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WorksheetsEarth's Features
Total questions: 60
Worksheet time: 1hrs 8mins
Which of these are rocks? (choose mulitple)
conglomerate
calcite
throwingstone
limestone
What's an observation?
something you observe
something you notice using your 5 senses
when geologists see something
looking at something and finding out what it is
What rock makes mudstone?
clay
calcium carbonate
gravel
mud
What does Inference mean?
to infer
Coleen
a guess
something you can figure out by observing
What does cement mean?
to stick together in the process of forming a rock
to press together
an object that makes roads and sidewalks
to be sticky
Geologists have been studying a site to learn more about the fossils there.
Study the image above that the geologist made. Which of the following claims can be supported by the evidence from the image?
The site has always been a forest environment.
The site was a forest before it was an ocean environment.
The site was an ocean environment before it was a forest.
The site has always been an ocean environment.
The students in a science class must find a way to demonstrate how rainfall helps shape the land.
Which of the following investigations would best represent these ideas?
Place an ice cube on a baking sheet, and set it in the sun until it melts.
Pour water on top of a pile of sand, and watch as it moves the sand around.
Place a fan in front of a pile of sand, turn it on, and watch the sand blow away.
Set a large rock in a tray of water, and watch as the rock weathers by the next day.
Select the word that means: a clue about life from the past that is preserved in rock
fossil
model
sediment
evidence
Select the word that means: something you figure out based on observations and information you already know
inference
claim
argument
evidence
Select the word that means: a type of rock formed from sediment that compacts and cements over time
sedimentary
cement
lava
sediment
A fossil forms when an organism dies and is covered with sediment that turns into rock.
true
false
A sedimentary rock layer forms when sediment floats on the top of water and bakes in the sun.
true
false
Over a short amount of time, a rock layer becomes thicker as sediment continues to build up. It happens over the course of a couple of years.
true
false
What type of rock is the best place to find fossils in?
volcanic rock
sedimentary rock
other rock
Why is there not a lot of volcanic rock on the East coast? (The right side of the map)
There are a lot of volcanoes on the East coast (right side of the map)
There are no volcanoes on the East coast (right side of the map)
There are no rocks on the East coast (right side of the map)
The faster water moves the _________ the sediment that can be carried by it.
smaller
bigger
When a river cuts through rock it is called a____________
valley
canyon
rocky outcrop
cliff
Where will the most erosion happen?
Fast river/short amount of time
Fast river/long amount of time
Slow river/short amount of time
Slow river/long amount of time
To stick together in the process of forming rock
cement
compact
fossil
rock layer
to press together
compact
cement
fossil
sediment
the fossil was white with dirt on it
observation
inference
the size of the fossil was large and very long, about 6.5 feet
observation
inference
The environment of Desert Rocks National Park has always been the same
True
False
Which of the following is an example of an observation?
The environment of the upper layer of the rocky outcrop was a deep ocean when it formed millions of years ago
Mosasaurus fossils show that they had paddle shaped fins and a strong tail
Lepidodendron probably grew in floodplains
The Mosasaurus was a good swimmer
Which of the following is an example of an inference?
The Mosasaurus lived in an ocean environment
The conglomerate rock looks like it is made of several small pebbles cemented together
Siltstone forms in slow moving water
The sandstone has layers that are different colors
Which of the following are examples of conglomerate rock? (Choose 2)
How do rocks provide information about what an environment was like in the past?
If the rocks in an environment are red, we know that the past environment was very sunny
Conglomerate rocks can form in any environment, therefore it is impossible to determine past environments if we find conglomerate rock
Different sediment builds up in different environments. Therefore, different kinds of sedimentary rocks form in different environments
all the living and nonliving things in an area
inference
environment
observation
fossil
Geologists use _______ of and ideas about rocks and fossils to make inferences about past environments.
fossils
environments
inferences
observations
Different _______ build up in different environments. Therefore, different kinds of sedimentary rock form in different environments.
fossils
sediments
environments
rocks
Different sedimentary rock layers in a place mean that the environment in that place has ________.
stayed the same
changed
shifted
become new
staying mostly the same
stable
environment
observation
chaos
When writing a scientific argument, we answer a question with a(n)
response
claim
inference
evidence statement
Paleontologists study the history of life on Earth. They look at patterns in rock layers to know where to look for fossils, or the remains of ancient life.
The paleontologist working on this project has sketched the layers of rock that she has investigated and shown all of the fossils that she has found.
Which of the following statements is true based on the paleontologist’s sketches?
Plant fossils are the oldest fossils that she found.
Ammonites went extinct before fish lived in this area.
Fish are older than trilobites but younger than ammonites.
Trilobites and ammonites are the oldest fossils that she found.
The diagram below shows fossils during different periods in time (labeled A–E).
Using the image above, what can you infer about the environment where these fossils were found?
The environment was cold and dry for all living things that once lived in this location.
There were times when the environment was too extreme for any living things to live in this
location.
The environment was hot and dry for all living things that once lived in this location.
The environment was perfect for all living things to live during one period in time.
Select the word that means: when rock, soil, or sand is worn down and moved from one place to another by water, wind, or ice
erosion
sediment
cement
fossil
The organism in the picture on the left has died near the water’s edge. The next two pictures show how, over time, more layers of sediment form, covering up the remains of the organism.
After millions of years, changes to the land can be caused by things such as weathering and erosion.
Which of the following sentences about fossils is true?
They are only found in cold climates.
They are always formed in short period of time.
They only need water to form.
They usually need water and sediment to form.
the fossil was white with dirt on it
observation
inference
the size of the fossil was large and very long, about 6.5 feet
observation
inference
the fossil came from a large dinosaur
observation
inference
the fossil belonged to a dinosaur that walked on four legs
observation
inference
Fossils are mostly found in sedimentary rocks
True
False
A claim must be supported by (a) ?
How did this fossil end up being part of this rock?
the organism died and was buried by sediment
the organism died and was buried by a volcano
the organism died and was buried by a child
Lower rock layers are _____ than the layers above them.
younger
older
the same age
newer
Geologists observe the order of rock layers to ______ the order of past environments.
make sense
observe
infer
understand
a living thing, such as a plant or an animal
rock layer
organism
fossil
geologist
Scientists find dinosaur fossils in the bottom rock layers of a cliff and mammal fossils in the middle rock layer of the cliff. Which could BEST be concluded from this evidence?
Dinosaurs ate plants.
Dinosaurs were eaten by the mammals.
Dinosaurs lived on Earth before the mammals.
Dinosaurs and mammals lived at the same time.
A deep narrow valley with high, steep sides is a _______.
hill
island
canyon
continent
(Ignore D) Which layer is the oldest?
A
B
C
E
(Ignore D) Which layer is the youngest?
A
B
C
E
The faster water moves the _________ the sediment that can be carried by it.
smaller
bigger
