Regents Earth Science
Miss Wojdan
1. The presence of coal in Antarctica
indicates that
A. Forests can grow on continental
glaciers
B. Coal can form in cold climates
C. Antarctica’s climate was once warmer
D. Antarctica currently has areas of
tropical climate
1. The presence of coal in Antarctica
indicates that
A. Forests can grow on continental
glaciers
B. Coal can form in cold climates
C. Antarctica’s climate was once warmer
D. Antarctica currently has areas of
tropical climate
2. What evidence suggests that a mass
extinction of the dinosaurs occurred at the
end of the Cretaceous Period?
A. An absence of dinosaur fossils in
Paleocene bedrock
B. Drawings of dinosaurs made by humans
in caves during the Paleocene Epoch
C. An abundance of dinosaur fossils in Early
Cretaceous bedrock
D. Evolution of dinosaurs during the Late
Cretaceous Epoch
2. What evidence suggests that a mass
extinction of the dinosaurs occurred at the
end of the Cretaceous Period?
A. An absence of dinosaur fossils in
Paleocene bedrock
B. Drawings of dinosaurs made by humans
in caves during the Paleocene Epoch
C. An abundance of dinosaur fossils in Early
Cretaceous bedrock
D. Evolution of dinosaurs during the Late
Cretaceous Epoch
3. Evidence indicates that 251 million years
ago a mass extinction of many life-forms
occurred on Earth. Which form of life
became extinct at this time?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Trilobites
Dinosaurs
Mammoths
Eurypterids
3. Evidence indicates that 251 million years
ago a mass extinction of many life-forms
occurred on Earth. Which form of life
became extinct at this time?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Trilobites
Dinosaurs
Mammoths
Eurypterids
4. Thin layers of volcanic ash act as
excellent time markers in the correlation of
bedrock because volcanic ash
A. Is easily eroded and lasts only for a
short time on Earth’s surface
B. Stays in the atmosphere for millions of
years
C. Is deposited over millions of years
D. Falls to Earth over a large area in a short
period of time
4. Thin layers of volcanic ash act as
excellent time markers in the correlation of
bedrock because volcanic ash
A. Is easily eroded and lasts only for a
short time on Earth’s surface
B. Stays in the atmosphere for millions of
years
C. Is deposited over millions of years
D. Falls to Earth over a large area in a short
period of time
5. How much of an 800-gram sample of
potassium-40 will remain after 3.9 ×
109 years of radioactive decay?
A. 50 grams
B. 100 grams
C. 200 grams
D. 400 grams
5. How much of an 800-gram sample of
potassium-40 will remain after 3.9 ×
109 years of radioactive decay?
A. 50 grams
B. 100 grams
C. 200 grams
D. 400 grams
6. Which number best represents when
humans are inferred to have first appeared
on Earth?
A.
B.
C.
D.
1
2
3
4
6. Which number best represents when
humans are inferred to have first appeared
on Earth?
A.
B.
C.
D.
1
2
3
4
7. The index fossil shown below has been
found in New York State sedimentary bedrock.
What other index fossil could also be found in
New York State bedrock of the same age?
A.
B.
C.
D.
7. The index fossil shown below has been
found in New York State sedimentary bedrock.
What other index fossil could also be found in
New York State bedrock of the same age?
A.
B.
C.
D.
8. Which fossil sequence is in order from
oldest to youngest?
A.
B.
C.
D.
8. Which fossil sequence is in order from
oldest to youngest?
A.
B.
C.
D.
9. Which two types of organisms both
survived the mass extinction that occurred
at the end of the Permian Period?
A. Trilobites and Nautiloids
B. Corals and Vascular Plants
C. Placoderm Fish and Graptolites
D. Gastropods and Eurypterids
9. Which two types of organisms both
survived the mass extinction that occurred
at the end of the Permian Period?
A. Trilobites and Nautiloids
B. Corals and Vascular Plants
C. Placoderm Fish and Graptolites
D. Gastropods and Eurypterids
10. The map below shows the location of Chicxulub
Crater created 65.5 million years ago by an asteroid
impact.
This impact occurred at the same time as the
A.
