CSA 8.LS4.1 ESSENTIAL STANDARD

Large areas of Virginia were once covered by seawater. The fossil MOST LIKELY found in Virginia is

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DOK1

According to the fossil record above, during which era did mammals first appear?

• Cenozoic

• Mesozoic

• Paleozoic

• Modern Day

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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 where types of plants and animals lived, how long they lived, how they died, and how they 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 fossil are considered older.

What can scientists infer about the period of very early Earth from the fossilized remains of trees found under a lake?

• The fish ate the trees.

• The dinosaurs ate trees.

• The area was once a forest.

• The atmosphere lacked oxygen.

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DOK2

Examine the fossil record image here.
According to the fossil record shown here, which organisms likely existed earliest on the planet compared to the others?

• ammonites

• ferns

• gastropods

• trilobites

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Fossils are the preserved remains of previously living organisms or their traces, dating from the distant past. Unfortunately, the fossil record is not complete or unbroken because most organisms never fossilize, and even the organisms that do fossilize are rarely found by humans. Fossils are often contained in rocks that build up in layers called strata. The strata provide a sort of timeline by which scientists can date fossils. Fossils offer unique and valuable insights into evolution over long periods of time.
Which statement can best be inferred from the fossils pictured here?

• The oldest fossils are found in the deeper layers and the youngest near the surface.

• Plants evolved later than animals since there are no plant remains in the lower strata.

• There was a major extinction at the strata marked 6 since no fossil evidence is contained there.

• Large animals, like dinosaurs, were alive in the recent past, as shown in the strata numbered 11.

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The fossilized teeth in the diagram above show the changes in organisms over time. According to the diagram, which of the following is a likely conclusion?

• These fossils provide evidence that evolution occurs over long periods of time.

• These fossils provide evidence that evolution occurs rapidly.

• These fossils belonged to organisms that were large and slow moving.

• These fossils lack similar characteristics in their structural design.

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DOK3

Which fossil represents a mammal that lived during an ice age that is likely closely related to modern day elephants?

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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.

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

• Sharks used to live on flat land.

• This area was once covered with salt water.

• This area was once covered with freshwater.

• Someone buried the shark teeth deep in the ground.

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A fossilized fern plant was found in an area now known for its Arctic geography and cold climate. Which of these arguments is best used to describe how this plant, which typically prefers warmer temperatures, was found in an Arctic area on the globe?

• The fossilized fern was well adapted to withstand harsh Arctic weather millions of years ago.

• The fern was fossilized in an area that was once much warmer than it is now.

• The fern was fossilized in a warmer region, and oceanic currents carried the fossil to its new location.

• The fern was fossilized much further south of the current location and plate tectonics moved the fossil to its new location.

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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 fossil are buried in the rock. When a fossil is found above another fossil in a rock formation, the deeper fossil are considered older.

What can scientists infer about a specific period of Earth's history if many fossils were discovered from oxygen-breathing organisms?

• the atmosphere lacked oxygen

• only fish lived during that time

• the dinosaurs used all the oxygen

• the atmosphere had lots of oxygen

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DOK2