D1 Practice

How do scientists use relative and absolute ages of rock layers to estimate the ages of fossils?

• By comparing them to modern organisms.

• By measuring the depth of the rock layers.

• By using the position and actual age in years.

• By analyzing the color of the rock layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Organisms with more complex body plans are more likely to be found in which type of rock layers?

• Older

• Younger

• Both older and younger

• Neither older nor younger

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The observation of organisms with complex body plans supports which general pattern of complexity in fossilized organisms?

• Increasing

• Decreasing

• Staying the same

• Fluctuating

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Based on the graph, what happens to biodiversity during a mass extinction event?

• Increases

• Decreases

• Stays the same

• Fluctuates randomly

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What do scientists use the fossil record to identify?

• Patterns of change in life on Earth

• Weather patterns

• Ocean currents

• Mountain formations

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the following observations provide evidence of evolutionary relatedness among organisms? Select all that apply.

• similarities in body structures

• similarities in molecular structures

• similarities in embryological development

• similarities in the foods that organisms eat

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

Most fossil evidence of flowering plants is limited to grains of pollen. Why might it be rare for a complete plant fossil, such as this one, to form? Select all that apply.

• There were not many plants 50 million years ago.

• Wind or water can carry soft plant parts away before they fossilize.

• Dry environments cause plants to decay too slowly to fossilize.

• Flower parts are delicate and rarely experience the conditions needed to fossilize.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The red circle on the dolphin embryo identifies the beginning of a hind leg structure. This structure is an example of a similarity between dolphins and other mammals that is evident/not evident in the fully formed organisms. Which is correct?

• evident

• not evident

• partially evident

• always evident

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

What does the presence of similar structures in embryos of different species suggest about their evolutionary history?

• They have identical DNA

• They are unrelated

• They evolved independently

• They have a common ancestor

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

Which factor is most likely to cause a sudden decrease in biodiversity as seen in the fossil record?

• Increase in food supply

• Gradual climate change

• Mass extinction event

• Slow geological processes

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1