Geological Times Pre-Test
INSTRUCTIONS
Please complete this assessment on your own. Answer each item by clicking on the correct choice,
then go on to the next item.

1) The term prokaryotes refers to ________.
o
o
o
o

A) dinosaurs
B) prehistoric humans
C) the first organisms
D) the first insects
2)
Scientists have found large groups of fossils of marine organisms on mountaintops. What does
this tell scientists about the past?
o
o
o
o
A) That these rocks were once below the surface of an ocean.
B) That these organisms left the ocean and climbed to the top of an inland mountain to die.
C) That these rocks were always above the surface of an ocean.
D) That these rocks must have been moved there by some one else.

3) Catastrophic events in the Earth's history can be tracked through sudden changes in ____________found in
rock strata.
o
o
o
o

A) color
B) nitrogen
C) oxygen
D) fossils
4) Finding a fossil sample that also contained seashells would indicate that the living organism had died near
_____________________.
o
o
o
o

A) an ocean
B) a desert
C) a mountain
D) a volcano
5) Scientists can estimate the ages of rock if they contain certain __________.
o
o
o
o

A) sediments
B) carbons
C) minerals
D) index fossils
6)
statements is true?
o
o
o
o
A) Fossil A is oldest.
B) Fossil B is youngest.
C) Fosssil C is younger than Fossil D.
D) Fossil C and D are the same age.
According to the diagram, which of the following

7) Fossils provide evidence of __________________.
o
o
o
o

A) how life has remained stable over time
B) how the climate has remained stable over time
C) how the environment has changed but life has remained stable over time
D) how life and environmental conditions have changed over time
8) According to the current fossil record, scientists believe that life on Earth began about how long ago?
o
o
o
o

A) 1 million years
B) 3.5 billion years
C) 65 million years
D) 0.5 billion years
9) What is the importance of studying fossils?
o
o
o
o

A) To provide information about current life forms and current environmental conditions.
B) To provide information about how previous life forms would exist in current environmental conditions.
C) To provide information about how life and environmental conditions may have changed.
D) To provide information about how current life forms would exist in previous environmental conditions.
10) Which type of fossil preservation is shown below?
o
o
o
o
A) carbon film
B) original remains
C) trace fossil
D) permineralized remains