Claims and Evidence Check

1. Long ago, when people studied maps, what did they notice?

• The continents all looked as though they were the same shape and size.

• Fossils of the same kind of lizard could be founde in India and Africa.

• Rock layers from Eastern South America matched rock from Western Africa.

• The continents looked as though they could fit together, like a puzzle.

This text lists and describes the evidence scientists used to conclude that the continents were once joined. What is one piece of evidence scientists used to prove this idea?

• There was a gigantic volcanic eruption that caused the continents to split apart across the Atlantic Ocean.

• Fossils of an ancient reptile called Lystrosaurus, were found in Southern Africa and India.

• Parts of Earth’s land broke off to become the moon and the land that was left became the continents.

• Scientists discovered fossils of ancient ferns that could survive in the freezing temperatures.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The text says, “In South America and Africa, fossils of another ancient reptile, Cynognathus, turned up directly across the Atlantic Ocean from each other.” What conclusion can be drawn based on this evidence?

• Long ago, the place where the fossils were found in South America was connected to the part of Africa where the fossils were found.

• Long ago, the ancient lizard Cynognathus was able to swim across entire oceans and survive in vastly different lands.

• Long ago, South America and Africa were connected, but they separated before the time that Cynognathus lived.

• Long ago, the separation of the continents caused the death of many ancient animals, like Cynognathus.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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“All of these discoveries seemed to indicate that the continents had once been joined—but how? Furthermore, how had they become separated? Several scientists proposed explanations, but they were quite far-fetched. […] Few people paid much attention to these ideas. A better explanation was needed, one with evidence to support it.”

• an idea about why something is a certain way

• an exploration of a new or unfamiliar land

• a mystery that cannot be solved

• evidence that supports a certain idea

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1