High School Palaeontology Quiz

Palaeontology

This quiz tests knowledge of palaeontology, focusing on concepts relevant to high school curricula, including fossil types, geological time, and major evolutionary events.

fossils geology evolution ancient life earth science

15 Questions Medium Ages 14+ Jul 28, 2026

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About this Study Set

This study set covers Palaeontology through 15 practice questions. This quiz tests knowledge of palaeontology, focusing on concepts relevant to high school curricula, including fossil types, geological time, and major evolutionary events. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.

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Browse all 15 questions from the High School Palaeontology Quiz study set below. Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.

1 Which of the following is the most common type of fossil preservation, where original organic material is replaced by minerals?

A Carbonisation
B Mould and cast
C Permineralisation
D Unaltered remains

2 The geological era known for the diversification of mammals and the rise of flowering plants is the:

A Mesozoic Era
B Palaeozoic Era
C Cenozoic Era
D Proterozoic Eon

3 Fossils that are widespread geographically, existed for a relatively short period of time, and are useful for dating rock layers are called:

A Trace fossils
B Index fossils
C Body fossils
D Coprolites

4 The process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more offspring is known as:

A Genetic drift
B Natural selection
C Artificial selection
D Speciation

5 Which of these groups of organisms first appeared during the Cambrian Explosion, a period of rapid evolutionary diversification?

A Mammals
B Amphibians
C Invertebrates with hard parts
D Dinosaurs

6 The principle of superposition states that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest rocks are found:

A At the top
B In the middle
C At the bottom
D Interspersed with younger rocks

7 Fossilised dinosaur footprints are an example of which type of fossil?

A Body fossil
B Trace fossil
C Mould fossil
D Amber fossil

8 The extinction event that wiped out approximately 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species is known as the:

A Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction
B Permian–Triassic extinction
C Triassic–Jurassic extinction
D Ordovician–Silurian extinction

9 Which geological eon is characterised by the formation of the Earth and the earliest life forms, including prokaryotes?

A Phanerozoic
B Proterozoic
C Archean
D Hadean

10 The preserved remains of plants and animals found in sedimentary rock are often the result of:

A Volcanic activity
B Erosion
C Fossilisation
D Metamorphism

11 Trilobites are extinct marine arthropods that are commonly found as fossils from which geological era?

A Mesozoic Era
B Cenozoic Era
C Palaeozoic Era
D Precambrian Era

12 The study of fossils and the ancient life they represent is called:

A Archaeology
B Geology
C Palaeontology
D Biology

13 Which of the following best describes the process of a mould fossil?

A The original hard parts of an organism are dissolved away, leaving a cavity.
B The original organic material is replaced by minerals.
C An organism is preserved in hardened tree sap.
D The organic material is compressed into a thin film of carbon.

14 The 'Age of Reptiles' is another name for which geological era?

A Palaeozoic Era
B Mesozoic Era
C Cenozoic Era
D Archean Eon

15 What is the primary scientific method used by palaeontologists to determine the age of a fossil or the rock layer it is found in?

A Radiocarbon dating
B Relative dating (using stratigraphy)
C Absolute dating (using radioactive isotopes)
D Comparative anatomy

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