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Geologic Time Review

Total questions: 95

Worksheet time: 2hrs 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Scientists use ______ to help figure out geologic time.
a)
earthquakes
b)
plate tectonics
c)
rock layers
d)
erosion
2.
A ________ is a scientist that studies the composition of the Earth, including rock layers.
a)
biologist
b)
paleontologist
c)
chemist
d)
geologist
3.
________ are evidence of past life.
a)
Intrusions
b)
Fossils
c)
Meteorites
d)
Cells
4.

Preserved remains of plants and animals from the remote past are called?

a)

Sedimentary rocks

b)

Radioactive dating

c)

Decayed organisms

d)

Fossils

5.

The Law of Superposition states

a)

Younger rocks layers are on top of older rock layers

b)

Fossils are found in sedimentary rocks

c)

Older rock layers are on top of younger rock layers

d)

Absolute age dating

6.

Use relative age dating to put the rock layers in correct order from oldest to youngest.

a)

B, D, A, E, C

b)

C, E, D, A, B

c)

A, C, E, D, B

d)

C, E, D, B, A

7.

Which is the youngest rock layer?

a)

Siltstone

b)

Conglomerate

c)

Mudstone

d)

Limestone

8.

Which of the fossils is the oldest?

a)

Dinosaur

b)

Bird

c)

Shell

d)

Ammonite

9.

The state of no longer existing

a)

Sedimentary layers

b)

Fossils

c)

Diversity

d)

Extinction

10.

If a scientist found a fish fossil in the desert, what can they infer?

a)

An animal ate the fish.

b)

The water covered the area long ago.

c)

Today's fish looks the same

d)

The fish is endangered.

11.

What are the oldest fossils and why?

a)

B, C- because they are closest to the top

b)

A, B- because they are closest to the bottom

c)

They are all the same age- because they are all found on layer 2

d)

A, B- because they are found closest to the top

12.

With ________ dating, a rock’s exact age can be determined, whereas with ________ dating, a rock’s age is compared to the ages of other rocks.

a)

absolute, relative

b)

relative, absolute

c)

true, absolute

d)

relative, approximate

13.

The diagram shows layers of sedimentary rock. Assuming that this rock formation is undisturbed, What is the relative age of layer C?

a)

It is the youngest rock layer.

b)

It is the oldest rock layer.

c)

It is older than B and younger than D.

d)

It is younger than B and older than D.

14.

How do scientist know when a mass extinction took place?

a)

They find more fossils of plants.

b)

They find fossils of animals that died suddenly.

c)

They find a sudden disappearance of many fossil species.

d)

They find evidence of changes in Earth’s atmosphere.

15.

States that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed

a)

superposition

b)

cross-cutting

c)

unconformity

d)

uniformitarianism

16.

A break in the geologic record that is made when rock layers are ERODED over a long period of time

a)

superposition

b)

relative dating

c)

unconformity

d)

cross-cutting

17.

What is the law of superposition?

a)

The age of sedimentary rock not found in the original layers.

b)

Metamorphic rock is younger than the nearby igneous rock.

c)

Sedimentary rock in it's original position is older than layers above it.

d)

Metamorphic rock is older because it was deposited to nearby sedimentary rock.

18.

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.

19.

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

20.

Which rock layer in the diagram seems to be the oldest?

a)

F

b)

B

c)

E

d)

A

21.

According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?

a)

F

b)

B

c)

E

d)

A

22.

Which of the following is the oldest?

a)

Layer L

b)

Intrusion H

c)

Intrusion D

d)

Layer E

23.

How does sedimentary rock usually form?

a)

Vertically

b)

Folding

c)

Diagonally

d)

Horizontally

24.

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

25.

Is intrusion V older or younger than layer W?

a)

younger

b)

older

26.

What is the correct order of the rock layers from oldest to youngest?

a)

B, C, D, E, A

b)

E, D, C, B, A

c)

A, B, C, D, E

d)

B, C, D, A, E

27.

What is the correct order of the rock layers from oldest to youngest?

a)

F, E, C, B, A, D

b)

F, E, D, C, B, A

c)

A, B, C, D, E, F

d)

D, F, E, C, B, A

28.

What law states that any geologic feature that cuts across other layers is younger than layers it cuts across?

a)

Law of superpostion

b)

Law of layers

c)

Law of inclusion

d)

Law of crosscutting

29.

Unstable atoms that decay (change) and are considered radioactive

a)

Isotope

b)

Half-Life

c)

Absolute Dating

d)

Radiometric Dating

30.

Length of time for half the atoms of an isotope to decay

a)

Isotope

b)

Half-Life

c)

Radiometric Dating

d)

Absolute Dating

31.

