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- 1. Multiple ChoiceOn a geological dig, two fossil samples were found in different rock layers in the same area. One fossil was found in a rock layer that was located below the other. Which can be concluded about the relative ages of the fossils?The fossil found in the lower layer is older than the one found above it.The fossils were found in the same area, so they are the exact same age.The fossil found in the lower layer is younger than the one found above it.The fossils are differeent ages, but it cannot be determined which is older or younger.
- 2. Multiple ChoiceWhich are scientists most likely to use to estimate the age of Earth?rock layerssoil samplesorganic fossilswater samples
- 3. Multiple ChoiceBased on the law of superposition, which best describes the ages of four undisturbed rock layers relative to one another?All of the layers of rock were deposited at about the same time and are about the same age.The youngest rock layer is found on top, and the older layers are closer to the center of EarthThe oldest rock layer is found on top, and the younger layers are closer to the center of Earth.The youngest rock layer is found on the bottom, followed by the oldest layer, and then younger layers.
- 4. Multiple ChoiceWhy is petrified wood considered to be a fossil?it was once living matter.It is composed of hardened wood.It is made entirely of rock material.
- 5. Multiple ChoiceCarbon 14 has a half life of 5,730 years. If a fossil sample has 25% of the original Carbon 14 in it, how old is the fossil?5,730 years old11,460 years old17,190 years old
- 6. Multiple ChoiceWhich best explains the use of radioactive dating?to determine the presence of index fossilsto determine the relative age of a rock layerto determine the absolute age of a rock layerto determine changes in the surface of the Earth
- 7. Multiple ChoiceWhich describes the best use of Carbon-14 in collecting geologic evidence?to compare the decay of uranium to leadto date artifacts less than 50,000 years oldto date sedimentary rock layersto identify index fossils
- 8. Multiple Choice
Fossils were discovered in four different sedimentary rock layers as shown below: Which best describes the age of the fish relative to the age of the fern and the age of the shell?
The fish is older than both the fern and the shell.
The fish is younger than both the fern and the shell.
The fish is older than the fern, but younger than the shell.
The fish is younger than the fern, but older than the shell.
- 9. Multiple Choice
The figure below shows a wall of the Grand Canyon. The most recent rocks of the Grand Canyon formed during which Geologic Period?
Permian
Devorian
Cambrian
Precambrian
- 10. Multiple ChoiceThe half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 billion years. An igneous rock is found with 25% potassium-40. What is the absolute age of this rock?1.3 billion years2.6 billion years3.9 billion years5.2 billion years
- 11. Multiple ChoiceWhich statement is true?The oldest layers of rock and soil are closest to the surface of the earth.The youngest layers of rock and soil are farther away from the surface of the earth.Carbon-14 dating is an example of relative dating, and the law of superposition is an example of absolute dating.Absolute geologic dating and relative geologic dating are two methods used by scientists to determine the age of geologic evidence.
- 12. Multiple Choice
Which material from an archaeological dig is least likely to be studied using the radioactive isotope carbon-14?
bone fragment of fish
granite cutting tool
tooth of a mammal
wooden tool handle
- 13. Multiple ChoiceWhich best describes a fossil that helps determine the relative age of a rock layer?trace fossilindex fossilradioactive fossilunconformity fossil
- 14. Multiple ChoiceWhat is the best description for how trace fossils are different from fossils of an organism's remains?Trace fossils are fossilized tracks and other evidences of an organism's activity.Trace fossils are fossilized waste of an animal.Trace fossils are parts of the original organism.
- 15. Multiple ChoiceAn undisturbed rock column contains a fossil of a reptile species in the lowest rock layer, an index fossil that was present 1 million years ago in the middle rock layer, and a fossil of a clam species in the top rock layer. Which statement is most likely correct?The index fossil formed when a desert habitat made rock layers in the column.There was a marine habitat over one million years ago that formed rock layers in the column.There was a desert habitat before a marine habitat that formed the rock layers in the column.There was a desert habitat more recently that one million years ago that formed rock layers in the column.
- 16. Multiple ChoiceBy which method have scientists determined that the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old?plate tectonicsrelative datingradioactive datinglaw of superposition
- 17. Multiple Choice
The diagram shows a cross-section of several rock layers and geological features. Based on the diagram, which is true?
Layer U is the oldest.
Layer Z is the youngest.
Layer T is older than Layer S.
Layer X is older than Layer Y.
- 18. Multiple Choice
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.
The fault formed while Organism X was living and after Organism Y had died because the fault is located between the two fossils.
Both organisms lived at the same time because the fossils they formed were found in rock layers of about the same depth.
Organism Y lived before Organism X because Organism Y was found in an older rock layer.
- 19. Multiple Choice
- 20. Multiple Choice
Scientists are analyzing a recently unearthed fossil using radiometric dating techniques. Twenty-five percent of the original uranium-235 in the sample has decayed into lead-207.
Permian
Devonian
Silurian
Cambrian
- 21. Multiple Choice
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
- 22. Multiple ChoiceWhich makes a good index fossil?a fossil not commonly found in rocksa fossil that lived throughout geologic timea fossil that lived during three geologic time periodsa fossil that lived during only one geologic time period
- 23. Multiple ChoiceA scientist finds an index fossil in layers of rock in both Africa and South America. What does this indicate about the ages of the rocks?The African rock is older.The South American rock is older.The rocks are younger than the fossils.The rocks are approximately the same age.
