Standard 3 Objective 3 Describe how rock and fossil evidence is used to
infer Earth's history
24 Questions
1) Which of the following is NOT a feature formed by glaciers during the last ice age?
A. sand dunes
C. cirques
B. moraines
D. outwash plains
2) Assume you are looking at geologic strata exposed in a road-cut. You have no other data
available. Your friend says that, "Fossils which are found in lower strata usually represent the
remains of forms which lived at an earlier age than those of fossils found in upper strata." This
is a statement of
A. Data
C. A fact
B. A theory
D. An assumption
3) Igneous rock intruded in sedimentary rock, which also contained a fossil fish. The age of the
igneous rock was determined to be 350 million years old. The igneous rock was deposited there in
molten condition. How old is the fossil fish?
A. Less than 350 million years old
C. Much older than 350 million years
B. At least 350 million years old
D. Its age cannot be predicted from this data
4) Igneous rock intruded in sedimentary rock, which also contained a fossil fish. The age of the
igneous rock was determined to be 350 million years old. The igneous rock was deposited there in
molten condition. A necessary assumption for determining the age of the fish is that the:
A. Sedimentary rock can be accurately dated
B. Igneous rock gives the accurate age of the fish
C. Igneous rock gives the maximum age of the fish
D. The fish was in the sedimentary rock before the igneous rock intruded
5) Igneous rock intruded in sedimentary rock, which also contained a fossil fish. The age of the
igneous rock was determined to be 350 million years old. The igneous rock was deposited there in
molten condition. If a fossil starfish were also found in the same layer of sedimentary rock, it
would suggest that:
A. The fish and the starfish were alive at about the same time
B. The starfish and the fish were closely related
C. The method used to determine the age of the fish was inaccurate
D. There had been no change in that area since the fossils were deposited
6) For the next item use the diagram to the
left. This diagram shows sedimentary rock layers
and certain organisms found in them. The layers
marked I were found in one area and those in II
were found a number of miles away. The letters
a-d and 1-4 refer to the different strata. What
is the evidence that these are sedimentary
rocks?
A. they contain shells
B. they are in layers
C. both I and II contain the same formations
D. neither section contains plant fossils
7) For the next item use the diagram to the
left. This diagram shows sedimentary rock layers
and certain organisms found in them. The layers
marked I were found in one area and those in II
were found a number of miles away. The letters a-d and 1-4 refer to the different strata. What
strata in locality II might be continuous with strata d in locality I?
A. strata 4
C. strata 2
B. strata 3
D. none of these
8) For the next item use the above diagram. This diagram shows sedimentary rock layers and certain
organisms found in them. The layers marked I were found in one area and those in II were found a
number of miles away. The letters a-d and 1-4 refer to the different strata. If there has been no
disturbance of layers, the organism in strata 3 of locality II would be expected to be found in
locality I in
A. strata d
C. strata c
B. the strata just above strata d
D. the strata just below strata d
9) For the next item use the above diagram. This diagram shows sedimentary rock layers and certain
organisms found in them. The layers marked I were found in one area and those in II were found a
number of miles away. The letters a-d and 1-4 refer to the different strata.
Providing no geological shifts have taken place, the organism in
A. strata a is the oldest
C. strata d is the oldest
B. strata d is the simplest
D. strata a is the simplest
10) For the next item use the above diagram. This diagram shows sedimentary rock layers and certain
organisms found in them. The layers marked I were found in one area and those in II were found a
number of miles away. The letters a-d and 1-4 refer to the different strata.
Increase of complexity of organisms through time
A. is clearly show here
C. cannot be inferred from the picture
B. is indicated by position in rock strata
D. is not possible
11) Use this diagram of a road cut to answer the
following question. What event created the
offset of layers J and I?
A. erosion
B. an earthquake
C. folding
D. a volcano
12) Use this diagram of a road cut to answer the
following question. What event happened at the
area labeled by the heavy black line?
A. erosion
B. an earthquake
C. folding
D. a volcano
13) Use this diagram of a road cut to answer the following question.
the oldest?
A. A
C. I
B. F
D. J
Which layer on the diagram is
14) The next item refers to the drawing of a
hillside that was excavated for a highway.
Layer III is coal and layer IV contains fossil
starfish and sharks teeth. The clues in these
layers suggest that the environment changed in a
past age from:
A. saltwater to land
B. saltwater to freshwater
C. land to freshwater
D. freshwater to saltwater
E. freshwater to land
15) The next item refers to the drawing of a hillside that was excavated for a highway. The six
layers of rock show no evidence that they have been disturbed or rearranged by earth movements.
Geologists assume that the oldest layer is:
A. VI
D. II
B. IV
E. I
C. III
16) An excavation exposes the side of a hill. Rock layers of different colors, thicknesses, and
textures are revealed as shown in the sketch above. Examine the figure and answer the question that
follows. Fossil remains found in layer II are almost identical to a species of toad now living on
the hillside. The best explanation is that:
A. Toads can withstand great changes in the local environment
B. This species of toad hopped there from a different hillside
C. The evolution of this species of toad has been slow
D. Changes occur often in generations of toads
17) An excavation exposes the side of a hill. Rock layers of different colors, thicknesses, and
textures are revealed as shown in the sketch above. Examine the figure and answer the question that
follows. Which one of the following assumptions is made by biologists considering fossils found at
various levels?
A. Fossil communities had the same physical environment as the present living community
B. Each layer contains fossils that are older as you go from layer I to layer VI
C. Each layer contains fossils that are more recent as you go from layer I to layer VI
D. An animal could burrow into any layer and become fossilized
18) An excavation exposes the side of a hill. Rock layers of different colors, thicknesses, and
textures are revealed as shown in the sketch above. Examine the figure and answer the question that
follows. Shark teeth, many fossil sand dollars, and starfish are found in layer IV. This is a good
indication that:
A. Layer IV was on the shore of a large lake
B. Layer IV was deposited in an ocean basin
C. Considerable shifting of layers occurred as the layers were deposited
D. A food chain was established during this period
19) As you look at rock "A" above, which of the following methods of determining the relative age
of
rocks would likely be the easiest for a middle school student to tell approximately how old the
rock is?
A. Do a Carbon 14 test
C. Check the chart of index fossils
B. Check the half-life of radon
D. Measure the size of the crystals
20) Which two of the above samples would most likely help scientists learn about conditions deep
below the surface of the earth as the above rocks formed?
A. A and D
C. A and B
B. B and C
D. C and D
21) Which rock formation is the youngest?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
22) The development of radioactive dating technology allowed scientists to accurately find the age
of rocks. How did this technology influence the advancement of our understanding of Earth history?
A. Scientists found out that Earth’s core was younger than the crust.
B. Scientists discovered that rocks are about the same age.
C. Scientists confirmed that rock layers are youngest on the top.
D. Scientists discovered that fossil age does not match the age of rocks.
23) Scientists collected fossils long before they knew the ages and relationships of one ancient
organism to another. What additional knowledge was needed to form the modern view of prehistoric
Earth history?
A. A way to date the age of the rocks that the fossils were found in.
B. A book to explain the way Earth formed and life developed.
C. A collection of the types of rocks found in the rock cycle.
D. A key to name the types of animals found in ancient times.
24) What evidence do scientists have that supports the idea that Earth’s surface has changed over
time?
A. fossils of rainforest plants in areas that are deserts today.
B. rocks that came from outer space
C. modern plants and animals that look like ancient organisms.
D. climates in some places on Earth that are different than other places.