wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Fossils evidence of evolution

Total questions: 24

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following is the collection of life's remains found in sedimentary rock?

a)

natural selection

b)

homologous structures

c)

Charles Darwin

d)

the fossil record

2.

Which evidence show patterns of change in organisms from early life to modern life?

a)

homologous structures

b)

transitional fossils

c)

vestigial structures

d)

proteins

3.

How would the fossils in the sediment layers of Earth appear to prove evolution?

a)

fossils in upper layers complex and lower layers complex

b)

fossils in upper layers simple and lower layers complex

c)

fossils in upper layers complex and lower layers simple

d)

fossils in upper layers simple and lower layers simple

4.

Which is the best evidence listed for the theory of evolution

a)

fossil record

b)

climate change

c)

numerical data

d)

religious information

5.

What are fossils?

a)

Are the remains or evidence of once-living organisms

b)

Is the change over time in populations of related organisms

c)

A chart that divides Earth’s history into different time units

d)

Occurs when the last individual organism of a species dies

6.

What is the fossil record?

a)

Are the remains or evidence of once-living organisms

b)

Is the change over time in populations of related organisms

c)

Is made up of all the fossils ever discovered on Earth

d)

Occurs when the last individual organism of a species dies

7.

What is a mold?

a)

The impression of an organism

b)

Is the preserved evidence of the activity of an organism

c)

A fossil copy of an organism in a rock

d)

A chart that divides Earth’s history into different time units

8.

What are trace fossils?

a)

A fossil copy of an organism in a rock

b)

Is the preserved evidence of the activity of an organism

c)

The impression of an organism

d)

Is made up of all the fossils ever discovered on Earth

9.

What is extinction?

a)

A chart that divides Earth’s history into different time units

b)

Are the remains or evidence of once-living organisms

c)

Occurs when the last individual organism of a species dies

d)

The impression of an organism

10.

Which of these provides the BEST evidence that the environment of Earth has changed over millions of years?

a)

active migration of sand dunes

b)

marine (water) fossils found on top of mountains

c)

polished appearance of rock surfaces

d)

none of the above

11.

In the model are rock strata and fossils. The fish fossil is in the first layer of the rock strata, is this the youngest or oldest fossil in these rock strata layers?

a)

Youngest

b)

Oldest

12.

Scientists theorize that the ancient horse on the left is related to the modern horse on the right. The scientists theorize that the horse has gone through many changes over time. How did the scientists conclude that the animal changed over time?

a)

by examining fossil records

b)

by learning about natural selection

c)

by studying deposition of sediments

d)

by observing different types of rock formations

13.

A scientist drew some diagrams of ancestors of elephants based on fossil evidence. Which is the BEST conclusion that can be made from comparing the diagrams?


(Model Description: The first elephant ancestor is 50 million years old and very small, the second elephant ancestor is 30 million years old and much larger. The trunk is also short. The last ancestor is 20 million years old and taller, but shorter width wise. The trunk is also longer.)

a)

Ancient elephants were better adapted than modern elephants.

b)

Elephant habitats have remained the same over time.

c)

Elephant fossil evidence is widespread and complete.

d)

Elephant species have changed over time.

14.

Fossils are the preserved ____ of once living organisms.

a)

plants

b)

adaptations

c)

remains

d)

variations

15.

Why are there more animal fossils than plant fossils?

a)

Animals are smaller than plants, so they break down faster.

b)

Animals eat plants.

c)

Plants have harder bodies than animals, so they break down.

d)

Plants have softer bodies than animals, so they break down.

16.

An animal fossil has sharp, pointy teeth. What can we infer about this animal?

a)

The animal lived in the water

b)

The animal is a carnivore (only ate meat).

c)

The animal lived near the beach.

d)

The animal is an herbivore (only ate plants).

17.

If a scientist found a fish fossil in the desert, what can they infer?

a)

An animal ate the fish.

b)

Today's fish looks the same

c)

That water covered the area long ago.

d)

The fish is endangered.

18.

What statement is true about fossils?

a)

Some living things have not really changed in millions of years.

b)

All living organisms leave behind fossils.

c)

Fossils show that camels never change.

d)

Plant fossils have never changed.

19.

Most dinosaur skeletons you use in museums are not real.

a)

True

b)

False

20.

Fossils have to be cut open to study the insides.

a)

True

b)

False

21.

Fossils made from rock generally take millions of years to form.

a)

True

b)

False

22.

Some modern animals are considered living fossils.

a)

True

b)

Fossils

23.

An organism is ______________ if it no longer exits and will never live again on Earth.

a)

rare

b)

plentiful

c)

missing

d)

extinct

24.

Scientist study the ____________________ to learn about the history of life, past environments on Earth, and how different groups of organisms have changed over time.

a)

fossil record

b)

historical record

c)

animal record

d)

Earth record