Fossils

Which modern organism is most like the prehistoric organism shown in the fossil?

• bat

• bird

• fish

• dragonfly

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Look at the fossilized piece of a plant below.

To which type of plant is this fossilized organism most likely related?

• a vine

• a tree

• a flower

• a fern

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The picture on the left shows a fossil of the head of the prehistoric creature, Deinotherium. The picture on the right shows an artist's sketch of what the creature may have looked like.

Based on the sketch, what type of modern animal is Deinotherium related to?

• tiger

• bird

• elephant

• shark

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

There have been many fossils found throughout North America. Most of these fossils are of organisms that lived millions of years ago. Among these are ferns. Ferns were plants with several small leaves along their stems and no seeds or flowers.

Which of the following is most likely a living relative of the fern?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

In what way are these two fossils similar?

• They both show plants with branches and leaves.

• They both were made in similar rocks.

• They both show animals that lived 4 million years ago.

• They both show organisms with bones.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The picture below is a fossil of an insect.

The insect is probably related to the

• spider

• ant

• cockroach

• moth

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What is the best way that scientists can learn what the Earth's atmosphere was like millions of years ago?

• studying the gases that are in the atmosphere now

• looking at very old pictures

• studying very old fossils and rocks

• looking at the plants and animals that are alive today

What can scientists learn by studying fossils?

I.how the Earth's surface has changed over time

II.the appearance of an organism and its structures

III.how species have changed over time

IV.how the Earth's climate has changed over time

• II only

• I, II, III, and IV

• I and IV only

• I, II, and III

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The picture below is a fossil from around 500 million years ago.

The animal shown is probably related to the modern

• butterfly

• frog

• worm

• snail

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The pictures below show the fossil remains of two different animals.

In what way were these animals probably similar?

• They were the same size.

• They both had four legs.

• They both had bones.

• They both had hands.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2