Glencoe Earth Science

Chapter 13: Clues to Earth's Past

Standardized Test Practice

1
Which principle states that the oldest rock layer is found at the bottom in an undisturbed stack of rock layers?
A)superposition
B)uniformitarianism
C)half-life
D)unconformities
2
What is the branch of science that focuses on the study of fossils and past life?
A)chemistry
B)paleontology
C)meteorology
D)astronomy
3
Which type of fossils are the remains of species that existed on Earth for relatively short periods of time and were widespread geographically?
A)trace fossils
B)carbon films
C)index fossils
D)body fossils
4
When geologists match up layers of rock over great distances, which method are they using?
A)correlation
B)nonconformity
C)uniformitarianism
D)absolute dating
5
Which of the following animal remains will probably not be found fossilized in sedimentary rock?
A)clam shell
B)jellyfish imprint
C)snail shell
D)shark tooth
6
If the hard part of an organism decays or dissolves, leaving behind a cavity in a rock, what type of fossil is left?
A)cast
B)mold
C)carbon films
D)mineral replacement
7
Which isotope is used for dating organic material that is less than 75,000 years old?
A)uraninum-238
B)potassium-40
C)carbon-14
D)argon-40
8
Which sequence of letters describes the rock layers in the diagram from youngest to oldest?

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A)Z, L, A, D, Q
B)L, Z, A, Q, D
C)Q, D, L, Z, A
D)D, Q, A, Z, L
9
What occurred between the deposition of layers A and Q?

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A)a nonconformity
B)a disconformity
C)an angular unconformity
D)a fault
10
How can the relative age of the fault be described?

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A)younger than Z, but older than L
B)younger than Q, but older than A
C)younger than D, but older than Q
D)younger than A, but older than Q
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