Historical Geology

As some organisms die, their remains become buried by mud and are eventually compressed into a type of rock. Which of these is a rock type that forms from this

process?

• igneous

• sedimentary

• magma

• metamorphic

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which environmental condition most likely existed at the time a fossil formed?

• Organism remains were deposited in an area of open space.

• Organism remains were covered by lava flow.

• Organism remains were buried with little oxygen.

• Organism remains were buried in an area where a lot of erosion occurred.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of these provides the best evidence that an environmental change has occurred?

• a freshwater lake in the mountains

• marine fossils in a freshwater lake

• saltwater clams in the ocean

• a sandy beach next to the ocean

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The incompleteness of the fossil record results primarily from which phenomenon?

• the frequency and irregular timing of organism speciations

• the metamorphism of most sedimentary rock by heat and pressure

• the geologically rapid cycling of crust material back into the mantle

• the rarity with which organic remains are exposed to fossil-forming conditions

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A scientist searches for fossils in sedimentary rocks. Which statement best explains why the scientist is more likely to find fossils in sedimentary rocks than in other rock types?

• A mold can form when an organism is buried in sediment.

• Most organisms live in areas where sedimentary rocks are found.

• Other rock types are difficult to examine compared to sedimentary rocks.

• Sedimentary rocks are the most common rock type on Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Why are fossils rarely found in metamorphic or igneous rock?

• Chemicals toxic to living organisms are released during formation of these rocks.

• Heat and pressure are great enough to destroy the structure of fossils found in these rocks.

• Decay of radioactive isotopes changes the fossils into a different rock structure

• Intense magnetic fields found where these rocks form keep organisms from living

  there.

Paleontologists have found hundreds of fossils of tropical plants in cool, dry areas of North America. Which is most likely indicated by fossil discoveries like these?

• Glacial movement carried fossils to different places.

• Some tropical plants can grow in moderate climates.

• The climate in different areas on Earth has changed over time.

• Ancient people carried plants with them as they traveled to new locations

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-2

NGSS.HS-ESS2-4

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

Florida has a large supply of phosphate that ancient seas deposited millions of years ago. The phosphate contains the remains of animals that were deposited in layers on the sea floor. Which type of rock did the phosphate become?

• intrusive igneous

• extrusive igneous

• clastic sedimentary

• organic sedimentary

A certain fossil (Y) is found in a layer of rock that lies between two index fossils, X and Z. Surprisingly, the older of the index fossils (Z) is found above the other fossils, suggesting that the rock layer has overturned. Which dating method is best to confirm the rock layer has overturned by determining the ages of these fossils?

• anatomical comparison

• gene sequencing

• radiometric analysis

• fossil depth measurement

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Radiocarbon dating is used to determine the age of many artifacts. Which of these objects could not be dated by radiocarbon dating techniques?

• parchment fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls

• ancient human bone found at a burial site

• bronze spear point from Early Greece

• piece of cloth that wrapped an Egyptian mummy

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8