Question 5

Question

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.

Answer 1

Claim: The mystery fossil is most likely the Triceratops.

Evidence:

From Question 2
The mystery fossil cannot be the Ankylosaurus 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 Tyrannosaurus rex 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 Stegosaurus 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 Triceratops, supporting the conclusion that this organism is the closest match.