Superposition Quiz

1. The Law of Superposition states that layers of undisturbed rock are organized
by their age, with the ___________ layers on top and ______________ layers
below.
a. Oldest, younger
b. Youngest, older
c. Darkest, lighter
d. Lightest, denser
2. Look at the picture to the right. Which layer is oldest?
a. A
b. B
A
c. C
B
d. D
C
D
3. Look at the picture to the right. Place the layers in order from oldest to
youngest.
a. D, C, B, A, E
b. A, B, C, D, E
A
c. D, C, B, E, A
B
E
d. D, C, E, B, A
C
D
4. Place the fossil skulls in order from
youngest to oldest.
a. W, X, Z, Y
b. Y, Z, X, W
c. X, W Y, Z
d. Z, Y, X, W
5. If artifact 6 is 600 years old, how closely can we
approximate the date of artifact 7?
a. They are similar in age because they are in the
same layer
b. Artifact 7 is slightly younger because the layer
above is more shallow
c. Artifact 7 is slightly older because its buried
deeper
d. Artifact 6 is older because the artifact is darker

https://www.utexas.edu/courses/denbow/labs/lab1strat2.htm

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Answer Key:
1. B
Explanation: Older layers are covered up as new layers are created,
placing the oldest at
the bottom and youngest at the top.
2. D
Explanation: The Law of Superposition tells us that the oldest layers
will be found on the
bottom of a cross-section of Earth.
3. C
Explanation: Layer E bisects B, C, and D which means they all had to
be created before E bisected them. A covers everything making it the
newest.
4. C
Explanation: Although the skulls are laying at various depths with
respect to each other,
students need to focus on the layer in which they
are buried.
5. A
Explanation: Artifacts 6 and 7 are part of the same layer, so they
should be roughly the
same age.

(C) Copyright 2014 - all rights reserved www.cpalms.org