Earth's Changing History

Earth’s surface is made of rock and soil. What is the surface of the Earth called?

• Ocean

• Crust

• Sand

• Plants

Which of the following is a slow process in which rocks are broken down into small pieces by wind, water, ice, and chemicals?

• Erosion

• Earthquake

• Weathering

• Landslide

The Megalodon is a shark that lived long ago and it is no longer living today. Several fossilized Megalodon teeth have been found along the coast of North Carolina. What can a scientist learn by comparing a Megalodon tooth with the tooth of a Great white shark?

• The Megalodon shark was the same size as a Great white shark.

• The Megalodon shark was bigger than a Great white shark.

• The Great white shark is bigger than a Megalodon shark.

• The Great white shark is able to live on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The fossil shown below provides evidence that an organism lived in the ocean long ago, even though it is no longer living today. The organism shown below exists today and lives in the ocean. It is called a stingray. How does the organism that lived long ago compare with the stingray that exists today?

• The organism that lived long ago had a similar body shape to the stingray.

• The organism that lived long ago had a tail but the stingray does not.

• The organism that lived long ago had legs and feet but the stingray does not.

• The organism that lived long ago had a round body but the stingray has a square body.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following best describes a mold fossil?

• The remains of an animal or plant leave an impression in soft sediment. This mark is preserved in rock by pressure and heat.

• Sediment fills in an impression made by a mold such as shell or bone.

• Hard parts of a living organism are surrounded by sediment and are preserved over time as sediments are hardened into rock.

• Any fossil that flows to the surface of the Earth from a volcanic eruption.

The fossil shown in the picture may be as old as 70 million years: Which existing organism is most similar to the fossil shown above?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Fossils provide information about environmental conditions that existed in the past. The fossils of shelled organisms, shown in the picture below, have been found near the Great Lakes. Based on the discovery of fossils of shelled organisms, what can be inferred about environmental conditions when the shelled organism was alive? (4.E.2.2)

• A landslide caused the fossils to move to dry land.

• An earthquake caused the fossils to break apart.

• A volcano erupted near the spot where the fossils were found.

• The land where the fossils were found may have been covered by water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the following is the process in which weathered rock and soil are moved from one place to another by wind, water, ice, or gravity?

• Volcanic eruption

• Earthquake

• Erosion

• Fossil

Which of the following best describes a cast fossil?

• The remains of an animal or plant leave an impression in soft sediment. This mark is preserved in rock by pressure and heat.

• Sediment fills in an impression made by a mold such as shell or bone.

• Hard parts of a living organism are surrounded by sediment and are preserved over time as sediments are hardened into rock.

• Any fossil that flows to the surface of the Earth from a volcanic eruption.

Heat and pressure of melted rock and gases build up under the Earth’s surface. This pressure can cause the Earth’s crust to crack. Then melted rock and gases are released through the crack or opening in Earth’s crust. Which rapid process is described in the sentences above?

• Volcanic eruption

• Earthquake

• Landslide

• Weathering