NameDateClass
A Trip Through Geologic Time ■ Adapted Test
A Trip Through Geologic Time
Multiple Choice
Write the letter of the correct answer.
____ 1. Most fossils are found in
a.sedimentary rock.
b.shallow water.
c.intrusions.
____ 2. Gradual change in living things over a long period of time is
a.extinction.
b.radioactive decay.
c.evolution.
____ 3.A break in rocks where rock layers can move is a(an)
a.fault.
b.extrusion.
c.unconformity.
____ 4. How fast a radioactive element decays is given by its
a.absolute age.
b.half-life.
c.composition.
____ 5. The longest part of the geologic time scale is
a.Precambrian Time.
b.the Paleozoic Era.
c.the Mesozoic Era.
____ 6. The earliest life forms on Earth lived
a.on land.
b.in water.
c.in the air.
____7. An animal that does not have a backbone is a(an)
a.vertebrate.
b.amphibian.
c.invertebrate.
____ 8. Which period is called the Age of Fishes?
a.Ordovician Period
b.Silurian Period
c.Devonian Period
© Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.
16
NameDateClass
A Trip Through Geologic Time ■ Adapted Test
____ 9. The first dinosaurs appeared during the
a.Triassic Period.
b.Jurassic Period.
c.Cretaceous Period.
____ 10. The period of the Cenozoic Era that began 1.8 million years ago is the
a.Permian Period.
b.Quaternary Period.
c.Tertiary Period.
Completion
Read the words in the box. In each sentence below, fill in one of the words.
photosynthesis moldsabsolute
castsperiods radioactive
11.Copies of organisms in rock are called
12.Elements that decay are called elements.
13.Using radioactive dating, you can find a rock’s
age.
14.Each era of the geologic time scale is divided into
15.Oxygen was added to Earth’s early atmosphere by
True or False
If a statement is true, write true. If it is false, write false.
______16. A petrified fossil is a hole in a rock in the shape of
an organism.
______17. The fossil of an organism that covered a wide area
and lived for just a short period of time is called a trace fossil.
© Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.
17
NameDateClass
A Trip Through Geologic Time ■ Adapted Test
______18. Earth’s surface was covered with water before Earth
developed an atmosphere.
______19. The Cambrian Period is the first period of the
Paleozoic Era.
______20. The first mammals appeared during the Mesozoic Era.
Using Science Skills
The diagram below shows rock layers. Use the diagram to answer questions 21 and 22.
Layer 6
Layer5 Layer4 Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1
____ 21. Interpreting Diagrams Which rock layer formed first?
a.Layer 1
b.Layer 4
c.Layer 6
____ 22. Applying Concepts The rock labeled A formed when melted rock hardened inside the rock layers. The rock labeled A is called a(an)
a.intrusion.
b.extrusion.
c.cast.
© Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.
18
NameDateClass
A Trip Through Geologic Time ■ Adapted Test
Using Science Skills
Precambrian Time
Paleozoic Era
A
Mesozoic Era •
B
Cenozoic
Era •
C
The diagram below divides Earth’s history into large blocks of time. Use the diagram to answer questions 23, 24, and 25.
____ 23. Interpreting Diagrams What is the name of this diagram?
a.fossil record
b.geologic time scale
c.fossil index
____ 24. Applying Concepts Which letter shows when the supercontinent Pangaea formed?
a.A
b.B
c.C
____ 25. Applying Concepts Which letter shows when modern humans first appeared on Earth?
a.A
b.B
c.C
© Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved.
19