Earth's History Unit Test

Which of these provides the BEST evidence that the distribution of Earth’s oceans has changed over time?

• hot spots on ocean floors

• seismic activity along plate boundaries

• sediment buildup on continental slope

• marine fossils found on land masses

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Scientists estimate that if index fossils were deposited during a certain time frame, then the entire rock layer was also deposited at the same time.

A scientist finds Trophite fossils. According to the chart above, in what era and period was this rock layer deposited?

• Cenozoic era; Tertiary period

• Mesozoic era; Triassic period

• Paleozoic era; Permian period

• Paleozoic era; Mississippian period

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which method would be BEST for scientists to use to determine the absolute age of a Precambrian igneous rock?

• Index fossils

• law of superosition

• radiometric dating

• law of original horizontality

A teacher gave students this diagram of rock layers. The teacher directed the students to determine the relative age of each rock layer based only on the information presented in the diagram.

Which method can BEST be used by the students to determine the relative age of these layers?

• radiometric dating

• rock type evaluation

• the law of superposition

• principle of uniformitarianism

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which environmental condition MOST likely existed at the time a fossil formed?

• Organism remains were deposited in an area of open space

• Organism remains were covered by lava flow.

• Organism remains were buried with little oxygen.

• Organism remains were buried in an area where a lot of erosion occurred.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

When two fish die, Fish A sinks to the bottom of a lake and Fish B washes up on the rocky lake shore.

Why is a fossil more likely to form from the body of Fish A than from the body of Fish B?

• Soft parts of the fish will decay more quickly in the water.

• Sediments in the water will quickly cover the fish

• Scavengers in the water will eat the remains of the fish.

• Currents in the water will move the fish.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A scientist drew some diagrams of ancestors of elephants based on fossil evidence.

Which is the BEST conclusion that can be made from comparing the diagrams?

• Elephant species have changed over time.

• Ancient elephants were better adapted than modern elephants

• Elephant habitats have remained the same over time.

• Elephant fossil evidence is widespread and complete

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Scientists are able to conclude that a forested ecosystem existed in Antarctica millions of years ago by studying:

• the current climate

• the fossil record

• glacial movement

• seafloor spreading

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

• Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.

• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.

• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.

• Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What do earthquakes tell scientists about the history of the planet?

• Earth’s climate is constantly changing.

• The continents of Earth are continually moving.

• Dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago.

• The oceans are much deeper today than millions years ago.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2