Fossils and Evidence of Evolution

All the fossils that have been discovered and what scientists have learned from them is known as the ________.

• fossil record

• geological timeline

• chronological scale

• law of superposition

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Structures that are similar in different species and that have been inherited from a common ancestor are known as _________________.

• homologous structures

• inherited structures

• adapted structures

• homozygous structures

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According to the Law of Superposition, which fossil would be considered the oldest?

• A

• B

• C

• D

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This type of fossilization involves the organism's bones being completely replaced with mineral deposits over time.

• permineralization

• casting

• molding

• sedimentation

Fossils are most often found in this type of rock.

• metamorphic

• sedimentary

• igneous

• all of the above

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of these factors best contribute to the process of fossilization? Select all that apply.

• An organism dying in a lake bed or ocean

• The accumulation of sediments over the organism

• An organism's bones being forced into the magma layer of the earth by tectonic movement

• A low-oxygen environment

• The presence of decomposers and scavengers

This images suggests that:

• the organisms living on Earth have remained unchanged over time

• the Paleozoic Era is the most recent era in time

• the Cenozoic Era came before the Paleozoic Era

• organisms have changed over time

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The fossil evidence found in these sedimentary layers BEST implies that:

• land plants are older than land animals

• vertebrates and invertebrates evolved together

• invertebrates lived on Earth before vertebrates

• land animals evolved at the same time as marine animals

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

You find two fossils. One is a very primitive, invertebrate organism and the other is a complex organism with a skeleton. Which of these two fossils do you think is the oldest?

• probably the complex organism on the right

• probably the primitive organism on the left

• it is certain that the two organisms lived at the same time

• it is impossible to even guess about the relative age of the fossils

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Geologists discovered fossil evidence of mesohippus, an ancestor of the modern horse. Mesohippus lived in North America about 40 million years ago. Mesohippus was about two feet tall, ran on hooves with three toes, and had large, grinding teeth. What statement is BEST supported by the fossil evidence?

• Ancient horses were once carnivores.

• Horses have evolved over the last 40 million years.

• Horses migrated from South America into North America.

• Modern-day horses share a common ancestor with all mammals.

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