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WorksheetsFossils and Evidence of Evolution
Total questions: 32
Worksheet time: 19mins
All the fossils that have been discovered and what scientists have learned from them is known as the ________.
fossil record
geological timeline
chronological scale
law of superposition
Structures that are similar in different species and that have been inherited from a common ancestor are known as _________________.
homologous structures
inherited structures
adapted structures
homozygous structures
According to the Law of Superposition, which fossil would be considered the oldest?
A
B
C
D
This type of fossilization involves the organism's bones being completely replaced with mineral deposits over time.
permineralization
casting
molding
sedimentation
Fossils are most often found in this type of rock.
metamorphic
sedimentary
igneous
all of the above
Which of these factors best contribute to the process of fossilization? Select all that apply.
An organism dying in a lake bed or ocean
The accumulation of sediments over the organism
An organism's bones being forced into the magma layer of the earth by tectonic movement
A low-oxygen environment
The presence of decomposers and scavengers
This images suggests that:
the organisms living on Earth have remained unchanged over time
the Paleozoic Era is the most recent era in time
the Cenozoic Era came before the Paleozoic Era
organisms have changed over time
The fossil evidence found in these sedimentary layers BEST implies that:
land plants are older than land animals
vertebrates and invertebrates evolved together
invertebrates lived on Earth before vertebrates
land animals evolved at the same time as marine animals
You find two fossils. One is a very primitive, invertebrate organism and the other is a complex organism with a skeleton. Which of these two fossils do you think is the oldest?
probably the complex organism on the right
probably the primitive organism on the left
it is certain that the two organisms lived at the same time
it is impossible to even guess about the relative age of the fossils
Geologists discovered fossil evidence of mesohippus, an ancestor of the modern horse. Mesohippus lived in North America about 40 million years ago. Mesohippus was about two feet tall, ran on hooves with three toes, and had large, grinding teeth. What statement is BEST supported by the fossil evidence?
Ancient horses were once carnivores.
Horses have evolved over the last 40 million years.
Horses migrated from South America into North America.
Modern-day horses share a common ancestor with all mammals.
The diagram shows the leg bones, from left to right, of the following mammals: Orangutan, dog, pig, cow, tapir, and horse. Most of the animals have the same bones, although some are shaped differently and placed in different positions.
What does this suggest about mammals?
That they shared a common ancestor.
That mammals are evolving to become more and more like one another.
That they all continue to use these structures for the same exact purpose.
That the shape of the bones has less to do with the environment pressures on the animal and more to do with what their relatives are.
Which fact about fossils provides scientists with the MOST evidence of evolution?
Fossils are often found in sedimentary rock.
Footprints, body structures, and even animal droppings can become fossilized.
The age of a fossil can be determined by examining the rock strata (layers) in which the fossil is found.
The formation of a fossil depends on the geologic and chemical conditions present when an organism dies.
You expect to find shells when you visit the beach. However, while you're hiking in the mountains you find fossilized shells by accident. This suggests that:
the mountain has a lake nearby.
the mountain was once under the sea.
some prehistoric sea creatures could live on land, too.
the shells were blown by powerful winds to the mountain top.
How do fossils support the theory of evolution?
by always being identical to an organism alive today
by serving as evidence that shows transitional forms of organisms
by giving a complete timeline record of all past organisms
by providing evidence that all organisms are related to the dinosaur
The fossil image at the bottom of this diagram is called a trilobite. Trilobites lived in the ancient seas and the fossil was found in the sea floor. Compare the fossil to the four modern-day animals also pictured. Based on physical evidence, the trilobite is probably a direct ancestor of what animal?
Locust
Pillbug
Roundworm
Scallop
If the same kind of fossil is found on two continents that are widely separated today, what does that tell us?
The oceans carried the fossils to different continents.
The fossils were taken there by other animals.
The animal lived on more than one continent.
The continents were once joined together.
This diagram illustrates which concepts? Select all that apply.
Transitional fossils
Descent with modification
How species change over time
Evolution
Which of these statements is true of the fossil record?
The fossil record contains a complete record of every extinct organism.
The fossil record contains mostly soft organisms that had no hard bones or outer shells.
Fossil specimens found in the more recent layers of Earth are more closely related to modern day organisms.
Fossil specimens of ancient species that have been found, usually are unlike any species that are living today.
Why do scientists use the fossil record as evidence for the scientific theory of evolution?
The fossil record provides evidence of all species that have ever existed.
The fossil record provides evidence that extinct species share similarities with current species.
The fossil record provides evidence that all extinct species became fossilized at the same time.
