Fossil & Geologic Time Test

FOSSIL & GEOLOGIC TIME TEST A. Multiple Choice (write the letter of the correct answer on the line to the left) (3 pts each)

___1. A petrified fossil forms when a. minerals seep into the empty space of a mold. b. minerals replace all or part of an organism. c. an organism becomes trapped in amber. d. the weight of sediment squeezes everything away except carbon.

___2. Fossils provide evidence for all of the following EXCEPT a. changes in the Earth’s surface b. exactly how Earth originally formed. c. how environments and climates on Earth have changed over time. d. how groups of organisms have changed over time

___3. Rock layers are ______than the intrusions that cut across them. a. younger b. older c. same age d. none of the above

___ 4. The Precambrian time began after the formation of the Earth about_____ years ago. a. 4.6 thousand b. 4.6 million c. 4.6 billion d. 46 billion

___5. Fossils are almost always found in a. igneous rock b. sedimentary rock c. crystal d. metamorphic rock

___6. When rock layers are lost due to erosion, this is known as a. extinction b. extrusion c. unconformity d. intrusion

B. Short Answer (4 points each) 7. Describe your OWN absolute age and relative age. Be sure to use complete and detailed sentences.

8. Draw an illustration showing of the law of superposition. Then explain what the law of superposition is in words

9. Describe some of the catastrophic events that led to mass extinctions in Earth’s history. What happened because of these extinctions?

10. Explain in which “type” of rock fossils are found and why the other two “types” of rock aren’t good at preserving fossils.

C. True/False (Write true or false; if false, change the underlined word to make it true) (3 pts) 11. A scientist who studies fossils is called a (an) paleontologist. 12. Index fossils are useful because they help tell the absolute age of a rock layer. 13. The Geologic Time Scale shows how organisms have become more complex over time. 14. Organisms are most likely to become fossils if they are buried in soft mud quickly. 2008-2009 Edwards D. Matching (write letter of correct definition beside each word 3 points each) __15. fault a. age of fishes __16. unconformity b. the specific age of a rock; years since a fossil formed __17. Cenozoic c. areas of missing rock layers probably caused from erosion __18. absolute age d. age of mammals __19. relative age e. age of a rock compared to another rock __20. Mesozoic f. break or a crack in rock __21. Paleozoic g. the time it takes for half of an isotope/element to decay __22. half-life h. age of reptiles

E. Application -3 points each) **Answer the questions below by analyzing the figure:

23.Which layer in diagram 2 is about the same age as layer D in diagram 1?

24. Which layer in diagram 2 shows dry land taking the place of sea?

The picture below should be used to answer 25-26.

25. Out of all of these layers, intrusions, extrusions…which is numbered area is the youngest of all?

26. Which is older: 5 or 7? Why?

F. Matching (write letter of correct definition beside each word) (2 points each) __27. petrified fossil a. evidence of activities of ancient life __28. mold b. fossils used to determine the relative age of rock layers __29. cast c. fossil with a thin coating of carbon on a rock __30. carbon film d. fossil where minerals replace parts or all of organism __31. trace fossils e. a cavity, indention, impression in the shape of an organism __32. index fossils f. when sediments fill a cavity, hardens, and creates a model

G. Essay (6 points each)

33. List the four major chunks of time in Earth’s history. Describe the type of organisms that lived, any nicknames for that section of time, and any significant (important) events that took place….BE thorough! 2008-2009 Edwards