Download Review For Geology Unit

1. Through relative dating, a geologist finds a fossil that is approximately
10,000 years old. Which radioactive element would the geologist most
likely use to accurately calculate the fossil’s age? Explain your answer.
Carbon-14
Gallium-67
Iodine-129
Plutonium-238
half-life of 5,700 years
half-life of 78 hours
half-life of 16 million years
half-life of 88 years
4. The diagram below shows several
layers of rock and associated geologic
features that have occurred throughout
Earth’s history. Place them in sequence
showing the order in which each rock
layer or geologic event occurred.
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5. Fossils were discovered in
four different sedimentary rock
layers as shown below. Write a
statement that describes the
age of the fish relative to the
age of the fern and the age of
the shell?
2. Scientists have discovered a
fossil skeleton of a whale-like
creature that lived in the early
Eocene epoch. The skeleton
shows an organism with large
fore and hind limbs with distinct
toes. Fossil skeletons of closely
related species from later periods show organisms lacking hind limbs.
What conclusion does this observation support?
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3. The diagram below shows
several sedimentary rock layers
containing index fossils. Which
layer contains the oldest fossils?
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Review
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6. This picture shows the
supercontinent of Pangaea. Which
best describes the pattern of
movement indicated by the first
split in Pangaea?
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7. Scientists estimate that if
index fossils were deposited
during a certain time frame,
then the entire rock layer
was also deposited at the
same time. A scientist finds
Trophite fossils. According
to the chart, circle the era
and period this rock layer
deposited.
9. Scientists theorize that the ancient animal on the left is related to the
modern animal on the right and has gone through many changes over
time. What evidence would the scientists use to conclude that the
animal changed over time?
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8. A section of a rock layer is shown. Write a statement about the
Trilobites in these rock layers.
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10. While digging in the side of a hill, students found fossils in the rock
layers. From the fossils they uncovered, describe how the environment
for this area changed with time.
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11. The diagram
below shows the
Earth’s crustal
plates.
Tectonic plates are
located within which
layer of Earth? What
makes the plates
move?
13. The graph shows possible changes to sea level over geologic time.
What type of rock formations would scientists most likely study to
construct this graph?
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12. The diagram shows carbon dioxide
levels preserved in an ice core. Which
of the ice core shows the highest
concentration of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere?
layer
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14. A scientist drew some diagrams of ancestors of elephants based on
fossil evidence. Which is a basic conclusion that can be made from
comparing the diagrams?
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15. Scientists have identified four sedimentary rock layers from an
archaeological dig as shown below. Which is most likely the oldest
sedimentary rock layer?
17. Which bird would be best adapted to eat the seeds from very hard
shells? Explain your answer.
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16. A habitat from the geologic past is being reconstructed. A
researcher hypothesizes that the area was inhabited by small rodents.
What kind of discoveries would cause the researcher to change the
hypothesis?
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18. Relationships in a grassland ecosystem are shown below. Which best
describes the changes in the populations of brown grasshoppers and
green grasshoppers over time in this grassland ecosystem?
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19. The diagram below represents the evolutionary history of the horse.
Make a statement that best accounts for the changes in the horse?
Horse Evolution Over Time
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20. In the rain forest, the thick foliage allows limited sunlight to filter
through to the forest floor. Which wild cat species is best adapted to
living in the rain forest and WHY???
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Review
21. The forelimbs of two animals are shown below. Write three
statements that could be concluded from this information?
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22. Four species of Galapagos finches are shown below.
Explains why the birds evolved with differently shaped beaks?
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1. A certain species of rabbits exists in a forest, and through genetic
variation, furry rabbits and thin-furred rabbits are produced. What will
most likely happen to the rabbit population over time if global
temperatures drop by 10 degrees over thousands of years?
6. Archaeologists are working in a previously undisturbed dig site. A fossil
is found at a depth of 5 meters, and a second fossil is found at a depth of
20 meters. When comparing the two fossils, what conclusion can the
archaeologists most likely make?
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2. A new predator moves into an area with a population of rabbits. The
rabbits with longer back legs have an advantage because they can run
faster and escape the predator. What will be the most likely effect on the
rabbit population?
7. Based on the law of superposition, what best describes the ages of
four undisturbed rock layers relative to one another?
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8. Bird A can blend in with its environment, fly far, and eat a variety of
nuts and seeds. Bird B is an unusually colored, weak flyer that eats only
one type of seed regularly. What will most likely happen over time?
3. A rock sample has 25% of its original radioactive element and the halflife of the element is 1 million years. How old is the sample?
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4. A sedimentary rock found in a hillside is identified as sandstone. Which
can most likely be concluded about the hillside? (Think about what makes
sand, a lot of sand)
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5. An undisturbed rock geologic column has a fossil of a reptile species in
the lowest rock layer, an index fossil that was present 1 million years ago
in the middle rock layer, and a fossil of a clam species in the topmost rock
layer. Write one true statement about this situation:
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Review
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9. By which method have scientists determined that the Earth is about
4.5 billion years old?
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10.
Evolution can best be described as what rate of change?
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11.
Fossil remains can be found in what type of rock?
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12.
Geologists are conducting research in Hawaii. Which rock will be
most abundant?
18.
Paleontologists are scientists who study evidence of past life on
Earth. What earthen material would paleontologists use to determine the
forms of life that existed millions of years ago?
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13.
How are sedimentary rocks used to classify fossils that may be
embedded in the rock layers? What is the name of the law governing this
concept?
