6.4. Construct explanations from geologic evidence (e.g., change or extinction of particular living organisms; field evidence or representations, including models of geologic cross-sections; sedimentary layering) to identify patterns of Earth’s major historical events (e.g., formation of mountain chains and ocean basins, significant volcanic eruptions, fossilization, folding, faulting, igneous intrusion, erosion).

Use the diagram of a geologic cross section below to answer questions #1-2

1. Which rock layer most likely contains the most recently evolved organisms? a. 1 c. 3 b. 2 d. 4

2. Which rock layer represents the oldest rock? a. 1 c. 3 b. 2 d. 4

3. Use the diagram below to answer the question. The diagram shows the fossils in two different sections of rock found on opposite sides of a canyon. Which layer in rock section one is approximately the same age as layer X in rock section 2?

a. Layer 1 b. Layer 2 c. Layer 3 d. Layer 4

4. Which statement is true about undisturbed layers of rocks on the side of a mountain?

a. The rock layers closest to the ground level have more fossils in them. b. The layers of rock closest to the ground level are older than the layers on top. c. The layers of rocks that are the darkest in color are older than those that are lighter. d. The layers of rocks that are lighter in color are older than those that are darker.

5. The diagram below shows four different rock layers in a hillside. What is the best evidence that one of those rock layers was formed under an ocean.

a. The thickness of the layer c. The type of fossils in the layer b. The composition of the rock layer d. The height above sea level of the layer

6. The diagram to the right shows the undisturbed layers of rock found in an area and some of the fossils found in each layer.

Which statement best describes how the environment in the area most likely changed over time?

a. From desert to lake b. From river to lake c. From ocean to desert d. From river to ocean

7. Which cross section below best shows the pattern of mantle convection currents that are believed to cause the formation of the mid-ocean ridge? D.

6.5. Use evidence to explain how different geologic processes shape Earth’s history over widely varying scales of space and time (e.g., chemical and physical erosion; tectonic plate processes; volcanic eruptions; meteor impacts; regional geographical features, including Alabama fault lines, Rickwood Caverns, and Wetumpka Impact Crater). Systems and system models

1. Scientist claim that the area around the Grand Canyon was once covered by an ocean. What evidence would support this claim?

a. Dinosour footprints were found near the Grand Canyon. b. Fish were found living on the rivers of the Grand Canyon. c. Fossils of ocean animals were found at the Grand Canyon. d. Bones from desert animals were found at the Grand Canyon.

2. Evidence suggests that the earth is about 4.6 billion years old, even though no Earth rocks have been found that can be dated at more than 4 million years old. This discrepancy is most likely caused by Earth’s original crust being

a. Difficult to date so precisely. b. Subject to extensive erosion. c. Blasted away during Earth’s formation. d. Destroyed by solar radiation.

3. Which best describes the changes occurring to the Earth’s surface over time? a. New mountains are only formed under the oceans. b. More mountains are gradually formed as the oceans recede. c. Mountains are gradually being word down, but no new ones are formed. d. New mountains are being formed as old mountains are gradually worn down.

6.6. Provide evidence from data of the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to explain past plate motions. Cause and effect

1. Which of the following is the best evidence that Earth’s continents were once in vastly different positions than they are in today? a. Penguins are only found in the southern hemisphere. b. Fossils of tropical plants are found in Antarctica. c. Volcanoes encircle the Pacific Ocean. d. Major rivers form deltas from continental erosion.

2. The diagram to the right is a cross section of a series of rock layers that have been found in all of these landmasses: South America, Africa, India, and Antarctica.

Alfred Wegener’s analysis of the similarities in these layers led to his conclusion that:

a. Continental plates float on top of a molten mantle. b. In undisturbed rock layers, the oldest will be on the bottom. c. These five landmasses were once joined together in a single landmass. d. The magnetic changes are undisturbed in the rocks formed at mid-ocean ridges.

3. The map to the left represents the movement of the Indian plate into the continent of Asia. Scientists believe that 71 million years ago, India was in position A. Which present day geological feature in Nepal resulted from that collision?

a. A rift valley b. A mountain range c. An oceanic ridge d. An ocean trench

6.8. Plan and carry out investigations that demonstrate the chemical and physical processes that form rocks and cycle Earth’s materials (e.g., processes of crystallization, heating and cooling, weathering, deformation, and sedimentation). Systems and system models

1. The table below shows how four different rocks were formed and gives their composition. Granite is one kind of intrusive rock. Which rock described in the table is most likely granite?

a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4

2. The diagram to the right shows how a type of rock is formed over time. This diagram shows the formation of which type of rock?

a. Intrusive Igneous Rock b. Extrusive Igneous Rock c. Metamorphic Rock d. Sedimentary Rock

Use the information from the diagram below to answer questions # 3-6.

3. What processes can change sedimentary rock into metamorphic rock?

a. Melting and uplifting c. melting and pressure b. Heat and pressure d. heating and crystallization

4. What process pushes metamorphic rock to Earth’s surface? a. Burial b. Sedimentation c. Crystallization d. uplift

5. Melting, cooling, and crystallization below the Earth’s surface forms which type of rock? a. Intrusive Igneous Rock c. Metamorphic Rock b. Extrusive Igneous Rock d. Sedimentary Rock

6. What processes are required for igneous or metamorphic rock to become sedimentary rock? a. Deep burial, heat, & pressure b. Melting, cooling, & crystallization c. Uplift, deep burial, & crystallization d. Weathering, erosion, burial, & sedimentation

7. In the 1600’s, Danish scientist Nicholas Steno studied the relative positions of sedimentary rocks. Today, his idea is known as the Law of Superposition. This law is one way to estimate the relative age of sedimentary rocks. The diagram below is a cross section of sedimentary rocks from Michigan.