What geologic principles (or laws) are best displayed here?

a)

Superposition

b)

Original horizontality

c)

Cross-cutting relationships

d)

Unconformities

32.

Which layer is OLDER? Layer M or Intrusion P?

a)

Layer M

b)

Intrusion P

33.
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.
34.
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
35.
Scientists use radioactive decay to measure...
a)
relative time
b)
absolute time
c)
half-lives
d)
time of day
36.

Events that wipe out large percentages of living things are known as???

a)

Great dyings

b)

Extinctions

c)

Extinction Level Event

d)

Mass Extinctions

37.
Relative age dating is used to determine the...
a)
actual age of an event
b)
length of time between two events
c)
age of one event in comparison with other events
d)
rate at which a gologic process occurs
38.
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
39.
The time it takes for half of a radioactive isotopes to decay into stable isotopes is called the
a)
isotope decay
b)
radiometric dating
c)
half life
d)
absolute age
40.

According to this Principle, sediments are deposited in large, flat sheets.

a)

Original Horizontality

b)

Superposition

c)

Lateral Continuity

d)

Cross-Cutting Relationships

e)

Inclusion

41.
If 10 mg of iodine 131 is given to a patient, how much is left after 24 days? The half-life of iodine-131 is 8 days.
a)
1.25mg
b)
1.25g
c)
10g
d)
10mg
42.
The half-life of strontium-90 is 25 years. How much strontium-90 will remain after 100 years if the initial amount is 4.0 g?
a)
3.0g
b)
0.25mg
c)
0.3g
d)
0.25g
43.
You have 100 grams of radioactive C-14. The half life of C-14 is 5730 years. 
How many grams are left after 1 half life? 
a)
100 grams
b)
25 grams
c)
2 grams
d)
50 grams
44.
What is Half-life?
a)
The amount of time it takes for some of the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay
b)
The amount of time it takes for half the electrons in a sample of the isotope to decay
c)
The amount of time it takes for half the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay
d)
the amount of time it takes to double the nuclei in a sample of the isotope to decay
45.
What is the half-life of iodine-131?
a)
32 days
b)
8 days
c)
16 days
d)
24 days
46.

What is the Half life of this isotope?

a)

5 seconds

b)

10 seconds

c)

15 seconds

d)

20 seconds

47.

What is the Half Life of this isotope?

a)

3 days

b)

5 days

c)

8 days

d)

10 days

48.

Radioactive carbon-14 is often useful in determining the absolute age of geologic samples because radioactive isotopes

a)

decay at a regular rate

b)

become less stable during decay

c)

remain unchanged over time

d)

stabilize after four half-lives

49.

The diagram shows 32 atoms

32 of the Red are the parent isotope

0 of the atoms are daughter isotopes

How many half-lives have occurred?

a)

0

b)

1

c)

2

d)

3

50.

The diagram shows 32 atoms.

16 of the Red are parent isotopes

16 of the Green are daughter isotopes

How many half-lives have occurred?

a)

0

b)

1

c)

2

d)

3

51.

Eons are subdivided into....

a)

Eras

b)

Periods

c)

Epochs

d)

nothing, its the smallest unit...

52.

Eras are subdivided into....

a)

Eons

b)

Periods

c)

Epochs

d)

nothing, its the smallest unit...

53.

Periods are subdivided into....

a)

Eons

b)

Eras

c)

Epochs

d)

nothing, its the smallest unit...

54.

Epochs are subdivided into....

a)

Eons

b)

Eras

c)

Periods

d)

nothing, its the smallest unit...

55.

Which one of the units are Eons?

a)

Hadean

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Jurassic

d)

Cambrian

56.

Which one of the units are Eras?

a)

Paleozoic

b)

Phanerozoic

c)

Jurassic

d)

Silurian

57.

Scientists chose where units of geologic time began and ended based on the appearance or disappearance of life.

a)

true

b)

false

58.

What are the names of ALL parts of the geologic time scale in correct order from broadest to narrowest?

a)

era, period, eon

b)

eon, era, period, epoch

c)

era, eon, epoch, period

d)

eon, era, epoch, period

59.

Which Era occurred last (most recent)?

a)

Cenozoic

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Paleozoic

60.

What type of environment do you think was present during the Devonian Period?

a)

mostly land

b)

land with some water

c)

mostly water

d)

water with some land

61.

Which of the following eras is known for the emergence of dinosaurs?

a)

Phanerozoic

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Cenozoic

d)

Paleozoic

62.

What was the "Age of Reptiles"

a)

Ice Age

b)

Mesozoic Era

c)

Precambrian Era

d)

Precambrian Eon

63.

