The Changing Earth

Front

What type of fossil is formed as a result of the movement of an organism in soft sediment? Options: bone fossil, trace fossil, frozen fossil, petrified fossil

Back

trace fossil

Front

Imagine that you found this fossil on a mountaintop. What could you conclude from your discovery?

Back

The rocks on this mountaintop were once at the bottom of an ocean.

Front

A fossil of an ancient seashell is found in the Rocky Mountains. What living organism would you expect to find in that region now?

Back

grizzly bear

Front

What could you do to determine if two separate areas were once part of a single landmass? Options: compare the types of fossils found in the two areas, compare the types of living things found in the two areas, analyze the ages of trees in the two areas, calculate the number of different fossils found in the two areas

Back

compare the types of fossils found in the two areas

Front

What could you infer about the ancient climate of your area if you found a fossil of a tropical fern in a cool and dry climate?

Back

The area was once humid and warm.

Front

Which of these choices is an example of the way a geologist would use relative dating? Options: determining the minerals that make up rocks, placing rock layers in order of oldest to youngest, classifying rocks as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic, using radioactive isotopes to determine the exact ages of rock samples

Back

placing rock layers in order of oldest to youngest

Front

Which property of fossils allows scientists to determine the relative ages of rock layers? Options: Fossils form from the remains of living organisms., Fossils are usually found only in sedimentary rock., Fossils show how organisms change over time., Fossils can be analyzed to determine their exact ages.

Back

Fossils are usually found only in sedimentary rock.

Front

How does the fossil record change over time?

Back

Organisms have become more complex throughout Earth's history.

Front

How can ammonites, an example of an index fossil found in sedimentary rock between two layers of igneous rock, be dated using absolute dating methods?

Back

radiometric dating of the igneous layers

Front

What will Voyager's absolute dating method help her learn about the basalt sample?

Back

the age of the sample