Fossils and Geologic Time

The following diagram shows where, in layers of rock, fossils of certain organisms are found. The information in the diagram supports which of the following conclusions?

• Birds descended directly from trilobites and dinosaurs.

• Trilobites became extinct before dinosaurs appeared on Earth.

• Jellyfish live longer than any other organism on Earth.

• Mammals did not appear on Earth until after the dinosaurs went extinct.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The data table below provides information on the ancestors of the modern horse. Over the evolutionary history of the horse, there have been several trends in how their bodies have changed. Which trend shows a decrease?

• The number of toes on the fore feet

• The length of the skull

• The height of the animal

• The length of their molars

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Three different rock layer sequences from three locations, each with different trilobite fossils, are shown here. Based on the relative positions of the fossils, which of the following conclusions is best supported by the fossil evidence?

• Auritimidae was the last trilobite to appear.

• Cyclopygidae appeared after Ceratopigidae.

• Remopleiridae appeared before Auritimidae

• Cyclopygidae was the first trilobite to appear.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

This diagram provides information on the diversity, in number of species, for four major groups of animals over time. What is the only group that experienced an increase of diversity between 413 million years age and 265 million years ago?

• Mollusks

• Arthropods

• Echinoderms

• Chordates

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Over the evolutionary history of a certain kind of fish, the trend is for an increasing number of teeth. The data table provides information for several examples. A fossil of a new species of this type of fish (W. amatequorum) is discovered. The complete fossil skeleton is found, and it has 34 teeth. The most reasonable estimation for the age of this fossil would be which of the following?

• About 20 million years old

• About 30 million years old

• About 70 million years old

• About 100 million years old

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The illustration provided shows three rock layers and an intrusion of basalt. When molten rock pushes its way into rock layers already formed, it creates an intrusion. The rock strata indicate that the basaltic intrusion must have occurred-

• after the limestone was deposited

• before the granite was formed

• after the sandstone was deposited

• before all three layers were formed

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The fossil remains of organisms with skeletons are not found in the lowest layers of rock discovered. How is the lack of fossilized skeletons in the lowest rock layers best explained?

• Organisms with skeletons did not evolve until after these rock layers formed.

• The fossils of organisms with skeletons are only found in the oldest rocks.

• Fossil skeletons are usually crushed if other rock layers are above the ones they are in.

• Organisms with skeletons live only at the highest altitudes, which is where they turn to fossils.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The illustration here shows rock layers in their original order, along with a fracture in some rock layers caused by an earthquake. Based on the evidence in the illustration, an earthquake occurred -

• before layer W was deposited.

• Before layer X was deposited.

• after layer Y was deposited

• after layer Z was deposited

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4