Question 1

Some of the best information on climate history over the last several million years is based on the study of:
A)amino acids.
B)foraminifera.
C)radioisotopes.
D)dendrochronology.

Accepted Answer

Foraminifera fossils found in ocean sediment cores provide valuable information about past climate conditions, including temperature and salinity levels. By studying the distribution and abundance of different foraminifera species, scientists can infer changes in ocean currents and ecology over time. Other methods, such as amino acid dating and radioisotope analysis, can also provide information on climate history but are not as widely used as foraminifera studies. Dendrochronology, the study of tree rings, is useful for reconstructing climate history on a more regional scale but has limited application for studying global climate patterns over long time periods.

Question 2

An index fossil is:
A)a fossil found in a particular site.
B)the ideal specimen of that species to which all later descriptions must refer.
C)a fossil used to categorize a stratigraphic layer.
D)the type specimen of a species.

Accepted Answer

An index fossil is a fossil that is used to identify and categorize a specific layer of rock or sedimentary deposit. These fossils are typically widespread geographically and lived for a relatively short period of time, making them useful markers for dating and correlating rock layers.

Question 3

What is the most important variable in reconstructing ancient climate?
A)weather
B)sea levels
C)temperature estimated using any of several methods
D)isotope ratios

Accepted Answer

Temperature estimated using any of several methods is the most important variable in reconstructing ancient climate as it provides insights into past climate conditions and can be used to understand how climate has changed over time. Isotope ratios can also provide valuable information, but temperature estimates are more widely used and provide more comprehensive insights into past climate. Weather and sea levels are important factors but do not provide as much information as temperature estimates.

Question 4

A mummy is discovered whose tomb includes cloth, food, and other organic remains.What dating method would most likely be used to date the tomb?
A)biostratigraphy
B)carbon 14
C)dendrochronology
D)electron spin resonance

Accepted Answer

Carbon 14 dating is the most appropriate method for dating organic remains, which includes cloth, food, and other materials found in the tomb. This method relies on the decay of radioactive carbon isotopes found in these organic materials to determine their age.

Question 5

Coinciding with the appearance of early hominins about 5-10 mya, the climate was:
A)increasingly wet and rainy.
B)increasingly hot and humid.
C)increasingly dry and seasonal.
D)less temperate.

Accepted Answer

The appearance of early hominins about 5-10 mya coincided with a shift toward increasingly dry and seasonal climates in Africa. This is demonstrated by the expansion of grasslands and the retreat of forests during this time period, which suggests a decrease in precipitation and an increase in seasonal variation.

Question 6

A hearth is discovered with bone fragments in it.What method might be used to date the bone?
A)dendrochronology
B)electron spin resonance
C)fission track
D)amino acid method

Accepted Answer

The amino acid method is typically used to date bone fragments by analyzing the changes in the amino acids within the bone. This method has been shown to be effective in dating samples that are up to one million years old, making it a suitable option for dating bone fragments found in a hearth.

Question 7

Paleontologists find a fossil ape with long arms.What type of environment can they infer it inhabited?
A)savanna
B)woodland
C)grassland
D)swamp

Accepted Answer

A fossil ape with long arms may have inhabited a woodland environment where it could have used its long arms to swing from trees and navigate through dense vegetation. This type of adaptation would not have been as effective in open grasslands or savannas. Swamps are also unlikely as they are not typically associated with arboreal habitats.

Question 8

Based on the molecular clock, geneticists believe the split between chimps and hominins occurred _______ mya.
A)10-12
B)8-10
C)6-8
D)4-6

Accepted Answer

Based on the molecular clock, geneticists believe the split between chimps and hominins occurred 8-10 million years ago (mya).

Question 9

Fission track dating can provide dates when used on which type of material?
A)sedimentary rock
B)shell
C)bone
D)igneous rock

Accepted Answer

Fission track dating can only be used on the mineral apatite which is found in igneous rocks.

Question 10

Stratigraphic correlation is:
A)matching strata by chemical composition and color from several sites across distances.
B)correlating stratigraphic markers in one location.
C)matching stratigraphy from known sites only.
D)dating through the use of a chronometric method.

Accepted Answer

Stratigraphic correlation involves matching strata from different locations based on various characteristics, including chemical composition and color, to understand the geological history across different areas.

Question 11

A wooden tomb is discovered with a well-preserved mummy inside.Which of the following methods could be used to date the tomb most accurately?
A)superposition
B)electron spin resonance
C)thermoluminescence
D)dendrochronology

Accepted Answer

Dendrochronology can be used to date the wooden tomb accurately by analyzing the tree ring patterns in the wood. This method is specific to wood and can provide precise dating based on the known growth patterns of trees.

Question 12

Paleosols and fauna in the Middle Awash Valley of Ethiopia show that the earliest hominins lived in _______ settings.
A)wooded
B)unwooded grassland
C)marshy
D)desert

Accepted Answer

Paleosols and fauna evidence from the Middle Awash Valley of Ethiopia indicates that the earliest hominins inhabited wooded settings, suggesting a landscape with trees and possibly forested areas that could provide both food and shelter.

Question 13

For dating hominin fossils that go back 4 million years, what dating methods might be used?
A)electron spin resonance
B)thermoluminescence
C)amino acid method
D)both a.and b.

