Science 8 Bridge Diagnostic Assessment

Which fossil is the youngest?

• fossil A (Paleozoic Era)

• fossil B (Mesozoic Era)

• fossil C (Cenozoic Era)

• fossils A and B are the same age

What is the importance of studying fossils?

• to provide information about current life forms and current environmental conditions

• to provide information about how life and environmental conditions may have changed

• to provide information about how previous life forms would exist in current environmental conditions

• to provide information about how current life forms would exist in previous environmental conditions

What can fossils tell us about Earth's past?

• Fossils give clues about environmental changes where the organism lived.

• Fossils can give clues of changes in the organism's body structure over time.

• Fossils can be used to date the time period of rocks and rock layers when the organism lived.

• All of the above are true.

Scientists have found large groups of fossils of marine organisms on mountaintops. What does this tell scientists about the past?

• That these organisms left the ocean and climbed to the top of an inland mountain to die.

• That these rocks must have been moved there by someone else.

• That these rocks were once below the surface of the ocean.

• That these rocks were always above the surface of the ocean.

When scientists analyze the fossil record, they find organisms that are similar to some organisms of today with noticeable changes. How does this help scientist to interpret the past?

• It doesn't help them at all.

• It allows them to see how organisms have changed over time.

• It allows them to see how organisms have remained the same over time.

• It allows them to see that there is no relationship between the past and today.

While they have different functions in adults, the limb bones of several organisms all arise from the same set of cells in the embryo's body. How does this evidence support the theory of evolution?

• It says that the cells randomly mutate in order to produce the limbs.

• It suggests there is a common ancestor between all of the organisms.

• It provides evidence that says that all organisms are actually the same as embryos.

• It tells scientists that evolution has caused the limbs to be different in the adult form.

What conclusion can be made if two or more organisms look similar during development?

• They share a common ancestor from long ago.

• They have evolved from each other over time.

• The organisms evolved at the same time.

• The traits are just a random occurrence.

All of the following are examples of fossils except one. Which one is not a fossil?

• A petrified tree truck

• A fern imprint in shale

• a trilobite in sandstone

• footprints in snow

Which of these is the most likely descendent of an organism that had large canine teeth for biting, powerful muscles for running ans stalking prey, and a long tail for balance?

• a deer

• a lobster

• a house cat

• a mallard duck

Which of these best explains why birds and dogs both show gills in their early development?

• Both organisms can breathe underwater.

• Both organisms share q common ancestor.

• Both organisms have different ways of forming their lungs.

• Both organisms use them to process food when they are young.