Foss Earth History Investigation

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

Trilobites are extinct animals that lived in the oceans. Fossils of these animals can be found in dry areas such as Cincinnati. What does this indicate?

• Trilobites now live underground.

• Trilobites are the ancestors of jellyfish.

• Cincinnati was once covered by the ocean where trilobites lived.

• The environment changed, creating small saltwater lakes in Cincinnati.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Structural geologists study rock formations to determine the type of environment in which the rocks formed and the events that shaped the rocks. Paleontologists study fossils found in rock formations. Scientists in both these fields have a common interest in discovering the:

• history and processes of Earth.

• elements that make up the crust.

• types of minerals that make up sediments.

• relationships between Earth and other planets.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A student has made the geologic column that you see here.

• fossils

• soil type

• environment

• plate tectonics

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Scientists are able to conclude that a forested ecosystem existed in Antarctica millions of years ago by studying:

• the current climate

• the fossil record

• glacial movement

• seafloor spreading

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Several dinosaur bones are discovered buried in volcanic ash. The type of dinosaur can BEST be identified by

• knowing the location where the fossils were found.

• establishing an inventory of bones collected

• comparing to characteristics of known dinosaurs.

• knowing the absolute age of the fossils.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What do earthquakes tell scientists about the history of the planet?

• Earth’s climate is constantly changing.

• The continents of Earth are continually moving.

• Dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago.

• The oceans are much deeper today than millions years ago.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Nathan is given an image showing three rock layers and an intrusion of basalt. He is asked to determine the order in which these layers were formed. Nathan already knows that when molten rock pushes its way into rock layers already formed, it creates an intrusion. A diagram is provided. Which of the following indicates when the basaltic intrusion must have occurred?

• After the limestone was deposited

• Before the granite was formed

• After the sandstone was deposited

• Before all three layers were formed

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which type of rock is most likely to contain fossils?

• Igneous rock

• Metamorphic rock

• Sedimentary rock

• Volcanic rock

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What does the presence of marine fossils on mountain tops indicate?

• The mountains were once underwater.

• The fossils were carried by birds.

• The mountains are sinking.

• The fossils are fake.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3