Evolution/Geologic Time

Most fossils are found in

• rusty water.

• volcanic rock.

• sedimentary rock.

• the sap of ancient trees.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Fossils usually provide paleontologists with information about each of the following EXCEPT an organism’s

• structure

• environment.

• way of life.

• DNA.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay is its

• half-life.

• relative date.

• radioactive date.

• period.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

To compare the relative ages of rocks, scientists sometimes use an easily recognized and widespread fossil type called

• a carbon fossil.

• a radioactive fossil.

• an index fossil.

• a sedimentary fossil.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

How would you date a sample of rock that you suspect as being one of the earliest on Earth?

• Use a radioactive isotope with a short half-life.

• Use a radioactive isotope with a long half-life.

• Use an index fossil.

• Use a microfossil.

Which of the following statements must be true for a clade to survive?

• The rate of speciation must be equal to or less than the rate of extinction.

• The rate of speciation must be less than the rate of extinction.

• The rate of speciation must be greater than or equal to the rate of extinction.

• The rate of speciation must not change over the clade’s history.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

Gradualism is a pattern of evolution in which

• a single species evolves into several closely related species.

• several distantly related species develop similarities.

• a species evolves at a slow, steady pace.

• a species has periods of little evolution interrupted by periods of rapid evolution.

A pattern in which species experience long, stable periods interrupted by brief periods of rapid evolutionary change is called

• convergent evolution.

• coevolution

• adaptive radiation.

• punctuated equilibrium.

A single species that has evolved into several different forms that live in different ways has undergone

• adaptive radiation.

• coevolution.

• punctuated equilibrium.

• mass extinction.

A plant evolves a high level of poison that enables it to defend itself against insects. Soon an insect that prefers to eat this plant evolves an enzyme that breaks down the poison. This is an example of

• convergent evolution.

• punctuated equilibrium.

• coevolution.

• adaptive radiation.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2