B.
C.
D.
Extinction of dinosaurs
Initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean
Formation of the Catskill Delta
Evolution of the first mammals
10. The map below shows the location of Chicxulub
Crater created 65.5 million years ago by an asteroid
impact.
This impact occurred at the same time as the
A.
B.
C.
D.
Extinction of dinosaurs
Initial opening of the Atlantic Ocean
Formation of the Catskill Delta
Evolution of the first mammals
11. What is the amount of Carbon-14 remaining
after 28,500 years?
A. 1/16 g
B. 15/16 g
C. 1/32 g
D. 31/32 g
11. What is the amount of Carbon-14 remaining
after 28,500 years?
A. 1/16 g
B. 15/16 g
C. 1/32 g
D. 31/32 g
12. If the original mass of a radioactive isotope
was 24 grams, how many grams would remain
after 3 half-lives?
A. 12 g
B. 24 g
C. 3 g
D. 6 g
12. If the original mass of a radioactive isotope
was 24 grams, how many grams would remain
after 3 half-lives?
A. 12 g
B. 24 g
C. 3 g
D. 6 g
13. According to the fossil record, which sequence
correctly represents the evolution of life on Earth?
A. Fish  Amphibians  Mammals  Softbodied organisms
B. Fish  Soft-bodied organisms  Mammals
 Amphibians
C. Soft-bodied organisms  Amphibians 
Fish  Mammals
D. Soft-bodied organisms  Fish 
Amphibians  Mammals
13. According to the fossil record, which sequence
correctly represents the evolution of life on Earth?
A. Fish  Amphibians  Mammals  Softbodied organisms
B. Fish  Soft-bodied organisms  Mammals
 Amphibians
C. Soft-bodied organisms  Amphibians 
Fish  Mammals
D. Soft-bodied organisms  Fish 
Amphibians  Mammals
14. Which letter indicates when dinosaurs became
extinct?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
14. Which letter indicates when dinosaurs became
extinct?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
15. How old is a fossil that has
radioactively decayed through 4 half-lives
of Carbon-14?
A.
B.
C.
D.
5,700 years
17,100 years
22,800 years
28,500 years
15. How old is a fossil that has
radioactively decayed through 4 half-lives
of Carbon-14?
A.
B.
C.
D.
5,700 years
17,100 years
22,800 years
28,500 years
16. An igneous rock contains 10 grams of
radioactive Potassium-40 and a total of 10
grams of its decay products. During which
geologic time interval was this rock most
likely formed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Middle Archean
Late Archean
Middle Proterozoic
Late Proterozoic
16. An igneous rock contains 10 grams of
radioactive Potassium-40 and a total of 10
grams of its decay products. During which
geologic time interval was this rock most
likely formed?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Middle Archean
Late Archean
Middle Proterozoic
Late Proterozoic
17. Which geologic event occurred in New
York State at approximately the same time
that eurypterids first appeared?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The opening of the Atlantic Ocean
The formation of the Queenston Delta
The uplift of the Appalachian Mountains
The intrusion of the Palisades Sill
17. Which geologic event occurred in New
York State at approximately the same time
that eurypterids first appeared?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The opening of the Atlantic Ocean
The formation of the Queenston Delta
The uplift of the Appalachian Mountains
The intrusion of the Palisades Sill
18. Evidence best indicates that rock layers 4 and 8
were deposited during the same geologic period
because both layers
A.
B.
C.
D.
Contain the same index fossil
Are found in the same area
Are composed of glacial sediments
Contain fossils of the same age
18. Evidence best indicates that rock layers 4 and 8
were deposited during the same geologic period
because both layers
A.
B.
C.
D.
Contain the same index fossil
Are found in the same area
Are composed of glacial sediments
Contain fossils of the same age
19. Which diagram best represents the percentage
of this radioactive isotope sample that will
remain after 2 half-lives?
A.
B.
C.
D.
19. Which diagram best represents the percentage
of this radioactive isotope sample that will
remain after 2 half-lives?
A.
B.
C.
D.
