Earth's History

A teacher gave students this diagram of rock layers. The teacher directed the students to determine the relative age of each rock layer based only on the information presented in the diagram.

Which method can BEST be used by the students to determine the relative age of these layers?

• radiometric dating

• rock type evaluation

• the law of superposition

• principle of uniformitarianism

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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

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

A scientist drew some diagrams of ancestors of elephants based on fossil evidence.

Which is the BEST conclusion that can be made from comparing the diagrams?

• Elephant species have changed over time.

• Ancient elephants were better adapted than modern elephants

• Elephant habitats have remained the same over time.

• Elephant fossil evidence is widespread and complete

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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

Which Era was dominated by dinosaurs?

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

• Cambrian

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which segment of time is the smallest?

• Eon

• Era

• Period

• Epoch

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4