Content Benchmark E.12.C.1
Students know how successive rock strata and fossils can be used to confirm the age, history, and
changing life forms of the Earth, including how this evidence is affected by the folding, breaking,
and uplifting of layers. E/S
Sample Test Questions
1st Item Specification: Explain the basics of the process of fossil formation.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. Which two factors provide the BEST opportunity for a fossil to form? The organism is
buried
A. slowly and composed of hard parts.
B. rapidly and composed of hard parts.
C. slowly and composed of soft parts.
D. rapidly and composed of soft parts.
2. An organism is most likely to become an index fossil if it lived for a
A. short period of time and was geographically widespread.
B. long period of time and was geographically widespread.
C. short period of time and was geographically limited.
D. long period of time and was geographically limited.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
3. The three cross sections of sedimentary bedrock shown below represent widely separated
surface exposures of layers that contain fossils. Letters A, B, C, D represent four different
marine fossils found in these rock layers.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es805.pdf)
Which letter best represents an index fossil?
A. Fossil A
B. Fossil B
C. Fossil C
D. Fossil D
4. Which of the following methods of fossilization would most likely preserve the original
remains of the organism?
A. Brachiopod mold and cast
B. Dinosaur footprint
C. Petrification of wood
D. Mosquito trapped in amber
2nd Item Specification: Apply the principles of superposition to relative dating of rock
layers.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
5. The Principle of Superposition states that for a rock sequence that has not been overturned
A. a fault is older than the layers through which it cuts.
B. the igneous intrusion is older than the layers through which it cuts.
C. the oldest rock layer is located on the top.
D. the oldest rock layer is located on the bottom.
6. The diagram below shows a geologic cross section. The rock layers have not been
overturned. Point A is located in the zone of contact metamorphism.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es606.pdf)
Which rock formation is the oldest?
A. Conglomerate
B. Shale
C. Sandstone
D. Limestone
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
7. The diagram below shows a geologic cross section. Letters A through D represent different
rock units.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es805.pdf)
Which sequence correctly shows the age of the lettered rock units, from OLDEST to
YOUNGEST?
A. A → B → C → D
B. B → A → D → C
C. C → D → A → B
D. D → C → B → A
8. The diagram below shows a geologic cross section. The rock layers have not been
overturned. Point A is located in the zone of contact metamorphism.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es606.pdf)
Which of the following lists the correct order of rock layers from OLDEST to
YOUNGEST?
A. Shale → Breccia → Limestone → Siltstone
B. Conglomerate → Shale → Sandstone → Siltstone
C. Limestone → Siltstone → Shale → Conglomerate
D. Siltstone → Sandstone → Shale → Breccia
3rd Item Specification: Describe the process of absolute dating.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
9. What would happen to the half-life of a radioactive isotope if it were taken to the belowfreezing temperatures of the North Pole?
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. Remain the same
D. Increase, then decrease
10. The amount of initial radioactive material is doubled from 1000 to 2000 atoms. What affect
does doubling the radioactive material have on its half-life? The half life would be
A. Constant
B. Doubled
C. Quadrupled
D. Halved
11. Use graphs #1-4 to answer the following question.
Graph 1
Graph 2
Graph 3
Graph 4
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es605.pdf)
Which graph best shows the radioactive decay of carbon-14?
A. Graph 1
B. Graph 2
C. Graph 3
D. Graph 4
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
12. The diagram below represents a sample of a radioactive isotope.
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
Diagram 4
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es-808/es-808.pdf)
Which diagram best represents the percentage of this radioactive isotope sample that will
remain after 2 half-lives?
A. Diagram 1
B. Diagram 2
C. Diagram 3
D. Diagram 4
13. The diagram below shows the decay of a 50-gram sample of a radioactive isotope.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es807.pdf)
According to the graph, what is the half-life of this isotope?
A. 100 years
B. 150 years
C. 200 years
D. 300 years
4th Item Specification: Sequence the age, history, and changing life forms of Earth using
strata and fossil evidence.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
14. Which statement is most accurate regarding the current fossil record? The fossil record is
A. complete and contains fossils of all the types of plants and animals that ever lived.
B. complete and contains fossils of all plants and some animals that ever lived.
C. incomplete and contains fossils of a few of the plants and animals that ever lived.
D. incomplete and contains most of the plants and animals that ever lived.
15. The best indicator of an area’s ancient environmental conditions and climate would be the
A. type and distribution of fossils.
B. present plant and animal life.
C. amount of carbon-14 in rock layers.
D. depth and composition of soil.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
16. Base your answer to the question on the cross section below, which show widely separated
outcrops at locations W, X, Y, and Z. The rock layers have not been overturned. Line AB in
the cross section at location W represents an unconformity. Fossils are shown in some of the
layers.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es106.pdf)
Determine the relative geologic age of the four fossils by correlating the rock layers between
these outcrops. Which sequence best illustrates the relative age from OLDEST to
YOUNGEST?
A.
B.
C.
D.
17. Base your answer to the question on the cross sections of the three rock outcrops, A, B, and
C. Line XY represents a fault. Overturning has not occurred in the rock outcrops.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es807.pdf)
Which sedimentary rock shown in the outcrops is the YOUNGEST?
A. Conglomerate
B. Brown sandstone
C. Black shale
D. Tan siltstone
5th Item Specification: Describe how folding, breaking, and uplifting of strata complicate
geological evidence.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
18. The diagram below shows four major types of fault motion occurring in Earth’s crust.
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
Diagram 4
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/estestja05.pdf)
Which type of fault motion best matches the general pattern of crustal movement at
California’s San Andreas Fault?
A. Diagram 1
B. Diagram 2
C. Diagram 3
D. Diagram 4
19. Base your answers to the question on the geologic cross section of bedrock shown below. A
through G identify rock layers and Q represents a fault. Lines W, X, Y, and Z are locations of
unconformities. The rocks have not been overturned.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/sciarch/psestestau03.pdf)
Which geologic event is the OLDEST (occurred first)?
A. Intrusion at E
B. Disconformity at X
C. Unconformity at Y
D. Fault at Q
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
20. Geologic cross sections A through F shown below represent different stages in the
development of one part of Earth’s crust over a long period of geologic time.
(From http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/sciarch/psestestja04.pdf)
What is the correct order of development from the original (OLDEST) stage to the most
recent (YOUNGEST) stage?
A. B → F → D → C → A → E
B. B → F → C → D → E → A
C. E → A → D → F → C → B
D. E → A → F → C → D → B
Content Benchmark E.12.C.1
Students know how successive rock strata and fossils can be used to confirm the age, history, and
changing life forms of the Earth, including how this evidence is affected by the folding, breaking,
and uplifting of layers. E/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. B, DOK Level 1
2. A, DOK Level 1
3. C, DOK Level 2
4. D, DOK Level 2
5. D, DOK Level 1
6. A, DOK Level 1
7. D, DOK Level 2
8. B, DOK Level 2
9. C, DOK Level 1
10. A, DOK Level 1
11. D, DOK Level 1
12. B, DOK Level 2
13. C, DOK Level 2
14. C, DOK Level 1
15. A, DOK Level 1
16. B, DOK Level 2
17. D, DOK Level 2
18. A, DOK Level 1
19. D, DOK Level 1
20. B, DOK Level 2