Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Earth's Formation & History Quiz

Total questions: 42

Worksheet time: 21mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Spectroscopy shows that the Sun is mostly made of hydrogen and helium.

a)

True

b)

False

2.

What has been shown by observing the doppler effect of distant galaxies? (Choose all that apply, only one is incorrect).

a)

Blueshifted light from distant galaxies tells us the universe is shrinking.

b)

Galaxies further away from Earth are traveling away from us faster than closer ones.

c)

Almost all galaxies outside of our galaxy are moving away from each other.

d)

When objects are moving away from us, the light they emit is shifted towards the red end of the spectrum, called redshift.

3.

Which TWO of the following elements were NOT created from the Big Bang?

a)

Hydrogen

b)

Helium

c)

Iron

d)

Oxygen

4.

The process which created the heavier elements within stars is called:

a)

Fusion

b)

Radioactive decay

c)

Redshift

d)

Spectroscopy

5.

Which of the following describes gas giants?

a)

Mainly hydrogen and helium gas

b)

Mostly methane ices

c)

Metal core surrounded by rock

6.

Which of the following describes ice giants?

a)

Mainly hydrogen and helium gas

b)

Mostly methane ices

c)

Metal core surrounded by rock

7.

Which of the following describes rocky planets?

a)

Mainly hydrogen and helium gas

b)

Mostly methane ices

c)

Metal core surrounded by rock

8.

Which definition of a planet does Pluto fail?

a)

enough mass to have gravitational forces that force it to be rounded

b)

not massive enough to create fusion

c)

large enough to be in a cleared orbit

9.

Layer 3 represents which of the Earth's layer?

a)

mantle

b)

crust

c)

lithosphere

d)

inner & outer core

10.

Layer 2 represents which of the Earth's layer?

a)

mantle

b)

crust

c)

lithosphere

d)

inner core

11.

Layers 1a & 1b represent which of the Earth's layer?

a)

mantle

b)

ocean & continental crust

c)

lithosphere

d)

inner core

12.

Layer4 represents which of the Earth's layer?

a)

mantle

b)

asthenosphere

c)

lithosphere

d)

outer core

13.

Layer 5 represents which of the Earth's layer?

a)

mantle

b)

asthenosphere

c)

lithosphere

d)

outer core

14.

The Big Bang Theory explains:

a)

The origin of the Universe

b)

The Origin of the Solar System

c)

How the Moon was formed

d)

The the Earth's crust formed

15.

The Universe likely formed:

a)

13.8 bya

b)

4.6 bya

c)

4004 BC

d)

500 mya

16.

Since it's creation the universe has been:

a)

Expanding

b)

Contracting

c)

Staying the same

d)

None of the above

17.

The theory that explains the origin of our solar system is the:

a)

Nebular hypothesis

b)

Big Bang Theory

c)

Tectonic Plate theory

d)

Great Oxygenation Event

18.

What is a nebula?

a)

A spinning cloud of dust

b)

A molten planet

c)

A black hole

d)

A ball of rock with a frozen tail hurtling through space

19.

Which Eon is named for a Greek God who was the ruler of the underworld?

a)

Hadean

b)

Archean

c)

Proterozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

20.

Which Eon name is Greek for beginning?

a)

Hadean

b)

Archean

c)

Proterozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

21.

Which Eon name means earlier life?

a)

Hadean

b)

Archean

c)

Proterozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

22.

Which Eon name means visible life?

a)

Hadean

b)

Archean

c)

Proterozoic

d)

Phanerozoic

23.

Which is the age range for the Hadean Eon?

a)

4.6 - 4.0 bya

b)

4.0 - 2.5 bya

c)

2.5 bya - 541 mya

d)

541 mya - present

24.

Which is the age range for the Archean Eon?

a)

4.6 - 4.0 bya

b)

4.0 - 2.5 bya

c)

2.5 bya - 541 mya

d)

541 mya - present

25.

Which is the age range for the Proterozoic Eon?

a)

4.6 - 4.0 bya

b)

4.0 - 2.5 bya

c)

2.5 bya - 541 mya

d)

541 mya - present

26.

Which is the age range for the Phanerozoic Eon?

a)

4.6 - 4.0 bya

b)

4.0 - 2.5 bya

c)

2.5 bya - 541 mya

d)

541 mya - present

27.

The Earth in the Hadean Eon was:

a)

Very hot with lots of volcanic activity and asteroid impacts

b)

Similar to today with continents and oceans

c)

Swampy and full of life

d)

Covered in windswept deserts with simple ocean life

28.

The earth in the Archean Eon was:

a)

Partially molten and unsuitable for life

b)

Layered and Cratons were forming

c)

Green and covered with abundant life

d)

Covered in red, oxidized rocks

29.

Which of the following is true about the earth's layers? Choose all that apply:

a)

Denser mafic & ultramafic materials rose to form the crust

b)

Lighter more Felsic materials rose to form the crust

c)

The earth is homogenous

d)

highest density iron and nickel sank into the core

30.

According to the Giant-impact hypothesis the moon was formed by:

a)

Capture of material from another part of the solar system

b)

Separation of material pulled from the early earth

c)

Collision with a body about half of earth's size & sharing at least part of earth's orbit

d)

A large deposit of cheese

31.

Earth's water could have come from: (choose all that apply)

a)

Volcanic outgassing

b)

Comets

c)

Meteors

d)

Nuclear fusion

32.

Which of the following terms describes the stable interior of a continent?

a)

craton

b)

shield

c)

platform

d)

ocean

33.

Which of the following terms describes the crystalline basement rock near the surface within a craton?

a)

core

b)

shield

c)

platform

d)

ocean

34.

Which of the following terms describes sedimentary rock covering a shield?

a)

core

b)

craton

c)

platform

d)

ocean

35.

The earliest evidence of life is: (choose all that apply)

a)

chemical signatures with organic origin

b)

microscopic filaments

c)

worm like multicellular creatures

d)

eukaryotes

36.

The origin of life on earth could have come from outer space via meteorites. True/False

a)

True

b)

False

37.

Life on earth could have arisen around deep sea vents. True/False

a)

True

b)

False

38.

Stromatolites are photosynthetic microbial mats made from cyanobacteria. True or False?

a)

True

b)

False

39.

Amino acids are organisms with more complex cells that have nuclei and organelles. True or False?

a)

True

b)

False, the are the building blocks of protein

40.

What caused melting of the early earth?

a)

Constant bombardment from asteroids

b)

Radioactive decay

c)

Gravitational compression

d)

All of the above

41.

There is evidence from minerals that liquid water was present during the Hadean Eon

a)

True

b)

False

42.

The first well-preserved fossils evidence is how old?

a)

3.5 bya

b)

4.1 bya

c)

2.1 bya

d)

541 mya