Assessment-Relative Age of Fossils (Other Teachers)

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A column of sedimentary rock containing fossils is shown below.

Geologic Column (Sedimentary Rock)	Index Fossil Trilobite

At layer F shown above there is an index fossil called a Trilobite. This fossil is from the Cambrian period which occurred about 500 million years ago.
Estimate the relative ages of fossils in layers G, D, and B.

a.	Fossils in layer G are exactly 550 million years old. Fossils in layer F are about 500 million years old.
b.	Fossils in layer G are younger than 500 million years. Fossil layer D and B are older than 500 million years.
c.	Fossils in layer D and B are about 300 million years old. Fossils in layer G are about 500 million years old.
d.	Fossils in layer G are older than 500 million years. Fossils in layers D and B are younger than 500 million years.

The diagram below shows fossils embedded in layers of sedimentary rock

Based on this diagram and your understanding of the law of superposition, when was fossil one formed?

a.	Before fossil 2, but after fossils 3, 4, and 5.
b.	After fossil 2
c.	After fossil 2, but before fossils 3, 4, and 5
d.	Before fossils 3, 4, and 5

If layer W is 100 million years old and layer Z is 500 million year old, how old is layer X?

a.	between 100 and 500 million years old
b.	there is no way to estimate the age of layer X
c.	less than 100 million years old
d.	over 500 million years old

Two fossils that appear to be from the same type of organism are found in two different layers of rock. The layers of rock are shown below.

Which can be determined from the location of the fossils?

a.	the predators of the organism	c.	the cause of death for each organism
b.	the relative age of each organism	d.	the prey of the organisms

The diagram below shows a column of sedimentary rock layers.

Layer R contains a well-known index fossil that is estimated to be 100 million years old.
Based on this information and the law of superposition, you can make the following claim.

a.	Layers T and M are older than 100 million years. Layers X and G are younger than 100 million years.
b.	Layers T and M are younger than 100 million years. Layers X and G are older than 100 million years.
c.	Layers T, M, X, and G are all older than 100 million years.
d.	Layers T, M, X, and G are all younger than 100 million years.

Compare the fossil layers shown below.

Which organisms are most likely to be the same approximate age?

5 and 6

3 and 5

2 and 4

1 and 3

Two geologic columns are shown below. The columns are from areas about 1 kilometer apart

Which sedimentary layers were most likely deposited at the same time?

a.	Layers 2 and 3	c.	Layers 2 and 6
b.	Layers 3 and 4	d.	Layers 1 and 4

This diagram shows layers of rocks that contain fossils

Which fossils are MOST likely similar in age?

4 and 5

2 and 3

1 and 2

4 and 6

Scientists discovered fossils at two locations, as shown in the diagram below.

The scientists concluded that the fossils at these locations were approximately the same age. Which evidence would best support this conclusion?

a.	Both locations contained the same type of mineral formations.
b.	Both locations were above layers containing different types of plant fossils.
c.	Both locations contained a similar number of fossil types.
d.	Both locations were part of the same layer of sedimentary rock.

10.

Fossils in Layers of Sedimentary Rock

The fossil evidence found in these sedimentary layers reveals that...?

a.	organisms with endoskeletons evolved after organisms with exoskeletons
b.	carnivores evolved from omnivores and herbivores
c.	invertebrates evolved from vertebrates
d.	land and marine animals evolved together millions of years ago in the same time period