Earth Changes Review

Rafael conducts an investigation to find out if grass growing on a hillside will help stop soil erosion. He collects two samples of the same size and type of soil. One sample of soil has grass growing on it and the other does not. He places each sample of soil in a small tray. After pouring the water onto both pieces of soil, Rafael makes an observation. The water collected in the tray under the soil with grass looks clearer than the water collected in the tray under the soil without grass. What conclusion can Rafael make from his observation?

• The grass helped to hold the soil in place.

• The grass helped to move the water through the soil.

• The soil without grass was sticky, so more water stayed in the soil.

• The soil without grass was loose, so more water stayed in the soil

A scientist is looking for fossils high in the mountains. In the top layer of rock, she finds a plant fossil. In deep rock, she uncovers a small trace fossil. After doing research, she learns that it is a fossil of a trilobite, an organism that lived underwater millions of years ago.

Which of these fossils is likely older?​

• The plant fossil

• The trilobite (living organism underwater)

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which statement below accurately describes a pattern in the fossil record shown?

• The top layer contains mostly large dinosaurs.

• The middle layer contains mostly desert animals.

• The same types of organisms appear after each extinction.

• The bottom layers contain more sea organisms than the top layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Based on evidence in the diagram, what do the scientists know about how the environment in this area changed from 542 million years ago until today?

• The environment got wetter over time.

• The environment changed from land to sea

• The environment changed from sea to land.

• The environment started off wet, then got drier, then got wet again.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Students observe two hills, Hill A and Hill B. After a heavy rainstorm, the students observe that Hill A has more loose soil at the bottom than Hill B.

Which sentence best describes what most likely caused the loose soil ?

• Hill A has fewer plants than Hill B.

• 
  Hill A erodes more slowly than Hill B.

• Hill A has a slope not as steep as Hill B

• Hill A receives less average rainfall than Hill B.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The picture below shows a river flowing through a canyon. Which of the following best explains how the canyon becomes wider and deeper over time?

• Water carries rock particles away from the canyon.

• Caves form in the canyon walls and rock particles move into them.

• Earthquakes cause the rocks of the canyon to move away from each other.

• Volcanic activity causes the rocks on each side of the canyon to become larger.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The students were asked to look at locations that will be best to construct a new building. They study a chart showing factors that affect rates of weathering.

​Which location most likely has the slowest rate of rock weathering?

• Location 1

• Location 2

• Location 3

• Location 4

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1