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Fossil Record and Changes over time

Total questions: 17

Worksheet time: 49mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What is a mass extinction?
a)
the extinction of all of Earth's species at ones time
b)
the extinction of many types of organisms at the same time
c)
the end of days
d)
the creation of many species at one time
2.

When did fossil A become extinct?

a)

Layer 1

b)

Layer 2

c)

Layer 3

d)

Layer 4

3.

Do not rush, examine the diagram. How has life evolved starting with the oldest fossils?

a)

Life started in the ocean and over time organism became to appear with no common ancestors. Fish evolved first, then reptiles, then mammals and finally birds.

b)

Life started in the ocean then slowly evolved through natural selection to life on land. Fish evolved first, then reptiles, then mammals and finally birds.

c)

Life started on land and over time humans began to evolve into fish, then reptiles, and birds.

d)

Life started in the ocean as four-legged amphibians which then evolved to palm trees, then to dinosaurs, and eventually into humans.

4.

Most geologists rejected Wegener's idea of Continental Drift because _________.

a)

He used too many pieces of evidence to support the idea.

b)

He wanted to know what Earth looked like millions of years ago, which is impossible.

c)

He couldn't identify what would cause continents to move around.

d)

They were afraid of the new idea.

5.

Similarities in the Cat's leg, Dolphin's flipper, Bat's wing and our arms suggest...

a)

that we have a common ancestor millions of years ago.

b)

that all could fly at one time.

c)

they can't be related because bats can't swim.

d)

that cats love to swim.

6.

This image shows that

a)

These animals have no simliarities in their structures.

b)

these different species may have evolved from a common ancestor.

c)

These animals are from the same species.

d)

These animals likely evolved from different ancestors due to their differences.

7.

What do you call similar structures that related species have inherited from a common ancestor?

a)

Natural Selection

b)

Analogous Structure

c)

Vestigial Structure

d)

Homologous Structure

8.

Which of these descriptions is an example of an unused body structure?

a)

a bat’s wing that enables it to fly

b)

the tiny leg bones found in snakes (even though snakes do not have legs)

c)

the front legs of a dog that supports its weight as it walks and runs

d)

the tentacles of an octopus that aid it in movement and catching prey

9.

Snakes have tiny leg bones that are not used for movement. What does this most likely show?

a)

Snakes are able to walk if the environment changes.

b)

The ancestors of snakes probably had legs.

c)

All the ancestors of snakes probably did not have legs.

d)

Snakes have the same DNA as organisms that have no leg bones.

10.

Who was Charles Darwin?

a)

A naturalist who came up with the theory of evolution

b)

A scientist who came up with the hypothesis of Continental Drift

c)

A geologist who looked at rocks and fossils

d)

A paleontologist who studied dinosaurs

11.
How do fossils provide evidence that evolution has happened on Earth?
a)
Fossils show how the sizes of certain animals has changed drastically over millions of years
b)
Fossils show that some species have gone extinct
c)
Fossils show how life forms present today are different than those from the past
d)
Different sedimentary rock layers provide evidence for how the environment has changed over time
12.

Whales do not have back legs, but they do have tiny leg and hip bones. Even though these leg and hip bones are not used by the whale, they must have been used by an ancestor of the whale. Thus, the leg and hip bones of the whale are referred to as

a)

vestigial structures

b)

extinct structures

c)

homologous structures

13.
Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure?
a)
the wings of a red-tailed hawk
b)
the hind limbs of a house cat
c)
the fins of sharks
d)
the tailbone of a human
14.

An educated guess or testable prediction is a

a)

theory

b)

law

c)

hypothesis

d)

conclusion

15.

Why did the population of peppered moths in England change from light to dark after London became more polluted?

a)

Light moths were easy to see against darker trees and were eaten

b)

Light moths were killed by smoke

c)

The birds that ate the dark moths were killed by smoke

d)

Dark moths were produced by the smoky air.

16.
With the peppered moths, when the forest was light, there were more ____ colored moths. 
a)
light
b)
dark
17.
What does the fossil record reveal?
a)
Only dinosaurs formed fossils     
b)
Species evolve over time
c)
Few organisms are extinct
d)
Mammals have dominated Earth for most of its history