Finding the age of the earth

Scientists have found traces of organic compounds on some meteorites. This finding would support which of these hypotheses about the origin of macromolecules on Earth?

• Organic molecules arrived on Earth with space debris.

• Organic molecules developed as Earth cooled in space.

• Organic molecules formed in space during the big bang event.

• Organic molecules received energy from ultraviolet radiation from space.

Which of these provides the BEST evidence that the distribution of Earth’s oceans has changed over time?

• hot spots on ocean floors

• seismic activity along plate boundaries

• sediment buildup on continental slope

• marine fossils found on land masses

A fossil discovered in Colorado dates from the early Mesozoic era. A year later a similar fossil is found in Wyoming that also dates from the early Mesozoic era. These two organisms most likely lived in

• the same environment at about the same time.

• the same environment at different times.

• different environments at about the same time.

• different environments at different times.

Which of the following eras is known as the “Age of Mammals”?

• Precambrian

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

Certain fossils can be used to help determine the age of the rock layer in which the fossils are found. Which type of fossil is BEST to use when making this determination?

• marine mammal fossil

• swamp fern fossil

• trace fossil

• index fossil

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.

Which evidence would BEST indicate that four-legged land animals might have a fish ancestor?

• fossils of fish with four fins

• fossils of land animals found in ancient lake beds

• fossils of fish found in cliffs above any present-day water levels

• fossils of fish with bones on their fins arranged like bones of land animals

Which of these conditions would MOST likely be shown in the fossil record as a reason for mass extinctions?

• increased competition for resources

• falling sea levels and global cooling

• organisms with beneficial traits

• increased solar activity

The picture shows an ammonite fossil on the left. On the right, it shows how the animal may have looked 160 million years ago, According to the ammonite’s characteristics, which modern animals would MOST likely be the relatives of ammonites?

• squids and octopi

• whales and porpoies

• lizards and turtles

• shrimp and crabs

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.