Multiple Choice
Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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1.
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Comparing the
skeletons of which of the following fish would best reveal any structural changes in the species over
time?
a. | Two living fish, male and female, that could produce viable
offspring. | b. | The same fish just before it received a cut and after it healed. | c. | A fish that lived
recently and a similar fish that lived thousands of years ago. | d. | The same fish just
after it hatched and when it was full grown. |
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2.
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Three sedimentary layers were exposed in a rock quarry. The sandstone layer at
the bottom contained fossils of three different types of dinosaurs. The layer above it contained
mainly volcanic ash. The top layer of shale contained fossils of only one type of dinosaur.
Which of the
following interpretations of this fossil record is the most logical?a. | This fossil record shows that dinosaur species were abundant in the Jurassic period,
but only a few species survived into the Triassic period. | b. | This sedimentary
rock displays tectonic uplift which formed a shallow ocean resulting in the extinction of two out of
three dinosaur species. | c. | Excessive predation by carnivores caused the
population of herbivores to crash which resulted in extinction of two species of
dinosaurs. | d. | A volcanic eruption caused the extinction of two dinosaur species. Only smaller
variants of the third species survived but this variant prospered in the post-volcano
environment. |
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3.
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A paleontologist was digging for fossils at several cliff faces in Colorado. As
she excavated deeper down the geologic column, she noticed that the fossils looked different.
Fossils in the Geologic Column | | | | |
What did she
most likely observe regarding structure and function as she went down the cliff face?a. | Simpler and less complex organisms were found closer to the surface in younger
rock. | b. | There were no patterns concerning how fossils were deposited in the rock layers.
| c. | More complex organisms were found only in the older rock layers. | d. | Simpler and less
complex organisms were found at deeper depths in older rock. |
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4.
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This diagram shows layers of rocks that contain
fossils | | |
Two-Part Question
1) How can you
determine that fossil 6 and fossil 4 are similar in age?
2) What kind of environment did these
organisms live in?a. | 1) Fossils 4 and 6 are the same species.
2) These organisms lived in a deciduous
forest biome. | b. | 1) Fossils 6 and 4 are both sea shells, so they must have lived at the same
time.
2) These fossils most likely lived in a marine environment. | c. | 1) Fossils 4 and 6
are in the same layer of sedimentary rock.
2) These organisms lived in an aquatic
environment. | d. | 1) Fossils 1 and 2 are in the same layer of sedimentary rock.
2) These organisms
most likely lived in a grassland area. |
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5.
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Examine structure and function in these fossils.
| Fossils in Layers of
Sedimentary Rock | | |
The fossil evidence found in these
sedimentary layers reveals that...?
a. | land and marine animals evolved together millions of years ago in the same time
period | b. | vertebrate organisms (backbones) developed after invertebrates (without
backbones) | c. | carnivores evolved from omnivores and herbivores during the Cretaceous
period. | d. | organisms with exoskeletons caused the extinction of organisms with
endoskeletons |
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6.
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Geologic Column
(Sedimentary
Rock) | Index
Fossil
Trilobite | | | | |
At layer F there is an
index fossil called a trilobite which thrived in the Cambrian period. Which choice best
explains why no trilobite fossils are in any strata above layer F?a. | Due to mutations, trilobites changed their body structure so that they looked
different. | b. | The environment changed resulting in the extinction of the
trilobites. | c. | This fossil record does include additional trilobites with structural
adaptations. | d. | An asteroid impact caused the trilobites to migrate to a different
region. |
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7.
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Horse Fossils
Past to Present | | |
Fossil evidence suggests that horse’s physical structure began
changing around 55 million years ago. Fossils of forest plants have been found near the first horse
fossils, but mainly grassland fossils are found near later horse fossils. Which statement is
the most logical conclusion based on this fossil evidence?a. | Body size in horses increased in response to environmental
changes | b. | Body size in horses remained unchanged because its environment stayed the
same. | c. | Leg length in horses did not change. Only skull sizes increased. | d. | Modern horses are
not structurally similar to ancient horses. |
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8.
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Examine the fossils shown below. These were found in Oklahoma, and were
determined to be from the Mesozoic Era and the following Cenozoic Era. Based on this fossil record, what
conclusions can you draw about this region?a. | Marine fossils show that an ocean once covered this area, and terrestrial fossils
show that uplifting occurred which resulted in the return of land animals. | b. | The fossils show
that both sea creatures and land animals existed at the same time in this region. | c. | Based on this fossil
record, we can conclude that marine organisms were driven to extinction by terrestrial invaders which
took over the aquatic environment. | d. | Comparing the structure of the Mesozoic Era
fossils with the structure of the Cenozoic Era fossils reveals that these marine organisms evolved to
become land organisms. |
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Multiple Response
Identify one
or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.
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9.
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Examine structure and function in these fossils, and think about the
environments they lived in.
Based upon your analysis of this
fossil record, determine which answer or answers below are best supported by this diagram.
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10.
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What can we discover about ancient life by studying sedimentary
rocks?
(Choose all that apply)
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