What Eon represents 88% of Earth's history.

a)

Mesozoic

b)

Precambrian

c)

Paleozoic

d)

Cenozoic

64.

What is the name of the supercontinent that separated in the Mesozoic Era?

a)

Pangea

b)

Pangaea

c)

League of Nations

d)

United Nations

65.

What era did most of the "Ice Ages" occur

a)

Precambrian Eon

b)

Paleozoic Era

c)

Cenozoic Era

d)

Mesozoic Era

66.

In what era did the first land plants appear?

a)

Silurian

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Paleozoic

67.

What era did dinosaurs go extinct ?

a)

Paleozoic

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Cenozoic

68.

Longest part of Earth's history and includes the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic eons.

a)

Paleozoic

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Precambrian

d)

Cenozoic

69.

Era of "ancient life"

a)

Mesozoic

b)

Paleozoic

c)

Cenozoic

70.

A giant landmass that formed at the end of the Paleozoic Era when the continents came together.

a)

North America

b)

Eurasia

c)

Pangea

d)

Paleozoic

71.

This was the longest part of Earth's history.

a)

Precambrian Time

b)

Paleozoic Era

72.

Very little is know about the organisms that lived during this time period because the rocks have been changed and there are not many fossils.

a)

Precambrian Time

b)

Paleozoic Era

73.

What are the four eras in order from OLDEST to NEWEST?

a)

Pre-Cambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic

b)

Pre-Cambrian, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Cenozoic

c)

Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Pre-Cambrian

d)

Mesozoic, Pre-Cambrian, Cenozoic, Paleozoic

74.
Place the following in order starting with the OLDEST
1  Paleozoic
2  Cenozoic
3  Precambrian
4  Mesozoic
a)
1 3 2 4 
b)
3 1 4 2
c)
4 3 2 1 
d)
2 3 1 4
75.

Which fossil would make the best index fossil?

a)

Beetle

b)

Flower

c)

Frog

d)

Fish

76.

Jellyfish are one of the oldest species on Earth. In what time period did they first appear?

a)

Precambrian

b)

Paleozoic

c)

Mesozoic

d)

Cenozoic

77.

A trend we see in the geologic time scale is that fossils become more ______ over time.

a)

complex

b)

simple

c)

heavy

d)

purple

78.

What era did trilobites, fishes, and other marine organisms dominate?

a)

Precambrian

b)

Paleozoic

c)

Mesozoic

d)

Cenozoic

79.

Which era is the most recent, the one that we are currently in?

a)

Mesozoic

b)

Paleozoic

c)

Cenozoic

d)

Precambrian

80.
Which era is known as the "age of reptiles"
a)
Paleozoic Era
b)
Cenozoic Era
c)
Mesozoic Era
d)
Precambrian Era
81.
The time span that lasted the longest was the...
a)
Precambrian
b)
Paleozoic
c)
Mesozoic
d)
Cenozoic
82.
Which era is known as the "age of mammals"
a)
Cenozoic Era
b)
Precambrian Era
c)
Paleozoic Era
d)
Mesozoic Era
83.
The single land mass that existed about 245 million years ago is named what?
a)
Fossil
b)
Pangea
c)
Bob
d)
Tectonic plates
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.
Paleozoic, Mesozoic & Cenozoic are all
a)
Epochs
b)
Eras
c)
Periods
d)
Eons
86.
In which era did the oceans and atmosphere form?
a)
Paleozoic
b)
Cenozoic
c)
Precambrian
d)
Mesozoic
87.

What scientific law tells us that in rock strata, the oldest layer is at the bottom and the youngest layer is at top?

a)

Cross-cutting

b)

Original Horizontality

c)

Superposition

d)

Unconformities

88.

A gap in the sequence of sedimentary rock layers caused by erosion.

a)

Inclusion

b)

Unconformity

c)

Cross-cutting

d)

Isotope

89.

What type of unconformity is shown here?

a)

Non-conformity

b)

Disconformity

c)

Angular unconformity

90.

What type of unconformity is shown here?

a)

Non-conformity

b)

Disconformity

c)

Angular unconformity

91.

What type of unconformity is shown here?

a)

Non-conformity

b)

Disconformity

c)

Angular unconformity

92.
a)
Disconformity
b)
Nonconformity
c)
Angular unconformity
d)
Paraconformity
93.
a)
Disconformity
b)
Nonconformity
c)
Angular unconformity
d)
Paraconformity
94.
a)
Disconformity
b)
Nonconformity
c)
Angular unconformity
d)
Paraconformity
95.
Folded or tilted rock comes to the surface, erodes, and new sediment is deposited. 
a)
Original Horizontality 
b)
Angular unconformity
c)
Law of Superposition
d)
Nonconformity

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