Lesson 45: The Fossil Record

Select all answers below that correctly describe the fossil record.

• The fossil record confirms only one mass extinction event.

• The fossil record is not a complete record due to geological events that can affect rock layers.

• The fossil record shows a sequence from simple bacteria to more complex to more complex organisms through time.

• The fossil record provides a substantial body of evidence for evolution over time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The half life of an isotope is the number of years it takes for -

• radioactive decay of the sample to begin.

• 50% of the sample to decay.

• radioactive decay to be complete.

• 25% of the sample to decay.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Select all events below that occur to create rock fossils.

• Calcium in bone and other hard materials mineralize in a buried organism.

• Sediment surrounding a buried organism hardens to form rock.

• An organism is buried in sediment.

• Soft tissue mineralizes and hardens the longer an organism remains buried.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The study of prehistoric life is called (a)   .

_________________ is the idea that evolution is marked by isolated episodes of rapid speciation between long periods of stasis.

• The fossil record

• Punctuated equilibrium

• Gradualism

• Extinction

Isotopes of the same element have -

• the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

• the same number of neutrons but a different number of protons.

• the same of electrons but a different number of protons.

• the same number of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Archaeopteryx, found mid-1800s, provides evidence of (a)   descent of birds from dinosaurs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Radioactive dating of fossils -

• relates to the position of fossils on rock layers.

• is a method of relative dating.

• forms a geologic time scale.

• is a method of absolute dating.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Relative dating of fossils -

• involves measuring half-lives.

• relates to the position of fossils in rock layers.

• gives ages of fossils in years.

• involves the study of isotopes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

All of the following are major geologic ages except -

• Archean.

• Paleozoic.

• Quaternary.

• Mesozoic.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4