Fossils and the Rock Record
Practice Test
1.
If a horizontal Devonian shale directly overlies a horizontal Ordovician limestone, what is the surface between the strata called?
a.
a nonconformity
b.
a disconformity
c.
an angular unconformity
d.
an erosional surface
2.
The principle of _________ states that an intrusion or fault is younger than the rocks it cuts across.
a.
superposition
b.
original horizontality
c.
uniformitarianism
d.
cross-cutting relationships
3.
What is at the bottom of the geologic time scale?
a.
the Silurian Period
b.
the oldest division of time
c.
the Cenozoic Era
d.
the youngest division of time
4.
A _________ is the unaltered remains of a once-living organism.
a.
fossil with permineralization
b.
trace fossil
c.
mold of a fossil
d.
fossil with original preservation
5.
What geologic principle states that in an undisturbed rock sequence, the oldest rocks are on the bottom and the youngest are on the top?
a.
uniformitarianism
b.
cross-cutting relationships
c.
original horizontality
d.
superposition
6.
What isotope is used for finding the age of materials that are organic in origin?
a.
uranium-238
b.
carbon-14
c.
potassium-40
d.
thorium-232
7.
What is the current era?
a.
Cenozoic
b.
Mesozoic
c.
Paleozoic
d.
Archean
8.
Petrified wood is an example of __________.
a.
original hard parts
b.
an index fossil
c.
a mold
d.
permineralization
9.
Which of these are indirect evidence of plant or animal life?
a.
altered remains
b.
original hard parts
c.
trace fossils
d.
microfossils
10.
According to the figure, after four half-lives (22,820 years), how much C-14 would be left?
a.
25%
b.
6.25%
c.
10%
d.
0%
11.
According to the figure, what marked the end of the Mesozoic Era?
a.
mammals are abundant
b.
the extinction of many marine invertebrates
c.
the extinction of the dinosaurs
d.
the building of the Appalachians ends
12.
What is an erosional contact between sedimentary and nonsedimentary rocks called?
a.
a lava flow
b.
a fault
c.
a disconformity
d.
a nonconformity
13.
What method is used to determine the exact age of a rock or fossil?
a.
relative age dating
b.
radiometric dating
c.
dendrochronology
d.
the principle of superposition
14.
What is the shortest division of time in the geologic time scale?
a.
an eon
b.
an era
c.
an epoch
d.
a period
15.
What characterizes an index fossil?
a.
widely distributed geographically
b.
all of these are correct
c.
easily recognized
d.
abundant
16.
Which layering shown in the figure demonstrates disconformity?
a.
A
b.
none of the above
c.
B
d.
C
17.
What type of material is used in the dating technique of dendrochronology?
a.
sediment layers from lake beds
b.
tree growth rings
c.
key beds
d.
tree leaves
18.
According to the table, what is the half-life of Thorium-234?
Days Elapsed
Grams Of Thorium – 234 Remaining
0
16
12
11
24
8
36
6
a.
24 days
b.
20 days
c.
8 days
d.
16 days
19.
What is the longest division of time in the geologic time scale?
a.
an eon
b.
an era
c.
a period
d.
an epoch
