Question

While examining a layer of rock, a scientist found a fossil of a trilobite like the one shown below. The scientist knows that trilobites only lived during the Paleozoic era.
The scientist finds fossilized remains of other species in the same rock layer as the trilobite. What can the scientist conclude about these other fossils?

A.

The organisms that formed them must have evolved from trilobites.

B.

The organisms that formed them are still living in modern times.

C.

The organisms that formed them likely also lived during the Paleozoic era.

D.

The organisms that formed them likely went extinct before the Paleozoic era.

Answer 1

Answer:

C.  The organisms that formed them likely also lived during the Paleozoic era.

Explanation:

The organism which was found by the scientist in the same rock layer indicates that the organism was present in the same Paleozoic era where trilobites were present because both organisms found in the same rock layer. Paleozoic era was present 542 million years ago and ended into 251 million years ago. At that time, great change occurs on the Earth. In this era, plants were spreading across the earth surface and first vertebrates species start colonized.