Earth's history

A fossil discovered in Colorado dates from the early Mesozoic era. A year later a similar fossil is found in Wyoming that also dates from the early Mesozoic era. These two organisms most likely lived in

• the same environment at about the same time.

• the same environment at different times.

• different environments at about the same time.

• different environments at different times.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Certain fossils can be used to help determine the age of the rock layer in which the fossils are found. Which type of fossil is BEST to use when making this determination?

• marine mammal fossil

• swamp fern fossil

• trace fossil

• index fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Use this geologic profile to answer the following question.

Which of the following BEST describes the fossil at Point 3 when compared with the fossils at Points 1 and 2?

• The fossil at Point 3 is less common

• The fossil at Point 3 is smaller.

• The fossil at Point 3 is older.

• The fossil at Point 3 is more complex

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

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

Trilobites are extinct animals that lived in the oceans. Fossils of these animals can be found in dry areas such as Cincinnati. What does this indicate?

• Trilobites now live underground.

• Trilobites are the ancestors of jellyfish.

• Cincinnati was once covered by the ocean where trilobites lived.

• The environment changed, creating small saltwater lakes in Cincinnati.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

How do scientists know that some mountains were once at the bottom of an ocean?

• Freshwater rivers flow to the ocean.

• Saltwater fish are found in some mountain streams.

• Dinosaur bones have been discovered in the mountains.

• Marine fossils have been found on the peaks of some mountains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What is the longest unit of time?

• Eon

• Era

• Period

• Epoch

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What Era are we currently in?

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

• Triassic

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What type of rock do fossils form in?

• Igneous
• Sedimentary
• Metamorphic
• Classic

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

How old do Paleontologists believe the Earth is?

• 2015 years old
• 3.6 billion years old
• 4.6 billion years old
• 4.6 million years old

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4