Question

1. radiocarbon dating is an important archaeological tool. for radiocarbon dating to work, the object being tested must _____.

be at least 10,000 years old
have been made out of rock
have been alive at one time
have gold as an element

Explanation:

Radiocarbon dating (using \(^{14}\text{C}\)) works because living organisms absorb carbon - 14. When they die, the \(^{14}\text{C}\) decays. So the object must have been alive (to have taken in \(^{14}\text{C}\)).

• "Be at least 10,000 years old" is wrong as radiocarbon dating can date objects younger than that (up to around 50,000 years, but also younger).
• "Have been made out of rock" is wrong because rocks don't absorb \(^{14}\text{C}\) in the same way living things do (rock dating uses other methods like uranium - lead dating).
• "Have gold as an element" is irrelevant as gold has no role in radiocarbon dating.

Answer:

C. have been alive at one time