Science TN Ready

The diagram below represents several sedimentary layers of Earth’s crust after erosion from a river has exposed some of the lower layers. 
Which would be the most significant benefit to a scientist studying Earth’s past at this location?

• Scientists would be able to determine that volcanic activity was present during the time of the oldest exposed sediment layer.

• Scientists would be able to determine if the rocks were metamorphic or igneous.

• Scientists would be able to determine if there was water at this location.

• Scientists would be able to look at fossilized remains of past life dating back to the oldest exposed layer of sediment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The diagram below shows a stack of rock layers.  
Layer R contains a well-known index fossil that is 100 million years old. Based on this information and the law of superposition, you can make the following claim.

• Layers T and M are younger than 100 million years.Layers X and G are older than 100 million years.

• Layers T, M, X, and G are all younger than 100 million years.

• Layers T, M, X, and G are all older than 100 million years.

• Layers T and M are older than 100 million years.Layers X and G are younger than 100 million years.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Compare the fossil layers shown below.

Which organisms are most likely to be the same approximate age?

• 1 and 3

• 3 and 5

• 2 and 4

• 5 and 6

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Two fossils that appear to be from the same type of organism are found in two different layers of rock. The layers of rock are shown below.

Which can be determined from the location of the fossils?

• The prey of organisms

• The predators of the organism

• The cause of death for each organism

• The relative age of each organism

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The purpose of a control group in an experiment is to:

• Confirm the results

• Provide a standard of comparison

• Manipulate the independent variable

• Measure the dependent variable

Which of the following is not a characteristic of gas?

• Has a definite volume

• Fills the shape of its container

• Can be compressed

• Expands to fill its container

In a scientific experiment, the outcome or response that is measured is known as the:

• Independent variable

• Dependent variable

• Controlled variable

• Confounding variable

Design a project to compare the effects of physical changes (such as temperature and pressure) on different states of matter.

• Heat and cool water, ice, and steam to observe changes in state and record temperatures at which these changes occur.

• Freeze and melt different metals to see which one has the highest melting point.

• Apply pressure to various solids to determine their hardness.

• Observe the color changes in substances when heated without measuring temperature.

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DOK Level 4: Extended Thinking

These explain how a natural phenomenon work

• theory

• law

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

These describe a natural phenomenon or relationship that always occurs under specific conditions

• theory

• law

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4