Unit 3 Lesson 2 Fossils and What They Tell Us Quiz

A leaf imprinted on a rock, causing a to be made.

• sedimentary rock

• fossil

Scientists can learn about ancient environments by studying in layers of sedimentary rock.

• Dead organisms
• Living Organisms

If a fern fossil is found in a rock layer lower than a fossil of a small fish, the fern is probably .

• Ancient
• Recent

• Extinct

• Living

Bethany saw an exhibit at the science center on Earth's surface. She learned that Earth's surface has changed over time. What evidence has been collected by scientists to support this theory?

• Ancient people left photographs of Earth's surface behind for scientists.

• Fossils have been found that give clues to what Earth's surface looked like many years ago.

• Paleontologists have studied Earth's surface in the past and present and see no changes.

• We do not know what Earth's surface looked like long ago.

A paleontologist found a crocodile fossil in the desert. Based on this discovery, what conclusions can you draw about what this landscape was like in the past?

• The climate was very cold and dry.

• The climate was very warm and had periods of rain.

• The climate had periods of cold winters and warm summers.

• The climate was very warm and dry.

Fossil evidence provides scientists with information about ______.

• how an environment has changed over time.

• rocks and minerals.

• where earthquakes occur.

• how mountains form.

Scientists are able to tell which fossils are the oldest by looking at the bedrock. Which layer contains the youngest fossils?

• Layer A

• Layer B

• Layer C

• Layer D

Which rock layer is the youngest? How do you know?

• Layer A

• Layer B

• Layer C

• Layer D

Explain to Lucas how the seashells got there and describe what the environment used to be like.

• The seashells got there because the area was once underwater, and the environment used to be a sea or ocean.

• The seashells were placed there by people, and the environment used to be a forest.

• The seashells formed on land, and the environment used to be a desert.

• The seashells appeared due to volcanic activity, and the environment used to be a mountain.