Name _______________________________ Date __________________
Science SOL ES.10
1. Which of the following is an
example of a trace fossil?
A
B
C
D
B
C
D
A fossil bone is found in a layer
of rock which contains traces of
the radioactive isotope uranium235 which has a half-life of 713
million years. If the amount of
radioactivity in the rock now is
about 3/4 of what it was when the
rock was formed, about how old
is the fossil?
A
B
C
D
90 million years
180 million years
360 million years
1.4 billion years
a preserved mammoth tusk from
Siberia
a wasp trapped in amber
the remains of ancient seashells in
chalk
a set of dinosaur footprints
2. What conditions are most likely
to produce a fossil of a dead
animal?
A
4.
The animal lies uncovered and
exposed to the air for a long period
of time.
The animal is quickly buried in
sediments.
The animal is buried very slowly in
organic matter.
The animal must be preserved in
amber, frozen in ice, or buried in a
tar pit in order to become a fossil.
3. Why is the “Law of
Superposition” critical to the
study of fossil life forms?
A It allows us to time-sequence fossils.
B It tells us that organisms are usually
replaced by more highly-adapted
ones.
5. If you are able to say that one
rock is older or younger than
another or one fossil is older or
younger than another, what type
of age are you using?
A
B
C
D
sedimentary age
elementary age
absolute age
relative age
6. Which of these products mined in
Virginia is likely to contain
fossils?
A
B
C
D
granite
sand
lime
coal
C It specifies that each layer of rock is
a different type of mineral.
D It states that heavier rocks are on
the bottom and lighter rocks rise to
the top.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 1999, 2000 S.S. Flanagan & D.E. Mott
33
Do not reproduce without permission. 07-15-00
Name _______________________________ Date __________________
Science SOL ES.10
Use the time diagram below to
answer the next four questions.
10. About when did trilobites become
extinct?
A
B
C
D
0 million years ago
225 million years ago
395 million years ago
570 million years ago
Use this diagram showing the decay
of radioactive carbon-14 to answer
the next three questions.
Time
Original amount of carbon-14
0 years
After 5,730 years
1/2 remaining
After 11,460 years
1/4
After 17,190 years 1/8
After 22,920 years 1/16
7. The oldest fossil found,
according to the chart, is:
A
B
C
D
trilobite
crinoid
sponge
conifer
1/2 decayed
3/4 decayed
7/8 decayed
15/16 decayed
11. How many years would pass
before the original amount of
carbon-14 would be down to 1/4?
A
B
C
D
5,730 years
11,460 years
17,190 years
22,920 years
8. According to the chart, when did
primates appear?
12. How much carbon decays every
5,730 years?
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
55 million years ago
500 million years ago
190 million years ago
345 million years ago
1/4
1/2
1/8
1/16
9. Which one of these is the most
recent type of organism to
develop?
13. How many years would pass
before all carbon-14 would be
gone?
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
crinoid
flowering plant
conifer
fern
28,650 years
32,380 years
38,110 years
never totally gone
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 1999, 2000 S.S. Flanagan & D.E. Mott
34
Do not reproduce without permission. 07-15-00
Name _______________________________ Date __________________
Science SOL ES.10
Use this diagram of four layers of
rock to answer the next two
questions.
Conglomerate
Sandstone
Shale
Limestone
14. According to the Law of
Superposition, which of the
above layers is the oldest?
A
B
C
D
conglomerate
sandstone
limestone
shale
15. Which layers could contain
fossils?
A
B
C
D
conglomerate and sandstone
shale, sandstone, and limestone
limestone and conglomerate
All might contain fossils.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 1999, 2000 S.S. Flanagan & D.E. Mott
35
Do not reproduce without permission. 07-15-00