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Geologic Time Review

Total questions: 65

Worksheet time: 1hrs 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How old do Paleontologists believe the Earth is?

a)

2025 years old

b)

3.6 billion years old

c)

4.6 billion years old

d)

4.6 million years old

2.

What type of event usually marks the end of an Era

a)

A Mass Extinction

b)

A Quinceanera

c)

An earthquake

d)

A Volcanic Eruption

3.

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

a)

true

b)

false

4.
By which method have scientists determined that the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old?
a)
plate tectonics
b)
relative dating
c)
radioactive dating
d)
law of superposition
5.

The bottom layer of rock...

a)

is the oldest

b)

is the youngest

c)

has the most fossils

6.

Dinosaur fossils are often found in layers of

a)

sedimentary rock

b)

igneous rock

c)

metamorphic rock

7.
Fossils of species that existed for short periods and were widespread
a)
uniformitarianism
b)
cyanobacteria
c)
index fossils
8.
The soft parts of organisms are most likely to become fossils. 
a)
True
b)
False
9.

Saying you are older than your sister is an example of?

a)

Absolute age dating

b)

Relative age dating

c)

Fossils

d)

Radioactive dating

10.

What does absolute age tell us about a rock layer or fossil?

a)

The 'exact' age of a fossil determined by radiometric dating

b)

The relative age of a fossil determined by radiometric dating

c)

Younger rock layers sit on top of older rock layers

d)

Older rock layers sit on top of younger rock layers

11.

What are the two types of dating scientists use for rocks?

a)

Absolute

b)

Relative

c)

Geologic

d)

Layer

12.

The diagram shows a geologic cross section of rock layers in a region.


Which geologic event happened most recently ?

a)

folding of rock layers W, Y, and X

b)

intrusion of igneous rock Z

c)

faulting of rock layers V, W, Y, and X

d)

intrusion of rock layer Y

13.

Which Era was mainly dominated by dinosaurs?

a)

Cenozoic

b)

Jurassic

c)

Mesozoic

d)

Paleozoic

14.

Which Era occurred last (most recent)?

a)

Cenozoic

b)

Mesozoic

c)

Paleozoic

15.

What is the oldest organism on the geologic time scale?

a)

primitive horses

b)

sea scorpions

c)

giant insects

d)

trilobites

16.

a model scientists use to describe the timing of events and the relationships between those events in earth’s history.

a)

geologic time scale

b)

era

c)

period

d)

epoch

17.

Analyze the image Above. According to the Law of Superposition, which sequence of letters describes the rock layers in the diagram from oldest to youngest?

a)

D,C,B,A

b)

A,B,C,D

c)

A,B,D,C

d)

C,D,B,A

18.

Directions: The images show slices of sedimentary rock in Earth's surface in two different locations. Use the images to answer any questions that follow.


Which layer is most likely the oldest in location 1?

a)

layer Q

b)

layer R

c)

layer S

d)

layer T

19.

A fossil of a fish was found embedded in a layer of rock that is near the top of a mountain.  What might a scientist conclude about the history of this area?

a)

an earthquake once struck this area

b)

a volcano once erupted in the area

c)

a sea once covered the area

d)

a lush forest covered the area

20.

In which time period are we currently living?

a)

Precambrian Time

b)

Paleozoic Era

c)

Mesozoic Era

d)

Cenozoic Era

21.

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

a)

Sedimentary rocks

b)

Radioactive dating

c)

Decayed organisms

d)

Fossils

22.

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

23.

What does absolute age tell us about a rock layer or fossil?

a)

The 'exact' age of a fossil determined by radiometric dating

b)

The relative age of a fossil determined by radiometric dating

c)

Younger rock layers sit on top of older rock layers

d)

Older rock layers sit on top of younger rock layers

24.

What two methods are used for determining the age of rocks and fossils?

a)

Relative and Absolute Dating

b)

Carbon and Water Dating

c)

Sedimentary and Igneous Rocks

d)

Spatial and Layered Dating

25.

Which is the youngest rock layer?

a)

Siltstone

b)

Conglomerate

c)

Mudstone

d)

Limestone

26.
The geologic time scale is a record of....
a)
the history of fossils only
b)
the history of rocks
c)
the history of rock layers and fossils
d)
geologist notes
27.

Use the diagram to answer. Which rock layer has a fossil that is older than the fish fossil?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

28.
Which rock layer contains the newest fossils?
a)
F
b)
E
c)
B
d)
C
29.
Scientists who study fossils are called
a)
Geologists
b)
Paleontologists
c)
Fossil Scientists
d)
Meteorologists
30.
Which layer is oldest?
a)
A
b)
W
c)
G
d)
Z
31.

In which kind of rock do we usually find a fossil?

a)

sedimentary rock

b)

igneous rock

c)

metamorphic rock

d)

magma rock

32.

A(n) ______ is the preserved or mineralized remains (teeth, bones, etc.) or imprint of an organism that lived long ago.

a)

Fossil

b)

index

c)

mineral

d)

trace

33.

An archaeologist is digging through the rock layers and finds an index fossil in Layer B.

