Class _________________________ Date ______________
1. Current scientific evidence shows that the Earth is:
a) less than 1 million years old
b) between 3 and 4 billion years old
c) more than 4 billion years old
2. Look at the diagram below representing layers of
rocks and the fossils buried in them.
a) Circle the oldest layer.
b) Explain how you can tell which layer is the oldest.
(Hint: The Law of Superposition might help you.)
3. What is the difference between relative and absolute age?
4. Look at the diagram below and then answer this question:
We can date the layers of volcanic ash using radiometric dating,
but how can we determine the absolute age of fossil A?
5. The diagram below shows a portion of the Geologic Time Scale.
What do the divisions of time represent?
a) the names of famous scientists
b) major changes in flora (plants) and fauna (animals)
c) Latin terms for lengths of time
