Analyze and Interpret Data for Patterns in the Fossil Record

In an undisturbed rock formation, the rocks on the bottom are the oldest.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What type of dating scale is shown on the left side of the figure?

• Relative Age Dating Scale

• Absolute Age Dating Scale

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What type of dating scale is shown on the right side of the figure?

• Relative Age Dating Scale

• Absolute Age Dating Scale

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which of the following is NOT a fossil?

• outline of a fern found in a rock

• petrified wood in the desert

• baby mammoth found in a glacier

• old stone tools found in a cave

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

In the trash can in Isaac’s room, there were many wrappers from snacks. At the bottom of the trash, there was a candy bar wrapper. In the middle, there was a piece of plastic from a slice of cheese. On top of the rest of the trash is a granola bar wrapper.

Assuming the trash has never been mixed up, which snack did Isaac eat the longest ago? Which type of dating did you use to answer?

• the granola bar; absolute-age dating

• the granola bar; relative-age dating

• the candy bar; absolute-age dating

• the candy bar; relative-age dating

When the last individual of a species dies, that species is considered ____

• adapted

• rare

• extinct

• evolved

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Change in a population over time is called _____.

• conservation

• evolution

• extinction

• mutation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Order the fossils according to their relative age from oldest to youngest.

• 1,2,3,4,5

• 5,4,3,2,1

• 5,3,4,1,2

• 2,1,4,3,5

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

A scientist studied sedimentary rock samples from the Devonian period. He claimed he found mammal fossils mixed with amphibian fossils.

Which response to the scientist’s claim is most supported by the chart?

• Devonian rocks are too old to contain amphibian fossils.

• Finding fossils of any kind in rocks from the Devonian period is unusual.

• Devonian rocks would not contain mammal fossils, because mammals appeared in later time periods.

• Mammal fossils and amphibian fossils will not be found in Devonian rocks, because the two types of animals live in different habitats.

What term do scientists use to describe what happened at each of the marked points on the graph?

• Mass Extinction

• Minor Extinction

• There is no name for this

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1