8E2.2 Geological Evidence

Some rock layers form when sediment is deposited in deep water, while other rock layers form when sediment is deposited in shallow water. If a rock column shows deep-water rock layers covered by shallow-water rock layers, then sea level has decreased at that location over time.

Which sequence of rock layers provides the BEST evidence that sea level has decreased over time at a given location?

• Limestone layers containing fish fossils are covered by sandstone layers with fossils of broken

  shells.

• Layers of glassy lava from a shield volcano are covered by granite with large quartz crystals.

• Layers of shale with dinosaur tracks are covered by layers of shale containing plant fossils.

• Sandstone layers with wave-ripple marks are covered by thick layers of quartzite.

Iron-rich deposits that formed about 2 billion years ago have red layers. Layers formed before then were not red. The red layers formed when oxygen made during photosynthesis reacted with iron molecules in the ocean. The oxidized iron formed layers of sedimentary rock. Which BEST summarizes this phenomenon?

• The biosphere changed the lithosphere.

• The lithosphere changed the atmosphere.

• The hydrosphere changed the atmosphere.

• The atmosphere changed the biosphere.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

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Which of these provides the BEST evidence that the distribution of Earth’s oceans has changed over time?

• hot spots on ocean floors

• seismic activity along plate boundaries

• sediment buildup on continental slope

• marine fossils found on land masses

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

A fossil discovered in Colorado dates from the early Mesozoic era. A year later a similar fossil is found in Wyoming that also dates from the early Mesozoic era. These two organisms most likely lived in

• different environments at about the same time.

• the same environment at different times.

• the same environment at about the same time.

• different environments at different times.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the following eras is known as the “Age of Mammals”?

• Precambrian

• Paleozoic

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

Certain fossils can be used to help determine the age of the rock layer in which the fossils are found. Which type of fossil is BEST to use when making this determination?

• marine mammal fossil

• index fossil

• trace fossil

• swamp fern fossil

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Scientists estimate that if index fossils were deposited during a certain time frame, then the entire rock layer was also deposited at the same time.

A scientist finds Trophite fossils. According to the chart above, in what era and period was this rock layer deposited?

• Cenozoic era; Tertiary period

• Mesozoic era; Triassic period

• Paleozoic era; Permian period

• Paleozoic era; Mississippian period

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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Which environmental condition MOST likely existed at the time a fossil formed?

• Organism remains were deposited in an area of open space.

• Organism remains were covered by lava flow.

• Organism remains were buried with little oxygen.

• Organism remains were buried in an area where a lot of erosion occurred.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Scientists discovered fossils of different organisms in some layers of rock. Organism 5 was discovered in the uppermost layer. The scientists wanted to determine if Organism 5 was related to other organisms found in older layers of rock. They compared physical traits and DNA similarities from all the fossils. Some of their results are shown in the table. Which organism is most closely related to Organism 5?

• Organism 1

• Organism 2

• Organism 3

• Organism 4

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Which evidence would BEST indicate that four-legged land animals might have a fish ancestor?

• fossils of fish with four fins

• fossils of land animals found in ancient lake beds

• fossils of fish found in cliffs above any present-day water levels

• fossils of fish with bones on their fins arranged like bones of land animals

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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