Fossils and Geologic Time

Question 1

Name the material which comes from the sap of trees and usually insects become fossilized in:

Answer 1

Amber

Question 2

This substance is oily and usually fossilizes entire organisms:

Answer 2

Tar

Question 3

What harder parts of bodies can be easily fossilized?

Answer 3

Bones and Teeth

Question 4

An intact wolly mammoth was found in this substance in Siberia:

Answer 4

Ice

Question 5

These fossils were found over much of the Earth, but lived for a short period of time. They are very useful for identifying the relative age of rock layers.

Answer 5

Index fossils

Question 6

These fossils only contain a trace of the original organism:

Answer 6

A footprint

Question 7

What are fossils?

Answer 7

Traces, remains, or imprints of organisms

Question 8

Do fossils form easily? Explain.

Answer 8

No, they have to be buried quickly.

Question 9

Does a fossil always contain part of the original organism? Explain.

Answer 9

No, just a trace such as an imprint fossil

Question 10

Which of these is an imperfect fossil?

Answer 10

A footprint

Question 11

Which rock type contains the most fossils?

Answer 11

Sedimentary

Question 12

By identifying different fossils in rock layers, scientists can determine the:

Answer 12

Relative age of the fossils

Question 13

What is absolute dating?

Answer 13

It shows you how old a fossil is.

Question 14

How many years ago did dinosaurs become extinct?

Answer 14

65 million years

Question 15

What does the law of superposition state?

Answer 15

Youngest layer on the top, oldest on the bottom

Question 16

The law is superposition is form of:

Answer 16

Relative Dating

Question 17

Missing rock layers are called what?

Answer 17

Unconformities

Question 18

What does the principle of cross-cutting relationships say?

Answer 18

Cross cut is the youngest

Question 19

A fossil is MOST likely to be found in:

Answer 19

Shale

Question 20

A fossil is NOT likely to be found in which of these rocks:

Answer 20

Basalt

Question 21

Which rock type most often contains fossils?

Answer 21

Limestone

Question 22

What are the fossils called which are used to determine the relative age of rock layers?

Answer 22

Index fossils

Question 23

What substance is used to date the age of once living things?

Answer 23

Carbon-14

Question 24

What is the outline of the major events in Earth’s geologic history?

Answer 24

Geologic time scale