Fossil Records

True or False: Evidence from the fossil record shows that species change gradually over time.

• True

• False

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

How do most fossils form?

• An insect becomes trapped in amber.

• An entire organism becomes frozen in ice.

• A dead organism becomes buried in sediment.

• A dead organism becomes buried in tar.

What evidence is most important when using relative dating?

• the half-life of a radioactive element

• the position of sediment in petrified rock

• the types of minerals in a petrified fossil

• the position of fossils in sedimentary rock layers

How do scientists determine the actual age of fossils?

• relative dating

• sedimentary dating

• radioactive dating

• mold and cast dating

Scientists have collected millions of fossils of different organisms, and have developed a timeline of life on Earth. What do we call this?

• Mutation

• Natural Selection

• The theory of evolution

• Fossil Record

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The fossil record provides evidence that 

• Fossils cannot be dated.

• All species were formed during Earth’s formation and have changed little since then.

• The fossilized species have no connection to today’s species.

• Older species gave rise to more-recent species.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Layered fossils create a historical sequence (timeline) is known as ____________.

• Natural Selection

• Evolution

• Fossil Record

• Extinction

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

This diagram of the fossil record represents changes in mollusks over millions of years. How can the pattern of change in the fossil record best be explained?

• There was a period of sudden change followed by stasis.

• There was a period of stasis followed by rapid decline.

• There was a long period of sudden change.

• There was no period of change.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

How does the fossil record help to support the theory of evolution?

• the fossil record shows that organisms slowly change over time

• The fossil record shows that species evolve very quickly

• The fossil record does not support the theory of evolution

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What can scientists learn from studying the relationships between fossils?

• how old all rock layers are

• how life changed over time

• how many relatives fossils had

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1