Practice EOG questions: Earth's History

Paula discovered three sedimentary rock layers that contain fossils of a lizard species. The list below shows how Paula described the lizards’ appearance in each layer. - Top layer: The lizards had thick tails that were about 1 inch in length. - Middle layer: The lizards had round tails that were about 2 inches in length. - Bottom layer: The lizards had flexible tails that were about 3 inches in length. Which conclusion do Paula’s findings best support?

• Lizards with short tails hunted the other types into extinction.

• Lizards with long tails lived in the area for a longer period of time.

• Lizards in the area gradually developed longer tails.

• Lizards in the area gradually developed shorter tails.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Jody learns that water moving over the falls formed the cave. Which choice best explains how the cave formed?

• The moving water deposited minerals in the shale, creating a cave.

• The moving water deposited minerals in the limestone, creating a cave.

• The moving water weathered the shale layer faster than the other layers, creating a cave.

• The moving water weathered the dolostone layer faster than the other layers, creating a cave.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Jody notices a fossil of a dinosaur, Stegosaurus, discovered in the dolostone layer of Timber Falls. What can Jody conclude about when Dalmanites and Stegosaurus lived?

• Stegosaurus lived on Earth more recently than Dalmanites.

• Dalmanites lived on Earth more recently than Stegosaurus.

• Stegosaurus and Dalmanites lived on Earth at the same time.

• There is not enough information to know when these organisms lived.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Jody finds a rock at the bottom of the falls. She suspects that this rock originated from the rock layers at Timber Falls. What evidence could show what type of rock she has found?

• the rock’s volume

• the rock’s relative hardness

• how far the rock is from Timber Falls

• the amount of water stored in the rock

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Jody claims that moving water at Timber Falls caused the shale layer to weather. What evidence could be used to support her claim?

• Rock fragments containing magnesium were discovered upstream of Timber Falls.

• Rock fragments containing oxygen were discovered upstream of Timber Falls.

• Rock fragments containing calcium were discovered downstream of Timber Falls.

• Rock fragments containing silicon were discovered downstream of Timber Falls.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Select (click) two factors that explain why the limestone in this region weathers faster than the dolostone.

• Limestone is softer than dolostone.

• These rock layers are separated by the shale layer.

• Moving water strikes the limestone’s surface with more force than the water in contact with the dolostone.

• The limestone layer contains fewer fossils than the dolostone layer.

• Water is more chemically reactive with dolostone than it is with limestone.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

A person has recently started riding a bike to work instead of driving a gasoline-powered car. How will this action affect the availability of fossil fuels?

• This person is conserving a renewable resource, which will increase Earth’s reserves of fossil fuels.

• This person is conserving a nonrenewable resource, which will increase Earth’s reserves of fossil fuels.

• This person is conserving a renewable resource, which will increase the rate at which this resource is depleted.

• This person is conserving a nonrenewable resource, which will decrease the rate at which this resource is depleted.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

Olivia finds two dinosaur fossils in a museum: - *Apatosaurus* fossil: 150 million years old - *Diplodocus* fossil: 154 million years old What evidence would show these organisms share a common ancestor?

• a 140-million-year-old *Diplodocus* fossil

• a 160-million-year-old *Diplodocus* fossil

• a 140-million-year-old fossil of an organism with anatomical features similar to both

• a 160-million-year-old fossil of an organism with anatomical features similar to both

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A heavy flood washed away over five meters of soil and rock. The layer of rock that was exposed by the flood contained remains of brachiopods, crinoids, and corals that existed in warm, shallow seas 350 million years ago. Some of the fossils that were found are shown. Which statement is the best explanation for the presence of these marine fossils in an inland area of the United States?

• The brachiopods could live in water and on land.

• The crinoids and corals grew on terrestrial surfaces.

• The fossils were carried to the area by floodwaters.

• The area was once covered by an ocean.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which statement is correct about the changes in faunas during one of these five major events?

• The event at the end of the Devonian (Dev.) resulted in an increase in the number of Cambrian faunas.

• The event at the end of the Cretaceous resulted in an increase in the number of Paleozoic faunas.

• The event at the end of the Triassic (Tri.) resulted in the extinction of fewer faunas than in any other period.

• The event at the end of the Cretaceous resulted in the extinction of more faunas than in any other period.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1