Interpreting Fossils

What aspect of an organism is typically NOT inferred from fossil studies?

• Habitat

• Energy production

• Color

• Movement

What are fossils?

• Rocks that can be used as fuel

• Traces of living things that are preserved in rock

• Ancient artifacts created by humans

• Minerals that are valuable for their rarity

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

How are fossils typically buried?

• By volcanic eruptions

• By layers of sediments

• By human activities

• By the movement of tectonic plates

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What does it mean when it is said that fossils are the same age as the sedimentary rock in which they are found?

• The fossils and the rock were formed at the same time

• The fossils are older than the rock

• The fossils are younger than the rock

• The age of the fossils cannot be determined

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

According to the principle of fossil succession, how are fossils in sedimentary layers organized in terms of age?

• Fossils in the uppermost layers are the oldest.

• Fossils are randomly distributed with no relation to age.

• Fossils in sedimentary layers further down are older than fossils in the uppermost layers.

• The age of fossils in sedimentary layers cannot be determined.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Trilobites lived at the bottom of oceans during which time period?

• 0-300 million years ago (mya)

• 300-600 million years ago (mya)

• 600-900 million years ago (mya)

• 900-1200 million years ago (mya)

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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As of the current day, do trilobites still exist?

• Yes, they are common in the oceans

• Yes, but they are rare and endangered

• No, they are extinct

• No information is provided

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

If you found a rock with a trilobite fossil in it, what could you say about the age of the rock?

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What can geologists infer from studying the grain size in a layer of strata?

• The age of the fossils found within the strata

• The type of minerals present in the strata

• Information about the environment in which the strata formed

• The exact location where the strata are found

What does a very thick layer of strata indicate about the environment?

• The environment changed frequently

• The environment remained stable for a long period

• There was a lot of animal activity in the area

• The climate was extremely cold

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4