Fossils are Evidence of Change

Which of these is NOT a significant discovery that Charles Walcott made in the Burgess Shale?

• A. well-preserved land organisms

• B. soft tissues of organisms preserved in great detail

• C. fossils over 500 million years old

• D. the remains of an ancient ocean

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Scientists use evidence from their findings to support theories of life on earth. Which of these findings could not be used to provide supporting evidence that life on earth has changed over time?

• A. increasing complexity of fossils in younger rock layers
• B. increasing diversity of fossils in rock layers following an extinction
• C. transitional fossils
• D. rock layers with no fossils

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

At one time, several kinds of camels lived in Florida. The evidence comes from fossils found in Florida. Which object would be a fossil that shows that camels once lived in Florida?

• A. a sinkhole formed by a retreating glacier
• B. sedimentary rock that formed a long time ago
• C. a crystal formation suspended from the ceiling of a cave
• D. remains of an organism preserved by geologic processes

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of these best describes the tiny leg bones that some whales have, which do not aid in their movement or serve any other function?

• A. structures that grow and improve in function as they are used
• B. structures that will become adaptations when the environment changes
• C. structures that are a remnant of the adaptations that the whale’s ancestors needed to survive on land
• D. structures that function at certain times of the year or under certain conditions

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

An area where a particular plant has thrived for 50 million years suffers a 100-year-long drought. What evidence of the drought might be found in the fossil record?

• A. Fossils of the plant are abundant right up until the present day.
• B. Fossils of the plant appear in recent rock layers but not in older ones.
• C. Fossils of the plant are present in older rocks but disappear at a point in the fossil record.
• D. It is impossible for the fossil record to show evidence of the drought.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What is not an example from the fossil record that show evidence of change in the complexity of organisms over time?

• The fossil record shows the first organisms were single-celled.

• Jawless fish appear about 500 million years ago, but fish with jaws appear in the record afterward.

• There are bands in the fossil record with no fossils.

• Early organisms did not have feet and lungs, they were adapted to marine life.

• Seed plants lived 375 million years ago, and flowering followed 160 million years ago.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What evidence of changes in organisms in the Cambrian Era that are reflected in the fossil record?

• There was a huge increase increase in the number and types of fossils in the rock layers.
• The fossil record shows the first organisms were single celled.
• Early organisms did not have feet or lungs.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

This table shows some of the major events in Earth’s history according to the fossil record. Which event marks the beginning of the Cambrian Era?

• A. formation of Earth
• B. extinction of the dinosaurs
• C. first animals with exoskeletons appear
• D. largest mass extinction event in Earth’s history

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which event in the table have scientists proposed can be attributed to volcanic eruptions, a drop in sea levels and a possible large asteroid or comet strike?

• A. formation of Earth
• B. extinction of the dinosaurs
• C. end of the last glacial period
• D. early human ancestors appear

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