Name: ________________________ Class: ___________________ Date: __________ ID: A

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8th Grade Earth's Biological History (8Sb)
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Trilobite fossils from different time periods
show small changes in appearance. These
observations suggest that the changes
may be the result of
a. the gradual disintegration of radioactive
substances
b. evolutionary development
c. a variety of geological processes
d. periods of destruction of the geological
record
2. Which of the following is REQUIRED for
the process of natural selection to occur?
a. Numerous species must have recently
become extinct.
b. A food source must disappear.
c. There must be a sudden environmental
change.
d. Traits must be inherited from one
generation to the next.
3. The term "fossil" can refer to which of the
following?
a. A bone in which the original matter has
been replaced by rock but not an
impression left by a bone in rock
b. An impression left by bone in rock but
not a bone in which the original matter
has been replaced by rock
c. Both a bone in which the original matter
has been replaced by rock and an
impression left by a bone in rock
d. Neither an impression left by a bone in
rock nor a bone in which the original
matter has been replaced by rock
4. Eras of the Standard Geologic Time Scale
are subdivided into:
a. Eons
b. Epochs
c. Ages
d. None of these
5. Which of the following is TRUE about how
changes can happen to the physical
environment of earth?
a. Changes can happen suddenly or
gradually.
b. Changes can happen suddenly but not
gradually.
c. Changes can happen gradually but not
suddenly.
d. Changes can happen neither gradually
nor suddenly because the environment
does not change.
Name: ________________________ ID: A
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6. What is TRUE about environmental
conditions on earth?
a. Environmental conditions on earth have
always been the same, except for
minor changes from year to year.
b. Environmental conditions on earth have
always been the same, except for
minor changes from year to year.
c. Environmental conditions on earth
stayed the same in the past, but they
are changing now.
d. Environmental conditions on earth
changed in the past, and they are
changing now.
7. Fossils of two trilobite species from
different geologic periods are illustrated
below
A comparison of these fossils provides
evidence that these species may have
a. undergone metamorphism
b. experienced weathering and erosion
c. experienced identical lifespans
d. undergone evolutionary development
8. Which of the following events could have
contributed to the late Paleozoic
Extinction?
a. ncreased volcanic activity
b. climate chang
c. meteorite impact
d. all of the above
9. An unusual type of fossil clam is found in
rock layers high in the Swiss Alps. The
same
type of fossil clam is also found in the
Rocky Mountains of North America. From
this,
scientists conclude that
____________________.
a. glaciers carried the fossils up the
mountains
b. the Rocky Mountains and the Swiss
Alps are both volcanic in origin
c. clams once lived in mountains, but
have since evolved into sea-dwelling
creatures
d. the layers of rocks in which the fossils
were found are from the same geologic
age
Name: ________________________ ID: A
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10. According to the figure, what marked the end of the Mesozoic Era?
a. the extinction of many marine invertebrates
b. the extinction of the dinosaurs
c. the building of the Appalachians ends
d. mammals are abundant
Name: ________________________ ID: A
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11. What is the longest division of time in the
geologic time scale?
a. an epoch
b. a period
c. an era
d. an eon
12. Which of the following matches an event in the
history of life with the correct geologic era? (see
book section
a. first mammals: Precambrian
b. ppearance of humans: Mesozoic
c. movement of plants and animals onto land:
Paleozoic
d. dominance of dinosaurs: Cenozoic
13. Several fossils were uncovered in different
layers of rock in a desert area. The
following diagram indicates the age of the
layers of rock and the fossils found in
each.

