Earth History

Mia is making a model of one kind of rock. She makes her model by layering crackers and peanut butter. What does Mia's model show about how rocks are formed?

• Rocks can be made of two materials at most.

• Rocks can be formed in layers.

• Rocks are always brown in color.

• Rocks can never contain any air.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Scientists are using the table and map above to determine the age of the fossils they find in an area. If the scientists find a fossil in Region Y, which era did the fossil most likely come from?

• Paleozoic

• Cenozoic

• Precambrian

• Mesozoic

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

While hiking through Region Z on the map shown below, Marty and her parents found a fossil from a species of coral. When they got home, Marty and her parents researched the fossil. They found that this species of coral existed between 440 and 300 million years ago (mya). They were surprised because this time frame does not match the age of the soil where they found the fossil. What can Marty and her parents conclude about the origin of this fossil?

• The fossil came from Region W because it contains the oldest top layer of soil in the area.

• The fossil came from a place that has very old rock that is the same age as the fossil.

• The fossil came from a place that has had many recent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

• The fossil came from Region W but was transported downstream by the river.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Based on what can be seen in these photos, which of the following is true about the rocks in photos X and Y?

• Both are arranged in layers.

• Both contain dinosaur fossils.

• They are the same color.

• They are made of the same minerals.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

In the picture above, layer W is 100 million years old and layer Z is 500 million years old. How old is layer X?

• There is no way to estimate the age of the layer.

• under 100 million years old

• between 100 and 500 million years old

• over 500 million years old

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Layers of sediment form on top of one another. Sometimes, plants and animals that have died are preserved in these layers of sediment, and fossils are formed. When the layers are dug up, the relative age of a fossil can be determined by comparing it to fossils found in layers above and below it. Fossils from lower layers are older, and fossils from upper layers are younger. Which of the fossils shown below is most likely the youngest?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The image above shows a land formation in the southwestern United States. What process most likely caused this land formation?

• a moving river cutting through rock over time

• a moving river forming layers of rock over time

• the rock layers growing taller over time

• the rock layers moving away from each other over time

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Running water has materials such as dirt, sand, and dead plants and animals in it. When this water ends up in a lake, the materials it was carrying fall to the bottom of the lake and form layers. A layer is thicker when more water enters the lake. For example, thick layers form during times of heavy rain, and thin layers form during times of little rain. Sometimes lakes dry up. The bottoms of dry lakes can change into rock. This rock will still have layers. A geologist studied one of these rocks made from the bottom of a lake. The rock had five layers: If layer E formed during the driest season, which of the following is most likely the thickness of layer E?

• 2.53 mm

• 1.07 mm

• 2.20 mm

• 1.48 mm

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Scientists began to dig in a new location where there are many layers of artifacts and fossils. Today, archaeologists reached the lowest layer and discovered fossils of fish bones and plants there. What might have been in this area many years ago before all of the other layers of fossils came into being?

• desert

• restaurants

• water

• mountains

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Running water has materials such as dirt, sand, and dead plants and animals in it. When this water ends up in a lake, the materials it was carrying fall to the bottom of the lake and form layers. A layer is thicker when more water enters the lake. For example, thick layers form during times of heavy rain, and thin layers form during times of little rain. Sometimes lakes dry up. The bottoms of dry lakes can change into rock. This rock will still have layers. A geologist studied one of these rocks made from the bottom of a lake. Which rock layer formed during the wettest season?

• Layer A

• Layer B

• Layer C

• Layer D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2