Animals Through Time Review

Vivian, a paleontologist, just discovered a new fossil! Vivian wants to figure out what the ancient animal was like when it was alive. She decides to compare the arm bones of the mystery fossil with the arm bones of some modern animals. Compare the bones below with the mystery fossil bones. Which of the following claims has the STRONGEST evidence to support it?

• The mystery animal walked on two legs.

• The mystery animal walked on four legs.

• The mystery animal lived in the water.

• The mystery animal flew or glided through the air.

• The mystery animal was a carnivore.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Choose the best explanation for your answer to question 1. Be sure your explanation includes evidence!

• The mystery fossil arm bones look most similar to the arm bones of a bat. So that is the only reason.

• The mystery fossil arm bones look most similar to the arm bones of a bat. Bats can fly, so the similar type of arm bones are evidence that the mystery fossil animal was able to fly. There is no evidence from the arm bones about what the mystery animal ate or how it walked.

• The mystery fossil arm bones look most similar to the arm bones of a bat. Bats hang from the ceilings of caves, so they have to be able to fly.

• The mystery fossil arm bones look most similar to the arm bones of a bat. Bats can only fly at night, but they still have similar arm bones.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Marcus is a paleontologist who is studying the fossils found at three different fossil dig locations. Marcus has discovered 2 clam fossils in a forest habitat. Marcus has found 3 shark tooth fossils, 2 clam fossils, and 1 fish fossil in a grassland habitat. Marcus hasn’t found any fossils in a desert habitat. There are ___ clam fossils, 0 shark tooth fossils and 0 fish fossils found in the FOREST Habitat.

Marcus is a paleontologist who is studying the fossils found at three different fossil dig locations. Marcus has discovered 2 clam fossils in a forest habitat. Marcus has found 3 shark tooth fossils, 2 clam fossils, and 1 fish fossil in a grassland habitat. Marcus hasn’t found any fossils in a desert habitat. There are 2 clam fossils, ___ shark tooth fossils and 1 fish fossils found in the GRASSLAND Habitat.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Marcus is a paleontologist who is studying the fossils found at three different fossil dig locations. Marcus has discovered 2 clam fossils in a forest habitat. Marcus has found 3 shark tooth fossils, 2 clam fossils, and 1 fish fossil in a grassland habitat. Marcus hasn’t found any fossils in a desert habitat. There are 0 clam fossils, 0 shark tooth fossils and ___ fish fossils found in the DESERT Habitat.

Modern sharks, clams, and fish that are alive today usually live in ocean habitats. Marcus thinks that some of the habitats where he is currently finding fossils have changed over time. Which of the following claims has the STRONGEST evidence to support it?

• The desert habitat used to be an ocean.

• The grassland habitat used to be an ocean.

• The forest habitat used to be an ocean.

• Sharks used to walk on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Choose an explanation for your answer to question 6. Be sure to choose an answer with evidence.

• There are fossils of several different kinds of ocean animals in the desert habitat. The number and types of fossils are all evidence that this used to be an ocean. There is no evidence that the grassland used to be an ocean. There is weak evidence that the forest was once an ocean because of the two clam fossils.

• There are fossils of several different kinds of ocean animals in the forest habitat. The number and types of fossils are all evidence that this used to be an ocean. There is no evidence that the grassland used to be an ocean. There is weak evidence that the desert was once an ocean because of the two clam fossils.

• There are fossils of several different kinds of ocean animals in all three habitats. The number and types of fossils are all evidence that this used to be an ocean.

• There are fossils of several different kinds of ocean animals in the grassland habitat. The number and types of fossils are all evidence that this used to be an ocean. There is no evidence that the desert used to be an ocean. There is weak evidence that the forest was once an ocean because of the two clam fossils.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Ricardo was researching an extinct dinosaur called Coelophysis and noticed his own legs are the same exact height as this dinosaur's legs. Scientists have discovered trace fossils of Coelophysis footprints and Ricardo wants to compare his footprints to these fossils. Ricardo walked on the beach and took a photo of his footprints. He also ran on the beach and took a photo of his footprints. Compare the fossil footprints with Ricardo’s footprints. Which of the following claims has the STRONGEST evidence to support it?

• The dinosaur Coelophysis never ran when it was alive.

• The dinosaur Coelophysis was always running when it was alive.

• The dinosaur Coelophysis was probably walking when it stepped in the mud that made the trace fossils.

• The dinosaur Coelophysis was probably running when it stepped in the mud that made the trace fossils.

• Humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Choose the explanation that offers the best reason for your answer to question 8. Make sure your choice is supported with evidence.

• The trace fossils are most similar to Ricardo’s footprints when he was walking. Walking footprints are usually further apart than walking footprints.

• The trace fossils are most similar to Ricardo’s footprints when he was running. Running footprints are usually further apart than walking footprints. This is evidence that Coelophysis was running at some point when it was alive. The last two footprints are closer together. That is evidence that Coelophysis was also walking.

• The trace fossils are most similar to Ricardo’s footprints when he was running.

• The trace fossils are most similar to Ricardo’s footprints when he was walking.