- 24. Multiple ChoiceStudies of snail fossils in Egypt indicate that areas of Egypt that are now desert were once thriving savannahs approximately 130,000 years ago. What does the presence of these fossils indicate about the area of Egypt that was thriving 130,000 years ago?There was more humidity in the air.There were fewer nutrients in the soil.There was more snowfall in the region.There was less solar radiation in the region.
- 25. Multiple ChoiceRock layers with seashells are found on top of a mountain much higher than sea level. Which most likely caused this?depositionerosionfault
- 26. Multiple ChoiceThe level of carbon dioxide in an ice core is higher at the top than farther down. What can most likely be determined from this?A catastrophic event occurred.The landmass moved further toward the equator.There was a global cooling period followed by a global warming period.There was a global warming period followed by a global cooling period.
- 27. Multiple Choice
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?
It is a desert.
It is a mountainous region.
It was once covered by water.
It was formed millions of years ago.
- 28. Multiple ChoiceWhich provides the best evidence of Earth's changing climate?ice coresvolcanic ashmetamorphic rockssediment in river beds
- 29. Multiple ChoiceMay fossils of large amphibians were found in an area that is currently barren desert. Which is most likely true?The climate of the area was once much wetter than it is now.Amphibians were once better at surviving in dry environments.The amphibians migrated there after a catastrophic event destroyed their habitats.The amphibians are not native to the area and their bones were brought there by other animals.
- 30. Multiple ChoiceWhich are most closely associated with volcanic activity, plate tectonics, and seafloor spreading?fossilsmountainsigneous rockssedimentary rocks
- 31. Multiple ChoiceWhy are fossils most likely found in sedimentary rock samples?More plants and animal species grow on sedimentary rocks.Sedimentary rocks preserve fossils with intense heat and pressure.Sedimentary rocks are formed in layers that trap the material for fossilizationSedimentary rocks are much stronger than igneous or metamorphic rocks and protect the samples.
- 32. Multiple ChoiceResearchers are investigating whether dinosaurs were endothermic like birds. Which evidence from the fossil record could be effectively compared with modern day evidence to support this hypothesis?similarities in bone structureseasonal shifts in food supplyconsumption of the same plant speciestree rings indicating the return of a similar climate
- 33. Multiple ChoiceA rock cliff of parallel rock layers is slanted at an angle. What is this most likely evidence of?depositionerosionfault
- 34. Multiple ChoiceAn ice core shows increasing levels of carbon dioxide over the last 100 years. Which best explains the high levels of carbon dioxide found in the ice core?Temperatures over the last century have been growing colder.Temperatures over the last century have been growing warmer.The region was covered by seawater at some time in the last century.The region has received higher amounts of precipitation over the last century.
- 35. Multiple ChoiceWhat do earthquakes tell scientists about the history of the planet?Earth's climate is constantly changing.The continents of the Earth are continually moving.Dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago.The oceans are much deeper today than millions of years ago.
- 36. Multiple ChoicePaleontologists construct a model of a dinosaur from its fossil bones and teeth. The fossil bones and teeth can help the paleontologists to infer all of the following about the dinosaur exceptheight of the dinosaur.type of food the dinosaur ate.length of the dinosaur.skin color of the dinosaur.
- 37. Multiple ChoiceThe K-T boundary is the geologic stratum that separates the Cretaceous period, which ended sixty-five million years ago with the extinction of the dinosaurs, from the Tertiary period. A student reads the following statement:
Despite the fact that iridium is much less abundant on Earth than gold, clay located at the K-T boundary contains at least twice as much iridium than gold.
How does this statement support the theory that an asteroid impacted Earth about sixty-five million years ago?by supporting the hypothesis that an asteroid impact would change Earth's climateby providing evidence that the iridium was toxic to the species on Earth at that timeby supporting the hypothesis that an asteroid impact would alter Earth's landmass - 38. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following eras is known as the "Age of Mammals"?PrecambrianPaleozoicMesozoicCenozoic
- 39. Multiple ChoiceWhich best explains the significance of the trilobite as an index fossil?They were the first fossils to be discovered.They are fossils that represent many different life-forms.They were the only fossils found outside the United States.They are fossils that indicate a certain era in geologic time.
- 40. Multiple ChoiceFossils of the fern Glossopteris have been found in the continents of South America, Africa, Asia, and Antarctica. The seeds of this fern were too small to be dispersed by wind. Which is best indicated by the presence of Glossopteris on these continents?Glossopteris was versatile enough to adapt to all climates.The landmasses were joined together in pre-historic times.Fossils were much better preserved in the southern continents.The northern climate regions were not suitable for plant growth.
- 41. Multiple Choice
When two fish die, Fish A sinks to the bottom of a lake and Fish B washes up on the rocky lake shore. Why is a fossil more likely to form from the body of Fish A than from the body of Fish B?
Soft parts of the fish will decay more quickly in the water.
Sediments in the water will quickly cover the fish.
Scavengers in the water will eat the remains of the fish.
Currents in the water will move the fish.
- 42. Multiple Choice
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?
increased deforestation
decreased deforestation
increased use of fossil fuels
decreased use of fossil fuels
- 43. Multiple Choice
The picture shows an ammonite fossil on the left. On the right, it shows how the animal may have looked 160 million years ago. According to the ammonite's characteristics, which modern animals would most likely be the relatives of ammonites?
squids and octopi
whales and porpoises
lizards and turtles
shrimp and crabs
- 44. Multiple ChoiceTrilobites 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.
- 45. Multiple Choice
The diagram below shows the Earth's crustal plates. Which natural occurrence is the direct result of tectonic plate movement?
earthquake
hurricane
tornado
blizzard
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