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WorksheetsEarth History
Total questions: 23
Worksheet time: 36mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Data from the analyses of ice cores has shown that levels of carbon dioxide have increased and decreased over the last 400,000 years. Based on this information, what can be inferred about global temperatures over the same period of time?
a)
Temperatures have risen sharply over the time period.
b)
Temperatures have dropped sharply over the time period.
c)
Temperatures have remained constant over the time period.
d)
Temperatures have risen and dropped in a repeated pattern over the time period.
2.
Which of these provides the BEST evidence that the environment of Earth has changed over millions of years?
a)
active migration of sand dunes
b)
polished appearance of rock surfaces
c)
marine fossils found in mountains
d)
bones of animals found on the ground
3.
The diagram shows the Earth’s crustal plates. Which is true about geologic evolution in reference to plate tectonics?
a)
The plates of Earth have settled and finished moving.
b)
The movement of plates has caused the formation and break-up of continents over time.
c)
The movement of the plates is responsible for all geologic changes that occur on Earth.
4.
Which part of Earth’s history i best shown by analysis of ice cores?
a)
changes in climate
b)
changes in plant growth
c)
changes in the amounts of precipitation
d)
changes in the formation of rock layers
5.
Which best describes the criteria necessary for a fossil to be used as an index fossil?
a)
The fossil must be from a mammal.
b)
The fossil must be found both in rock layers on the land and in rock layers under the oceans.
c)
The fossil must be found in areas on Earth and must be from an organism that lived for a relatively short time span.
d)
The fossil must be found in at least three different types of sedimentary rock layers and at least two different types of igneous rock layers.
6.
Which is the best example of an index fossil?
a)
corals found in rock layers worldwide
b)
dinosaur bones found only in Australia
c)
footprints of different types of dinosaurs
d)
casts of bird feathers found in all layers of rock in an area
7.
Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?
a)
Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.
b)
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.
c)
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.
d)
Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.
8.
Which best describes how ice cores are important to the study of geologic history?
a)
They show unconformities, which signal changes in deposition.
b)
They hold index fossils, which are used to date the different ice cores.
c)
They contain evidence showing changes in the atmospheric composition over time.
d)
They follow the Law of Superposition, which gives reasons for extinctions of species.
9.
Which is the most likely reason scientists would want to analyze the air trapped in an ice core?
a)
to study how much oxygen was in the ice
b)
to learn how the atmosphere changed over time
c)
to determine how many gas bubbles were present in the air
d)
to study how many animals lived on Earth when the ice was formed
10.
Fossils were discovered in four different sedimentary rock layers as shown. Which best describes the age of the fish relative to the age of the fern and the age of the shell?
a)
The fish is older than both the fern and the shell.
b)
The fish is younger than both the fern and the shell.
c)
The fish is older than the fern, but younger than the shell.
d)
The fish is younger than the fern, but older than the shell.
11.
For many years scientists thought that dinosaurs rapidly replaced their ancestors. New information shows that dinosaurs and their non-dinosaur ancestors may have existed together for tens of millions of years. Which evidence MOST likely made it possible to support the idea that dinosaurs and their ancestors coexisted for millions of years?
a)
Fewer fossils were found of amphibians than of dinosaurs.
b)
More fossils found were of larger organisms than of dinosaurs.
c)
Herbivore bones were found in each rock layer.
d)
Bones of three different species were found in the same rock layer.
12.
Which is the best predictor of the relative age of a layer of rock?
a)
thickness of the layer
b)
position of the layer
c)
length of the layer
d)
size of the layer
13.
Which is used in radioactive dating?
a)
carbon-14
b)
index fossils
c)
hydrochloric acid
d)
law of superposition
14.
Through relative dating, a geologist finds a fossil that is approximately 10,000 years old. Which radioactive element would the geologist most likely use to accurately calculate the fossil’s age?
a)
gallium-67 with a half-life of 78 hours
b)
carbon-14 with a half-life of 5,700 years
c)
plutonium-238 with a half-life of 88 years
d)
iodine-129 with a half-life of 16 million years
15.
Several zircon crystals from Australia have been dated to have an estimated age of 4.2 billion years. Which statement BEST describes the period of formation of these crystals?
a)
They formed relatively recently in the history of Earth.
b)
They formed at a time shortly after the formation of Earth.
c)
They formed at approximately the same time as atmospheric oxygen began increasing.
d)
They formed at approximately the same time as animals first inhabited land environments.
16.
The figure shows a wall of the Grand Canyon. The most recent rocks of the Grand Canyon formed during which geologic period?
a)
Permian
b)
Devonian
c)
Cambrian
d)
Precambrian
17.
Which method would be BEST for scientists to use to determine the absolute age of a Precambrian igneous rock?
a)
index fossils
b)
law of superposition
c)
radiometric dating
d)
law of original horizontality
18.
Which of the following eras is known as the “Age of Mammals”?
a)
Precambrian
b)
Paleozoic
c)
Mesozoic
d)
Cenozoic
19.
The diagram shows carbon dioxide levels preserved in an ice core. Which process most likely accounts for the major increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over time?
a)
increased deforestation
b)
decreased deforestation
c)
increased use of fossil fuels
d)
decreased use of fossil fuels
20.
Trilobites are extinct animals that lived in the oceans. Fossils of these animals can be found in dry areas such as Cincinnati. What does this indicate?
a)
Trilobites now live underground.
b)
Trilobites are the ancestors of jellyfish.
c)
Cincinnati was once covered by the ocean where trilobites lived.
d)
The environment changed, creating small saltwater lakes in Cincinnati.
21.
A scientist drew some diagrams of ancestors of elephants based on fossil evidence. Which is the BEST conclusion that can be made from comparing the diagrams?
a)
Elephant species have changed over time.
b)
Ancient elephants were better adapted than modern elephants.
c)
Elephant habitats have remained the same over time.
d)
Elephant fossil evidence is widespread and complete.
22.
Certain fossils can be used to help determine the age of the rock layer in which the fossils are found. Which type of fossil is BEST to use when making this determination?
a)
marine mammal fossil
b)
swamp fern fossil
c)
trace fossil
d)
index fossil
23.
The diagram shows fossil samples found in four layers of sedimentary rock. Which can most likely be concluded about the area where the samples were found?
a)
It is a desert.
b)
It is a mountainous region.
c)
It was once covered by water.
d)
It was formed millions of years ago.
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