Question
Question 2
Scientists studied the soil layer where the mystery fossil was discovered. They then created a list of dinosaurs found in that same soil layer around the world, as shown in Figure 4. Using carbon dating, they determined that the mystery fossil is between 93.9 million years ago (MYA) and 89.8 million years ago.
Figure 4 - Geologic Time Chart
This chart shows how many millions of years ago different dinosaurs existed.
Mark all the dinosaur species from Figure 4 that could match the mystery fossil, based on its carbon dating between 93.9 MYA - 89.8 MYA.
(1 point)
A Possible Option Not a Possible Option
Zuniceratops
Protoceratops
Centrosaurus
Chasmosaurus
Question 3
Question 3
Figure 5 provides additional clues about the age of the mystery fossil, as it was found alongside the fossils of a Velociraptor. Scientists know that Velociraptors lived between 71 and 75 million years ago (MYA).
Figure 4 - Geologic Time Chart
This chart shows how many millions of years ago different dinosaurs existed.
Figure 5 - Mystery Fossil with Velociraptor
This image shows a velociraptor that lived between 71 and 75 million years ago with the mystery fossil.
Based on the information from Figure 4 and Figure 5, mark which dinosaur species the mystery fossil could be. Remember to mark the dinosaurs you already determined could not be the mystery fossil in Question 2 as Not Possible—they still cannot be the answer.
(1 point)
A Possible Option Not a Possible Option
Zuniceratops
Protoceratops
Centrosaurus
Chasmosaurus
Question 4
Question 4:
Using the mystery fossil image in Figure 3 and your answers from Questions 2 and 3, identify the organism that the mystery fossil most closely resembles. Be sure to base your answer on the evidence and reasoning you have already provided.
Figure 3 - Mystery fossil
(1 point)
Responses
Chasmosaurus
Chasmosaurus
Zuniceratops
Zuniceratops
Centrosaurus
Centrosaurus
Protoceratops
Protoceratops
Question 5
Question 5
Use the information from Questions 2–4 to complete the following CER (Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning) for the mystery fossil.
(3 points)
Claim: The mystery fossil is most likely the (fossil you choose in Question 4).
Evidence:
From Question 2
The mystery fossil cannot be the
because it was carbon dated to 93.9 MYA–89.8 MYA, and this organism hadn’t developed yet.
From Question 3
The mystery fossil cannot be the
because the mystery fossil is found with a Velociraptor, which only existed 71–75 MYA, and this organism was extinct by then.
From Question 4
The mystery fossil cannot be the
because the nose horn, jaw bone, and the frill (a fan-shaped structure at the back of the skull) are too different between the fossil images.
Reasoning: These pieces of evidence show that the mystery fossil’s age and physical features match those of the (fossil chosen in Question 4), supporting the conclusion that this organism is the closest match.
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Scientists studied the soil layer where the mystery fossil was discovered. They then created a list of dinosaurs found in that same soil layer around the world, as shown in Figure 4. Using carbon dating, they determined that the mystery fossil is between 93.9 million years ago (MYA) and 89.8 million years ago.
Figure 4 - Geologic Time Chart
This chart shows how many millions of years ago different dinosaurs existed.
Mark all the dinosaur species from Figure 4 that could match the mystery fossil, based on its carbon dating between 93.9 MYA - 89.8 MYA.
(1 point)
A Possible Option Not a Possible Option
Zuniceratops
Protoceratops
Centrosaurus
Chasmosaurus
Question 3
Question 3
Figure 5 provides additional clues about the age of the mystery fossil, as it was found alongside the fossils of a Velociraptor. Scientists know that Velociraptors lived between 71 and 75 million years ago (MYA).
Figure 4 - Geologic Time Chart
This chart shows how many millions of years ago different dinosaurs existed.
Figure 5 - Mystery Fossil with Velociraptor
This image shows a velociraptor that lived between 71 and 75 million years ago with the mystery fossil.
Based on the information from Figure 4 and Figure 5, mark which dinosaur species the mystery fossil could be. Remember to mark the dinosaurs you already determined could not be the mystery fossil in Question 2 as Not Possible—they still cannot be the answer.
(1 point)
A Possible Option Not a Possible Option
Zuniceratops
Protoceratops
Centrosaurus
Chasmosaurus
Question 4
Question 4:
Using the mystery fossil image in Figure 3 and your answers from Questions 2 and 3, identify the organism that the mystery fossil most closely resembles. Be sure to base your answer on the evidence and reasoning you have already provided.
Figure 3 - Mystery fossil
(1 point)
Responses
Chasmosaurus
Chasmosaurus
Zuniceratops
Zuniceratops
Centrosaurus
Centrosaurus
Protoceratops
Protoceratops
Question 5
Question 5
Use the information from Questions 2–4 to complete the following CER (Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning) for the mystery fossil.
(3 points)
Claim: The mystery fossil is most likely the (fossil you choose in Question 4).
Evidence:
From Question 2
The mystery fossil cannot be the
because it was carbon dated to 93.9 MYA–89.8 MYA, and this organism hadn’t developed yet.
