The Fossil Record Review

Approximately how old is the Earth?

• 2020 years old

• 4.6 billion years old

• 4.6 million years old

• 4.6 x 10⁸

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The remains or traces of once-living organisms; which form when specific conditions occur that preserve an organism’s remains.

• Fossil

• Leftovers

• Remains

• Uniformitarianism

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following conditions might PREVENT a dead organism from being preserved? (Choose all that apply.)

• Being dissolved by water.

• Being eaten or decomposing.

• Being trapped in tree sap.

• Being buried by sediments.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Scientists have observed patterns in the fossil record. They can use these observations to identify cause-and-effect relationships. Write the letter of the correct cause next to each observation.

Many fossils are the result of organisms dying near or in water.

• Bodies naturally decompose, and soft tissues like skin and eyes will decompose the fastest. The tissues that last the longest have the best chance to become fossils.

• Earth’s layers are created by depositing new layers of sediment on top of old ones.

• Water carries and deposits sediment. Objects underneath water are likely to be covered by new layers of earth more quickly than objects on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Scientists have observed patterns in the fossil record. They can use these observations to identify cause-and-effect relationships. Write the letter of the correct cause next to each observation.

Fossils are more likely to be of hard body structures such as bones, teeth, and shells.

• Bodies naturally decompose, and soft tissues like skin and eyes will decompose the fastest. The tissues that last the longest have the best chance to become fossils.

• Earth’s layers are created by depositing new layers of sediment on top of old ones.

• Water carries and deposits sediment. Objects underneath water are likely to be covered by new layers of earth more quickly than objects on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Scientists have observed patterns in the fossil record. They can use these observations to identify cause-and-effect relationships. Write the letter of the correct cause next to each observation.

Older fossils are found in lower rock strata while more recent fossils are found closer to the surface.

• Bodies naturally decompose, and soft tissues like skin and eyes will decompose the fastest. The tissues that last the longest have the best chance to become fossils.

• Earth’s layers are created by depositing new layers of sediment on top of old ones.

• Water carries and deposits sediment. Objects underneath water are likely to be covered by new layers of earth more quickly than objects on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The theory that changes in the earth's crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes.

• The law of superposition

• The principle of Unconformity

• Uniformitarianism

• Correlative Processes

... states that in any undisturbed rock sequence deposited in layers, the youngest layer is on top and the oldest on bottom, each layer being younger than the one beneath it and older than the one above it

• The law of superposition

• The principle of Unconformity

• Uniformitarianism

• Correlative Processes

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Assuming that each rock layer formed horizontally, which rock layer is the oldest?

• Layer A

• Layer B

• Layer C

• Layer D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Assuming that each rock layer formed horizontally, which rock layer is the youngest?

• Layer A

• Layer B

• Layer C

• Layer D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4