TEST NAME: Fossils
TEST ID: 319782
GRADE: 08
SUBJECT: Life and Physical Sciences
TEST CATEGORY: My Classroom
Fossils
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Student: Class:
Date:
1. Use this geologic profile to answer the following question. Which of the following best describes the fossil at Point 3 when compared with the fossils at Points 1 and 2?
A.
The fossil at Point 3 is less common.
B.
The fossil at Point 3 is smaller.
C.
The fossil at Point 3 is older.
D.
The fossil at Point 3 is more complex.
Fossils
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2. The diagram shows where fossils of two organisms were found in rock layers.
Which conclusion does this diagram best support?
A.
The earthquake that caused the fault most likely killed both organisms because the fossils formed during
the time of the earthquake.
B.
The fault formed while Organism X was living and after Organism Y had died because the fault is located
between the two fossils.
C.
Both organisms lived at the same time because the fossils they formed were found in rock layers of about
the same depth.
D.
Organism Y lived before Organism X because Organism Y was found in an older rock layer.
3.
The rock layers below were dated using the radioactive decay method. Layer
W
X
Y
Z
Age of Layer
50,000 years old
150,000 years old
75,000 years old
20,000 years old
If the layers have been undisturbed, which best represents their
arrangement from bottom to top?
A.
W, X, Y, Z
B.
X, Y, W, Z
C.
Z, W, Y, X
D.
Z, Y, X, W
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4. The geologic map below shows several rock formations exposed when a road is cut through a hillside.
Which formation in this geological map is youngest?
A.
1
B.
2
C.
3
D.
4
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5. A geologist uncovered a fossil while digging in the side of a hill. He hypothesized that it was most likely from
the end of the Paleozoic Era or the beginning of the Mesozoic Era.
How old would the fossil have to be dated in order to support his hypothesis?
A.
100 million years old
B.
225 million years old
C.
400 million years old
D.
550 million years old
6.
By which method have scientists determined that the Earth is about 4.5
billion years old?
A.
plate tectonics
B.
relative dating
C.
radioactive dating
D.
law of superposition
7. Trilobites are extinct animals that lived in the oceans. Fossils of these animals can be found in dry areas
such as Cincinnati. What does this indicate?
A.
Trilobites now live underground.
B.
Trilobites are the ancestors of jellyfish.
C.
Cincinnati was once covered by the ocean where trilobites lived.
D.
The environment changed, creating small saltwater lakes in Cincinnati.
Fossils
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8. Paleontologists construct a model of a dinosaur from its fossil bones and teeth. The fossil bones and teeth
can help the paleontologists to infer all of the following about the dinosaur except
A.
height of the dinosaur.
B.
type of food the dinosaur ate.
C.
length of the dinosaur.
D.
skin color of the dinosaur.
9.
The diagram below shows fossil samples found in four layers of
sedimentary rock. Which can most likely be concluded about the area where the samples
were found?
A.
It is a desert.
B.
It is a mountainous region.
C.
It was once covered by water.
D.
It was formed millions of years ago.
Fossils
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10.
Many fossils of large amphibians were found in an area that is currently
barren desert. Which is most likely true?
A.
The climate of the area was once much wetter than it is now.
B.
Amphibians were once better at surviving in dry environments.
C.
The amphibians migrated there after a catastrophic event destroyed
their habitats.
D.
The amphibians are not native to the area and their bones were
brought there by other animals.
11.
Which best describes the process of igneous rock formation?
A.
Igneous rocks form from the weathering and erosion of other rocks.
B.
Igneous rocks form from the compaction and cementation of
sediments.
C.
Igneous rocks form from the effects of heat and pressure on other
rocks.
D.
Igneous rocks form from the cooling of magma inside the Earth and
the cooling of lava on the surface of the Earth.
12.
Why are index fossils good clues for identifying when rocks were formed?
A.
They are easy to form in rock.
B.
They are difficult to form in rock.
C.
They only existed during specific periods of time.
13. Which characteristic of an extinct organism makes it best suited to be used as an index fossil?
A.
an organism whose fossils show evolutionary change over time
B.
an organism that was common only in specific types of environments
C.
an organism that was commonly fossilized during a specific period of time
D.
an organism whose fossils are found in rocks ranging in age from ancient to recent times
Fossils
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