Earth History 2A

The diagram shows the front limbs of four different members of the horse family, based on

the fossil record. They are arranged from the oldest to the most recent.

Which BEST describes how the front limbs of horses have changed over time?

• They have gained additional toes.

• The bones have become stronger

• The toes have reduced in number.

• The bones have become shorter.

Which type of rock forms from the cooling of lava?

• igneous

• limestone

• sandstone

• metamorphic

Scientists discovered fossils of different organisms in some layers of rock. Organism 5 was

discovered in the uppermost layer. The scientists wanted to determine if Organism 5 was

related to other organisms found in older layers of rock. They compared physical traits and

DNA similarities from all the fossils. Some of their results are shown in the table.

Based on the table, which organism is MOST likely an ancestor of Organism 5?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

What can ice cores most accurately tell you about Earth’s history for a

given location?

• the climate at that time

• the plants that grew at that time

• the animals that lived at that time

The diagram shows the Earth’s crustal plates. Which is true about geologic evolution in reference to plate tectonics?

• The plates of Earth have settled and finished moving.

• The movement of plates has caused the formation and break-up of continents over time.

• The movement of the plates is responsible for all geologic changes that occur on Earth.

In Peru, fossils of an unknown species of penguin were recently discovered. The species

stood about 1.5 meters tall and is the third largest penguin known. The diagram shows the

skull of a modern penguin in Peru and the skull of the newly discovered species.

Which can MOST likely be inferred about the two penguin species from this fossil evidence?

• The penguins had different feeding styles.

• The penguins had adapted to similar climates.

• The fossil penguin had better nocturnal vision than the modern penguin.

• The modern penguin had more advanced social groups than the fossil penguin.

Studies of snail fossils in Egypt indicate that areas of Egypt that are now desert were once

thriving savannas approximately 130,000 years ago. What does the presence of these fossils

indicate about the area of Egypt that was thriving 130,000 years ago?

• There was more humidity in the air.

• There were fewer nutrients in the soil.

• There was more snowfall in the region.

• There was less solar radiation in the region.

Petrified palm trees are found in sedimentary rock near glaciers. The presence of the

petrified palm trees MOST likely provides evidence for which statement?

• There was once more water in the area.

• The area was once grassland.

• The climate in the area was once tropical.

• There are active faults in the area.

Scientists studied the teeth on the fossils of an ancient fish. The oldest fossils indicate the fish mostly ate plankton. The teeth on more recent fossils indicate the fish began to eat larger plants. Which hypothesis does this observation BEST support?

• Over time, the fish grew considerably in size.

• Over time, the fish occupied different ecological niches.

• Over time, the fish changed from living in salt water to living in fresh water.

• Over time, the fish changed from a primary consumer to a secondary consumer.

What is the relative age of an igneous rock intrusion between domed layers of sedimentary rock?

• It is older than the sedimentary rock.

• It is younger than the sedimentary rock.

• It is the same age as the sedimentary rock.