Fossils and Rock Cycle Processes

How do fossils help scientists understand Earth’s history?

• They tell the exact age (in years) of every rock layer.

• They show the relative time when certain organisms appeared and disappeared.

• They show what color ancient organisms were.

• They prove that all organisms lived at the same time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Index fossils are fossils of species that lived for a short time but were widespread.
Two rock layers in different states both contain the same index fossil.

Which statement is the BEST conclusion?

• The two rock layers formed at about the same time.

• The rock layers are the same thickness.

• The rock layers are both older than all other layers nearby.

• The rock layers must be made of the same type of rock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

A student crushes a piece of chalk into powder to model part of the rock cycle.

What process in the rock cycle is MOST like this model?

• Melting

• Weathering

• Cementation

• Cooling

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Acid rain reacts with limestone statues and slowly changes them into new substances.

Which statement describes what is happening?

• Acid rain causes physical weathering, which happens when rocks break into smaller pieces without changing.

• Acid rain causes chemical weathering, which happens when rocks change into new substances.

• Acid rain causes compaction, which presses sediments together.

• Acid rain causes melting, which turns rock into magma.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

In the rock cycle, rocks can change from one type to another.
What part of the rock cycle does the description Match below?

1. Magma cools and hardens

• Formation of Igneous Rock

• Formation of Sedimentary Rock

• Formation of Metamorphic Rock

• Weathering and Erosion

• Melting

In the rock cycle, rocks can change from one type to another.
What part of the rock cycle does the description Match below?

1. Rock is broken into small pieces (sediment)

• Formation of Igneous Rock

• Formation of Sedimentary Rock

• Formation of Metamorphic Rock

• Weathering and Erosion

• Melting

In the rock cycle, rocks can change from one type to another.
What part of the rock cycle does the description Match below?

1. Sediments are compacted and cemented together

• Formation of Igneous Rock

• Formation of Sedimentary Rock

• Formation of Metamorphic Rock

• Weathering and Erosion

• Melting

In the rock cycle, rocks can change from one type to another.
What part of the rock cycle does the description Match below?

1. Rock is changed by heat and pressure deep underground

• Formation of Igneous Rock

• Formation of Sedimentary Rock

• Formation of Metamorphic Rock

• Weathering and Erosion

• Melting

In the rock cycle, rocks can change from one type to another.
What part of the rock cycle does the description Match below?

1. Rock melts inside Earth

• Formation of Igneous Rock

• Formation of Sedimentary Rock

• Formation of Metamorphic Rock

• Weathering and Erosion

• Melting

A U-shaped valley in a mountain range was carved by a glacier over millions of years.

Which statement BEST describes this kind of change?

• A fast process that changes a small area of Earth’s surface

• A fast process that changes a large area of Earth’s surface

• A slow process that changes a large area of Earth’s surface

• A slow process that changes only microscopic features of Earth’s surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2