Analyze Fossil and Rock Distribution - Middle School Earth and Space Science
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What do matching glacial scratches and till deposits on multiple continents indicate?
What do matching glacial scratches and till deposits on multiple continents indicate?
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Continents were once joined and located near a polar region. Glaciers leave distinctive marks that can be traced across now-separated landmasses.
Continents were once joined and located near a polar region. Glaciers leave distinctive marks that can be traced across now-separated landmasses.
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What does a continuous mountain belt with matching rock types across continents indicate?
What does a continuous mountain belt with matching rock types across continents indicate?
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The mountain belt formed before continental separation. Mountains form from compression, then plates drift apart.
The mountain belt formed before continental separation. Mountains form from compression, then plates drift apart.
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What is an index fossil used for when comparing rock layers between continents?
What is an index fossil used for when comparing rock layers between continents?
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Matching relative ages of rock layers. Index fossils lived briefly, marking specific time periods.
Matching relative ages of rock layers. Index fossils lived briefly, marking specific time periods.
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Which plate boundary is most consistent with continents drifting apart over time?
Which plate boundary is most consistent with continents drifting apart over time?
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Divergent boundary. Plates move apart at divergent boundaries, separating continents.
Divergent boundary. Plates move apart at divergent boundaries, separating continents.
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Which plate boundary is most consistent with two continents colliding to form mountains?
Which plate boundary is most consistent with two continents colliding to form mountains?
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Convergent boundary. Plates collide at convergent boundaries, building mountains.
Convergent boundary. Plates collide at convergent boundaries, building mountains.
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Identify the best conclusion if identical freshwater reptile fossils are found in South America and Africa.
Identify the best conclusion if identical freshwater reptile fossils are found in South America and Africa.
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South America and Africa were once connected. Freshwater reptiles can't cross oceans, proving land bridge.
South America and Africa were once connected. Freshwater reptiles can't cross oceans, proving land bridge.
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Identify the past movement if matching rock layers are found on coasts that face each other across an ocean.
Identify the past movement if matching rock layers are found on coasts that face each other across an ocean.
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The plates moved apart after the rocks formed. Matching layers were deposited together, then split by rifting.
The plates moved apart after the rocks formed. Matching layers were deposited together, then split by rifting.
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Which option best supports past connection: same fossil species on separated continents or different fossils of the same age?
Which option best supports past connection: same fossil species on separated continents or different fossils of the same age?
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Same fossil species on separated continents. Same species requires connection; same age doesn't.
Same fossil species on separated continents. Same species requires connection; same age doesn't.
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Identify the best inference if a mountain belt in Continent A aligns with one in Continent B when the continents are fitted together.
Identify the best inference if a mountain belt in Continent A aligns with one in Continent B when the continents are fitted together.
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The continents were once joined and later separated. Aligned belts show continuous formation before separation.
The continents were once joined and later separated. Aligned belts show continuous formation before separation.
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Which conclusion is most reasonable if the same land-plant fossil is found on two continents now separated by deep ocean?
Which conclusion is most reasonable if the same land-plant fossil is found on two continents now separated by deep ocean?
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The continents were once connected by land. Land plants can't disperse across deep oceans naturally.
The continents were once connected by land. Land plants can't disperse across deep oceans naturally.
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Identify the plate motion if older continental rocks are on both sides of an ocean but the ocean floor between them is younger.
Identify the plate motion if older continental rocks are on both sides of an ocean but the ocean floor between them is younger.
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Seafloor spreading at a divergent boundary. New ocean crust forms as continents drift apart.
Seafloor spreading at a divergent boundary. New ocean crust forms as continents drift apart.
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Which observation best indicates past collision rather than separation: matching mountain belts or matching shoreline shapes alone?
Which observation best indicates past collision rather than separation: matching mountain belts or matching shoreline shapes alone?
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Matching mountain belts. Mountains form from collision; shapes can match by chance.
Matching mountain belts. Mountains form from collision; shapes can match by chance.
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Identify the best inference if identical fossils occur in the same sequence of rock layers on two continents.
Identify the best inference if identical fossils occur in the same sequence of rock layers on two continents.
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The rock layers were once continuous across the continents. Same sequence proves continuous deposition before separation.
