Earth's History (SI)

The diagram represents a stack of rock layers. What do these layers and their fossils suggest about Earth's history?

• There have been changes in Earth's lifeforms over time.
• Only one kind of lifeform lived where these layers formed.
• No lifeforms were present when these layers formed.
• Lifeforms on Earth have been the same over time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The diagram shows several rock layers and other geologic features. Using the principles of original horizontality, superposition, and cross-cutting relationships, determine which of the following features is the youngest.

• H
• N
• R
• G

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The image shows a diagram of a reverse fault. What formation will be created on the side of the fault labeled A if the land shifts in the direction of the arrow?

• mountain ridge
• flood plain
• valley
• cave

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The diagram shows a cross section of a hillside. Four rock units are shown in the cross section. Which of these units is the youngest?

• igneous unit
• sandstone unit
• shale unit
• limestone unit

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The image shows a stack of rock layers exposed in a cliffside. These layers have a fault running through them. A fault is a crack along which rocks move. When these layers first formed long ago, there was no fault present. At some time later, tectonic forces cracked the layers, forming the fault. Then, the rocks on either side of the fault moved. Using the layer marked a as a guide, determine how the rocks moved along the fault.

• The rocks on the right side moved up, and the rocks on the left side moved down.
• The rocks on both sides of the fault moved down the same distance.
• The rocks on both sides of the fault moved up the same distance.
• The rocks on the left side moved up, and the rocks on the right side moved down.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A geologist finds ripples preserved in ancient sedimentary rock that look just like ripples made by water in mud. He concludes that there was once water in that location that created the ripples. Why is this conclusion reasonable?

• because water and mud behaved in a similar way in the past as they do today
• because sedimentary rock never forms from mud
• because water and mud behaved very differently in the past than they do today
• because sedimentary rock always forms under water

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

NGSS.HS-ESS2-5

Which statement about the movement of Earth's crust along a fault line is true?

• Different types of movement occur along different types of faults.
• Only vertical, up-and-down movement occurs along faults.
• Crustal movement does not occur along fault lines.
• Only horizontal, side-to-side movement occurs along faults.

When looking for supportive evidence of global warming over time, how might you learn the most about climate change in a tundra region?

• ice coring
• radiometric data
• rock layers
• water cycle

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

One method that scientists use to study the Earth's climate history is to dig deep into glaciers and compare the composition of the fallen snow and ice from previous time periods to the snow and ice that falls today. They also compare the composition of tiny air bubbles in the ice to air today. Scientific information that is gathered in this manner is known as _______.

• ice core data
• snow gauge data
• ice flow data
• rain gauge data

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

If scientists find an ice core from 30,000 years ago that contains chemicals radically different than the chemicals that are around today, they would likely conclude that _______.

• the atmosphere 30,000 years ago was different than our atmosphere today.
• these chemicals are abundant today.
• the atmosphere never changes its composition.
• the number of layers they counted was incorrect.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5