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WorksheetsEarth History Inv 3 & 4 Review
Total questions: 13
Worksheet time: 7mins
Two students are exploring a creek in their neighborhood. The students hope to find some fossils along the way. What kinds of rocks should the students look for on their hike, and why should they look for those kinds of rock?
Igneous rocks because they are formed from cooled lava or magma.
Sedimentary rocks because they often contain fossils.
Metamorphic rocks because they have been changed by heat and pressure.
In one area, the creek has exposed a layer of shale. What kind of environment might have once existed here to create that rock layer? (Mark the one best answer.)
A. A sandy beach
B. A swamp
C. A coral reef
D. A river
Which statement best describes the principle of uniformitarianism? (Mark the one best answer.)
A. Deposition occurs faster today than it did in ancient environments.
B. Rocks form by the same processes today as in the past.
C. Weathering and erosion can be fast or slow, depending on the type of rock.
D. Earth's geological features were formed by a few catastrophic events.
Uniformitarianism is an important principle to consider when making inferences about how Earth's geology has changed over millions of years because:
it suggests that the same natural laws and processes that operate in the universe now have always operated in the universe in the past and apply everywhere in the universe.
it implies that catastrophic events are the primary drivers of geological change.
it states that Earth's geological features are static and unchanging.
it argues that human activity is the main factor in geological transformations.
What are reasons for gaps in the fossil record? Check each statement that explains gaps in the fossil record.
Many organisms do not have structures that can be fossilized.
There were periods of time when no organisms died.
Some environments do not provide conditions favorable to fossil formation.
There are lots of fossils that we haven’t found yet.
Some geological events destroyed fossils that were in the rock layers.
Geological time is described in eras and periods. Those segments of time are based on ______. (Mark the one best answer.)
whoever discovered them
significant evolutionary events in Earth's history
the thickness of certain rock layers
the number of layers of rock that can be counted in 10 meters of a rock column
To a geologist, the most important use of index fossils is ______. (Mark the one best answer.)
to show what kind of life existed long ago
to show that the sediments were deposited horizontally
to determine the age of the rock
to tell the story of the ancient environment
Do scientists think that new rocks are still forming today. How does uniformitarianism help scientists answer this question?
Uniformitarianism suggests that the processes that formed rocks in the past are still occurring today.
Uniformitarianism suggests that new rocks form from catastrophic events which form new rocks.
They do not believe that new rocks are still forming today, only that they are eroding.
Uniformitarianism is unrelated to the formation of rocks.
Geologists have discovered the fossils you see below in rock layers at 3 state parks. One of these fossils is an index fossil. Based on the information given, which of the following is most likely the index fossil? (Mark the one best answer.)
W
X
Y
Z
Three students used the index fossil to analyze the rock layers. George claimed the bottom of outcrop A was the youngest rock. Sally claimed since the W is good index fossil, the top of outcrop C is older than the other outcrop tops. Bob claimed the opposite of Sally (that the top of Outcrop C is youngest rock). Which student is correct based on the index fossil evidence?
George
Sally
Bob
Some students wanted to investigate how five different sediments settled in a basin of water. They started with the basin flat on the table and added new sediments each day for three days. On the fourth day, they gently tilted the basin before adding the sediments for the last few days. (Note: The layer shaded gray represents the water.) Which drawing best represents the basin layers and water at the end of their investigation? (Mark the one best answer.)
How does this investigation apply to the formation of rock layers in the real world? Check each statement that explains how this investigation applies to the formation of rock layers.
An entire basin can become tilted.
Layers gradually tilt until they become horizontal.
Larger sediments are found in the bottom layers.
Newer layers from on top of older layers.
Layers always form horizontally.
Continuing along the creek, they find some pieces of white sandy rock in the creek. They drip hydrochloric acid on that rock. The rock does not fizz. Check each process that likely formed the rocks in the creek.
Deposition
Chemical Reaction
Cementation
Erosion
Melting
