Investigation 1 Quiz

Which of the following best describes the fossil record?

• A collection of living organisms

• All of the preserved remains or traces of ancient life forms on Earth

• Only dinosaur bones and teeth

• Modern animal skeletons

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What can scientists learn from studying transitional fossils?

• The exact date when species went extinct

• How organisms evolved from one form to another over time

• The color of ancient animals

• The behavior patterns of modern animals

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which rock type is most likely to contain fossils?

• Igneous rock

• Metamorphic rock

• Sedimentary rock

• Crystalline rock

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What does the principle of superposition tell us about rock layers?

• Younger layers are always at the top

• All layers are the same age

• Older layers are always at the top

• Rock layers have no relationship to age

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which statement about extinction is correct?

• It only happened to dinosaurs

• It is a natural process that continues today

• It only occurs due to human activity

• It stopped happening millions of years ago

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

How do scientists determine relationships between modern and fossil organisms?

• By comparing their sizes

• By examining shared physical characteristics

• By looking at their colors

• By studying their habitats

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What does high biodiversity in a fossil layer indicate?

• The environment was probably unstable

• Few species were able to survive

• The environment likely supported many different life forms

• All organisms were closely related

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

How do mass extinctions affect biodiversity?

• They have no effect on biodiversity

• They only affect small organisms

• They can dramatically reduce the number of species

• They increase biodiversity immediately

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What information does the fossil record provide about early life on Earth?

• The exact appearance of all ancient organisms

• The complete DNA sequence of extinct species

• Evidence of simple life forms appearing before complex ones

• The personalities of extinct animals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which features in fossils help scientists identify transitional fossils?

• Their perfect preservation

• A combination of characteristics from different species

• Their large size

• Their location near the surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2