The rock layers were once continuous across the continents. Same sequence proves continuous deposition before separation.
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Which data set is most convincing for past plate connection: fossils only, rocks only, or both fossils and matching rock layers?
Which data set is most convincing for past plate connection: fossils only, rocks only, or both fossils and matching rock layers?
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Both fossils and matching rock layers. Multiple evidence types strengthen the connection hypothesis.
Both fossils and matching rock layers. Multiple evidence types strengthen the connection hypothesis.
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What is the key plate-tectonic idea supported by matching fossils on separate continents?
What is the key plate-tectonic idea supported by matching fossils on separate continents?
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Continents were once connected and later moved apart. Land organisms couldn't cross oceans, proving physical connection.
Continents were once connected and later moved apart. Land organisms couldn't cross oceans, proving physical connection.
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What is the key plate-tectonic idea supported by matching rock layers across an ocean?
What is the key plate-tectonic idea supported by matching rock layers across an ocean?
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Rock formed together before plates separated. Same layers indicate continuous deposition before separation.
Rock formed together before plates separated. Same layers indicate continuous deposition before separation.
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Which fossil evidence most strongly indicates continents were once joined: identical land fossils on both sides of an ocean or identical marine fossils?
Which fossil evidence most strongly indicates continents were once joined: identical land fossils on both sides of an ocean or identical marine fossils?
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Identical land fossils on both sides of an ocean. Land organisms can't cross oceans; marine organisms can.
Identical land fossils on both sides of an ocean. Land organisms can't cross oceans; marine organisms can.
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What does the same fossil species and same rock age on two continents indicate about past plate positions?
What does the same fossil species and same rock age on two continents indicate about past plate positions?
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The continents were once adjacent. Same age and species require physical proximity during life.
The continents were once adjacent. Same age and species require physical proximity during life.
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What is the term for using fossils to correlate the ages of rock layers in different locations?
What is the term for using fossils to correlate the ages of rock layers in different locations?
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Fossil correlation. Uses fossils to determine relative ages across locations.
Fossil correlation. Uses fossils to determine relative ages across locations.
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Which plate-motion conclusion fits rock layers that align when continents are fit together like a puzzle?
Which plate-motion conclusion fits rock layers that align when continents are fit together like a puzzle?
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Continental drift moved the plates after the layers formed. Aligned layers indicate the continents separated after rock formation.
Continental drift moved the plates after the layers formed. Aligned layers indicate the continents separated after rock formation.
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Identify the plate motion: matching fossils appear on both sides of an ocean that is widening today.
Identify the plate motion: matching fossils appear on both sides of an ocean that is widening today.
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Divergence (plates moved apart). Widening oceans with matching fossils indicate plates spreading from a mid-ocean ridge.
Divergence (plates moved apart). Widening oceans with matching fossils indicate plates spreading from a mid-ocean ridge.
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Identify the plate motion: matching rock layers are offset along a long fault zone on land.
Identify the plate motion: matching rock layers are offset along a long fault zone on land.
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Transform motion (lateral sliding). Offset matching layers indicate horizontal movement along a fault boundary.
Transform motion (lateral sliding). Offset matching layers indicate horizontal movement along a fault boundary.
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Which option best supports past connection: same-aged granite in both places or different-aged granite?
Which option best supports past connection: same-aged granite in both places or different-aged granite?
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Same-aged granite. Identical ages indicate formation from the same magma source when connected.
Same-aged granite. Identical ages indicate formation from the same magma source when connected.
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What does it mean if two separated continents share the same sequence of rock layers in the same order?
What does it mean if two separated continents share the same sequence of rock layers in the same order?
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They were once part of the same continuous geologic region. Identical sequences indicate deposition in the same basin before separation.
They were once part of the same continuous geologic region. Identical sequences indicate deposition in the same basin before separation.
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Identify the best conclusion: identical freshwater fossils occur on two continents now separated by ocean.
Identify the best conclusion: identical freshwater fossils occur on two continents now separated by ocean.
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The continents were once connected. Freshwater species can't survive ocean crossings, proving past land connection.
The continents were once connected. Freshwater species can't survive ocean crossings, proving past land connection.
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