wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Fossils

Total questions: 61

Worksheet time: 1hrs 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What is made up of all the fossils ever discovered on Earth?
a)
Fossil record
b)
Trace fossils
c)
Geologic time scale
d)
Biological evolution
2.
There are two different ways to determine a fossil's age, which way is shown in the picture above?
a)
Absolute - Age Dating
b)
Relative - Age Dating
3.
What do we call a chart that divides Earth's history into different time units.
Examples: Eons, Eras, Periods
a)
Fossil record
b)
Geologic time scale
c)
Evoluation
d)
Extinction 
4.
Extinctions occur because the environment changes.
a)
True
b)
False
5.
This picture shows a change over time in populations of related organisms, in this case the organisms are horses. What is the scientific term for this kind of change?
a)
Fossil evidence
b)
Evolution
c)
Biological evolution
d)
Extinction
6.
Which of the following is NOT a true statement about fossil evidence?
a)
We are still discovering fossils.
b)
Fossils are any remains including humans.
c)
Sonar and sonography equipment help us locate buried objects. 
d)
We have found all the fossils there are.
7.
Giant fossil ferns have been found in Canada. What conclusion can be drawn from this evidence?
a)
Canada once had a much warmer climate.
b)
Giant dragonflies once live among the ferns.
c)
Canada was once covered by ancient sea.
d)
Dinosaurs once lived in Canada.
8.
The fossil record shows that:
a)
Most species have not evolved.
b)
Some species are evolutionary transitions between major groups of organisms.
c)
All species are today just as they were when they were created.
d)
All of the above.
9.
What can be learned about a fossil using relative-age dating?
a)
its age in years
b)
its age compared to other fossils
c)
its age based on radioactive decay
10.
The impression of an organism in a rock
a)
cast
b)
original material fossil
c)
trace fossil
d)
mold
11.
The fossil copy of an organism in a rock
a)
cast
b)
original material fossil
c)
trace fossil
d)
mold
12.
The preserved evidence of the activity of an organism
a)
cast
b)
original material fossil
c)
trace fossil
d)
mold
13.
When the last individual of a species dies.
a)
biological evolution
b)
geologic tradegdy
c)
extinction
d)
cambrian period
14.
An impression of an organism is left in rock
a)
mineralization 
b)
carbonization
c)
molds and casts
d)
trace fossil
15.
The actual plant or animal is in this type of fossil. 
a)
Mold fossil
b)
Cast Fossil
c)
Trace fossil
d)
Original Material Fossil
16.
How are fossils created?
a)
Traces of organisms get turned into stone.
b)
Dead organisms are quickly buried for millions of years.
c)
Animals get trapped.
d)
All of the above
17.
What is hardened tree sap called?
a)
coprolites
b)
index fossils
c)
gastroliths
d)
amber
18.
The geologic time scale divides Earth's history into units of:
a)
time
b)
miles
c)
rock
d)
fossil record
19.
This type of fossil dating is the most precise
a)
absolute-age dating
b)
relative-age dating
20.
Why don’t we have a complete fossil record of all life that’s ever lived?
a)
Fossil formation requires a rare mix of physical and biological conditions.
b)
Fossils must be exposed at Earth’s surface to have a chance of being found.
c)
Fossils can be destroyed when rocks erode, melt, or change composition.
d)
All of the above
21.

What is the name for the time scale used to measure Earth's history?

a)

universal time scale

b)

fossil History time scale

c)

evolutionary time scale

d)

geologic time scale

22.

An insect encased in amber is what kind of fossil?

a)

mold and cast

b)

mineralized fossil

c)

original material

d)

trace fossil

23.

Which is a major underlying cause of mass extinctions?

a)

Environmental change

b)

Genetic change

c)

sedimentation

d)

evolution

24.

What is the basic concept behind relative-age dating of fossils?

a)

Upper rock layers were deposited earlier than lower rock layers

b)

Lower rock layers were deposited earlier than upper rock layers

c)

Older fossils contain relatively higher levels of radioactive isotopes than younger fossils

d)

Younger fossils contain relatively higher levels of radioactive isotopes than older fossils

25.

Environmental changes that cause extinction occur on what time scale?

a)

They occur instananeous

b)

They are usually on the scale of a few years

c)

They are always on the scale of hundreds to thousands of years

d)

They can occur over shorter or longer time scales

26.

Which of these answers best describes a fossil?

a)

thick layers of rock

b)

organism from which other organisms are descended

c)

body of an organism that died recently but has hasn't decomposed

d)

remains of a once living organism found in layers of rock, ice or amber

27.

