Fossils and the Rock Record
Practice Test
1.
What do the nuclei of some isotopes release during radioactive decay?
SC.A.2.4.2
a.
their nuclei
b.
lead
c.
radiation
d.
valence electrons
2.
How are clastic rocks classified?
a.
particle size
b.
mineralogy
c.
method of depostion
d.
metamorphic grade
3.
The tallest mountains on Earth are formed by __________.
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
oceanic-oceanic convergence
b.
continental-continental convergence
c.
hot spots
d.
oceanic-continental convergence
4.
According to the graph, at what depth does the sea floor start to drop off?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
8 km
b.
4 km
c.
2 km
d.
1 km
5.
Petrified wood is an example of __________.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
original hard parts
b.
an index fossil
c.
permineralization
d.
a mold
6.
What features do oceanic-continent and oceanic-oceanic convergences have in common?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
subduction zones and trenches
b.
crustal thickening
c.
trenches
d.
large mountain ranges and subduction zones
7.
How are submarine canyons formed
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
runoff
b.
rivers
c.
turbidity currents
d.
longshore current
8.
How are the convection currents set in motion?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
the heat from radioactive decay
b.
spreading mid-ocean ridges
c.
slab push
d.
slab push and ridge pull
9.
According to the symbols shown in the figure, in which state of matter do these elements occur?
SC.A.1.4.3
a.
gas
b.
liquid
c.
plasma
d.
solid
10.
What method is used to determine the exact age of a rock or fossil?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
relative age dating
b.
radiometric dating
c.
the principle of superposition
d.
dendrochronology
11.
According to the figure, what marked the end of the Mesozoic Era?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
the building of the Appalachians ends
b.
the extinction of the dinosaurs
c.
mammals are abundant
d.
the extinction of many marine invertebrates
12.
The grains of a breccia most likely traveled __________ than the grains in a conglomerate.
a.
the same distance
b.
a different distance
c.
a shorter distance
d.
a farther distance
13.
What is the current era?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
Mesozoic
b.
Archean
c.
Paleozoic
d.
Cenozoic
14.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge mountains are an example of mountains forming at __________.
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
divergent boundaries
b.
convergent boundaries
c.
hot spots
d.
uplifted areas
15.
What is thought to be the driving mechanism of plate movement?
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
continental drifting
b.
convection currents in the mantle
c.
conduction of heat in the mantle
d.
volcanoes
16.
The principle of _________ states that an intrusion or fault is younger than the rocks it cuts across.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
original horizontality
b.
cross-cutting relationships
c.
superposition
d.
uniformitarianism
17.
The Hawaiian Islands are made of volcanoes that formed due to __________.
SC.D.1.4.2
a.
uplift
b.
divergence at plate boundaries
c.
hot spot activity
d.
convergence at plate boundaries
18.
The __________ states that the processes that have been occurring today have been occurring since Earth formed.
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
principle of uniformitarianism
b.
principle of cross-cutting relationships
c.
principle of original horizontality
d.
principle of superposition
19.
A _________ is the unaltered remains of a once-living organism.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
fossil with original preservation
b.
trace fossil
c.
fossil with permineralization
d.
mold of a fossil
20.
What isotope is used for finding the age of materials that are organic in origin?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
thorium-232
b.
potassium-40
c.
uranium-238
d.
carbon-14
