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WorksheetsGeology and Ecology
Total questions: 42
Worksheet time: 21mins
If all of the wolves were taken from the environment, what would most likely happen to the deer population?
The deer population would increase and begin to compete for food.
The deer population would become larger and healthier animals.
The deer population would decrease, because there would be an increase in disease.
The deer population would change color, because they would not have to hide from wolves.
Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?
Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth's age, much like the rings of a tree.
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.
In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.
Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.
Which of these would most likely happen to a species that is not able to adapt to a changing environment?
The species would become extinct over time.
The species would develop mutated cells.
The species would develop resistance to disease.
The species would change the environment.
Which is the most accurate method scientists use to predict the age of Earth?
relative dating of rock layers
radioactive dating of rocks
comparing the ages of different fossils
investigating core samples from the Arctic
How do scientists know that some mountains were once at the bottom of an ocean?
Freshwater rivers flow to the ocean.
Saltwater fish are found in some mountain streams.
Dinosaur bones have been discovered in the mountains.
Marine fossils have been found on the peaks of some mountains.
How can scientists best determine when an ancient species became extinct?
by analyzing the DNA of the species
by examining existing species with similar traits
by studying the history of meteor collisions with Earth
by organizing the rock layers in which the fossils were found
How are trilobite fossils helpful in understanding the distribution of living things throughout Earth's history?
Trilobites lived in all the ancient oceans and in varying depths of water.
Trilobites were found worldwide and are index fossils of the Paleozoic Era.
The soft tissue of trilobites preserved well and began the expansion of biological diversity.
There were many different species of trilobites, and they existed in varying shapes and sizes.
How are mutualism and parasitism different?
Both organisms benefit in mutualism, while in parasitism only one organism benefits at the other's expense.
Both organisms benefit in parasitism, while in mutualism only one organism benefits at the other's expense.
Both organisms benefit in mutualism, while in parasitism one organism benefits, and the other is neither harmed nor benefits.
Both organisms benefit in parasitism, while in mutualism one organism benefits, and the other is neither harmed nor benefits.
Which evidence supports the idea that life on Earth has continually evolved?
evidence from layers of tree rings
evidence from rock layers, fossils, and ice cores
evidence gathered from melting glaciers
evidence that the climate has changed over the past 100 years
Which is the best reason for scientists to study ice cores obtained from Earth's ice caps?
to evaluate potential oil drilling sites
to study the quality of water stored in glaciers
to determine the rate of melting in polar regions
to study past climates by analyzing trapped gases and particles
Paleontologists have found hundreds of fossils of tropical plants in cool, dry areas of North America. Which is most likely indicated by fossil discoveries like these?
Glacial movement carried fossils to different places.
Some tropical plants can grow in moderate climates.
The climate in different areas on Earth has changed over time.
Ancient people carried plants with them as they traveled to new locations.
A geologist identifies the identical index fossils in rock layers from two different areas. Which conclusion is best supported by this discovery?
The deposition rate of the two rock layers was identical.
The fossil organism evolved independently in the two separate areas.
The two rock layers were deposited at approximately the same time.
The index fossil will also occur in sediment deposited on top of these rock layers.
What do earthquakes tell scientists about the history of the planet?
Earth's climate is constantly changing.
The continents of Earth are continually moving.
Dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago.
The oceans are much deeper today than millions years ago.
According to the fossil record, the first horses were smaller than modern species. Throughout time, horses have gradually changed
to become better hunters.
in order to re-populate the Earth.
in response to a changing environment.
to become useful for humans.
What happens to most of the energy as it moves throughout a food web?
It is changed into light energy.
It is changed into heat energy.
It is changed into mass.
It is changed into decomposers.
Which best explains why mammals became dominant after the mass extinction of the dinosaurs?
They had traits that helped them adapt to environmental changes.
They lived in different areas on Earth than dinosaurs.
They were larger than dinosaurs and ate different foods.
They were able to hibernate for thousands of years.
What role do faults play in the Law of Superposition?
Faults create new types of rock.
Faults are younger than the layers they cut through.
Faults are the same age as the layers they cut through.
Which best represents the flow of energy within an aquatic ecosystem?
algae → insects → fish → turtle → sunlight
insects → algae → fish → turtle → sunlight
sunlight → insects → algae → fish → turtle
sunlight → algae → insects → fish → turtle
Why were birds and butterflies placed into different groups within the biological classification systems?
because of differences in habitat locations
because they have different migration patterns
because of differences in anatomical structures
because they have different ways in obtaining nutrients
Which would provide evidence of lithospheric plate movement over time?
fossils of tropical plants found near the equator
fossils of tropical fish found in a warm climate area
fossils of tropical plants found in a cold climate area
fossils of tropical fish found at the bottom of an ocean
Scientists think that dolphins and whales may have evolved from a common ancestor. What evidence supports this hypothesis?
