Chapter 3 Section 4 Vocabulary
1. Adaptation - a characteristic that ___________ an individual’s ability to
______________ and ______________ in a particular environment.
2. Natural selection - the process by which individuals that are ___________ adapted to
their environment survive and reproduce more __________________ than less well
adapted individuals do.
3. Variation - a ____________ or deviation in ______________ or character from others of
the ___________ species or group.
Chapter 4
1. Species – a group of organisms that are ____________ related and can ___________ to
produce fertile offspring.
2. Speciation – the ______________ of new species as a result of ______________ over
______________.
Chapter 5
1. Relative age - the approximate _____ of fossils or other objects in rock layers
determined by ______________ whether the ___________________ rock layers are
younger or older.
2. Relative dating - any __________ of determining whether an event or object is
______________ or _____________ than other events or objects.
3. Geologic column - an arrangement of rock layers in which the _____________ rocks
are at the _______________.
4. Absolute dating - any method of measuring the age of an event or object in years.
5. Paleontology - the ____________ study of _____________.
6. Trace fossil - a fossilized _____ that formed in sedimentary rock by the movement of an
_______ on or within _______ sediment.
7. Mold - a ____________ or cavity made in a sedimentary surface by a ___________ or
other body.
8. Cast - a _________ of fossil that forms when sediments _____ in the cavity left by a
_________________ organism.
9. Index fossil - a fossil that is used to ______________ the age of a rock layer because
the fossil is distinct, abundant, and widespread and the species that formed the fossil
existed for only a __________ span of geologic time.
Chapter 6
1. Pollution - an _____________ change in the environment caused by substances or
forms of _____________.
2. Renewable Resource - a natural resource that can be __________ at the same rate at
which the resource is ____________.
3. Nonrenewable Resource - a resource that forms at a rate that is much ____________
than the rate at which it is ________________.
4. Biodiversity - the _____________ and ___________ of organisms in a given area
during a specific period of time.
5. Conservation - the preservation and ___________ use of natural resources.
6. Recycling - the process of ____________ valuable or useful materials from
____________ or scrap.
Chapter 3 Section 4 Vocabulary
1. Adaptation - a characteristic that ___________ an individual’s ability to
______________ and ______________ in a particular environment.
2. Natural selection - the process by which individuals that are ___________ adapted to
their environment survive and reproduce more __________________ than less well
adapted individuals do.
3. Variation - a ____________ or deviation in ______________ or character from others of
the ___________ species or group.
Chapter 4
1. Species – a group of organisms that are ____________ related and can ___________ to
produce fertile offspring.
2. Speciation – the ______________ of new species as a result of ______________ over
______________.
Chapter 5
1. Relative age - the approximate _____ of fossils or other objects in rock layers
determined by ______________ whether the ___________________ rock layers are
younger or older.
2. Relative dating - any __________ of determining whether an event or object is
______________ or _____________ than other events or objects.
3. Geologic column - an arrangement of rock layers in which the _____________ rocks
are at the _______________.
4. Absolute dating - any method of measuring the age of an event or object in years.
5. Paleontology - the ____________ study of _____________.
6. Trace fossil - a fossilized _____ that formed in sedimentary rock by the movement of an
_______ on or within _______ sediment.
7. Mold - a ____________ or cavity made in a sedimentary surface by a ___________ or
other body.
8. Cast - a _________ of fossil that forms when sediments _____ in the cavity left by a
_________________ organism.
9. Index fossil - a fossil that is used to ______________ the age of a rock layer because
the fossil is distinct, abundant, and widespread and the species that formed the fossil
existed for only a __________ span of geologic time.
Chapter 6
1. Pollution - an _____________ change in the environment caused by substances or
forms of _____________.
2. Renewable Resource - a natural resource that can be __________ at the same rate at
which the resource is ____________.
3. Nonrenewable Resource - a resource that forms at a rate that is much ____________
than the rate at which it is ________________.
4. Biodiversity - the _____________ and ___________ of organisms in a given area
during a specific period of time.
5. Conservation - the preservation and ___________ use of natural resources.
6. Recycling - the process of ____________ valuable or useful materials from
____________ or scrap.