Earth History Inv 3 & 4 Review

Two students are exploring a creek in their neighborhood. The students hope to find some fossils along the way. What kinds of rocks should the students look for on their hike, and why should they look for those kinds of rock?

• Igneous rocks because they are formed from cooled lava or magma.

• Sedimentary rocks because they often contain fossils.

• Metamorphic rocks because they have been changed by heat and pressure.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

In one area, the creek has exposed a layer of shale. What kind of environment might have once existed here to create that rock layer? (Mark the one best answer.)

• A. A sandy beach

• B. A swamp

• C. A coral reef

• D. A river

Which statement best describes the principle of uniformitarianism? (Mark the one best answer.)

• A. Deposition occurs faster today than it did in ancient environments.

• B. Rocks form by the same processes today as in the past.

• C. Weathering and erosion can be fast or slow, depending on the type of rock.

• D. Earth's geological features were formed by a few catastrophic events.

Uniformitarianism is an important principle to consider when making inferences about how Earth's geology has changed over millions of years because:

• it suggests that the same natural laws and processes that operate in the universe now have always operated in the universe in the past and apply everywhere in the universe.

• it implies that catastrophic events are the primary drivers of geological change.

• it states that Earth's geological features are static and unchanging.

• it argues that human activity is the main factor in geological transformations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

What are reasons for gaps in the fossil record? Check each statement that explains gaps in the fossil record.

• Many organisms do not have structures that can be fossilized.

• There were periods of time when no organisms died.

• Some environments do not provide conditions favorable to fossil formation.

• There are lots of fossils that we haven’t found yet.

• Some geological events destroyed fossils that were in the rock layers.

Geological time is described in eras and periods. Those segments of time are based on ______. (Mark the one best answer.)

• whoever discovered them

• significant evolutionary events in Earth's history

• the thickness of certain rock layers

• the number of layers of rock that can be counted in 10 meters of a rock column

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

To a geologist, the most important use of index fossils is ______. (Mark the one best answer.)

• to show what kind of life existed long ago

• to show that the sediments were deposited horizontally

• to determine the age of the rock

• to tell the story of the ancient environment

Do scientists think that new rocks are still forming today. How does uniformitarianism help scientists answer this question?

• Uniformitarianism suggests that the processes that formed rocks in the past are still occurring today.

• Uniformitarianism suggests that new rocks form from catastrophic events which form new rocks.

• They do not believe that new rocks are still forming today, only that they are eroding.

• Uniformitarianism is unrelated to the formation of rocks.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Geologists have discovered the fossils you see below in rock layers at 3 state parks. One of these fossils is an index fossil. Based on the information given, which of the following is most likely the index fossil? (Mark the one best answer.)

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Three students used the index fossil to analyze the rock layers. George claimed the bottom of outcrop A was the youngest rock. Sally claimed since the W is good index fossil, the top of outcrop C is older than the other outcrop tops. Bob claimed the opposite of Sally (that the top of Outcrop C is youngest rock). Which student is correct based on the index fossil evidence?

• George

• Sally

• Bob

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4