Fossils and Ancient Climates

What does the principle of uniformitarianism state?

• Geologic processes are always sudden.
• Geologic processes in the past can be explained by current processes.
• Fossils can only form in volcanic rock.
• Earth is only a few thousand years old.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What is the first step in the formation of sedimentary rock?

• Erosion moves sediment
• Sediment is deposited in layers
• Old layers become compacted
• Dissolved minerals cement sediments together

Which type of sedimentary rock is formed from the remains of ocean animals?

• Sandstone
• Limestone
• Coal
• Shale

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What do ripple marks in sedimentary rock indicate?

• Past volcanic activity
• Past motion of wind or water
• Presence of fossils
• Type of minerals present

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

What evidence supports the theory of Pangaea?

• The presence of ice caps
• Similar rock types across continents
• The size of mountains
• The depth of oceans

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What happens to old layers of sedimentary rock over time?

• They become fossilized
• They are eroded away
• They become compacted
• They turn into igneous rock

What do mud cracks in sedimentary rock indicate?

• Presence of ancient oceans
• Drying of fine-grained sediment
• Volcanic activity
• Movement of tectonic plates

What can scientists learn from sea-floor sediments?

• The age of the Earth
• The climate of the past
• The types of trees that grew
• The movement of continents

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Which of the following is a sign of good growing conditions for trees?

• Thin rings
• Thick rings
• No rings
• Irregular rings

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

How do scientists determine the climate from ice cores?

• By measuring the thickness of the ice
• By analyzing the composition of gases
• By counting the number of layers
• By examining the color of the ice