8 L 4 1 & 8 L 4 2

A paleontologist found a fossil of an organism that looks like modern-day ferns. Which would most likely assist the paleontologist in proving that the two organisms are related?

• mapping the location of where the fossil grew against where modern day ferns grow

• recording how the tectonic plates have moved since the fossil was created

• analyzing the composition of the rock in which the fossil was discovered

• comparing the structures of the fossil to that of modern-day ferns

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Millions of years ago, four aquatic organisms died, and their remains came to rest on Earth’s surface beneath the water.

Which of the organisms could MOST likely be studied today using fossils?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Who was the first person to base a system of classification on organisms having similar structures?

• Aristotle

• Darwin

• Einstein

• Linnaeus

Which of these characteristics BEST helps scientists classify organisms?

• size

• color

• gender

• structure

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Imprints of the shells of ocean clams are often found in the rocks of the Appalachian Mountains. What do these imprint fossils MOST likely indicate?

• These mountains were once under the ocean.

• These mountains once had a more rainy climate.

• Mountain river clams evolved from ocean clams.

• Ocean clams evolved from mountain river clams.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Scientists studied the taxonomic relationship between two lizard species living on the sides of a canyon. One species had long toes and one had short toes, but they were alike in most other ways. The table shows what the scientists found.

What is the MOST likely reason for these findings?

• Short-toed lizards evolved from long-toed lizards on the shady side of the canyon.

• Short-toed lizards evolved from long-toed lizards on the sunny side of the canyon.

• Long-toed lizards evolved from short-toed lizards on the shady side of the canyon.

• Long-toed lizards evolved from short-toed lizards on the sunny side of the canyon.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Scientists dug through three layers of rock and found many rabbit fossils. The fossils were complete enough to determine the length of the rabbits’ hind feet. Consider the data in the table.

Which conclusion is BEST supported by the data?

• Over time, rabbits that had shorter feet lived longer than rabbits that had longer feet.

• Over time, rabbits that had longer feet lived longer than rabbits that had shorter feet.

• Over time, rabbits that had shorter feet had more offspring than rabbits that had longer feet.

• Over time, rabbits that had longer feet had more offspring than rabbits that had shorter feet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Organisms are classified in three domains:

1. Archaea 2. Bacteria 3. Eukarya

Organisms that live in extremely hot or acidic environments belong to

• 1 only

• 2 only

• 1 and 2 only

• 1,2,and 3

Organisms are classified into three domains:

1. Archaea 2. Bacteria 3. Eukarya

Organisms can reproduce with spores in

• 1 only.

• 3 only.

• 1 and 3.

• 2 and 3.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-2

How are organisms classified as Eukarya different from organisms classified as Archaea and Bacteria?

• They are all multicellular.

• They all reproduce sexually.

• They all produce their own food.

• They all have membrane-bound nuclei.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2