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