Based on the fossils found, this area was
most likely once a
a. lake that was replaced by a forest.
b. forest that was replaced by a sea.
c. a rainforest that was replaced by a
forest.
d. forest that was replaced by a
grassland.
14. The boundaries between _______ seem to
coincide with major changes in the life
forms present on Earth
a. Precambrian
b. systems
c. eras
d. epochs
15. In order to be considered a useful index
fossil, an organism must have lived for a
a. short period of time in a wide
geographical region.
b. short period of time in a narrow
geographical region.
c. long period of time in a wide
geographical region.
d. long period of time in a narrow
geographical region.
16. In order to determine the relative age of
fossil, scientists may use a type of fossil
known as a(n)
a. index fossil.
b. radioactive fossil.
c. relative fossil.
d. absolute fossil.
17. Trilobite fossils from different time periods
show small changes in appearance. These
observations suggest that the changes
may be the result of
a. the gradual disintegration of radioactive
substances
b. evolutionary development
c. a variety of geological processes
d. periods of destruction of the geological
record
Name: ________________________ ID: A
5
18. Fossils of two trilobite species from
different geologic periods are illustrated
below
A comparison of these fossils provides
evidence that these species may have
a. undergone metamorphism
b. experienced weathering and erosion
c. experienced identical lifespans
d. undergone evolutionary development
19. Which of the following is currently
considered the leading cause of
extinction?
a. overexploitation of species
b. pollution
c. habitat loss
d. competition from introduced species
20. Which of the choices below corrects the
following statement: Dinosaurs didn't know
how to adapt to climate changes so they
became extinct.
a. It should read: Dinosaurs were too busy
eating each other to adapt so they
became extinct.
b. It should read: Dinosaurs evolved into
birds so they would not become extinct.
c. It should read: Dinosaurs had to
become extinct so mammals could
evolve.
d. It should read: No dinosaurs possessed
adaptations that allow them to survive
new climate conditions so they became
extinct.
21. Which one is not a probable cause of
extinction of species?
a. habitat alteration
b. overhunting
c. introduction of alien species
d. creation of wilderness areas
ID: A
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8th Grade Earth's Biological History (8Sb)
Answer Section
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. ANS: B PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.1: Explain how biological adaptations of populations enhance their survival in a particular
environment.
2. ANS: D PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.1: Explain how biological adaptations of populations enhance their survival in a particular
environment.
3. ANS: C PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.2: Summarize how scientists study Earth's past environment and diverse life-forms by examining
different types of fossils (including molds, casts, petrified fossils, preserved and carbonized remains of plants and
animals, and trace fossils).
4. ANS: D PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.4: Recognize the relationship among the units-era, epoch, and period-into which the geologic time
scale is divided.
5. ANS: A PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.3: Explain how Earth's history has been influenced by catastrophes (including the impact of an asteroid
or comet, climatic changes, and volcanic activity) that have affected the conditions on Earth and the diversity of its
life-forms.
6. ANS: D PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.3: Explain how Earth's history has been influenced by catastrophes (including the impact of an asteroid
or comet, climatic changes, and volcanic activity) that have affected the conditions on Earth and the diversity of its
life-forms.
7. ANS: D PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.1: Explain how biological adaptations of populations enhance their survival in a particular
environment.
8. ANS: D PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.3: Explain how Earth's history has been influenced by catastrophes (including the impact of an asteroid
or comet, climatic changes, and volcanic activity) that have affected the conditions on Earth and the diversity of its
life-forms.
ID: A
2
9. ANS: D PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.2: Summarize how scientists study Earth's past environment and diverse life-forms by examining
different types of fossils (including molds, casts, petrified fossils, preserved and carbonized remains of plants and
animals, and trace fossils).
10. ANS: B PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.4: Recognize the relationship among the units-era, epoch, and period-into which the geologic time
scale is divided.
11. ANS: A PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.4: Recognize the relationship among the units-era, epoch, and period-into which the geologic time
scale is divided.
12. ANS: C PTS: 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.5: Illustrate the vast diversity of life that has been present on Earth over time by using the geologic
time scale.
13. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: DOK 2
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.6: Infer the relative age of rocks and fossils from index fossils and the ordering of the rock layers.
14. ANS: C PTS: 1
LOC: 8Sb.4: Recognize the relationship among the units-era, epoch, and period-into which the geologic time
scale is divided.
15. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: DOK 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.6: Infer the relative age of rocks and fossils from index fossils and the ordering of the rock layers.
16. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: DOK 1
STA: 8Sb: The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth's biological diversity over time. (Life Science,
Earth Science)
LOC: 8Sb.6: Infer the relative age of rocks and fossils from index fossils and the ordering of the rock layers.
17. ANS: B PTS: 1
LOC: 8Sb.6: Infer the relative age of rocks and fossils from index fossils and the ordering of the rock layers.
18. ANS: D PTS: 1
LOC: 8Sb.6: Infer the relative age of rocks and fossils from index fossils and the ordering of the rock layers.
19. ANS: C PTS: 1
LOC: 8Sb.7: Summarize the factors, both natural and man-made, that can contribute to the extinction of a species.
20. ANS: D PTS: 1
LOC: 8Sb.7: Summarize the factors, both natural and man-made, that can contribute to the extinction of a species.
ID: A
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21. ANS: D





PTS: 1
LOC: 8Sb.7: Summarize the factors, both natural and man-made, that can contribute to the extinction of a species.