Patterns in Fossils and Rock Formations

A scientist discovers a body fossil of a fish. Number the sequence of events into the correct order to describe how the body fossil formed.

• Soft tissue decays.

• A fossil forms.

• Bones are replaced by minerals.

• Soft tissue decays.

• A fossil forms.

• Bones are replaced by minerals.

• An organism dies.

• An organism dies.

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NGSS.3-LS4-1

What evidence is shown in the picture to support the fact that Grand Canyon rocks are examples of sedimentary strata?

• A. The rocks are near a riverbed.

• B. The layers of rock are in vertical patterns.

• C. The layers of rock are in horizontal patterns.

• D. The rocks have smooth edges.

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NGSS.4-ESS1-1

A scientist claims that dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago. What evidence best supports this claim?

• a fossil record

• horizontal rock patterns

• a trace fossil

• sediment samples

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NGSS.4-ESS1-1

A team of scientists found fossils of several organisms. They determined when the organisms lived based on the layer of rock in which each fossil was found. One scientist created a basic timeline of the team’s findings.

Trilobites went extinct about ​ (a)   million years ago at the ​ (b)   of the ​ (c)   era.

• 250
• end
• Paleozoic
• Mesozoic
• 650
• beginning

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NGSS.3-LS4-1

NGSS.4-ESS1-1

A team of scientists found fossils of several organisms. They determined when the organisms lived based on the layer of rock in which each fossil was found. One scientist created a basic timeline of the team’s findings.

A geologist discovered a saber-toothed cat fossil. This fossil lived during the (a)   era and is considered to be about (b)   million years old.

• Paleozoic
• 300
• Cenozoic
• 65

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NGSS.3-LS4-1

A fossil discovery team found this fossil of an extinct animal at a dig site. One of the team members drew a diagram to show the different layers of rock where the team has found fossils. Which layer of rock shows where the fossil was most likely found?

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NGSS.3-LS4-1

NGSS.4-ESS1-1

Sequence the events in the order that could lead to land fossils being found between layers of sea animals:

• Sea levels go down

• Ocean animals fossilize

• New marina fossils form

• Sea levels go back up

• Land fossils form

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NGSS.4-ESS1-1

The diagram shows rock layers with index fossils. Which index fossils show that the layers of the key beds were formed at the same time?

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• 
• 

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NGSS.3-LS4-1

NGSS.4-ESS1-1

What is the best explanation of how the rock strata shifted?

• A. Weathering flipped over the rock strata.

• B. Folding bent the layers and formed mountains.

• C. An earthquake shifted the rock strata downward.

• D. Sedimentary rock was deposited over the rock layers.

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NGSS.4-ESS1-1

Which statement about the rock fault can be supported by the evidence shown in the diagram?

• The fault is caused by deep cracks in Earth's crust.

• The fault is always older than the rocks that surround it.

• The fault is created by Erosion and weather.

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NGSS.4-ESS1-1