This fossil will help him do which of the following?

a)

determine the minerals found in Layer B

b)

determine the age of the rock in Layer B

c)

determine the type of rock in Layer B

d)

determine the thickness of Layer B

34.
If scientists found this fossil, what could they infer?
a)
what fish are like today
b)
that this fish lacked oxygen
c)
what kind of animal ate this fish
d)
that water once covered the area
35.

What principle states that sediments are deposited in large, continuous sheets

a)

lateral continuity

b)

cross cutting relationships

c)

uniformitarianism

d)

superposition

36.

Which principle states that if one geologic feature cuts across another feature, the feature it cuts across is older?

a)

superposition

b)

uniformitarianism

c)

cross cutting relationships

d)

original horizontality

37.

The preserved remains or evidence of past living organisms

a)

fossils

b)

mass extinctions

c)

dinosaurs

d)

stones

38.

Superposition is helpful in determining the

a)

absolute age of rock layers

b)

relative age of rock layers

c)

superposition of rock layers

d)

inclusions in rock layers

39.

Which rock layer is the youngest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

D

d)

F

40.

Which rock layer is the oldest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

D

d)

F

41.

absolute age

a)

the numerical age or a rock or object

b)

the age of rocks and features compared with other nearby rocks and features

c)

a piece of an older rock that becomes part of a new rock

d)

the age in which rocks become sediment

42.

uniformitarianism

a)

principle that states geological processes that occur today are similar to those that occurred in the past

b)

principle that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest rocks are at the bottom

c)

principle that if one geologic feature cuts across another feature, the feature it cuts across is older

d)

principle that most rock forming materials are deposited in horizontal layers

43.

superposition

a)

principle that states geological processes that occur today are similar to those that occurred in the past

b)

principle that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest rocks are at the bottom

c)

principle that if one geologic feature cuts across another feature, the feature it cuts across is older

d)

principle that most rock forming materials are deposited in horizontal layers

44.

cross-cutting relationships

a)

principle that states geological processes that occur today are similar to those that occurred in the past

b)

principle that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest rocks are at the bottom

c)

principle that if one geologic feature cuts across another feature, the feature it cuts across is older

d)

principle that most rock forming materials are deposited in horizontal layers

45.

original horizontality

a)

principle that states geological processes that occur today are similar to those that occurred in the past

b)

principle that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest rocks are at the bottom

c)

principle that if one geologic feature cuts across another feature, the feature it cuts across is older

d)

principle that most rock forming materials are deposited in horizontal layers

46.

inclusions

a)

a piece of an older rock that becomes part of a new rock

b)

the idea that most rock-forming materials are deposited in horizontal layers

c)

the preserved remains or evidence of past living organisims

d)

the age of a rock or object

47.

When looking at a rock that has an inclusion, which statement is true

a)

the inclusion is older than the surrounding rock

b)

the rock surrounding the inclusion is older

c)

both the inclusion and the surrounding rock formed at relatively the same time

48.

When looking at a rock that has an inclusion, which statement is true

a)

the inclusion is older than the surrounding rock

b)

the rock surrounding the inclusion is older

c)

both the inclusion and the surrounding rock formed at relatively the same time

49.

What can you infer about the rocks that formed at the bottom of this formation?

a)

The rocks are older than those above them because the principle of superposition states that the oldest rocks are on the bottom

b)

The rocks are younger than those above them because the principle of superposition states that the youngest rocks are on the bottom

c)

The rocks are older than those above them because the principle of original horizontality states that the oldest rocks are on the bottom

d)

The rocks are younger than those above them because the principle of original horizontality states that the youngest rocks are on the bottom

50.
Which fossil is relatively the oldest?
a)
Trilobite
b)
Ammonite
c)
Crinoid
d)
Gastropod
51.
Which rock layer contains the newest fossils?
a)
F
b)
E
c)
B
d)
C
52.

Which rock layer is probably the oldest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

53.

Which rock layer is probably the youngest?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

54.
According to the fossil record, which fossil is the oldest?
a)
fossil 5
b)
fossil 2
c)
fossil 3
d)
fossil 4
55.
According to this fossil record. What type of environment was there first?
a)
land
b)
lava
c)
ocean
d)
forest
56.
Which fossil formed most recently?
a)
cow skull
b)
dinosaur bone
c)
trilobite
d)
clamshell
57.
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.
58.
Which rock layer is the same age as Layer Z?
a)
X
b)
M
c)
Q
d)
R
59.

What type of unconformity is shown between D and C in the figure?

a)

nonconformity

b)

disconformity

c)

angular unconformity

d)

uniformatarianism

60.
folded or tilted rock comes to the surface, erodes, and new sediment is deposited
a)
unconformity
b)
nonconformity
c)
angular unconformity
d)
disconformity
61.
horizontal layers of old sedimentary rock erode, then get covered by new layers
a)
angular unconformity
b)
nonconformity
c)
original horizontality
d)
disconformity
62.

Horizontal layers are tilted and uplifted. New sediment is deposited on top.

a)

Nonconformities

b)

Intrusions

c)

Angular Unconformities

d)

Disconformities

63.

What type of unconformity is shown here?

a)

Nonconformity

b)

Disconformity

c)

Angular unconformity

64.

What type of unconformity is shown here?

a)

Nonconformity

b)

Disconformity

c)

Angular unconformity

65.

What type of unconformity is shown here?

a)

Nonconformity

b)

Disconformity

c)

Angular unconformity

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