About this Study Set
This study set covers Palaeontology through
15 practice questions.
An exploration of how fossils and Earth's history relate to the wider universe, planets, and geological time. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.
Questions & Answers
Browse all 15 questions from the
Palaeontology and Cosmic Origins study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
What is the study of fossils called?
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A
Astronomy
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B
Palaeontology
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C
Botany
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D
Meteorology
2
Earth is the only planet in our solar system currently known to support life, which is preserved as what?
-
A
Stars
-
B
Fossils
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C
Gas clouds
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D
Moon dust
3
How are fossils primarily formed?
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A
Sediment burial
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B
Solar flares
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C
Space travel
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D
Volcanic lightning
4
Which planet is the closest neighbor to Earth, though it lacks fossil evidence?
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A
Jupiter
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B
Mars
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C
Saturn
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D
Neptune
5
What is the name of the era during which dinosaurs lived, long after Earth formed?
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A
Mesozoic
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B
Galactic Era
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C
Lunar Period
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D
Stellar Age
6
Fossils provide evidence for how life changed over long periods of time on which planet?
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A
Venus
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B
Earth
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C
Mars
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D
Mercury
7
Which celestial body has a major impact on Earth's tides, influencing coastal sediment where fossils are often found?
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A
The Sun
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B
The Moon
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C
Jupiter
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D
Pluto
8
What do palaeontologists use to determine the age of rocks and fossils?
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A
Stellar mapping
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B
Radiometric dating
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C
Telescopes
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D
Sunspots
9
The Sun provides the energy required for photosynthesis, the process that supports the food chain that eventually results in fossils. What is the Sun?
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A
A planet
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B
A star
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C
A comet
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D
An asteroid
10
Which layer of the Earth, where fossils are discovered, is located beneath our feet?
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A
The Crust
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B
The Core
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C
The Atmosphere
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D
The Exosphere
11
What is the term for a space rock that strikes Earth and can alter the climate, potentially leading to mass extinctions?
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A
Meteorite
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B
Planetoid
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C
Satellite
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D
Galaxy
12
Fossils are most commonly found in what type of rock, which forms from layers of particles?
-
A
Igneous
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B
Metamorphic
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C
Sedimentary
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D
Volcanic
13
The study of the history of the universe is called cosmology, while the study of ancient life on Earth is called what?
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A
Palaeontology
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B
Astrophysics
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C
Chemistry
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D
Geography
14
Roughly how old is the Earth, providing the massive timescale for evolution and fossilization?
-
A
4.5 billion years
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B
1 million years
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C
10,000 years
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D
500 years
15
What type of ancient organisms lived in Earth's oceans long before humans existed?
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A
Trilobites
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B
Space aliens
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C
Moon rovers
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D
Solar drones
