Free Printable Earth History Review

Worksheets

Earth History Review

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 22mins

Name

Class

Date

Which best describes how ice cores are important to the study of geologic history?

They show unconformities, which signal changes in deposition.

They hold index fossils, which are used to date the different ice cores.

They contain evidence showing changes in the atmospheric composition over time.

They follow the Law of Superposition, which gives reasons for extinctions of species.

Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.

In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.

In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.

Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.

A scientist finds the bones of a dinosaur. What could help the scientist determine the approximate age of the dinosaur bones?

the birds living in the area of the bones

the weather conditions in the area of the bones

the kinds of trees living in the area of the bones

the index fossils in the area of the bones

Scientists find dinosaur fossils in the bottom rock layers of a cliff and mammal fossils in the middle rock layer of the cliff. Which could best be concluded from this evidence?

Dinosaurs ate plants.

Dinosaurs were eaten by the mammals.

Dinosaurs lived on Earth before the mammals.

Dinosaurs and mammals lived at the same time.

The diagram shows layers of rock A, B, C, D and igneous intrusion E. Which sequence below correctly lists the rock layers in order from the first rock layer formed to the last rock layer formed?

D, C, B, E, A

A, B, C, D, E

E, D, C, B, A

A, E, B, C, D

The diagram shows where fossils of two organisms were found in rock layers.
Which conclusion does this diagram best support?

The earthquake that caused the fault most likely killed both organisms because the fossils formed during the time of the earthquake.

Organism Y lived before Organism X because Organism Y was found in an older rock layer.

Both organisms lived at the same time because the fossils they formed were found in rock layers of about the same depth.

The fault formed while Organism X was living and after Organism Yhad died because the fault is located between the two fossils.

Which is a process that allows scientists to compare rock layers with others in a sequence to determine their age?

radoimetric dating

ice cores

absolute dating

relative dating

If a metamorphic rock contains an intrusion of igneous rock, which rock is the oldest?

The metamorphic rock is older.

The rocks are the same age.

The igneous rock is older.

Scientists studying rock layers classify the top layer as the most recent, followed by older layers that are uncovered as they dig deeper. Which law explains this method of relative dating?

law of geologic continuity

law of universal position

law of lateral continuity

law of superpositiolaw of superposition

10.

How are trilobite fossils helpful in understanding the distribution of living things throughout Earth’s history?

Trilobites lived in all the ancient oceans and in varying depths of water.

Trilobites were found worldwide and are signature creatures of the Paleozoic Era.

The soft tissue of trilobites preserved well and began the expansion of biological diversity.

There were many different species of trilobites, and they existed in varying shapes and sizes.

11.

Which of the following eras is known as the “Age of Mammals”?

Precambrian

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Cenozoic

12.

A geologist uncovered a fossil while digging in the side of a hill. He hypothesized that it was most likely from the end of the Paleozoic Era or the beginning of the Mesozoic Era.How old would the fossil have to be dated in order to support his hypothesis?

100 million years old

225 million years old

400 million years old

550 million years old

13.

The end of an era is marked by...

new species

mass extinction

the evolution of humans

weather changes

14.

Which is not a major event that occurred during the PreCambrian era?

formation of the earth

mammals appeared

formation of the oceans

creation of life

15.

The first flowering plants appeared in each era?

mesozoic

precambrian

cenozoic

paleozoic

16.

The diagram shows different layers of sedimentary rock. Each layer is labeled with a letter. Which statement correctly describes the relative ages of the rock layers shown in the diagram?

The left part of Layer B is younger than the right part.

The left part of Layer F is the same age as Layer M.

Layer R is older than Layer M.

Layer I is older than Layer B.

17.

Which method would be BEST for scientists to use to determine the absolute age of a Precambrian igneous rock?

index fossils

law of superposition

radiometric dating

ice cores

18.

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?

Trilobites now live underground.

Trilobites are the ancestors of jellyfish.

Cincinnati was once covered by the ocean where trilobites lived.

The environment changed, creating small saltwater lakes in Cincinnati.

19.

The ichthyornis was a type of bird that lived over 65 million years ago. It lived near the sea and hunted for fish over the water. Fossils have been found in Kansas, many miles from the present-day ocean. Which cause of extinction is MOST likely to be found in the fossil record along with ichthyornis fossils?

changes in the environment

diseases causing illness

changes in the weather

predator animals

20.

A geologist uncovered a fossil while digging in the side of a hill. He hypothesized that it was MOST likely from the end of the Paleozoic era or the beginning of the Mesozoic era.

How old would the fossil have to be dated in order to support his hypothesis?