Year 6 Science · Fossils and living things over time · Test yourself
Year 6 Science Fossils and living things over time: check-up and practice test questions
Part of the Year 6 Science fossils and living things over time chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Exercise 5Z Check-up
1
What is the name for the remains or trace of a living thing that lived long ago? Write the word.
fossil
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. A fossil is the remains or trace of a living thing from long ago.fossil
- Write the answer. fossil
Check. Fossils are preserved in rock. ✓
2
A footprint preserved in rock is a body fossil or a trace fossil? Write the words.
trace fossil
Method. Read the definitions.
- Read the definitions. A trace fossil is a sign of a living thing, such as a footprint.sign
- Write the answer. trace fossil
Check. A body fossil is part of the living thing. ✓
3
Which type of rock is most fossils found in? Write the word.
sedimentary
Method. Recall the rock.
- Recall. Fossils form in layers of sediment, so they are found in sedimentary rock.sedimentary
- Write the answer. sedimentary
Check. Layers of sediment make this rock. ✓
4
Which step comes first in fossil formation? Write the words.
an animal is buried
Method. Read the steps.
- Read step 1. The first step is that an animal or plant is buried by sediment.buried
- Write the answer. an animal is buried
Check. Burial comes before the layers build up. ✓
5
In an undisturbed cliff, which layers are older: the upper or the lower? Write upper or lower.
lower
Method. Think about how layers are laid down.
- Think about the order. The lower layers were laid down first, so they are older.first
- Write the answer. lower
Check. The top layer is the youngest. ✓
6
Look at the table in section 5.3. How old is the bone in layer E? Write the number of million years.
200
Method. Read the table.
- Read the row. Layer E holds a bone, aged 200 million years.200
- Write the answer. 200
Check. The bone is the oldest fossil in the cliff. ✓
7
Using the cliff in section 5.3, what is the difference in age between layers C and A? Write the number of million years.
50
Method. Subtract the younger age from the older age.
- Read the ages. Layer C is 60 and layer A is 10.60 and 10
- Subtract. The difference is 60 minus 10.60 - 10 = 50
- Write the answer. 50
Check. 10 + 50 = 60. ✓
8
Which group in section 5.4 is still alive today: the trilobite or the dragonfly? Write the name.
Dragonfly
Method. Read the table.
- Read the rows. The trilobite is extinct, and the dragonfly is still alive.dragonfly alive
- Write the answer. Dragonfly
Check. The trilobite is extinct. ✓
9
Name one reason why soft parts are rarely found as fossils. Write one sentence.
Accept any sentence that says soft parts decay quickly, so they are less likely to be preserved than hard parts.
Method. Think about decay.
- Think about soft parts. Soft parts decay quickly after death.decay quickly
- Think about the result. So they are rarely preserved as fossils.rarely
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says soft parts decay quickly, so they are less likely to be preserved than hard parts.
Check. Hard parts last longer. ✓
10
Explain why the bone and the footprint did not live at the same time. Write one sentence.
Accept any sentence that says their ages are very different, 200 and 120 million years, so they were made at different times.
Method. Compare the ages.
- Read the ages. The bone is 200 million years old and the footprint is 120 million years old.200 and 120
- Decide. Their ages are different, so they were made at different times.different times
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says their ages are very different, 200 and 120 million years, so they were made at different times.
Check. Ages in the table give the evidence. ✓
Total 15 marks. Allow about 15 minutes.
Exercise 5X Practice test questions
1
FWrite the word for the rock made when layers of sediment are pressed and cemented together. Write one word.[1 mark]
sedimentary
Method. Recall the rock.
- Recall. Layers of sediment form sedimentary rock.sedimentary
- Write the answer. sedimentary
Check. Fossils are often found in this rock. ✓
2
FA table gives the age of each fossil. Layer A: 10 million years. Layer B: 25 million years. Layer C: 60 million years. Layer D: 120 million years. Layer E: 200 million years. Write the letter of the oldest layer.[1 mark]
E
Method. Find the largest age.
- Read the ages. The largest age is 200 million years, in layer E.200
- Write the letter. So the oldest layer is E.E
- Write the answer. E
Check. Layer E is the bottom layer. ✓
3
PSUsing the same table, write the average age of the five layers, in millions of years.[2 marks]
83 million years
Method. Add the five ages, then divide by 5.
- Add. The total is 10 + 25 + 60 + 120 + 200 = 415.415
- Divide. Divide 415 by 5.415 divided by 5 is 83
- Write the answer. 83 million years
Check. 5 times 83 is 415. ✓
4
RA shell is pressed into mud. The mud is buried by more layers and turns into rock. Name the type of fossil that the shell becomes, and say why. Write one sentence.[2 marks]
Accept any sentence that says it is a body fossil, because it is a part of the living thing itself.
Method. Think about the type of fossil.
- Name the type. A part of a living thing, such as a shell, is a body fossil.body fossil
- Give the reason. The shell is part of the animal, not a sign that it was there.part of
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says it is a body fossil, because it is a part of the living thing itself.
Check. A footprint would be a trace fossil instead. ✓
5
PSFour events are listed: (1) rock forms; (2) an animal is buried; (3) minerals replace the hard parts; (4) layers build up. Write the number of the event that happens first.[1 mark]
2
Method. Follow the formation steps.
- Find the first event. The animal is buried first, before the layers build up and the rock forms.buried first
- Write the number. The event that happens first is event 2.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Burial, then layers, then rock, then minerals. ✓
6
RExplain why a fossil of a soft animal is rarely found, compared with a fossil of a shell. Write one sentence.[2 marks]
Accept any sentence that says soft parts decay quickly, while hard parts such as shells last longer and are more likely to be preserved.
Method. Compare soft and hard parts.
- Think about the soft animal. Soft parts decay quickly.decay
- Think about the shell. Hard parts last longer, so they are more often preserved.last longer
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says soft parts decay quickly, while hard parts such as shells last longer and are more likely to be preserved.
Check. Hard parts are preserved more often. ✓
7
FWhich group in section 5.4 is extinct: the fern or the woolly mammoth? Write the name.[1 mark]
Woolly mammoth
Method. Read the table.
- Read the rows. The table says the woolly mammoth is extinct, and the fern is alive.extinct
- Write the name. So the extinct group is the woolly mammoth.Woolly mammoth
- Write the answer. Woolly mammoth
Check. Ferns are still alive. ✓
8
RExplain how fossils show that living things have changed over time. Write one sentence.[2 marks]
Accept any sentence that says different fossils are found in layers of different ages, so the living things have changed over time.
Method. Think about the layers.
- Think about the fossils. Different fossils are found in layers of different ages.different ages
- Think about change. So the living things in the older layers were different.different
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says different fossils are found in layers of different ages, so the living things have changed over time.
Check. Layers in time order show change. ✓
9
RA student says a fossil proves that a living thing lived at exactly the same time as another living thing in the same cliff. Explain why the student is not right. Write one sentence.[2 marks]
Accept any sentence that says layers have different ages, so fossils in different layers did not live at the same time.
Method. Think about layers.
- Think about the layers. Each layer has its own age.own age
- Think about the claim. So fossils in different layers did not live at the same time.not the same time
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says layers have different ages, so fossils in different layers did not live at the same time.
Check. Evidence has to fit the layers. ✓
10
PSWrite one thing a fossil cannot show about a living thing. Write one word.[1 mark]
colour
Method. Think about what is not preserved.
- Think about the colour. The colour of an animal is usually not preserved in a fossil.colour
- Write the answer. colour
Check. Any soft part, such as skin, is also not usually preserved. ✓