20. Which event occurred most recently?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Formation of layer A
Formation of layer D
Tilting of all 4 sedimentary rock layers
Erosion of the igneous rock at the surface
20. Which event occurred most recently?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Formation of layer A
Formation of layer D
Tilting of all 4 sedimentary rock layers
Erosion of the igneous rock at the surface
21. Which index fossil may be found in the
surface bedrock near Ithaca, New York?
A.
B.
C.
D.
21. Which index fossil may be found in the
surface bedrock near Ithaca, New York?
A.
B.
C.
D.
22. A whale bone that originally contained
200 grams of radioactive Carbon-14 now
contains 25 grams of Carbon-14. How
many Carbon-14 half-lives have passed
since this whale was alive?
A. 1 half-life
B. 2 half-lives
C. 3 half-lives
D. 4 half-lives
22. A whale bone that originally contained
200 grams of radioactive Carbon-14 now
contains 25 grams of Carbon-14. How
many Carbon-14 half-lives have passed
since this whale was alive?
A. 1 half-life
B. 2 half-lives
C. 3 half-lives
D. 4 half-lives
23. According to the graph, what is the halflife of this isotope?
A.
B.
C.
D.
100 years
150 years
200 years
300 years
23. According to the graph, what is the halflife of this isotope?
A.
B.
C.
D.
100 years
150 years
200 years
300 years
24. Which pie graph best represents the
percentage of total time for the four major
divisions of geologic time?
A.
B.
C.
D.
24. Which pie graph best represents the
percentage of total time for the four major
divisions of geologic time?
A.
B.
C.
D.
25. The presence of which index fossil in
the surface bedrock most likely indicates
that a forest environment once existed in the
region?
A. Aneurophyton
B. Cystiphyllum
C. Centroceras
D. Bothriolepis
25. The presence of which index fossil in
the surface bedrock most likely indicates
that a forest environment once existed in the
region?
A. Aneurophyton
B. Cystiphyllum
C. Centroceras
D. Bothriolepis
26. Which two letters represent bedrock of the same
age?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A and E
B and D
F and G
D and H
26. Which two letters represent bedrock of the same
age?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A and E
B and D
F and G
D and H
27. The folding of rock layers G through C was
most likely caused by
A.
B.
C.
D.
Erosion of overlying sediments
Contact metamorphism
The collision of lithospheric plates
The extrusion of igneous rock
27. The folding of rock layers G through C was
most likely caused by
A.
B.
C.
D.
Erosion of overlying sediments
Contact metamorphism
The collision of lithospheric plates
The extrusion of igneous rock
28. Analysis of a basalt rock sample shows that
25% of its radioactive K-40 remained undecayed.
How old is the basalt?
A.
B.
C.
D.
1.3 billion years
2.6 billion years
3.9 billion years
4.6 billion years
28. Analysis of a basalt rock sample shows that
25% of its radioactive K-40 remained undecayed.
How old is the basalt?
A.
B.
C.
D.
1.3 billion years
2.6 billion years
3.9 billion years
4.6 billion years
29. Fossils of trilobites, graptolites, and
eurypterids are found in the same bedrock
layer in New York State. During which
geologic time interval could this bedrock
layer have formed?
A. Late Ordovician to Late Pennsylvanian
B. Late Silurian to Early Cretaceous
C. Early Permian to Late Jurassic
D. Early Cambrian to Middle Ordovician
29. Fossils of trilobites, graptolites, and
eurypterids are found in the same bedrock
layer in New York State. During which
geologic time interval could this bedrock
layer have formed?
A. Late Ordovician to Late Pennsylvanian
B. Late Silurian to Early Cretaceous
C. Early Permian to Late Jurassic
D. Early Cambrian to Middle Ordovician
30. Earth’s early atmosphere formed during
the Early Archean Era. Which gas was
generally absent from the atmosphere at
that time?
A. Water Vapor
B. Carbon Dioxide
C. Nitrogen
D. Oxygen
30. Earth’s early atmosphere formed during
the Early Archean Era. Which gas was
generally absent from the atmosphere at
that time?
A. Water Vapor
B. Carbon Dioxide
C. Nitrogen
D. Oxygen