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Worksheets

Earth's Past

Total questions: 24

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which method is most appropriate for finding the age of the earth in years?

a)

radiometric dating

b)

asolute dating

c)

atomic number counting

d)

mass number counting

2.

The age of the Canyon Diablo meteorite was determined by using the half-life of _____.

a)

carbon-14

b)

hydrogen-3

c)

uranium-235

d)

potassium-40

3.

About how long ago did oxygen begin to accumulate in earth’s atmosphere?

a)

2 billion years ago

b)

20 million years ago

c)

2 million years ago

d)

0.2 million years ago

4.

How did stromatolites contribute oxygen to the early atmosphere?

a)

by weathering of rocks

b)

through photolysis

c)

through photosynthesis

d)

through methane degradation

5.

Which of the following is a type of rock formation created by tectonic uplift and subsequent weathering?

a)

mesa

b)

horn

c)

alcove

d)

stack

6.

Which of the following is an example of a glacial formation?

a)

mesa

b)

horn

c)

arch

d)

butte

7.

_____ occurs when an ice sheet scours and wears away at the underlying rock, gradually wearing it down over time.

a)

Plucking

b)

Abrasion

c)

Volcanism

d)

Gravitation

8.

_____ occurs when the chunks of rock become bonded to the ice sheet, so that when the ice sheet moves it carries the chunks of rock with it.

a)

Plucking

b)

Abrasion

c)

Volcanism

d)

Gravitation

9.

A distinct formation is formed when both of the abrasion and plucking wear away a rock body.

a)

horn

b)

arete

c)

stack

d)

alcove

10.

An isolated flat-topped hill with steep sides, fairly lage, found in landscapes with horizontal strata is a _____.

a)

mesa

b)

arete

c)

stack

d)

alcove

11.

An isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top that is much smaller than other flat-topped hills is a(n) _____/

a)

mesa

b)

arete

c)

butte

d)

alcove

12.

Relating to the wind; produced or carried by the wind.

a)

aeolian

b)

abrasion

c)

scouring

d)

degradation

13.

Which is a characteristic of an index fossil?

a)

small geographic range

b)

large body size

c)

short-lived as a species

d)

were plants instead of animals

14.

Which of the following is an example of a trace fossil?

a)

fossilized bone

b)

cast of a shell

c)

coprolite/fossilized dung

d)

fossilized teeth

15.

Which are the forces that can shape or sculpt a rock formation? (Choose three.)

a)

wind erosion

b)

coastal erosion

c)

ice/glaciation

d)

canal formation

e)

ornadic activity

16.

Which are the forces that can shape or sculpt a rock formation? (Choose three.)

a)

tectonic activity

b)

coastal erosion

c)

river erosion

d)

canal formation

e)

ornadic activity

17.

Which statement is true about fossils?

a)

Only the remains of animals, and not plants, can be made into a fossil.

b)

The remains of an organism that lived 500 years ago is called a fossil.

c)

To officially be a fossil, the remains of an entire organism must be found.

d)

A fossil is any trace of prehistoric life.

18.

Which principle states that fossils will be placed in rock layers according to a chronological order?”

a)

index fossilization

b)

carbonization

c)

faunal succession

d)

floral succession

19.

Rock formations are sculpted into shape by two general processes. Which are they?

a)

weathering

b)

volcanism

c)

erosion

d)

rainfall

20.

What gas dominated earth’s first atmosphere?

a)

methane

b)

hydrogen

c)

water vapor

d)

nitrogen

21.

Which process created the gases of earth’s first atmosphere?

a)

volcanic activity

b)

photosynthesis

c)

photolysis

d)

weathering

22.

What two processes contributed oxygen to earth’s second atmosphere?

a)

photosynthesis

b)

weathering

c)

weathering

d)

volcanism

e)

photolysis

23.

Banded iron formations show us when _____.

a)

oxygen became plentiful on earth

b)

rocks were first formed on earth

c)

the oceans began forming on earth

d)

volcanic activity started on earth

24.

Based on scientific evidence, what, approximately, is the age of the earth?

a)

5.6 billion years

b)

6.5 million years

c)

4.6 billion years

d)

4.6 million years