Earth’s History Test Prep - mrgsearthsciencepage

1、Earths History Test PrepBase your answers to the following three questions on the diagram below of a cross section of a portion of Earths crust. Letters A through D represent landscape features, and numbers 1 through 7 represent rock layers. The detail shows a fossil found in layer 3.What is the cor

2、rect sequence of events from oldest to most recent in the geologic history of this area?1 deposition of layers from 1 to 7 ® intrusion of basalt ® faulting2 deposition of layers from 1 to 7 ® faulting ® intrusion of basalt3 deposition of layers from 7 to 1 ® intrusion of bas

3、alt ® faulting4 deposition of layers from 7 to 1 ® faulting ® intrusion of basaltThe fossil found in layer 3 indicates that the age of this shale layer is approximately(1) 70 million years (2) 220 million years (3) 430 million years(4) 520 million yearsWhich landscape features provide

4、 evidence that weathering and erosion were likely to have occurred?(1) A and D, only (2) B and C, only (3) A, C, and D, only(4) A, B, C, and DA bone sample contains only of its original radioactive C14 content. How old is the bone sample?(1) 1 C14 half-life (2) 2 C14 half-lives (3) 9 C14 half-lives(

5、4) 4 C14 half-livesThe shaded portion of the map below of North America shows areas believed to have been below sea level during the Pennsylvanian Period. Point A is a location in the inland sea.Present-day evidence of the existence of the inland sea during the Pennsylvanian Period is best provided

6、by1 marine fossils at point A2 seawater at point A3 metamorphic rock at point A4 terrestrial rock at point AWhich type of rock is most likely to contain fossils?1 granite 2 gneiss 3 shale4 metaconglomerateWhy are radioactive substances useful for measuring geologic time?1 The ratio of decay products

7、 to radioactive substances remains constant in rocks.2 The half-lives of radioactive substances are short.3 Samples of radioactive substances are easy to collect from rocks.4 Radioactive substances undergo decay at a predictable rate.Base your answers to the following 5 questions using the Earth Sci

8、ence Reference Tables, the block diagram and the cross section below, and your knowledge of Earth science. The block diagram shows the present position of Niagara Falls in relation to the Niagara Escarpment. The cross section shows the general bedrock structure of present-day Niagara Falls.What is t

9、he approximate age of the Queenston shale?(1) 97 million years (2) 220 million years (3) 331 million years(4) 452 million yearsWhich evidence in the cross section of Niagara Falls most clearly shows that erosion is occurring today?1 upper rock units of early Silurian age2 layering of the rock units

10、of the face of the falls3 sand grains within the Grimsby and Whirlpool sandstones4 piles of rock fragments at the base of the fallsDuring the last 12,000 years, the waterfall gradually shifted upstream 11 kilometers. The average rate of headward erosion from the original waterfall location at the es

11、carpment (cliff) near Lewiston to the present-day waterfall location was approximately 1 kilometer every(1) year (2) 100 years (3) 1,000 years(4) 10,000 yearsAt the end of the glacial period, the Niagara River began flowing over the Niagara Escarpment. At the end of which epoch of geologic time did

12、this situation occur?1 Pleistocene 2 Pliocene 3 Miocene4 OligoceneThere are no major faults in the vicinity of the Niagara Escarpment that would explain its formation by crustal movement. What is the most logical explanation of how the escarpment formed?1 Erosion removed the rock layers north of the

13、 escarpment.2 The rock layers north of the escarpment were folded upward.3 The Lockport dolomite was deposited south of the escarpment only.4 The unconformity provided a layer that was resistant to the erosion of the river.Scientists have inferred that Earths original atmosphere was formed by the(1)

14、 outgassing from Earths interior(2) erosion of Earths surface(3) decay of microorganisms in Earths oceans(4) radioactive decay of elements in Earths coreA fossil shell contains 25% of the original amount of its carbon-14. Approximately how many years ago was this shell part of a living organism?(1)

15、5,700 years ago (2) 11,400 years ago (3) 17,100 years ago(4) 22,800 years agoWhich sequence shows the correct order of Earths geologic time intervals from oldest to youngest?(1) Archean ® Mesozoic ® Cenozoic ® Paleozoic ® Proterozoic(2) Archean ® Proterozoic ® Paleozoic

16、 ® Mesozoic ® Cenozoic(3) Cenozoic ® Mesozoic ® Paleozoic ® Proterozoic ® Archean(4) Cenozoic ® Paleozoic ® Archean ® Mesozoic ® ProterozoicBase your answers to the following 2 questions on the calendar model shown below of the inferred history of th

17、e universe and on your knowledge of Earth science. The 12-month time line begins with the Big Bang onJanuary 1 and continues to the present time, which is represented by midnight on December 31. Several inferred events and the relative times of their occurrence have been placed in the appropriate lo

18、cations on the time line.State one piece of evidence used by scientists to support the theory that the Big Bang event occurred._How many million years of Earths geologic history elapsed between the event that occurred on September 10 and the event that occurred on September 25 in this model?_Base yo

