Biological Evolution

Take a look at the layers of earth and the fossils in each layer, in the image below. The fossils show us that life forms changed in an area. Compare the oldest life forms to the newest. What comment can you make about the change in the environment?

• The environment changed from underwater to land.

• There was no change in the environment.

• The environment changed from saltwater to freshwater.

• The environment changed from land to saltwater.

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This fossil from the Jurassic period looks much like ______ we find on Earth today.

• Snails

• Ferns

• Fish

• Starfish

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This is a gastropod fossil from the Triassic period. This type of fossil can be found on the east boundary of the state of Missouri. It looks a lot like ________ we find on Earth today.

• Starfish

• Fish

• Snails

• Ferns

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The fossil record is the record of life on earth preserved in rock as fossils. The fossil record provides evidence of what types of plant and animals lived, how long they lived, how they died, and changed. It also tells us about Earth’s early environment, and how it changed. The fossil record helps determine the age of rock formations by looking at how deep the fossils are buried in the rock. When a fossil is found above another fossil in a rock formation, the deeper fossils are considered older. What can scientists infer about a specific period of Earth's history if many fossils were discovered from oxygen-breathing organisms?

• A. Only fish lived during that time

• B. The atmosphere lacked oxygen

• C. The atmosphere had lots of oxygen

• D. The dinosaurs used all of the oxygen

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 Several teeth were found in an area of flat land covered with trees and plants. The teeth were examined by a paleontologist, and it was determined that the teeth came from a shark. They found many other shark teeth in this area. However, the people who discovered the teeth were puzzled. There was no source of water near where the fossils were found. (8-LS4-1)

What is the paleontologist's BEST explanation for why the teeth were found in this area?

• This area was once covered with saltwater.

• Someone buried the shark teeth deep in the ground.

• This area was once covered with freshwater.

• Sharks used to live on flat land.

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Geologists discovered fossil evidence of mesohippus, an ancestor of the modern horse. Mesohippus lived in North America about 40 million years ago. Mesohippus was about two feet tall, ran on hooves with three toes, and had large, grinding teeth. What statement is BEST supported by the fossil evidence?

• Horses migrated from South America to North America.

• Horses have evolved over the last 40 million years.

• Modern-day horses share a common ancestor with all mammals.

• Ancient horses were once carnivores.

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The diagram shows the leg bones of a (Left -> Right): Orangutan, dog, pig, cow, tapir, and horse. Most of the animals have the same bones, although some are shaped differently and placed in different positions. What does this suggest about mammals?

• The mammals are evolving to become more and more like one another.

• That they share a common ancestor.

• That the shape of the bones has less to do with the environment pressures on the animal and more to do with what their relatives are.

• That they all continue to use these structures for the same exact purpose.

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Which of the following are examples of evidence for evolution?

• 
  Fossils and Cellular Structure

• Genetics/DNA

• 
  Biological Structures

• All of the Above

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The fossil image is of a trilobite. Trilobites lived in the ancient seas and the fossil was found in the sea floor. Compare the fossil to the four modern-day animals also pictured. Based on physical evidence, the trilobite is probably a direct ancestor of what animal?

• Pillbug (roly-poly)

• Locust

• Roundworm

• Scallop

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A fossil of an extinct dinosaur is found and the anatomy of the fossil shows similarities to that of a bird. What could this mean?

• This is purely by chance and isn't significant

• The extinct dinosaur and modern bird share a common ancestor

• All dinosaurs evolved into birds and that's why there aren't any dinosaurs alive today

• Dinosaurs choose to fly, and evolved into birds to escape predation and capture food

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