Fossil Records and Principle of Superposition

Rocks and fossils found in the same rock layer are...

• made out of the same minerals

• approximately the same age

• the same color and texture

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The evolution of the horse is the most complete fossil record we have of a single organism. Using the picture, what can you conclude happened to the horse over time?

• The horse grew larger and lost its toes

• The horse shrank and lost its toes

• The horse grew larger and gained toes

• The horse shrank and gained toes

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

While examining a layer of rock, a scientist found a fossil of a trilobite like the one shown below. The scientist knows that trilobites only lived during the Paleozoic era. The scientist finds fossilized remains of other species in the same rock layer as the trilobite. What can the scientist conclude about these other fossils?

• The organisms that formed them must have evolved from trilobites.

• The organisms that formed them likely also lived during the Paleozoic era.

• The organisms that formed them likely went extinct before the Paleozoic era.

• The organisms that formed them are still living in modern times.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Fossils can provide evidence of how life has changed over time, how Earth's surface has changed, and clues about what past environments were like.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

• The absolute age of rock layers

• The age of fossils

• The relative age of rock layers

• the super powers of rocks

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Does the fossil record include all the fossils of every organism that has lived?

• yes

• no

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Index Fossils are helpful because:

• they are widely distributed and found in a limited time span

• they are found in a limited region and a limited time span on Earth

• they are found frequently as petrified fossils

• they are ancient

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A geologist examines a rock outcrop, an area where horizontal layers of sediment from deep within Earth have been exposed. She notices that one layer contains materials that look like they belong near water. This layer contains smooth rocks and bits of sand that look like they were worn down over time. How could the law of superposition help the geologist determine how old the layer of rock is?

• by measuring the radioactive decay of radioactive elements present in the sediment

• by locating cracks and faults in the rock layers and comparing them to recorded earthquakes in the area

• by recognizing that the layers below it are older and that the layers above it are younger

• by classifying fossils from a particular time period in history and recognizing rock layers without fossils as the oldest

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

A geologist is studying three layers of sedimentary rock in an area. The layers have not shifted from their original positions.

The geologist records the relative ages of the rocks. The bottom layer is listed as the oldest. The top layer is listed as the youngest.

What did the geologist use to determine the relative ages of the rocks?

• mineral content

• radioactive decay

• the law of superposition

• the principle of unconformity

Analyze the picture above. Fossils have been found in layers A, B, and C. What is the relative age of the fossil in layer B?

• The fossil in B is older than the fossil in A.

  
  

• The fossil in B is older than the fossil in C

  
  

• The fossil in A is older than the fossils in B or C.

  
  

• The fossil in C is younger than the fossils in A or B.

  
  

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4