Paleontology MCQ Practice Paper - 001

#1. To serve as a geologic clock, a process must

be uniform (or at least subject to averaging).

be capable of being measured.

have been operating uninterruptedly.

All of these must be true.

#2. Fossils are useful for all of the following except

determining the former environment of a region.

correlating rocks in one location with those in another.

determining the exact age of the earth.

determining the former climate of a region.

#3. Correlation and relative dating through the use of index fossils is limited because

index fossils are rarely found in other than sedimentary rocks.

index fossils appeared for too short a time in the geologic record to be very helpful.

many sedimentary layers do not contain index fossils at all.

None of the above

#4. Which of the following is not a common way for fossils to form?

preservation of skeletal remains

preservation of an organism's shape

preservation of signs of activity

preservation of soft parts by freezing

#5. Fossil fecal pellets of ancient animals are described as

Gastroliths

Coproliths

Beekite rings

Pseudo-fossils

#6. The foraminifers belong to the class

Sarcodina

Sporozoa

Flagelleta

Mastigophora

#7. Conodonts are composed of

Magnesium sulphate

Silica

Calcium Phosphate

Calcite

#8. According to paleontologist Stephen J. Gould, how many species of animals and plants that have lived on the earth, how many percentages are still alive?

15%

1%

70%

99%

#9. Correlation and relative dating through the use of index fossils is limited because

index fossils are rarely found in other than sedimentary rocks.

index fossils appeared for too short a time in the geologic record to be very helpful.

index fossils are extremely rare.

None of the above

#10. Choose the correct example of a trace fossil from the following options.

Footprint

Petrified wood

Tooth

Hardened bone

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