Fossil Records

Which of the follow is INCORRECT about an index fossil?

• The fossil must have lived only during a short part of the Earth's history.

• Many fossils of the organism must be found in the rock layers.

• The fossil must be found over a wide area of the Earth and be unique.

• The fossil must only be found in one area.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Simple fossils are found in older and younger rock layers while complex fossils are not found in the oldest layers. This shows

• Life started out as simple organisms and evolved to include more complex organisms over time.

• Life started out with complex organisms. This is shown in the rock layers.

• There are no fossils in the older layers, deep in the Earth's crust.

• Nobody knows why complex fossils aren't in the rock layers.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The remains of living plants or animals are called fossils.

• true

• false

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The principle of superposition can be used to determine.

• the actual age of these rock layers

• the relative densities of these rock layers

• the actual temperatures of these rock layers

• the relative age of these rock layers

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

When an organism disappears from the fossil record we know it went __________________.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Maya and David found a fossil while on a field trip. They believe it's an index fossil and can help them determine the relative age of the rock layers in the area. Is this true?

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

During a summer vacation, Lily found an index fossil in a layer of rock in Montana. Later that year, Henry found a similar fossil in a layer of rock in Texas while on a school trip. From this, they could conclude that:

• The index fossil is a plant fossil.

• The layers of rock in Montana and Texas where Lily and Henry found the fossils are of the same age.

• The index fossil is not a reliable indicator of age.

• The layers of rock in Montana and Texas are different ages.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Emma, Anika, and James are studying geology and they come across a diagram of rock layers. They are trying to figure out which rock layer seems to be the oldest. Can you help them? (a)  

• F

• E

• B

• A

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

In a science class, Ava, Abigail, and Harper were examining a rock formation. According to the law of superposition, which layer of the rock formation would be the youngest?

• The top layer

• The middle layer

• The bottom layer

• None

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Rohan found a fossil while on a field trip and Emma found a rock in her backyard. They both want to know the age of their finds. How does the absolute age of Rohan's fossil differ from the relative age of Emma's rock?

• Absolute age is the age of Rohan's fossil that can be estimated but not determined exactly.

• Relative age is the age of Emma's rock that can be determined exactly.

• Absolute age is the age of Rohan's fossil that can be determined by comparing it to other rocks or fossils that Charlotte found.

• Absolute age is the exact age of Rohan's fossil, while relative age is the age of Emma's rock relative to other rocks or fossils that Charlotte found.