How could the Law of Superposition be applied correctly to this cross section?

a. The sedimentary layer in the cross section is 5,200 years old. b. The youngest sedimentary rock layer was deposited by glaciers. c. The layers in this cross section are all igneous, so the law does not apply. d. The youngest sedimentary layer can be found at the very bottom of this cross section.

8. Julian was designing an investigation on the formation of the different types of rocks using candies. Which of the following processes demonstrate chemical weathering of the candies?

a. Julian melted the candies and allowed them to cool and harden. b. Julian pressed the tiny candy fragments into one large candy mass. c. Julian placed a handful of candies in a shallow dish of warm water. d. Julian used a piece of sandpaper to scratch off the surface of the candy into tiny particles.

6.9. Use models to explain how the flow of Earth’s internal energy drives a cycling of matter between Earth’s surface and deep interior causing plate movements (e.g., mid-ocean ridges, ocean trenches, volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, rift valleys, volcanic islands). Energy & matter

Use the table below to answer questions 1-4.

Type of Earthquake How does the seismic wave Where does the seismic wave travel? Wave move? a. Through the solid and liquid a. Push and pull layers of the earth b. Side to side b. Through the solid layers of the c. Both earth c. neither P wave 1.A 3.A S wave 2.B 4.B

5. The diagram below shows a cross section of the mid-Atlantic Ridge. Which area is likely to have the oldest crust?

a. 1 c. 3 b. 2 d. 4

Use the diagram below to answer the questions #6-8.

Y

6. Identify the land feature found at the Y position in the diagram. a. Mid-ocean ridge c. Sea Floor Spreading b. Subduction zone d. Rift Valley

7. Identify the plate boundary depicted in the image. a. Divergent c. Transform b. Convergent d. Horizontal

8. Identify the most likely landform to emerge at the X position in the diagram.

a. Mountains d. Volcanoes b. Seamounts d. Mid-ocean ridge

Use the diagram below to answer questions # 9-12.

A.

B.

C.

D.

9. Identify the boundary at A. a. Convergent c. transform b. Divergent d. Strike Slip

10. Identify the boundary at B. a. Convergent c. transform b. Divergent d. Strike Slip

11. Identify the physical layer of the earth illustrated at C. a. Lithosphere c. Asthenosphere b. Mesosphere d. Core

12. Identify the physical layer of the earth illustrated at D. a. Lithosphere c. Asthenosphere b. Mesosphere d. Core

6.10. Use research-based evidence to propose a scientific explanation regarding how the distribution of Earth’s resources such as minerals, fossil fuels, and groundwater are the result of ongoing geoscience processes (e.g., past volcanic and hydrothermal activity, burial of organic sediments, active weathering of rock). Cause and effect

1. Coal is usually found underground, compressed in a layer between other types of rock. Coal is produced by what rock forming process?

a. Crystallization from melted rock. b. Formation of sediment from weathering. c. Deposition and burial of dead plant matter. d. Eruption of volcanic ash followed by settling in a layer.

Use the diagram of Iceland below to answer questions #2-4.

2. The data in the diagram best supports which of the following claims? a. Iceland is slowly decreasing in general size. b. Iceland was once part of one large global landmass. c. Iceland was formed from the convergent boundary between two oceanic plates. d. Iceland was formed from the divergent boundary between two oceanic plates.

3. Which point on the diagram represents the youngest rock? a. Point a b. Point b c. Point c d. Point d

4. Which of the following statements is not supported by the data in the diagram? a. Iceland is gradually decreasing in size. b. Iceland is part of the mid-Atlantic Ridge. c. Iceland is formed form seafloor spreading. d. Iceland is made from primarily igneous rock.

5. Where do fossil fuels come from? a. Deep within the ground b. The lithosphere c. From the remains of dead plants and animals that lived long ago d. From the remains of carbon rich organisms e. All of the above

6.11. Develop and use models of Earth’s interior composition to illustrate the resulting magnetic field (e.g., magnetic poles) and to explain its measureable effects (e.g., protection from cosmic radiation). Cause and effect

1. Which of the following graphs best the relationship between temperature and depth of Earth’s interior? B

2. Which of the following graph’s best represents the relationship between density and depth of the material below Earth’s surface? D.

3. The diagram below shows four layers of Earth. Each layer is represented by a number. Which layer is composed of primarily liquid iron and nickel?

a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4

4. In the diagram below of Earth’s physical layers, which letter represents the asthenosphere? C.

5. A geologist checks her seismometer for activity after an earthquake that occurs on the other side of Earth. The instrument records P-waves, but not S-waves. Which statement explains why S-waves were not recorded. a. Seismometers do not record evidence of S-waves. b. S-waves travel in a different direction than P-waves c. The earthquake was not strong enough to produce S-waves. d. The S-waves were stopped by a liquid interior layer.