The fossil record provides evidence that extinct species are genetically identical to current species.
In 2006, scientists found a fossil that seemed to have fish-like scales, but also had four legs. It also had a bone structure in its neck that suggested it could raise its head. This fossil was given the name Tiktaalik and its discovery turned the scientific world upside down.
What evidence does the discovery of this species give to support the idea of descent with modification in the theory of evolution?
Tiktaalik shows that all land animals used to be fish that lived in the water.
Tiktaalik shows that land animals and fish are not as closely related as once thought.
Tiktaalik shows that fish developed legs at some point, which allowed them to walk on land.
Tiktaalik shows that modern species have ancient forms, which supports the ideas of common ancestry.
A slow progressive decline in the number of dinosaur species would likely indicate a gradual cause of their extinction. However, a sudden disappearance of the dinosaurs implies a more catastrophic cause. Depending on location and interpretation, the fossil record seems to say different things.
When scientists get different evidence from experiments and observations what should happen next?
Scientists should vote and take the consensus opinion.
If there were differing results from the same experiments, all the data is incorrect.
More experiments, more evidence, and more communication is needed to ensure concrete results.
Sometimes scientists run similar experiments but get different results. No further action is needed.
An example of a transitional fossil is Dimetrodon, which lived 280-265 million years ago. Dimetrodon had a lizard-like appearance but had a sail-like structure sticking out from its back that allowed it to regulate its body temperature, an ability that is found today in modern warm-blooded mammals. While Dimetrodon swallowed its prey whole like reptiles do, it also had different types of teeth, a trait also common to mammals.
Which of these statements best explains how transitional fossils support the theory of evolution?
Transitional fossils show traits common to ancestors as well as descendants.
Transitional fossils show how the organisms' characteristics remain the same over time.
Transitional fossils show how individual organisms can change their characteristics during their lifetimes.
Transitional fossils show how populations of past organisms were not able to change their characteristics over time.
The drawings below show two fossil whale skulls and a modern whale skull. Which statement best explains how these skulls provide evidence for the theory of evolution?
Isolated organisms grow slowly.
Species change gradually over time.
Only the largest organisms survive.
Traits are acquired by species that swim.
Evidence suggests that living things have changed over time. Some fossils of long-dead organisms show what certain species looked like long ago. Genetic testing also provides evidence to support the relationships between extinct and modern organisms.
Does this information support a law or a theory?
It supports a law because it connects living and dead organisms.
It supports a theory because this evidence can only be analyzed in one way.
It supports a law because it describes how some things may occur under possible conditions.
It supports a theory because it explains patterns of change that have been observed in nature.
Darwin developed the theory of evolution. Which of these observations is the best evidence for the theory of evolution?
Humans have very diverse traits today.
There appear to be missing links in the evolutionary chain.
Life on earth has been found to date back billions of years.
DNA found in older primate fossils resemble those of humans today.
Crabs are crustaceans with five pairs of legs. In certain species of crabs, the fifth pair of legs has a flattened, paddle-like shape. Which of these statements explains why this adaptation was most likely selected for?
Crabs with this adaptation can camouflage themselves from predators in mudflats.
Crabs with this adaptation can more quickly swim away from predators in open water.
Crabs with this adaptation can more effectively defend against predators in oyster beds.
Crabs with this adaptation can climb trees to protect themselves from predators in mangrove forests.
Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. Which of these statements best describes the connection between biodiversity and evolution?
The more biodiversity an area has, the greater the chances of new species arising.
If biodiversity is high, then more predation will take place, preventing species from evolving.
Without a lot of biodiversity, organisms are more likely to survive, so they have more time to adapt.
Evolution depends upon low biodiversity to keep population sizes down, which increases numbers of genes.
How do we know the stages in the evolution of the modern-day horse?
There is a fossil record of most of the ancestors of the horse.
All the ancestors of the horse are still alive.
By mapping the genetic code of the horse.
Humans bred horses and therefore know its ancestry.
This type of fossil is formed when things such as mud, sand, or minerals fill in the spaces of a mold. This fossil has the exact same shape as the original organism.
cast
mold
imprint
amber
This type of fossil is formed when mud fills in the hollow spaces around something hard, such as a shell, and then hardens. This results in a hollow space shaped exactly like the original object.
cast
mold
imprint
amber
Which body fossil gives scientists information about how an animal moved?
bones
teeth
brain
skull
Which fossil could help scientists know more about the kind of food eaten by an animal that lived millions of years ago?
teeth
skull
backbone
leg bone
