Download Earth`s History Pre and Post Test

TEST NAME: Earth's History
TEST ID: 515777
GRADE: 08
SUBJECT: Life and Physical Sciences
TEST CATEGORY: My Classroom
Earth's History
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Student: Class:
Date:
1.
What is the best description for how trace fossils are different from
fossils of an organism’s remains?
A.
Trace fossils are fossilized tracks and other evidences of an
organism’s activity.
B.
Trace fossils are fossilized waste of an animal.
C.
Trace fossils are parts of the original organism.
2. Which of these provides the best evidence that an environmental change has occurred?
A.
a freshwater lake in the mountains
B.
marine fossils in a freshwater lake
C.
saltwater clams in the ocean
D.
a sandy beach next to the ocean
3.
An undisturbed rock geologic column has a fossil of a reptile species in
the lowest rock layer, an index fossil that was present 1 million years ago
in the middle rock layer, and a fossil of a clam species in the topmost
rock layer. Which conclusion is most likely correct?
A.
The clam species is older than one million years old.
B.
The reptile species is older than one million years old.
C.
The index fossil is older than the reptile species fossil.
D.
The clam species fossil is older than the reptile species fossil.
4. The ichthyornis was a type of bird that lived over 65 million years ago. It lived near the sea and hunted for fish
over the water. Fossils have been found in Kansas, many miles from the present­day ocean. Which cause of
extinction is most likely to be found in the fossil record along with ichthyornis fossils?
A.
changes in the environment
B.
diseases causing illness
C.
changes in the weather
D.
predator animals
Earth's History
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5.
What type of rock most likely contains index fossils?
A.
metamorphic
B.
sedimentary
C.
intrusive igneous
D.
extrusive igneous
6.
What evidence do fossils provide geologists about the history of the
Earth?
A.
Living things have remained the same over time.
B.
Environmental conditions have changed over time.
C.
The amount of water on Earth has changed over time.
D.
Environmental conditions have remained the same over time.
7.
Which country would be most likely to provide ice cores that could be
used to provide evidence for climate change?
A.
Greenland
B.
Italy
C.
Peru
8. A fossil discovered in Colorado dates from the early Mesozoic Era. A year later a similar fossil is found in
Wyoming that also dates from the early Mesozoic Era. These two organisms most likely lived in
A.
the same environment at about the same time.
B.
the same environment at different times.
C.
different environments at about the same time.
D.
different environments at different times.
9.
In a rock cliff, the rock layers run straight across and then jump up a foot
and then run straight across again. What could have most likely caused
this?
A.
deposition
B.
erosion
C.
fault
Earth's History
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10.
Which is the best example of an index fossil?
A.
corals found in rock layers worldwide
B.
dinosaur bones found only in Australia
C.
footprints of different types of dinosaurs
D.
casts of bird feathers found in all layers of rock in an area
11.
Which part of Earth’s history is best shown by analysis of ice cores?
A.
changes in climate
B.
changes in plant growth
C.
changes in the amounts of precipitation
D.
changes in the formation of rock layers
12. Fossils of the fern Glossopteris have been found in the continents of South America, Africa, Asia, and
Antarctica. The seeds of this fern were too small to be dispersed by wind. Which is best indicated by the
presence of Glossopteris fossils on these continents?
A.
Glossopteris was versatile enough to adapt to all climates.
B.
The landmasses were joined together in pre­historic times.
C.
Fossils were much better preserved in the southern continents.
D.
The northern climate regions were not suitable for plant growth.
13. A road cut shows a layer of shale on top of a layer of limestone. This indicates
A.
the shale layer is older than the limestone layer.
B.
a fault occurred during the deposition of the layers.
C.
the environment changed between the times of deposition.
D.
volcanic activity occurred when these layers were deposited.
14. The diagram represents fossils found in sedimentary rocks.
Fossils in Sedimentary Layers
Fossil Age
Fossil Name
Fossil Description
12 thousand years
Mammoth
long­haired mammal, terrestrial 220 million years
Archaeopteryx
reptile­like bird, terrestrial
480 million years
Isotelus
insect­like arthropod, marine
Describe the environment in which the mammoth most likely lived. Describe how the climate most likely changed between 220 million and 12 thousand years ago. Explain the most likely effect of the climate change on the environment. Explain what most likely happened to the archaeopteryx as a result of the change in climate.
Earth's History
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15. 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
Earth's History
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