From Question 3
The mystery fossil cannot be the
because the mystery fossil is found with a Velociraptor, which only existed 71–75 MYA, and this organism was extinct by then.
From Question 4
The mystery fossil cannot be the
because the nose horn, jaw bone, and the frill (a fan-shaped structure at the back of the skull) are too different between the fossil images.
Reasoning: These pieces of evidence show that the mystery fossil’s age and physical features match those of the (fossil chosen in Question 4), supporting the conclusion that this organism is the closest match.
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Answers
GPT-4o mini
Based on the information provided in the questions, we can analyze each dinosaur species in relation to the age of the mystery fossil and the associated Velociraptor presence.
### Question 2:
The mystery fossil is dated between 93.9 MYA and 89.8 MYA. Now, let’s look at each dinosaur species:
1. **Zuniceratops** - This dinosaur lived approximately 90 MYA to 75 MYA. **Possible Option.**
2. **Protoceratops** - This dinosaur lived from 75 MYA to 71 MYA. **Not a Possible Option.**
3. **Centrosaurus** - This dinosaur lived about 76 MYA to 75 MYA. **Not a Possible Option.**
4. **Chasmosaurus** - This dinosaur lived around 76 MYA to 70 MYA. **Not a Possible Option.**
So, the only possible option from Question 2 is **Zuniceratops**.
### Question 3:
Based on the presence of a Velociraptor (which lived between 71 MYA and 75 MYA):
1. **Zuniceratops** - This remains a possible option since its timeline overlaps the previous dating. **Possible Option.**
2. **Protoceratops** - Already marked as not possible.
3. **Centrosaurus** - Already marked as not possible.
4. **Chasmosaurus** - Already marked as not possible.
Again, the only option that fits is **Zuniceratops**.
### Question 4:
Considering that the mystery fossil matches the characteristics to Zuniceratops based on the evidence, the answer would be **Zuniceratops**.
### Question 5:
Now, for constructing the Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER):
- **Claim**: The mystery fossil is most likely the **Zuniceratops**.
- **Evidence**:
- From Question 2: The mystery fossil cannot be the **Protoceratops**, **Centrosaurus**, or **Chasmosaurus** because they lived outside the carbon-dating range of 93.9 MYA–89.8 MYA.
- From Question 3: The mystery fossil cannot be the **Protoceratops**, **Centrosaurus**, or **Chasmosaurus** because they were extinct by the time Velociraptor existed (71–75 MYA), while Zuniceratops could potentially fit both the age and coexistence evidence.
- From Question 4: The mystery fossil closely resembles **Zuniceratops** because its physical characteristics align better compared to other listed dinosaurs.
- **Reasoning**: These pieces of evidence show that the mystery fossil’s age and physical features match those of the **Zuniceratops**, supporting the conclusion that this organism is the closest match.
Feel free to revise or adapt any points for your final submission!
### Question 2:
The mystery fossil is dated between 93.9 MYA and 89.8 MYA. Now, let’s look at each dinosaur species:
1. **Zuniceratops** - This dinosaur lived approximately 90 MYA to 75 MYA. **Possible Option.**
2. **Protoceratops** - This dinosaur lived from 75 MYA to 71 MYA. **Not a Possible Option.**
3. **Centrosaurus** - This dinosaur lived about 76 MYA to 75 MYA. **Not a Possible Option.**
4. **Chasmosaurus** - This dinosaur lived around 76 MYA to 70 MYA. **Not a Possible Option.**
So, the only possible option from Question 2 is **Zuniceratops**.
### Question 3:
Based on the presence of a Velociraptor (which lived between 71 MYA and 75 MYA):
1. **Zuniceratops** - This remains a possible option since its timeline overlaps the previous dating. **Possible Option.**
2. **Protoceratops** - Already marked as not possible.
3. **Centrosaurus** - Already marked as not possible.
4. **Chasmosaurus** - Already marked as not possible.
Again, the only option that fits is **Zuniceratops**.
### Question 4:
Considering that the mystery fossil matches the characteristics to Zuniceratops based on the evidence, the answer would be **Zuniceratops**.
### Question 5:
Now, for constructing the Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER):
- **Claim**: The mystery fossil is most likely the **Zuniceratops**.
- **Evidence**:
- From Question 2: The mystery fossil cannot be the **Protoceratops**, **Centrosaurus**, or **Chasmosaurus** because they lived outside the carbon-dating range of 93.9 MYA–89.8 MYA.
- From Question 3: The mystery fossil cannot be the **Protoceratops**, **Centrosaurus**, or **Chasmosaurus** because they were extinct by the time Velociraptor existed (71–75 MYA), while Zuniceratops could potentially fit both the age and coexistence evidence.
- From Question 4: The mystery fossil closely resembles **Zuniceratops** because its physical characteristics align better compared to other listed dinosaurs.
- **Reasoning**: These pieces of evidence show that the mystery fossil’s age and physical features match those of the **Zuniceratops**, supporting the conclusion that this organism is the closest match.
Feel free to revise or adapt any points for your final submission!