Fossils Review

Birds, lizards and snakes are thought to be related to dinosaurs. What is the main source of evidence that scientists use to show this relationship and how these organisms may have changed over time?

• 1. Photographs of dinosaurs

• 1. Hair and skin samples

• 1. Direct observation

• 1. Fossil record

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How could the fossil record help a scientist create a timeline tracing the evolution from the prehistoric woolly mammoth to today's elephant?

• 1. It cannot help with their investigation.

• 1. It can demonstrate how the organisms changed over time.

• 1. It can demonstrate the structure of a modern-day elephant.

• 1. It can demonstrate similarities in muscle structure in both organisms.

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What does the presence of gills at some stage of development in all vertebrates suggest about their evolutionary histories?

• 1. They all start out their lives living in water.

• 1. They all lose their gills as they age and develop into adults.

• 1. They all share a common ancestor from millions of years ago.

• 1. They all evolved separately from each other over hundreds of years.

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Lorna wants to present evidence that evolution has occurred in a snake species. Which types of evidence would support this investigation? Select all that apply

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  1. Comparing the fossil record to today’s organisms

• 1. Modeling each organism’s habitat for differences

• 1. Comparing the diet of each organism

• 1. Comparing similar structures between organisms

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The fossil record provides evidence about _______ (prehistoric organisms and ecosystems, the rock cycle). Scientists have fossil specimens that show that nearly every species that evolved is extinct today.

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Of the quarter-million or so species found in the fossil record, the majority are ___2___ (similar to, different from) living species today. One of the drawbacks of fossils is that we cannot directly observe the organisms. This limitation means that scientists must usually infer how organisms behaved.

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According to the diagram, which of the following statements is true?

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  1. Fossil A is oldest.

• 1. Fossil B is youngest.

• 1. Fossil C is younger than Fossil D.

• 1. Fossil C and D are the same age.

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Fossils provide insight into Earth’s past. Which of the following statements are true? Select all that apply.

• 1. Fossils can only represent bones and shells of extinct animals.

• 1. Fossils give clues about environmental changes where the organism lived.

• 1. Fossils can give clues of changes in the organism’s body structure over time.

• 1. Fossils can be used to date the time period of rocks and rock layers when the organism lived.

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According to the fossil record, the whale’s ancestor was a land-dwelling animal. This image illustrates the evolution of its body shape and limbs over time, with the organism at the top representing the earliest form and the one at the bottom the most recent. Which explanation best describes how the organism changed over time?

• 1. Based on the fossil record, the whale quickly adapted to its’ changing environment.

• 1. Based on the fossil record, the whale’s ancestor was forced to change its diet, because the climate became colder.

• 1. Based on the fossil record, the whale’s ancestor crossbred with an alligator, because alligators have superior hunting instincts and moved into the water.

• 1. Based on the fossil record, the whale’s ancestor gradually changed from limbs to flippers because of the changing environment including the increase in the volume of water.

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 The diagram illustrates the embryonic development of various organisms. A student is examining the differences in their growth patterns at different stages. Which pattern is supported by the diagram?

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  1. The organisms look most similar just before birth.

• 1. All of the organisms have tails in stage 2 and stage 3.

• 1. All of the organisms have large heads at stage 2 and stage 3.

• 1. Differences among the organisms increase from stage 1 to stage 3.

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