19、ur answers to the following 3 questions on the table of index fossils shown below and on your knowledge of Earth science.During what geologic time period did the oldest index fossil shown in this table exist?_State one characteristic of a good index fossil._Complete the following classification tabl

20、e by filling in the general fossil group name for each index fossil.Fossil ClassificationIndex FossilEospiriferManticocerasPhacopsGeneral Fossil GroupBase your answers to the following 3 questions on the cross sections below, which show widely separated outcrops at locations W, X, Y, and Z. The rock

21、 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.Determine the relative geologic age of the four fossils by correlating the rock layers between these outcrops. Below, number the fossils from 1 to 4 in ord

22、er of relative age, with 1 as the oldest and 4 as the youngest.What evidence shown in the outcrop at location W suggests that the igneous intrusion occurred after both fossils were deposited at location W?_Identify two of the processes involved in the formation of the unconformity represented by lin

23、e AB in the cross section at location W._Which group of organisms is inferred to have existed for the least amount of time in geologic history?(1) trilobites (2) dinosaurs (3) eurypterids(4) placoderm fishThe geologic cross section below shows an unconformity in New York State bedrock layers that ha

24、ve not been overturned. Index fossils found throughout some rock layers are shown.Which New York State index fossil may have been present in a rock layer that is missing due to the unconformity?The models below represent the decay of radioactive atoms to stable atoms after their first and second hal

25、f-lives.Which model best represents the number of undecayed and decayed atoms after three half-lives?Base your answers to the following question on the map below. The map shows some regions where metamorphic bedrock of the Grenville Province in northeastern North America is exposed at Earths surface

26、.The bedrock of the Grenville Province is generally thought to have formed approximately(1) 250 million years ago (2) 400 million years ago (3) 560 million years ago(4) 1100 million years agoAn archeologist found an ancient skeleton estimated to be 10,000 to 25,000 years old. Which radioactive isoto

27、pe would be most useful for finding the age of the skeleton?1 carbon-142 potassium-403 uranium-2384 rubidium-87Base your answers to the following 2 questions on the map below. The map represents the movement of tectonic plates that resulted in the collision of India with Asia. Scientists believe tha

28、t 71 million years ago, India was at position A.Which present-day geologic feature in Nepal resulted from this collision?1 a rift valley2 a mountain range3 an oceanic ridge4 an oceanic trenchWhich life-forms were living on Earth when India was at position A?1 humans2 dinosaurs3 trilobites4 armored f

29、ishesWhat is the estimated age of Earth?(1) 4.6 x 106 years(2) 4.6 x 107 years(3) 4.6 x 108 years(4) 4.6 x 109 yearsBase your answers to the following 2 questions on the geologic cross section below of the Grand Canyon. The numbers 1 through 10 represent Paleozoic sedimentary rock layers.The unconfo

30、rmity between the Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and the Precambrian sedimentary rocks represents1 a gap in the geologic time record2 an intrusion of igneous rock3 an abundance of fossils4 a region of metamorphic rockWhich Paleozoic rock layer is the oldest?(1) 1(2) 10(3) 5(4) 4The primitive lobe-finne

31、d fish shown below is thought to be an ancestor of early amphibians.This evolutionary development from fish to amphibian is believed to have occurred during the1 Triassic Period2 Devonian Period3 Tertiary Period4 Permian PeriodBase your answers to the following 5 questions on the Earth Science Refer

32、ence Tables, the index fossil diagram below, and your knowledge of Earth science. This index fossil was found in surface bedrock in New York State.This index fossil is representative of a group of invertebrate animals known as1 trilobites2 stromatolites3 brachiopods4 eurypteridsDuring which geologic

33、 time period was this particular species alive and most abundant?1 Cambrian2 Jurassic3 Silurian4 TertiaryIndex fossils, such as the one in the diagram, are useful to geologists for correlating rocks because each species1 was narrowly distributed and became extinct after a long geologic existence2 wa

34、s widely distributed and became extinct after a short geologic existence3 is easily found and is living today4 is rarely found and is no longer livingWhich information could scientists most easily infer about the location where this index fossil was found?1 environmental conditions that existed when

35、 the animal lived2 change in the seafloor-spreading rates from the time this animal lived to the present3 length of time necessary to form the igneous rock in which this fossil was found4 amount of radioactive carbon-14 in Earths atmosphere when this animal livedThe surface bedrock in which this ind

36、ex fossil was found is most likely composed of1 basalt2 granite3 limestone4 anthracite coalThe large coal fields found in Pennsylvania provide evidence that the climate of the northeastern United States was much warmer during the Carboniferous Period. This change in climate over time is best explain

37、ed by the(1) movements of tectonic plates(2) effects of seasons(3) changes in the environment caused by humans(4) evolution of lifeWhich graph best shows the radioactive decay of carbon-14?Approximately what percentage of the estimated age of Earth does the Cenozoic Era represent?(1) 1.4% (2) 5.0% (

