Determining Ages of Rocks Review

Which type of rock would MOST likely contain a fossil?

• metamorphic rock

• sedimentary rock

• igneous rock

• molten rock

Environments have changed over millions of years. Which of these would be BEST for a scientist to study when investigating these environmental changes?

• volcanic deposits

• weather forecasts

• fossil records

• ocean currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Rich beds of marine fossils have been found in Florida. By dating these fossils, scientists can BEST determine

• when Florida collided with the North American continent.

• the date when organisms moved onto dry land.

• the period during which Florida was covered in water.

• when the atmosphere of Earth was more humid than it is today.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Trilobites are extinct animals that lived in the oceans. Fossils of these animals can be found in dry areas such as Cincinnati. What does this indicate?

• Trilobites now live underground.

• Trilobites are the ancestors of jellyfish.

• Cincinnati was once covered by the ocean where trilobites lived.

• The environment changed, creating small saltwater lakes in Cincinnati.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A habitat from the geologic past is being reconstructed. A researcher hypothesizes that the area was inhabited by small rodents. Which discovery would MOST likely cause the researcher to change the hypothesis?

• different soil layers

• fossils of marine organisms

• bones of small animals

• evidence of sandstone formation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

While digging in the side of a hill, students found fossils in the rock layers. From the fossils they uncovered, which was the MOST likely progression of environments in that area?

• It was first a forest and then became a lake.

• It was first an ocean and then became a forest.

• It was first an ocean and then became a desert.

• It was first a grassland and then became a forest.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

A researcher examines this diagram of the depths at which two fossils were found. The researcher identifies two possible statements for the relative ages of the fossils:

1. Fossil 2 is older than Fossil 1. 2. Fossil 1 is older than Fossil 2. Which data will BEST help the researcher determine the correct statement?

• the order in which the rock layers formed

• the size of the sediments in the sedimentary rock

• the mass and volume of each fossil

• the shape and color of each fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

A section of a rock layer is shown. The evidence in these rock layers BEST supports which conclusion?

• The oldest fossils in this section of rock are trilobites.

• Eurypterids are related to modern-day scorpions and crabs.

• Eurypterids were the least common type of organism in this section of rock.

• There is some overlap in the presence of brachiopods and ammonites on Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A hillside along a highway has exposed layers of undisturbed sedimentary rock. Which method would be BEST for scientists to use to determine the relative age of these sedimentary rock layers?

• apply the law of superposition

• calculate the rate of radiometric decay

• apply the law of crosscutting relationships

• calculate the rate of tectonic plate movement

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Scientists estimate that if index fossils were deposited during a certain time frame, then the entire rock layer was also deposited at the same time.

A scientist finds Trophite fossils. According to the chart above, in what era and period was this rock layer deposited?

• Cenozoic era; Tertiary period

• Mesozoic era; Triassic period

• Paleozoic era; Permian period

• Paleozoic era; Mississippian period

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4