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19.
Polar bears are naturally found in Arctic environments
characterized by snow, ice, and extremely low temperatures. What is an
attribute of these bears that describes an evolutionary adaptation that
allows them to survive in this environment?
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14.
How is genetic variation related to an organism’s ability to adapt
to its environment?
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15.
If global warming increases, what characteristics would cause an
animal to be selected against for survival?
20.
Scientists found a fossil of an elephant in the African Savannah. It
has much longer tusks and is much larger than elephant species presently
inhabiting the area. This elephant fossil demonstrates that an animal can
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21.
Scientists studying rock layers classify the top layer as the most
recent, followed by older layers that are uncovered as they dig
deeper. Which law explains this method of relative dating?
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16.
In what type of rock would a geologist most likely find evidence of
ancient life?
22.
Several dinosaur bones fossils are discovered buried in volcanic
ash. To identify the type of dinosaur a scientist would….
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17.
James is examining two different fossil specimens. The fossils of
both organisms show wings with similar bone structure. What conclusion
can James most likely make?
23.
Some scientists think that all life evolved from a common
ancestor. Which provides evidence that this may be true - Analogous
structures or homologous structures?
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24.
Students are observing two fossils in a lab. They are told by the
teacher that the fossils were found in different rock layers. What can the
students most likely determine from just observing the fossils? Think
about the age of the fossils, the environment of the fossils, body
structure of the fossils – what could be determined?
29.
The radioactive isotope(parent material) content of a rock can be
used to identify which property of the rock
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30.
Throughout fossil records, many species appearing in lower layers
of rock disappear in higher layers of rock. Which best explains their
disappearance?
25.
The human arm contains the radius and ulna bones. Whales, bats,
and dogs also have these bones. Write a statement to explain this
relationship between the organisms?
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31.
Turtles have adapted to their habitat to protect themselves from
their predators. What have they developed to adapt in a predator rich
environment?
26.
The ichthyornis was a type of bird that lived over 65 million years
ago. It lived near the sea and hunted for fish over the water. Fossils have
been found in Kansas, many miles from the present-day ocean. Which
cause of extinction is most likely to be found in the fossil record along
with ichthyornis fossils?
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32.
What advantage do hollow bones and feathers give to birds?
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27.
The index fossil of a type of trilobite is discovered in layer A of a
set of rock layers found at three different sites of a field investigation.
Which conclusion can be made about the rocks in layer “A” at all three
sites?
33.
How are fossils compared to one another for biological
classification? To determine which species the fossil maybe a predecessor
to…
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34.
28.
The prairie dog has many adaptions to its ecosystem. What
genetic variation in the prairie dog provided an adaptation to remain safe
from many predators in its ecosystem?
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Review
What best describes natural selection?
35.
What can scientists most likely conclude from fossil records
regarding extinction?
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36.
How does genetic variation help living things adapt to a changing
environment?
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43.
Which adaptation best allows organisms to adjust to the harsh
winters of the tundra?
44.
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37.
What data provides the best evidence that the distribution of
Earth’s oceans has changed over time?
45.
Which adaptation has occurred due to genetic variation allowing
some species to seem invisible to predators?
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38.
What evidence do fossils provide geologists about the changes in
history of the Earth over time?
46.
How are fossils and soil samples good ways for a scientists to
estimate the age of Earth?
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39.
What is the best possible explanation for how abrupt changes in
rock layers could happen?
47.
What best describes a fossil that helps determine the relative age
of a rock layer?
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48.
What is the relationship of a species of lizards that adapt to
survive under new environmental conditions to its ancestors?
40.
What is the relative age of an igneous rock intrusion between
domed layers of sedimentary rock?
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41.
What type of species has the best chance of surviving through
significant environmental change? Think about VISTA.
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42.
What ways would evidence of earthquakes along fault lines be
preserved throughout Earth’s history?
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Review
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49.
What best describes the criteria necessary for a fossil to be used
as an index fossil?
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50.
What best describes the similar function of wings in birds and
butterflies?
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51.
What would occur in a species that has little or no genetic
variation?
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60.
What is the most likely reason scientists would want to analyze
the air trapped in an ice core?
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52.
What best explains how environment and genetic variation
contribute to the difference in a species’ physical appearance?
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61.
What is the base definition of a fossil?
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53.
What best explains the significance of the trilobite as an index
fossil?
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54.
What best explains why current species living in Australia are
found nowhere else on Earth?
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62.
Write a true statement about the ability of a species to survive?
(Think VISTA – “I”)
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63.
What is the main cause of the variation in traits within a
population of organisms? (remember the grey and white mice)
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64.
What makes a good index fossil?
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55.
What explains why the wing of a bat and the fin of a whale are
similar?
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65.
What method provides the most accurate age of a rock sample?
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56.
What can scientists infer when they find marine fossils on top of
mountains?
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66.
What provides the best evidence that an environmental change
has occurred with regards to the location of water on our planet?
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57.
Name some genetic variations resulting in a protective
adaptation?
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67.
What part of Earth’s history is best shown by analysis of ice cores?
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58.
Write a sentience describing why uranium is used for radioactive
dating? Remember to include temperature and pressure in your
statement.
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59.
What is the most accurate method scientists can use to estimate
Earth’s age?
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Review
68.
How are fossils an indicator of the changes in environmental
conditions of the Earth in the past compared to today?
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68. Which type of rock replaces bone and other hard organic materials to
create rock molds of fossils?
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