Earth's Layers

The organism in the picture on the left has died near the water’s edge. The next two pictures show

how, over time, more layers of sediment form, covering up the remains of the organism.

After millions of years, changes to the land can be caused by things such as weathering and

erosion.

Part A – Which of the following sentences about fossils is true?

• a. They are only found in cold climates.

• b. They are always formed in short period of time.

• c. They only need water to form.

• d. They usually need water and sediment to form.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The organism in the picture on the left has died near the water’s edge. The next two pictures show

how, over time, more layers of sediment form, covering up the remains of the organism.

After millions of years, changes to the land can be caused by things such as weathering and

erosion.

Part B – Which explanation best supports your answer to Part A?

• a. Fossils can only form in dry, cold conditions.

• b. Water keeps minerals from replacing remains.

• c. Fossils usually form in only a few hundred years.

• d. Water helps minerals replace the original remains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The paleontologist working on this project has sketched the layers of rock that she has

investigated and shown all of the fossils that she has found.

Which of the following statements is true based on the paleontologist’s sketches?

• a. Plant fossils are the oldest fossils that she found.

• b. Ammonites went extinct before fish lived in this area.

• c. Fish are older than trilobites but younger than ammonites.

• d. Trilobites and ammonites are the oldest fossils that she found.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The paleontologist has found small pieces of dinosaur fossil in a rock layer. She and her crew set

up camp to further investigate this rock layer. They want more evidence to determine the age of

the dinosaur fossils in comparison to other fossils that have been found. The science team has a

big breakthrough when they find large teeth and a skull of the same type of dinosaur in the same

rock layer.

Choose the word(s) that best completes this sentence:

If fossils are moved by processes such as weathering and erosion, scientists might think they are the wrong age if they are mixed in with fossils from ________________.

• larger

• smaller

• different organisms

• a different layer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

A dinosaur fossil was found in the same layer of rock as a fern plant. Which conclusion can be made?

• The fern plant only grew where that dinosaur existed.

• The fern plant did not live when the dinosaur existed.

• The dinosaur and the fern plant lived at the same time.

• The dinosaur did not live at the same time as the fern plant.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Within undisturbed rock layers, where are the oldest fossils most likely found?

• at the top

• in the middle

• at the bottom

• above the surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

A scientist found a tree fossil in the bottom rock layer and a clam fossil in the top rock layer. What can be inferred about the environments in this area over time?

• A desert environment gradually turned into a forest environment.

• There was a forest environment and later an ocean environment.

• There was a rainforest environment and later a drier forest.

• An ocean environment changed into a desert environment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which letter correctly identifies the area of Earth called the mantle?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

This layer of the Earth is made up of the Continental and Oceanic _________.

• A. Mantle

• B. Crust

• C. Core

• D. Mesosphere

What is the only layer of the Earth that is completely liquid metal?

• A. Crust

• B. Mantle

• C. Inner Core

• D. Outer Core