They swim the same way.
They eat the same food.
They live in the same area of the ocean.
They have similar anatomies.
What best describes natural selection?
genetic variation by reproduction
changes in environment
survival of the fittest
How are fossils compared to one another for biological classification?
by their size
by their estimated life spans
by the geographic locations where they are found
by similarities and differences in their body structures
A brown rabbit is easily hunted and killed in an arctic ecosystem. Which would be expected to appear most often in future generations born in the same ecosystem?
gray rabbits
white rabbits
brown rabbits
A bird in a forest ecosystem has a sharper beak than many other birds. Which best explains how this adaptation may help the bird survive?
It enables the bird to dig for water.
It increases the likelihood for the bird to obtain food.
It increases the likelihood of the bird finding a suitable mate.
It enables the bird to sing louder than birds with shorter beaks.
Which demonstrates how genetic variation may result from a change in the environment where an animal lives?
A salmon swims faster as it enters colder waters.
A snake increases its body temperature because it moves on top of a rock in direct sunlight.
A beetle stands out to predators because it moves among plants that have colors different than its own.
An arctic fox changes its color over time because it migrates to an area with a different climate.
A new predator moves into an area with a population of rabbits. The rabbits with longer back legs have an advantage because they can run faster and escape the predator. Which will be the most likely effect on the rabbit population?
The population will become extinct due to stress.
The rabbit population will produce fewer offspring.
The rabbits with shorter back legs will learn to hide.
The future generations of rabbits will have longer legs.
Over time, the length of giraffes' necks changed slightly to allow them to reach taller trees. How should this change be classified?
adaptation
acquired trait
genetic constant
Which would most likely increase the genetic variation in a population of organisms?
increase in diseases
decrease in diseases
increase in mutations
decrease in mutations
Based on the fossil record, which organisms were most likely to have existed first?
plants
insects
jellyfish
bacteria
The feathers of a wild turkey allow it to blend into its habitat. Which best describes this adaptation?
mimicry
predation
camouflage
learned behavior
Some scientists think that all life evolved from a common ancestor. Which provides evidence that this may be true?
analogous structures of organisms
homologous structures of organisms
extinction of many varieties of plant species
existence of many varieties of bacteria species
Throughout fossil records, many species appearing in lower layers of rock disappear in higher layers of rock. Which best explains their disappearance?
The species became extinct.
The species moved to another geographic location.
The fossil remains were disrupted by an earthquake.
Environmental conditions were not suitable for fossil formation.
Recent changes in species can be found in the upper layers of rock. This provides a link between which two scientific ideas?
cell theory and the theory of evolution
the periodic nature of the elements and cell theory
the theory of evolution and the Law of Superposition
the Law of Superposition and the periodic nature of the elements
Which is the best evidence for evolution?
new rock layers containing fossils of simple organisms
new rock layers containing fossils unlike existing organisms
old rock layers containing fossils unlike existing organisms
old rock layers containing fossils of complex organisms
Which best describes the relationship between genetic variation and the ability to adapt to one's environment?
Genetic variation has no effect on the ability to adapt.
As genetic variation increases, the ability to adapt increases.
As genetic variation decreases, the ability to adapt increases.
As genetic variation increases, the ability to adapt decreases.
Which best supports the idea of continental drift?
Coastlines are constantly changing shape due to erosion.
Earthquakes are frequently felt in many regions of the world.
Glaciers currently exist in areas considered too warm for glaciers to form.
Fossilized remains of the same plants and animals are found on different continents.
Which will most likely occur when a bird's beak size increases over time to better crack open nuts?
Species survival will increase.
Species survival will decrease.
Species reproduction will increase.
Species reproduction will decrease.
Which is true about fossils?
They are remains of organisms that lived on Earth.
They are most often found in igneous rock formations.
They are documentation of evolutionary changes in every organism that has ever lived on Earth.
They are found all over the southern hemisphere, but in very few parts of the northern hemisphere.
What can scientists most likely conclude from fossil records?
Extinction is rare.
Extinction is common.
Extinctions have occurred at exact intervals throughout geologic time.
Extinctions have never occurred in plant species, only in animal species.
Which best explains the gaps in the evolutionary history of Earth's life forms?
The soft parts of organisms are the only parts preserved as fossils.
Environmental changes prevented the formation of fossils.
Many organisms died without leaving behind fossil remains.
Extinct organisms did not form fossils.
Which best describes uniformitarianism?
The time it takes for erosion to occur has changed since Earth first formed.
The movement of the continents no longer occurs because of changes in ocean currents.
The processes that shape the Earth continue as they have since the Earth formed.
The formation of rock layers has slowed because humans have altered the environment.