38、3) 11.9%(4) 65.0%The geologic cross section below shows the geologic age of two rock layers separated by an unconformity.The unconformity at the bottom of the Silurian rock layer indicates a gap in the geologic time record. What is the minimum time, in millions of years, shown by the gap?(1) 13 (2)

39、47 (3) 101(4) 126Base your answers to the following 3 questions on the newspaper article shown below and on your knowledge of Earth science.Fossilized Jellyfish Found in WisconsinFossil hunters have unearthed the largest collection of fossilized jellyfish ever discovered, including the largest fossi

40、lized jellyfish ever found.The remains of soft-bodied animals such as jellyfish are relatively rare because they dont have bones, fossil dealer Dan Damrow, James W. Hagadorn of the California Institute of Technology and Robert H. Dott Jr. of the University of Wisconsin at Madison noted in describing

41、 the find in the journal Geology.About a half-billion years ago, during the Cambrian period, the quarry in Mosinee,Wis., where the deposits were found was a small lagoon. The jellyfish apparently died when they were washed up by a freak tide or storm, the researchers said. The jellyfish remains were

42、 probably preserved because of a lack of erosion from sea water and wind, and a lack of scavengers, the researchers concluded.“It is very rare to discover a deposit which contains an entire stranding event of jellyfish,” Hagadorn said. “These jellyfish are not just large for the Cambrian, but are th

43、e largest jellyfish in the entire fossil record.”Washington Post, January 2002These fossilized jellyfish were most likely discovered in which type of rock?(1) sandstone (2) granite (3) pumice(4) slateWhich two marine organisms most likely lived at the same time as these jellyfish?(1) crinoids and di

44、nosaurs (2) ammonoids and placoderm fish (3) brachiopods and gastropods(4) amphibians and eurypteridsWhich evidence would lead scientists to suspect that a tide or storm had washed up these jellyfish on a beach?(1) Primitive life existed on land 500 million years ago.(2) The rock containing the jell

45、yfish fossils has distorted crystal structure.(3) Treeroot fossils appear to have been pitted and folded.(4) Large ripple marks were found in the fossil-containing rock layers.Base your answers to the following 3 questions on the cross section of the bedrock outcrop shown below and on your knowledge

46、 of Earth science. Index fossils found in some of the rock units are shown. The rock units are labeled I through IX.In the space provided below, number the relative age of rock units VII, VIII, and IX from 1 to 3, with number 1 indicating the oldest rock and number 3 indicating the youngest rock.The

47、 fossil shown in rock unit VIII is a member of an extinct group of fossils. State two other index fossils that are also members of the same group of extinct fossils.Based on the fossils shown in the limestone and shale layers, state the type of environment in which these sedimentary rocks were depos

48、ited._Which characteristic is most useful in correlating Devonian-age sedimentary bedrock in New York State with Devonian-age sedimentary bedrock in other parts of the world?(1) color (2) index fossils (3) rock types(4) particle sizeAccording to fossil evidence, which sequence shows the order in whi

49、ch these four life-forms first appeared on Earth?(1) reptiles ® amphibians ® insects ® fish(2) insects ® fish ® reptiles ® amphibians(3) amphibians ® reptiles ® fish ® insects(4) fish ® insects ® amphibians ® reptilesThe fossil below was fo

50、und in surface bedrock in the eastern United States.Which statement best describes the formation of the rock containing this fossil?(1) The rock was formed by the metamorphism of sedimentary rock deposited in a terrestrial environment during the Cretaceous Period.(2) The rock was formed by the compa

51、ction and cementation of sediments deposited in a terrestrial environment during the Triassic Period.(3) The rock was formed by the compaction and cementation of sediments deposited in a marine environment during the Cambrian Period.(4) The rock was formed from the solidification of magma in a marin

52、e environment during the Triassic Period.Base your answers to the following two questions on the diagram below, which represents a model of a radioactive sample with a half-life of 5000 years. The white boxes represent undecayed radioactive material and the shaded boxes represent the decayed materia

53、l after the first half-life.How many more boxes should be shaded to represent the additional decayed material formed during the second half-life?(1) 12 (2) 6 (3) 3(4) 0Which radioactive isotope has a half-life closest in duration to this radioactive sample?(1) carbon-14 (2) potassium-40 (3) uranium-

54、238(4) rubidium-87The diagrams below represent four series of events over the passage of time.Which series of events took the least amount of time to complete?(1) A(2) B(3) C(4) DBase your answers to the following 2 questions on the diagrams below. Diagram I shows part of a geologic map. Diagram II

55、shows a geologic cross section taken along line CD. The rock layers shown have not been overturned. Numbers 1 through 5 represent locations on the surface bedrock.Which graph best represents the age of the surface bedrock along line CD?Which type of surface bedrock would most likely be found at location 5?1 shale2 sandstone3 chemical limeston