Fossils and the Rock Record
Practice Test
1.
Which feature shown in the figure is the oldest?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
P
b.
Q
c.
H
d.
L
2.
What geologic principle states that in an undisturbed rock sequence, the oldest rocks are on the bottom and the youngest are on the top?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
cross-cutting relationships
b.
uniformitarianism
c.
original horizontality
d.
superposition
3.
A gravel-sized particle in a conglomerate is __________ the conglomerate rock.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
older than
b.
always ten times older than
c.
younger than
d.
the same age as
4.
What type of material is used in the dating technique of dendrochronology?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
sediment layers from lake beds
b.
tree growth rings
c.
key beds
d.
tree leaves
5.
According to the figure, after four half-lives
22,820 years
, how much C-14 would be left?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
25%
b.
6.25%
c.
0%
d.
10%
6.
What isotope is used for finding the age of materials that are organic in origin?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
potassium-40
b.
thorium-232
c.
uranium-238
d.
carbon-14
7.
What is the current era?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
Mesozoic
b.
Archean
c.
Paleozoic
d.
Cenozoic
8.
What method is used to determine the exact age of a rock or fossil?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
relative age dating
b.
the principle of superposition
c.
radiometric dating
d.
dendrochronology
9.
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.
uniformitarianism
c.
superposition
d.
cross-cutting relationships
10.
What characterizes an index fossil?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
all of these are correct
b.
abundant
c.
easily recognized
d.
widely distributed geographically
11.
Petrified wood is an example of __________.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
original hard parts
b.
a mold
c.
permineralization
d.
an index fossil
12.
A _________ is the unaltered remains of a once-living organism.
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
fossil with permineralization
b.
fossil with original preservation
c.
trace fossil
d.
mold of a fossil
13.
The __________ states that the processes that have been occurring today have been occurring since Earth formed.
SC.D.1.4.4
a.
principle of cross-cutting relationships
b.
principle of original horizontality
c.
principle of superposition
d.
principle of uniformitarianism
14.
What does a disconformity in a sedimentary rock sequence represent?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
duplicated strata in the rock record
b.
a flood event
c.
a volcanic eruption
d.
a gap in the rock record
15.
What is the shortest division of time in the geologic time scale?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
an era
b.
a period
c.
an epoch
d.
an eon
16.
What era of geologic time ended with the largest extinction event in Earth history?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
the Cenozoic
b.
the Cretaceous
c.
the Paleozoic
d.
the Mesozoic
17.
What marks the end of the Proterozoic Eon?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
free oxygen
b.
mammals
c.
oxygen breathing organisms
d.
the first appearance of organisms with hard parts
18.
What is at the bottom of the geologic time scale?
SC.D.1.4.3
a.
the Cenozoic Era
b.
the Silurian Period
c.
the youngest division of time
d.
the oldest division of time