Accepted Answer

Electron spin resonance and thermoluminescence are both effective dating methods for hominin fossils that are between 100,000 and 4 million years old. Both of these methods help measure how long it has been since radiation was last absorbed by the fossil. However, the amino acid method is not effective for dating fossils that are older than 100,000 years.

Question 14

Thermoluminescence dating can provide dates when used on which types of materials?
A)sediment, stone, and ceramics
B)bone, wood, and stone
C)bone, shell, and fabric
D)shell, ceramics, and wood

Accepted Answer

Thermoluminescence dating can be used on sediment, stone, and ceramics, as these materials contain minerals that can trap electrons from radiation and release them when heated. This allows scientists to determine how long it has been since the material was last exposed to heat or light. Bones, shells, and fabric can also be dated using thermoluminescence, but they typically require different techniques or methods. Wood can also be dated using thermoluminescence, but it is less commonly used for this purpose compared to sediment, stone, and ceramics.

Question 15

Electron spin resonance dating can provide dates when used on which type of material?
A)wood
B)shell
C)teeth
D)soft tissue such as muscle

Accepted Answer

Electron spin resonance dating can be used on teeth because it measures the trapped charge within the crystal lattice of minerals found in teeth. This method is suitable for dating a wide range of fossilized materials but is particularly useful for teeth because they contain enamel, which is a highly durable and analyzable material for this type of dating.

Question 16

Analysis of stable carbon isotopes in _______ can provide information on ancient diet.
A)shell
B)cloth
C)bones and teeth
D)wood

Accepted Answer

Carbon isotopes are present in bones and teeth and can be used to analyze the type of diet consumed by ancient organisms.

Question 17

Fluorine dating is an example of what type of dating method?
A)chronometric
B)nonrelative
C)chemical
D)genetic

Accepted Answer

Fluorine dating is a chemical dating method used to determine the relative age of fossilized bones by measuring the amount of fluorine absorbed from the surrounding soil.

Question 18

Scientists can determine the type of plant consumed based on:
A)carbon 14.
B)radioisotopes.
C)index fossils.
D)carbon 13 and carbon 12.

Accepted Answer

Scientists can determine the type of plant consumed based on the relative amounts of carbon isotopes, specifically carbon-13 and carbon-12. Different plants have different ratios of these isotopes in their tissues, and these ratios can be used to identify the plant species that was consumed. Carbon-14 and radioisotopes are also used in dating and other types of analyses, but they are not typically used to identify the type of plant consumed. Index fossils are used to correlate rock layers in geology and are not relevant to this question.

Question 19

The molecular clock has been useful to determine the phylogenetic relationships of species based on the assumption that:
A)a species lineage accumulates genetic differences over time at a constant rate.
B)only some species are genetically related.
C)DNA is preserved unchanged over long periods of time.
D)species adapt at specific rates.

Accepted Answer

The molecular clock assumes that genetic differences accumulate in a lineage at a constant rate over time, which allows for the estimation of the time since two species shared a common ancestor. This assumption allows for the construction of phylogenetic trees based on the genetic relationships among species.

Question 20

Which dating method would be most appropriate for establishing the age of a volcanic ash layer from an early hominid site in eastern Africa?
A)carbon 14 dating
B)amino acid dating
C)potassium-argon dating
D)electron spin resonance dating

Accepted Answer

Potassium-argon dating is most appropriate for establishing the age of volcanic ash layers, as it measures the decay of radioactive potassium into argon. This method can accurately date volcanic rocks that are millions of years old, making it ideal for dating early hominid sites in eastern Africa. Carbon 14 dating is unsuitable for dating material older than 50,000 years, amino acid dating is more commonly used on materials like bones and shells, and electron spin resonance dating is primarily used for dating tooth enamel.

Quiz 8: Fossils and Their Place in Time and Nature

Some of the best information on climate history over the last several million years is based on the study of:

An index fossil is:

What is the most important variable in reconstructing ancient climate?

A mummy is discovered whose tomb includes cloth, food, and other organic remains.What dating method would most likely be used to date the tomb?

Coinciding with the appearance of early hominins about 5-10 mya, the climate was:

A hearth is discovered with bone fragments in it.What method might be used to date the bone?

Paleontologists find a fossil ape with long arms.What type of environment can they infer it inhabited?

Based on the molecular clock, geneticists believe the split between chimps and hominins occurred _______ mya.

Fission track dating can provide dates when used on which type of material?

Stratigraphic correlation is:

A wooden tomb is discovered with a well-preserved mummy inside.Which of the following methods could be used to date the tomb most accurately?

Paleosols and fauna in the Middle Awash Valley of Ethiopia show that the earliest hominins lived in _______ settings.

For dating hominin fossils that go back 4 million years, what dating methods might be used?

Thermoluminescence dating can provide dates when used on which types of materials?

Electron spin resonance dating can provide dates when used on which type of material?

Analysis of stable carbon isotopes in _______ can provide information on ancient diet.

Fluorine dating is an example of what type of dating method?

Scientists can determine the type of plant consumed based on:

The molecular clock has been useful to determine the phylogenetic relationships of species based on the assumption that:

Which dating method would be most appropriate for establishing the age of a volcanic ash layer from an early hominid site in eastern Africa?