted to their present locations. What is the name given to this hypothesis?

a)

Continental rise

b)

Continental drift

c)

Continental shelf

d)

Continental slope

13.

At one time, several kinds of camels lived in Florida. The evidence comes from fossils found in Florida. Which of these objects would be a fossil that shows that camels once lived in Florida?

a)

Sinkhole formed by a retreating glacier

b)

sedimentary rock that formed a long time ago

c)

crystal formation suspended from the ceiling of a cave

d)

remains of an organism preserved by geologic processes

14.

Mountain ridges form and later become eroded, at which point an igneous intrusion rises under the mountains. What does the presence of the igneous intrusion indicate about Earth's history?

a)

Volcanic material cannot be used to date either mountains or volcanoes

b)

Volcanic material can be used to date only mountains

c)

Volcanic material can be used to date only volcanoes.

d)

Volcanic material can be used to date both mountains and volcanoes.

15.

In Canada, Mount Rundle is an example of thrust faulting where millions of years ago a plate collision forced horizontal layers of an ancient ocean crust up at a steep angle. This formed a mountain with one side gently sweeping and full of trees, while the other side is steep with exposed rock. What is Mount Rundle evidence of?

a)

Earth's evolution over time due to natural processes

b)

Earth's evolution over time due to supernatural processes

c)

Earth's evolution over time due to organismal interference

d)

Earth's evolution over time due to natural disasters

16.
Scientists use radioactive decay to measure...
a)
relative time
b)
absolute time
c)
half-lives
d)
time of day
17.
The length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay is its...
a)
era
b)
age
c)
half-life
d)
eon
18.
How does absolute age differ from relative age?
a)
only absolute dating indicates which rock is older than another
b)
only absolute dating finds the age in years
c)
only relative dating finds the age in years
19.
Radiometric dating is possible because the rates of decay of radioactive isotopes _____.
a)
change over time
b)
change from place to place
c)
are constant
d)
vary widely
20.

_______________is the method of determining the absolute ages of rocks.

a)

radiometric dating

b)

relative dating

21.
Some ELEMENTS can decay over time.
a)
True
b)
False
22.

The original element that undergoes radioactive decay is known as the...

a)

daughter element

b)

half-life

c)

parent element

d)

radioactive decay

23.

The element that is the product of radioactive decay is known as the...

a)

daughter element

b)

half-life

c)

parent element

d)

carbon-14

24.
If the half-life of a radioactive group of atoms is 100 years, then how old is the rock if there have been two half-lives?
a)
25 years
b)
200 years
c)
400 years
d)
800 years
25.

If you had 1000 atoms of parent isotope, then how many parent atoms would you have after 1 half-life?

a)

75 atoms

b)

250 atoms

c)

500 atoms

d)

125 atoms

26.
How does absolute age differ from relative age?
a)
only absolute dating indicates which rock is older than another
b)
only absolute dating finds the age in years
c)
only relative dating finds the age in years
27.

By saying "my dad is 48 and I am 13", it would be...

a)

relative dating (time)

b)

absolute dating (time)

c)

law of superposition

28.
How old do Paleontologists believe the Earth is?
a)
2017 years old
b)
3.5 billion years old
c)
4.6 billion years old
d)
4.6 million years old
29.
The age of a rock compared to the ages of other rocks is the rock's
a)
absolute age
b)
geologic age
c)
sedimentary age
d)
relative age
30.

Which of the follow is the study of Earth's history, processes and structure?

a)

Geology

b)

Law of superpostion

c)

Law of Uniformitarianism

d)

Absolute Age

31.
states that the geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two features
a)
law of horizontality
b)
cross cutting relationships
c)
law of superposition
d)
uniformitarianism
32.
What element is usually used to date fossils?
a)
uranium-235
b)
carbon-14
c)
mercury-203
d)
thorium-234
33.
Letter "F" is a....
a)
inclusion
b)
intrusion
c)
fault
d)
unconformity 
34.
All plants and ANIMALS contain carbon.
a)
True
b)
False
35.
What is the term used to identify a scientist who studies fossils?
a)
Paleontologist
b)
Carbon Film
c)
Trace fossil
d)
cast
36.
Trilobites are good index fossils because.... (pick the best answer).
a)
abundant, large
b)
abundant, widespread geographically, and only lived a short time
c)
only lived for a short time period
d)
were large
carbonized