The diagram shows a portion of the fossil record in sedimentary rock. Which of these statements is true of the fossils and rock layers shown in the diagram?

a)

Layer B contains the second oldest fossils

b)

Layer A contains the most recently formed fossils

c)

The fossils in layer B are older than those in layer D

d)

The fossils in D are the most recently formed

28.
When a plant or animal no longer exists, it is ____________________.
a)
fossil
b)
imprint
c)
extinct
d)
cast
29.
The diagram below shows fossils in different rock layers. Which of these statements about the age of these fossils is most likely correct?
a)
Fossil 1 and 3 are the same age.
b)
Fossil 2 is older than fossil 3.
c)
Fossils 2 and 4 are the same age.
d)
Fossil 4 is older than fossil 3.
30.
Determining the approximate order in which rock layers were deposited is an important part of ______________.
a)
relative age dating
b)
dinosaur period
c)
absolute age dating
d)
carbon dating
31.
Dead organism is compressed over time
a)
mineralization
b)
trace fossil
c)
carbonization
d)
petrified fossil
32.
These fossils shows evidence of activity. Scientists use these fossils to study animal behaviors. 
a)
Mold fossil
b)
Trace Fossil
c)
Cast fossil
d)
Body Fossil
33.
___________ is a scientist who studies fossils.
a)
Paleontologist
b)
Archaeologist
c)
Pathologist
d)
Pharmacologist
34.
Law of Superposition: Which rock layer is the oldest in this image?
a)
Layer A
b)
Layer B
c)
Layer C
d)
Layer D
35.
During the Cenozoic era, what type of organisms were the dominant species on land?
a)
Mammals
b)
Plants
c)
Reptiles
d)
Birds
36.
During what era did Pangaea break apart into individual continents?
a)
Precambrian
b)
Paleozoic
c)
Mesozoic
d)
Cenozoic
37.
What is NOT true about the evidence that fossils provide?
a)
Some fossil organisms are transitional forms between groups of organisms.
b)
Fossil organisms often share physical similarities with living organisms.
c)
All fossils contain intact DNA that can be sequenced
d)
Fossil ages can often be determined by testing nearby rocks.
38.
Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic all belong to:
a)
Epochs
b)
Eras
c)
Periods
d)
Eons
39.
Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Mississippian, Pennsylvanian, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary, Quaternary all belong to:
a)
Periods
b)
Eons
c)
Epochs
d)
Eras
40.
Age of fish was during this era:
a)
Cenozoic
b)
Mesozoic
c)
Paleozoic
41.
Modern mammals was during this era:
a)
Cenozoic
b)
Mesozoic
c)
Paleozoic
42.
Age of reptiles was during this era:
a)
Cenozoic
b)
Mesozoic
c)
Paleozoic
43.
The earliest part of Earth's history is called the:
a)
Cenozoic
b)
Cambrian
c)
Holocene
d)
Precambrian
44.
Which division of the geologic time scale is the longest?
a)
Eon
b)
Period
c)
Era
d)
Epoch
45.
Which is the correct order for the 3 eras on geologic time scale.  This order is from oldest to current.
a)
Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
b)
Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Cenozoic
c)
Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic
46.
Each of the three eras can be divided into ____
a)
Periods
b)
Eons
47.
The first interval is _____ time, which accounts for all of Earth's history before the Paleozoic era.
a)
Precambrian
b)
Cambrian
48.
Which is closest to the accepted age of the Earth?
a)
4,000
b)
4 million 
c)
4 billion 
d)
4 trillion
49.

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

a)

The absolute age of rock layers

b)

The age of fossils

c)

The relative age of rock layers

d)

the super powers of squirrels

50.
According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found 
a)
At the top of the rock layers
b)
Near the bottom of the rock layers
c)
In the middle of the rock layers
d)
Somewhat near the surface
51.
Which rock layer in the diagram seems to be the oldest?
a)
F
b)
E
c)
B
d)
A
52.
Which of the following correctly lists the layers in order from oldest to youngest?
a)
A, B, C, D, E
b)
E, B, C, D, A
c)
E, D, C, B, A
d)
C, B, A, D, E
53.
The ___ parts of organisms are more likely to become fossils.
a)
hard
b)
soft
c)
outer
d)
inner
54.
Which Rock layer or intrusion is the youngest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
55.
This rock was formed by smaller pieces of rock that settled at the bottom of a lake millions of years ago. What type of rock is this?
a)
Sedimentary
b)
Igneous
c)
Metamorphic
56.
What rock layer is the oldest ?
a)
a
b)
b
c)
c
d)
d
57.
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
58.
Choose the correct order of relative ages for the rock layers below, starting with the youngest, and finishing with the oldest layer.  
a)
A, E, B, C, D
b)
A, B, C, D, E
c)
E, A, D, C, B
d)
E, D, C, B, A
59.
What percent of carbon-14 would be left after 5730 years?
a)
100%
b)
75%
c)
50%
d)
25%
60.

A geologist could find the absolute age of which type of rock?

a)

sedimentary

b)

igneous

61.
To be considered an index fossil, it had to have lived for a relatively short period of time.
a)
True
b)
False

Similar Resources on Wayground

7th Grade Final Exam Review

63 questions

7th Grade Final Exam Review

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th Grade

DNA, Protein Synthesis, and Mutations

66 questions

DNA, Protein Synthesis, and Mutations

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th - 12th Grade

Frogs

65 questions

Frogs

quiz

Worksheet

•

KG - 7th Grade

Matter $ Properties of the Matter

61 questions

Matter $ Properties of the Matter

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 12th Grade

DNA Replication & Gene expression

61 questions

DNA Replication & Gene expression

quiz

Worksheet

•

6th - 8th Grade

Properties of Water Test

62 questions

Properties of Water Test

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th - 12th Grade

Unit 1 "The Earth in the Universe" (PART II)

63 questions

Unit 1 "The Earth in the Universe" (PART II)

quiz

Worksheet

•

7th Grade

IGCSE 0610 21 Human influences on ecosystems

60 questions

IGCSE 0610 21 Human influences on ecosystems

quiz

Worksheet

•

8th - 10th Grade